Fur, Feathers, Flowers And More #7

Birds calling, birds flying, birds feeding

Saturday morning 8:30 to 8:45 was spent inspecting the plant nursery.

This was attended by:

• Rainbow lorikeets flying overhead with a corella chasing, others in Jen's liquidamber whistling and squeaking

• Eastern Spinebill feeding

• Currawong flying in with unidentified food in its beak

• Sulphur Crested Cockatoos squawking down Sherwood Road

• Gang Gangs croaking up in Studley Road

• Wattlebirds coughing and barking to the east somewhere

• Magpies perched on railway infrastructure

• A crow mournfully calling down near Ashby Grove

• Chattering and chirping of various unknown denizens of the corridor along the rail line

• A ringneck dove quietly roosting.

A nice backdrop for 15 minutes of suburban living.

Plant of the Week

Prostanthera species

Many homeowners are a bit restricted in their knowledge of the broad range of Australian native plants.

Most can readily identify the standouts - the bottlebrushes, the kangaroo paws, the golden balls of wattles.

Even the colour palette influences what casual gardeners assume are native plants - red, pink, yellow filament flowers on trees are likely "in".

But what about compact bushes loaded with traditional petalled flowers in blues, purples and lavenders?

Their compact form and profusion of flowers in the blue range make the prostantheras a sure winner in private gardens.

FofEV has planted many prostantheras in our bushland wildflower walks. In flower they are head-turners.

Beast of the Week

Rainbow Lorikeet

Excited chattering, an urgency, busy-ness & energy always seem to accompany these brilliantly coloured lorikeets.

As nectar eaters they are normally seen in flowering trees - and fruit trees!

And now for something completely different.........

The WA Christmas Bush is a fabled plant from the southwest of WA. Such a prolific bloomer, but nigh-on impossible to cultivate, as it is a parasite, not an independent plant.

Notwithstanding, packets of its seeds can be purchased by those prepared to attempt propagation.