The Bible was written by fallible men. I believe in the science of evolution. I bet people in your church couldn’t name one native plant of Maryland. John Dolphin, 1999 These were some things John would often say when we first met and he found out I was a Christian....
{Could be subtitled, “Our Vacation and What We Came Home To“} The content of this post and its title are not going to appear to match, that is, unless you read it all of the way to the end. Most of the content will be about a quick trip to...
The title isn’t completely accurate. I have two homes. As confusing as it can be living in two countries, two continents even, one thing is clear – one of the homes is where I grew up, where I was raised by adoring parents, where my children live, and where my...
The terms “State forest” and “timber reserve” refer to areas of Crown land set aside for uses including timber production, conservation and recreation. They include Crown land reserved as a State forest or timber reserve and used to grow non-native plantation species. State forests and timber reserves are managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (“DEC”), and are the only areas where timber harvestingcan occur on DEC managed land. Timber reserves and State forests are managed identically.
How does one spend the end of the day on a three-day weekend, find a rock and climb it of course? First to say, the name Yilliminning is of Aboriginal origin, derived from rock, pool, and river of the same name nearby, and was first recorded in 1892. It originally had one...
After our visit to Depot Hill, we decided to go back to Eneabba to see if the Queen of Sheba orchids were open.
Our next stop was Depot Hill, Cow Slips were the stars of the show.
Because of record-setting rains in Western Australia, the wildflowers have been predicted to have a promising spring. Even though we are still in winter, it was very much looking like spring our four-hour drive north…
Got a good reasonFor taking the easy way out From lockdowns, restrictions, not being well, rain, and only being able to go to church if we wore a mask, John and I decided to get out of town, and head to the country. Since it wasn’t really planned, and because...
Hyde Park in Perth, that is. (formerly Third Swamp Reserve) In a continuing effort to make autumn look and feel like autumn, I suggested a visit to Hyde Park when John took me near his work to see some fall-looking trees near his work. Hyde Park, I knew was close....
After spending the day at the Golden Valley Tree Farm, John at the last minute decided to make a quick stop at the Wellington Dam Mural. I am so glad he did, this was a real treat to see. Since it wasn’t a planned trip, I had little knowledge of...
As typical in summer here in Western Australia, there are bushfires that sprout up all around us. In fact, one was big and near. When the evening cools, we like to sit on our veranda and watch the sunset. The smoke, however, gives the sky and sunset a different look....
When we go down south, I think it goes without saying we should have lunch at the Berry Farm Café. I go there for the birds, but the food isn’t bad either. The Berry Farm is one of Western Australia’s best places in the Southwest to have lunch or even...
Hamelin Bay is a bay and a locality on the south-west coast of Western Australia between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste. It is named after French explorer Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin who sailed through the area in about 1801. It is south of Cape Freycinet. To the north, the beach...
Out of work and there are no jobs…let’s go to King’s Park and get out of the house. Technically it’s winter here, and it’s kinda hard for a Marylander to think of going to the park on a winters day, and to see flower yet? But find flowers we did,...
We have been to Lesmurdie Falls back in the spring of 2013, but since we recently had some rains, seemed like a good idea to revisit the falls. Since this time we are in the beginning of autumn and unlike before, the end of rains season, there wasn’t as much...
John and I had been to Bibra Lake at least two times before, once to see Pink Fairy Orchids, and another time to see Rainbow Bee Eaters. As it was a long holiday weekend and we had already made a long trip into Beacon, three hours away; we thought an...
After a sweet, lovely, calm time at Herron Point, we headed back north to make our way home, but as always, looking for a spot to see a sunset. We decided to take a dirt track to Austin Bay.
We go to Perth Zoo with some regularity when I am in town. Since it was John’s birthday, seemed like the perfect first outing since my arrival. Tricia is 60 years old has been a much loved since her arrival from Vietnam via Singapore in 1963 as a young six...
After seeing the Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs, we went to see the River Gorges. (To see the photo larger, click on it). Western Australia never ceases to take my breath away at its beauty.
On what seemed to be the most windiest day of the year, we were at Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs. To have an idea how bad the wind was, here is a video, using my phone camera, with the case’s wrist strap tied tightly around my wrist: As much as the...
To Geraldton! When John decided to take a few days off and take me to Geraldton, I was very excited. This was going to be a new place in Western Australia I had never been before. Not to mention, it was the most farther north I had been in Western...
At this point of John’s vacation, we were resolved that rain was going to be part of it, particularly today. We decided we would hunt for orchids in the rain. Oh the places he takes me… His face just seems to say, “Here I am eating my breakfast very sensible...
Staying at Siesta Park, makes it easy for the orchid hunter, like us, to access where they grow. So we started our orchid hunting day early. Soon we were off, looking for the spots our book that mentions where orchids can be found. Drakaea is a genus of 10 species...
Jamie called John wanting to postpone Father’s Day for one week. It was decided to return to Wungong Dam and photograph the blue fairy wrens there. This time I was able to go with them! Here is a video you can see and hear them. The clicking sounds you can...
It used to be Kings Park Wildflower Festival, but now it’s Kings Park Festival. There’s no doubt Kings Park will be where the wildflowers are this September, with the largest presentation of WA’s blooming beauties from all across the state. Kings Park will transform into a rainbow of colour and...
Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important...
Someone in the orchid group indicated he found a Pygmy orchid west of Corrigin. So I rush to our orchid map book and find a more exact location. Then, looking at a bigger map, we see that if you go as far as Corrigin, you might as well keep on...
Sculptures by the Sea, Cottesloe is staged on the beautiful Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia. Loved this sculptures event in the past and was very excited for it this year. The exhibition is featured from the sea wall all the way along the sand towards North Cottesloe and on the surrounding...
On this weekend outing, I asked John if we couldn’t go to Margaret River, the spot where it connects with the Indian Ocean. We had been there in 2010, but had never returned. It seemed a real special place when we went in spring that year, but I was curious...
We decided to spend our anniversary doing many of the things we enjoyed on our wedding day. Five years anniversary and we followed the sand, although perhaps a bit too close on one occasion. So many flavors to choose from! John learned, on this outing, that wearing your reading glasses...
I love our family Christmas Eve – charged with Christmas spirit, love for one another, and anticipation for the surprises that are ahead. Christmas Eve at our house are sweet, and intimate (not that we haven’t opened our door to others on a few occasions), and one of our big...
With everything in bloom, I decided to get out my macro lens and take some photos of the flowers in the garden. It’s a very sweet lens, I should do macro more. John likes his yard to have native plants in it. So I didn’t have to twist his...
For our next outing, we were going North, to Cervantes and beyond. The year Laura came with me to Australia, we had only driven through Cervantes, and we didn’t see much. I was happy to get another look at it, this town with a very Spanish sounding name. Our decision...
John and I got up early on Saturday, on a brisk Western Australia morning and headed for the King’s Park plant sale in hopes of getting a pink fairy orchid of our very own. We were early as the area hadn’t opened its gates yet, we waited in a growing...
Last time we went to Manea Park, it was in October. This time we would try Manea Park in September, hoping to get a glimpse of different orchids, and most of all the prize of Western Australian orchids, the Queen of Sheba. Someone in the orchid group had spotted one....
The Canola fields of Western Australia, lead to wonderful and amazing orchids
So where does the name Coalseam come from? Coalseam Conservation Park is one of the few areas where black coal can be seen at the Earth’s surface. It is also the site of the first coal mining in Western Australia. The Irwin River has cut through the local rock exposing...
John has experience, but this was my FIRST time on a real 4×4 dirt track. I learned when the guide book says, “Engage four wheel drive low range.” that in 4×4 talk, this actually means “Don’t go down that track, there will be ruts deep enough to fit small children!”...
and...
