Mt Hood Daffodils – and Mt Hood

I planted a White Garden over thirty years ago, inspired by the famous one at Sissinghurst castle in England. Over the years, the “White” has become less disciplined, but the Mt Hood daffodils have survived, multiplied and continue to bloom.

In August 2011, we spent a few days in Portland, Oregon, enjoying the views of the actual Mount Hood. When we got home again in early September, my ghostly white daffodils had excelled themselves, and were the first thing I saw as we pulled in to our driveway.

They have flowered well again this year. The trumpet is a soft lemon when they first open, but over a week or two, they fade to snowy white – just like their namesake.

Spider Webs and Bokeh

On a sunny and frosty morning, the trees and fences were decorated with perfect, dew-spangled spider webs, so I had to go outside with the ‘proper’ camera to try to capture some. It was worth the icy fingers and toes!

Silverband Falls walk

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in winter, we went to Hall’s Gap and, for a change, took the walk to Silverband Falls instead of our usual Venus Baths. The actual walk is roughly the same distance, but we had to drive south of Hall’s gap to reach it. There are not many flowers in July, but plenty of mosses, lichens and fungi. We spotted a dead tree that looks like a funny/monster face, which was definitely a bonus!

Winter Sunset

It didn’t last very long, but while it did…I managed to capture a few hints of the colour and light. The one from inside is possibly the best…maybe I think that because it’s so pink’n’orange!

Frosty Morning

With the ending of the Weekly photography Challenge, I am at a bit of a loss – clearly I need to challenge myself (or find another weekly prompt…) We had a good frost this morning, and I challenged my toes by going out to take photos in bare feet.

Weekly Photography Challenge: Twisted

“Not straight, not so straight” – twisted, in fact. Sticks, and the flames that consume them, cannot keep a straight line.

Bonfires are a regular event here, signalling the end of summer and fire restrictions. It’s also the end of Alex’s tired old thrifted chair – and a sobering reminder of the flammability of foam upholstery!

I made some candle lanterns using glass jars and twisted wire, to add atmosphere and light up the path to the paddock. This one has a hanger made with a found, twisted piece of heavy wire. The marbles around the tea light candle keep it centred and avoid overheating the glass. The jar lid can be popped on when the lantern isn’t in use, to keep the rain out.

Weekly Photography Challenge: Liquid

I had an image in mind immediately for this liquid challenge,  but I’m still running late…

 

Anyone with a camera and a wet Echinopsis has probably taken at least one shot of water drops in the middle of the rosette, but I had to take another one anyway!

Baling murky water out of a water trough revealed a gleaming bloom of oil slick – another photo op. How wonderful it is to have a pretty good camera that slides into my pocket!

The last image is of some creatures living in an old bathtub/pond in our garden.

Weekly Photography Challenge: Place in the World

This week, share the place where you feel you belong in the world. Or one of them!

I haven’t lived at my mother’s place for well over forty years now, and it’s changed a lot over those years. My dad’s old truck is still there, though – I spent part of my childhood squished in between my parents in that truck – my own place to sit and travel! It’s not going anywhere these days, but the rust and lichen that are overtaking the paintwork look like aerial photos of landscape in some “place in the world”.

Weekly Photography Challenge: Unlikely

Portray something unlikely

Morgan’s Lookout is an unlikely place, a pile of granite tors on top of a hill. It is named after the bushranger who camped out there in the nineteenth century, looking out for travellers to rob.

It commands a marvellous view of the country-side in all directions, especially if you brave the climb to the top of the rocks. I only went part way, up that near-vertical metal ladder…

 

We have driven past Morgan’s Lookout a couple of times before, but last month, despite being short of time, we turned of the main road and drove through paddocks to reach the  hill. There is a picnic table, and a toilet block (presumably drop toilets, I didn’t look!). Alex and I scrambled up between the rocks, and he went all the way to the top. There was a massive deposit of tickle-grass lodged between some of the rocks, and even from halfway, the view out across the plains is impressive. I’m grateful to whoever decided to make the place available to the public, as it is the middle of farmland.

Weekly Photography Challenge: Lines

The week is almost over, but here are my lines…

Straight lines in bricks and graph paper, curvy lines in some sort of succulent – growing in the incredible Cactus Country at Strathmerton in Victoria, Australia. If you are ever any where near there, make a bee-line for the garden and cafe, and make sure you order a slice of cactus cake with your coffee!

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