What's growing in the Garden

 The flowers that are in bloom in my garden right now.  Daffodils, Helleborus, Camellias taken on different days. The header photo is Margaret Davis Camellia which is also in bloom. There will be more as the winter progresses and when spring arrives in September.

The Birthday Great Grandchild.

This little one below is our Great Grandchild, it was her Birthday a couple of days ago and she turned one.

Happy Birthday, sweet one.

Sugar Cane Queensland

Proserpine is the heart of sugar cane country in North Queensland, renowned for endless cane fields and its towering sugar mill.  The industry generates hundreds of millions locally, serving as the region's lifeblood since its establishment in 1879.

In Queensland, pre-harvest sugar cane burning is highly restricted.  Under Queensland Fire Department regulations, cane fires are legally prohibited from being conducted between 10 am and 2 pm to mitigate fire risks and smoke hazards.  Most scheduled burns happen in the late afternoon, around sunset, or overnight.

Cane burning takes place during the annual harvest and crushing season, which runs from June through to December.  While about 85% of Queensland's crop is now harvested 'green' intentional burning still occurs in specific regions.

I have posted photos of cane burning a few years back, I don't recall seeing these photos I took on a post on my blog.  We stayed in a caravan park in Prosperine a long way from home, and it was late evening when we heard the crackle of the cane fire and of course we smelt the smoke, we headed to the gate to see what was going on as it was a surprise to us seeing cane burn for the first time.  If your sound is quiet, you might need to turn it up to hear the noise.

Sleeping on the job!

 At the supermarket last Friday at the front door was this man collecting money for charity (if you make the photo larger you will see.) and he was asleep. We did our shopping and returned to the car and he was still sleeping...lol.  I was told he nearly always sleeps with his money collection tin. 😎

The sign says:  Domestic violence and abuse can lead to Mental Health Issues, Homelessness and Suicide. 

Woolworths the Supermarket where we shop for our groceries and where the man was sleeping on the job!   This Woolworths is not in any way related or connected to any other country.

Took this photo of a Helleborus commonly known as a Winter Rose and they are poisonous if eaten by humans or animals. The sap can cause a rash, blisters or irritation for some people.  I have only 4 plants all different colours from memory.  This is the first one to flower this winter.

We had beef stir fry Thursday evening for dinner - yes, most unusual to have spaghetti with it, but that is me.  My husband had rice. 

Labels

  Something different from me this time.  Funny labels on clothes and I do hope you enjoy.

Or give it to your mother.  She knows how to do it.

For best results, machine wash cold.  Tumble dry low.  Never iron design. For worst results: Drag thru puddle behind car, Blow dry on roof rack.

Topgear.  These T-Shirts were tested on animals.  They didn't fit.

Take it easy. Relax. Eat, Drink and be merry. Do not diet. Smile.

100% cotton, Machine wash cold, It's never so hot that you have to take off your shirt, don't be that guy.

100% Cotton, Machine wash warm, inside out, with like colors.  Only non-chlorine bleach.  Tumble dry medium.  Do not iron. Do not dry clean. Do not feed after midnight.  Made in China.

Neil the Seal

 Neil the Seal is causing havoc at Dunalley here in Tasmania down the south.  Now Neil the Seal was born in Tasmania down on the Peninsular in October 2020, and with no other seals around at all which is unusual,  Mum took off and left Neil after about 3 weeks of nursing  abruptly weeing him and left Neil to fend for himself, so he's not used to having other seals for company.  Because Salem Bay is where he was born in Tasmania, he thinks it's his real home, so he comes home. 😁He came home for his winter 'moult'.  Apparently Neil has done his thing, is now gone till next time.

The Video is curtesy of the Guardian newspaper.

Neil is a Southern Elephant Seal.  He refuses to go back into the sea during these two periods he comes home for his welfare reason and to do his thing in the nature world.  However he disrupts traffic, lies in the middle of the road, pushes boulders over and is destructive.  Of course he is a tourist attraction during these times and people are asked to stay 20 meters away from Neil. He weights about 1,000 kg (1 tonne and about 3 meters long). Neil is also guarded by humans 24/7 as far as I am aware.

There is a lot more I could write about Neil the Seal but there would be a lot of reading, so I have left it, and of course there is much on the internet about him. 

I borrowed these photos.  Where those faint yellow stars are is where Dunnally is. 

Renmark Sunset, South Australia.

Renmark South Australia is 1,220 km from home here in Launceston and of course taking the Ferry across the sea is necessary if you take your car or car and caravan as we did some years ago.  There are many places to stay, Hotel, Motel or a Caravan Park where we stayed, with the River Murray at our door.  

These photos were taken of the River Murray on one of our visits there looking towards one of the Hotels.  There are about 4,700 residents in the town and 10,274 people in the wider population. The photos are in order as taken. 

There are paddle steamers on the River Murray so a nice cruise can be taken.

Also grown in the area are citrus fruit, wine grapes, almonds, figs, cumquats, olives, persimmons, avocados, walnuts, pistachios and bush produce. 

Winter has finally arrived here in Launceston, Tasmania.

Mossman Gorge, Queensland

Mossman Gorge in Far North Queensland is a place we have visited and I've walked along it for a short way a few years ago.  4,500 km from home here in Launceston, so it takes a long time to drive there.  The Gorge is a gateway to the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest in Tropical Queensland. The water is clear and cascades over ancient granite boulders, lush walking paths, and has deep Indigenous cultural significance.

As you can see below there is a swinging bridge, but I didn't go over that.  I've placed a link to the cultural center and there are more photo and information there about the Gorge if you wish to visit the center from this blog.

Devil's Gullett, Tasmania. Australia.

This video which is on YouTube is of Devils Gullet a very ruggered area of Tasmania and is 141 km or 87 miles from Launceston here in Tasmania.

Devil's Gullett features dramatic views into a steep, narrow glacial gorge formed by vertical dolerite cliffs 220 meters high and topped by alpine forest.  This landscape has been evolving for about 200 million years, since long before Tasmania broke away from the great southern landmass called Gondwana.  

There is a lookout there and it's a 20 minute return walk from the lookout's carpark.  The walk is easy and takes place on a boardwalk.  

Amazingly it's a place we haven't been to, and to tell the truth we had never heard of it until recently that is because a young man jumped over the cliff on purpose and was reported on our news last year.  So sad.  Apparently, it was a favourite place of the deceased. 

The photos are from the internet.

Glebe Garden 2

Glebe Garden is not far from the city of Launceston.  It's a garden center and these photos are a few items that are sold there - more to come including the plants later.  This is the second post of what is at Glebe Garden.

This little bridge has recently been built at Glebe Garden, I do think it's cute.  Some pavers or steps to buy along with a few plants, don't know the name of them but they did look alright in mass showing.