I popped out in to the misty air ...

... to hang out some towels, 100% linen towels as it happens, but more about them later.
I went out and thought I'd just check on the taddie annex. We'd moved the first crop of taddies to a larger pot, with more sun you see. Leaving the first pot empty.
And then it rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rained and rain, and that small pot filled up with beautiful, clean rain water.
Frogs it appears, like nature, hate a vacuum and so we are the proud custodians of two tadpole nurseries.
Anyway, I like to check in on the little swimmers, so I did, only to find a fully-metamorphosized version peeking up at me.Cheeky begger. I have a horrible feeling he wasn't visiting but snacking on his little brothers and sisters (or, perish the thought, children!).Still, I finally had a chance to photograph the bugger and confirm, for myself, our back yard frogs are indeed Striped Marsh Frogs. (You can click a link to hear one singing in that link.)Finally having the chance to get a proper close up look also made me realise how much like my Omas Milord Bronze Arco our froggies are in colouring. I knew there was a reason I was drawn to that pen.

I like moss ...

... I love it's colour and texture and other-worldliness.I carefully keep the moss in our 'dunny lane' alive through summer, welcome it on steps and in the garden.There is nothing quite like walking on cool, damp moss with bare feet on a hot evening. It's even better than cool grass.So, I brought a bit inside, in a terrarium, a little earthship.I'd been drooling over the terrariums over at sprouthome.com for quite a while now (except for the little figures and whatnot, what is up with that?). Obsessively looking up plants and wondering if I'd order some of those nice vessels. And deciding, in a moment of frugal sanity, not to. I figured I could make one myself.Now, the only real-life experience I've had with a terrarium (that I remember) was one we had in Canberra, with an open face. I came home one day to find Small, I'm pretty sure it was Small, had pulled out all the plants, scattered them around the house and then dug out all the dirt for good measure. So, clearly, an open terrarium was the only option.Dirt, charcoal and stones were obtained from a local plant emporium.Moss was sourced "locally", as was a small piece of native violet runner. I went in for a little tree shaping with the violet, to stop it touching the sides, a no-no in the terrarium world I read (for good reason, touching the side may cause rot if there's any condensation).Cobbled together with a little help from the Internet, and voilà, a dainty moss garden.
No, I'm not planning on cooking it.

Meet Loudy McNoisypants ....

.... A cicada, he camped in our lemon tree last night, directly outside the open back door.
The noise was incredible. When I stepped directly into the sound wave my ears hurt.
So, I found him, introduced myself and entered relocation negotiations. That is I picked him up and moved him onto the Maple tree at the bottom of the garden.
He even sang a little while sitting on my hand, my whole arm thrummed with the sound. In other news I was lucky enough to see one of last year's tadpoles emerge, a fully formed wee froglet last evening. About the size of my thumbnail, shiny, dark with the hint of a stripe. We think this pretty much confirms our identification of the local frogs as Striped Marsh Frogs.
And now, despite the bushfire danger (winks) our leaf litter will be undisturbed, so tiny frogs may hide and keep cool. Who wants a tidy garden anyway?
Not me.

Hello ...

... I'm being a bit quiet, blogwise, at the moment. For reasons I cannot type of on-line.
But Mr Brown and I are alive, well and enjoying the Spring while it lasts.
There are predictions of 30 degree weather ALLFUCKINGREADY, so this good mood, it will not last. But while it does, enjoy the flowers!

I have a tiny green spider living in my beard ...

... my beard of Spanish Moss that is. I've yet to start cultivating old-lady whiskers!And while outside I noticed, not for the first time in the last week or so, that there is a definite air of Spring about the place. This Wisteria has survived. The pale pink Camellia (technically an Autumn flower) lingers on. The Bay Tree is in flower. The dainty Canberra Bluebells are out and wafting about on their elegant stalks. The Freesias are blooming. And the Jasmine has gone berserk, the smell is amazing. And look, it was cold enough this winter to tempt a Jonquil out. Esmeralda's nest is still sound, and nestled in Persephone's new green leaves. And this, I can't remember what it is, but it's bound to make some bees happy!

Seasons ...

... it doesn't get cold here in Sydney. Not really, properly cold like Mr Brown & I grew up with.
Because of this there's no real seasons, it just gets colder for a bit, and then warmer and then HORRIBLE AND HUMID, then warm then a bit cooler.
I really miss seasons, especially Autumn and that fantastic Autumn colour.I used to park my car on the roofless, top storey of a car park in Canberra, so I could look out over the 'burbs full of brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. I used to take different, much longer, routes home, so I could savour the colours of Autumn.Nowadays we have to drive up to the mountains to do any leaf-peeping, and we generally forget because by the time it's "Autumn" in Sydney Town it's practically browned-off Winter up there.This year, however, it a little different. This year it's actually quite chilly. And so this year the Maple in the backyard is turning, reds and yellows are slowly engulfing the tree. We may even get a proper leaf drop*I think it's beautiful and it make me smile.



* Most years it's simply not cold enough to trigger whatever it is that turns the leaves. They eventually brown off a little and then get pushed off the tree by the new, spring growth. Not very satisfactory at all.

Which Maple is that?

... I think we may finally have an answer.
I think the maple out the front is an Acer Palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum Ornatum' because it's sort of going a bit orangy, rather than crimson.

Granted, it's actually more yellow, but there are hints of orange in there, really. See.

The traditional easter long weekend weather, rain ...

... held today as well.
But there was a brief break in the downpour and we took full advantage of it.
Winter greens are planted and protected from marauding snails and slugs (one of which actually made its way inside yesterday UGG).
Mulch is down, keeping root and bulbs warm.
And we did a trim and tidy out the front, the top paddock. While I was snipping back rampant foliage and Mr Brown raking up the debris, he commented Mrs Neighbour would be pleased the place was looking a little tidier.
He's right, of course.
Lucky for her she's moving next month, because I purchased this book via the interwebs.
O yes, the plantings I will have, the flourishing, verdant, wild and rampant foliage that will riot front and back. I can't wait.
We had the doors and windows open all day. And while it's not actually that cold outside, inside, it's chilled down a bit, as you can see.And, since yesterday was ANZAC Day, we can safely turn on the heater for the season. Ping is VERY pleased.