Last weekend we had a family trip to Bathurst.
It's about a three hour trip from our inner city suburb. On the way, we go through the Blue Mountains, so called for the blue haze created by the eucalyptus oil in the gum leaves. The Blue Mountains are just a small part of the Great Dividing Range the runs up and down the east coast of Australia.
Most years, the Blue Mountains will have one, maybe two snow events where a cold front drops a light layer of snow on the ground overnight, melting by lunch time.
Last Friday we all woke to a freezing cold day and learnt that there had been a "snow event" on the "high peaks".
On Saturday, when we drove through we were very surprised to still see signs of the snow.
Blackheath Snow - pics taken through the front window of our car.
Snow with blossoms and rhododendrons
On the return trip on Sunday we stopped at a friend's family home in Katoomba for a visit.
It was Open Garden weekend in the mountains and their garden was participating in the scheme.
It was Open Garden weekend in the mountains and their garden was participating in the scheme.
The snow was now all gone but their garden (and the view) was amazing.
View of the Jamison Valley near Katoomba from the back verandah.
The Rhododendrons and azaleas were glorious.
We spotted a lyre bird digging up the mulch (much to out friends' disgust - they'd spent the weekend raking the mulch back into the garden beds to keep ithe paths looking tidy for the Open Garden!)
My 12 year stepson wanted to take some pics too. I showed him how to take close-ups of flowers. The next few pics are his.
As a result I'm not sure what either of these flowers are!
But he was delighted with the results and said he now understood why I took so many photos of flowers everywhere we went!!
I didn't know this candid shot had been taken of me looking at the view
until we got home and I downloaded the photos.
We spotted a lyre bird digging up the mulch (much to out friends' disgust - they'd spent the weekend raking the mulch back into the garden beds to keep ithe paths looking tidy for the Open Garden!)
My 12 year stepson wanted to take some pics too. I showed him how to take close-ups of flowers. The next few pics are his.
As a result I'm not sure what either of these flowers are!
But he was delighted with the results and said he now understood why I took so many photos of flowers everywhere we went!!
I didn't know this candid shot had been taken of me looking at the view
until we got home and I downloaded the photos.
A bower bird nest - I love how they collect blue things to line their nest.
That view is stunning! How lucky your friends are to have such a view to look out on! The flowers are beautiful too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful part of the world - I enjoyed your photos and the information. I never knew how the Blue Mountains got their name, or about the bower bird. Thank you for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteI hate to admit that my knowledge of birds is very limited. Your comment caused me to google bower birds - I didn't know they were only native to Australia and Papua New Guinea! We have a saying here about peoople who collect things being 'bower birds' I had assumed it was an old saying but obviously it's an Australian expression only!
DeleteYou learn something new everyday :-)
Fabulous post Brona. I can't believe you got to see a lyre bird- just like that! And a bower. Wow. I saw a bower bird when I was up there in June (but didn't recognise it at the time, I had to check guide books later), but have never seen a bower. I'm so jealous. That snap of the azaleas and rhododendrons is so lovely. Great photo of you too BTW.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are amazing photos. I've never been to Australia so I'm really loving the armchair travel. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. We have the Blue Ridge Mountains in the United States, instead of the Blue Mountains. Yours look a little more rugged than ours. Ours are very old and worn down, but covered with trees and still beautiful views like the ones you shot. Here's Mine
ReplyDeleteGreat post-I love the Blue Mountains-they never had snow when I was there-I ahve heard that your winter has been cold.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post! Thanks for taking me on your trip, however vicariously! Especially enjoyed the spring gardens since I am looking out the window at autumn!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the birds who collect blue as part of their courtship rituals - I think I saw it on a Nat Geo or one of those nature shows. I didn't know they were called bower birds or that they were native to Australia. A lover of blue, I'm swept away by the idea of this bird who brings blue to the bower to seduce his ladybird love. How utterly romantic!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks too for visiting my blog. I've stopped by your other one as well. YAY Hilary Mantel
These shots are lovely and your stepson did a great job too. Nice candid shot he got of you.:-)
ReplyDeleteLet's see, as we begin to approach our winter you will be coming into spring won't you?
Thanks for sharing.