Eucalypts and our feathered friends

We adore eucalypts.
 In all their different forms.
I cannot imagine an Australian landscape without them.

 The previous owners of our property planted around the boundary with them and we put in a sweep of native tubes early in the piece when we decided to have a section to "garden".
We are now considering all other possibilities to replace those trees and shrubs that were burnt and I'm ( Bill is too busy "farming" ) having the time of my life researching all the options.

I recently read an article questioning the worthiness of eucalypts in our gardens because they are so flammable.
The alternative suggested was  native rainforest trees such as lilly pillies ( suggested as the ultimate replacement for eucalypts in colder southern areas).

Native frangipani was another choice but I think our frosts would be too severe for them (not one to be found in our local nursery so I'm guessing that is why).

For us to continue to have these gorgeous birds making their homes in our garden, we need to provide food, shelter and suitable nesting sites.
So it's important for us to make good choices ......

Bill has taken all these beautiful photos in our garden. I adore them.

It is also worthwhile considering what already grows well here like the wattles and callistemons, so they will also play a part in our planting scheme.

The Kings Park Special is one that has been suggested with gorgeous flower spikes in Spring and Summer.

A late afternoon walk today revealed these surprises. There's life here after all!!!!

How exciting!

Lots of new growth here but still exciting.

And so was this.......the arrival of Bill's ride-on mower.

Couldn't help noticing this little patch of hellebores still blooming. They have such a pretty flower.

Concrete next week???? Don't hold your breath!~

Open fires, grey skies and yellow again

There has always been something very calming about an open fire, watching the flames dancing around and listening to the crackle. 
And although it's messy and labour intensive, we still love lighting our fire when it's freezing cold and bleak outside.
Heaven knows we have plenty of wood to burn!!

( Bill would cart this around all day if he could!)

Open fires seem to be quite rare these days in new builds. One company I know, builds all their new homes with open fires and verandas as their selling features..... in other words, Australian country homesteads.
That's what we would build if we were starting again.

These are the views from our bathroom window..........our first look at the day. 

We are still tossing up about whether or not to grass the area you see that is currently mulched. Only a couple of the trees remain. All the rest was burnt.

The wattles are looking so fresh ....and yellow!
There's that yellow colour again.
This one is along our front fence line. 

We seem to think that this pair of wood ducks are looking around for a place to have their young. They have separated from the pack and spend a lot of time out in the rubble patch.
Let's hope that rubble patch has some activity on it soon, to deter them from choosing it.

Happy birthday James. Lovely lunch, coffee and cake.

Ruth and Ross are travelling through the Pilbara at the moment( lucky ducks).
They called in to meet Kiann and Flynn for the first time. 
Ruth made up a little pack of goodies for Flynn. Complete concentration required here by the look of things!
We miss you little man.