Wood Ducks...quite at home

              

Australian Wood Duck 

Left: Female    Right: Male

The Australian Wood Duck, Maned Duck or Maned Goose, Chenonetta jubata, is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia.  It is the only living species in the genus, Chenonetta. Traditionally placed in the Anatinae (dabbling duck) subfamily, it might actually belong to the Tadominae (shellduck) subfamily and possibly the Ringed Teal is its closest living relative.        Source: Wikipedia 

they're always here at 'Sedgemere'

we call them 'our chooks'

they love the freshly mown grass

two days ago I was running

from room to room

trying not to spook them

taking shots through dusty windows

they always look happy...

after their walk, they'll sit quietly in the shade

and luxuriate!

I'm loving this tea...

~  soothing  ~

refreshing

would be lovely

ice cold on a hot day.

~ I'm having a break ~

I can hear the grass and weeds growing!!

~ By the way, our pigeon guest ~

now lives up the road

with three lovely, white, female doves!

"Come gentle Spring! ethereal mildness, come"

Winter is hanging around today

luckily, I took some shots

on the sunnier weekend just past

"Sitting quietly, doing nothing,

spring comes and the grass

grows by itself" - Zen saying

Title: James Thomson

Ha-ha! Did you know?

Castle Ashby Ha-ha, Northamptonshire

with the Orangery in the background

Photo: R. Neil Marshman 

I didn't.  I was reading about Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire and the article said the grounds had a ha-ha.  A what?  So, I clicked on the big W and read all about it.  The above pic shows the ha-ha looking towards the house, while the photo below shows the uninterrupted view from the house.  It is so-named because of the reaction of most people when happening upon one.  One wouldn't be walking at night-time without a torch!

This from Wikipedia:  "The Ha-ha is an expression in garden design that refers to a trench, the inner side of which is vertical and faced with stone,, with the outer face sloped and turfed, making the trench, in effect, a sunken fence or retaining wall.  The ha-ha is designed not to interrupt the view from a garden, pleasure-ground, or park, and to be invisible until seen from close by."

Castle Ashby - looking over the Ha-ha
Photo: R Neil Marshman

The ha-ha is designed to keep animals from entering the property around a building and can also be used to deter people from getting out; as in the following pics of two lunatic asylums (yep, that's what they were called once) that existed in Melbourne in the 19th and 20th century.  The ha-ha enabled the patients to see the outside world.

Ha-ha at Yarra Bend Asylum

       Melbourne Victoria, c.1900

1848-1925

Ha-ha at the former Kew Lunatic Asylum

What would have been a ladies' courtyard

1871-1988

The main building and surrounding grounds of the Kew Asylum (later known as Willsmere) were sold by the government in the 1980s and it is now the site of the exclusive Willsmere Apartments.  Many of the ha-ha walls have been repaired and remain intact on the property.

So, there you have it - ha-ha!

The Graceful Gleditsia

Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst' - Honey Locust

Before the advent of shampoo, the ancient, wealthy Chinese used Gleditsia fruit, or grifola, to wash hair. Spices were usually added, giving the hair an intense aroma. It has also been used in China for 2000 years as a detergent.


The Latin name commemorates Gottlieb Gleditsch, director of the Berlin Botanical Gardens, who died in 1786.


G. sinensis is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in Chinese herbology, where it is called zao jiao and is used for the following complaints. It is considered toxic.

1. Dispels phlegm.
2. Opens the orifices, revives the spirit.
3. Dissipates clumps, reduces swelling.
4. Unblocks the bowels, expels roundworms.

Too much information?

Everyday Views from Within

A reader mentioned the other day that it's nice to see the gardens of their blog friends to get a picture in their mind of where they live and are writing from. I took these photos last Wednesday, a couple through the flywire, as the view above from our bedroom. Enjoy my Australian spring garden.

Family Room

Family Room

Study


Study


Study


Sitting Room


Spare Bedroom


Bathroom, through flywire


Guest Bedroom


Music Room


Lounge Room


Lounge Room


Lounge Room


Front Door

Kitchen

SPRING IN MY GARDEN

Azalea (Karume)

'Kasane Kagaribi'

Don't Know - bulbs lifted from side of road.

Clematis 'Snowflake'

Cedrela sinensis

or Toona sinensis 'Flamingo'

Chinese Cedar

Azalea (Karume)

'Kocho-No-Mai

Camellia

Ajuga

Freesia

Azalea (Indica)

'Kees Bier'

Double Rose

Lilac

Grevillea Rosmarinifolia

Mini Bush Rose

bought in 1988,

placed in large pot in courtyard

for daughter's wedding day,

3rd December.

Moved with us in 1999,

now 5ft tall.

Orange Blossom

Clivia miniata

'Edith Holden' Climbing Rose

Any day now.