A Moth

Look who came for a visit last night. I'd love to know his name but Mr Google is not much help.You will be all pleased to know he was rescued, placed outside, and happily flew away.

A Spotty Rose

Out in my garden yesterday and I spotted this rose. Although rather pretty, it's not quite right. The rose is a white one, and always has been, until yesterday.

The white roses are planted alternately with pink ones, and two members of my family think it is cross pollination  from the bees. Me, well I think it is something else. Cross pollination can create all kinds of weird and wonderful things, but that is usually done through the seeds. My roses keep coming back each year from the same plant.

Some other responses have been 'lady bugs' ( which I know eat the aphids) , and 'fairy dust being sprinkled' which is rather a creative answer.

We have had some rain and I think it may be some kind of fungus, but I am not sure. Another thought is some kind of bug.

Whatever it is though, it has resulted in a very pretty flower, which I would like to have all the time.

A Caterpillar

A few weeks back one of my stitching groups had a day out to see "Transformations - Art of the Scott Sisters" which is still showing at the Australian Museum. (until 25th June) The art works were of course superb, and had so much detail.

Of course I knew I had caterpillars in my garden, who doesn't? The exhibition however,  had me psychically looking for them and other tiny wildlife that may be present.

I found his little fellow on my roses. I have Googled & Googled but still do not know what he is.

Jacaranda

The gorgeous jacaranda trees are out in flower. This one is around the corner, but there are many dotted around the neighbourhood. I just love their mauve colour.

A Winged Visitor

Look who I spotted having a feast on my flowering parsley this morning. We have had moths before of course, but this one was staying still enough that I could take his pic.

The pic was taken with my new little camera and I just love how it has turned out.

Why am i letting my parsley flower? So that it will set seeds and I can have more parsley of course.

This little fellow is doing a great job at pollinating the flowers for me.

Building Decoration Taiwan Style

I thought it time I should keep up with our travel pics, after all it has been a while, and the next trip is well into the planning stages.

This photo is of one of the buildings in the grounds of Marty's Shrine in Taipai, Taiwan. It shows beautiful building and roof decoration. On the ridges of the roof line we can see little creatures guarding the roof, and on the points are other decorations different to those that we saw in Japan. The roof lines may be similar, but the decorations are very different.

On the building itself, there ore other decorations. They are a little fuzzy, but they look like dragons.

Overall, the effect Looks like a mix of Japanese and Chinese architecture.

A Friendly Reptile

Look who I spotted this morning! I was out hanging the washing in the sun, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted what I thought was a piece of bark sitting in front of the garage door. As the bulk of the neighbours gum trees have gone, I thought this was a little strange. When I looked closer, I found I had a visitor.

We have had blue tongues before, and i know they are around, I have even had one in the house. I just haven't seen one for a while.

The fluffball feline companion was outside, and was not impressed when I picked her up and shut her inside. As I raced upstairs to get the camera, this little lizard was on the move. By the time I got back downstairs, he had moved the full width of our double garage door.

As I watched, he also kept an eye on me, and carefully climbed the step.

Crawling along the front of the step, he made a b-line for cover under the trailer. In the meantime, I continued to hang out washing, then looked to see where he had gone. He was nowhere in view. Still not safe to let the fluff-ball feline out yet, and hopefully this reptile friend will find my snails.

A Stick Insect

Look who I spotted today! This big fellow obviously didn't like being disturbed in amongst my climbing rose. I was de-heading some of the rose blooms that had suffered during the recent heat, and when I looked up I spotted this huge fellow climbing the wall. Don't worry, he is still safe, and was still climbing the brick wall when last seen.

A Tree

This tree was in the garden of Marty's Shrine. It is interesting how even in Taipai they are using Japanese influences with the shaping of their trees.

The Changing of The Guards

We were at Marty's Shrine for only a little while, but we were lucky enough to see the changing of the guards. Black boots with white laces, gold braids and trims, white uniforms an white metal hats. These marching guards were to replace the guards that we had seen on duty back at the gate.

I believe the changing of the guards is done on the hour by active military personnel. Standing for an hour and not moving would be terribly boring, though I guess they get to look at all us tourists walking past.