Pears (Pyrus communis)

In 2009 we planted a number of fruit trees in the garden - 2 cherries,  2 or 3 apples, 2 plums, a nectarine and a peach as well as 2 pears (one a pollinator for the other). All the other fruit trees have fruited over the past 3 or 4 years but this is the first year we have had any pears (there were a couple that set last year but they dropped off early on).  The good thing about pears is that they can be picked when still hard and will after-ripen.  This one is a Williams Bon Chretien (usually just called "Williams" or "Bartlett") which is self fertile but also a pollinator for our Lemon Bergamot pear (which also has its first pears).

Amaranths

Amaranthus has about 60 species, some of which have edible leaves or edible seeds and some are just grown for their floral display.

Dianella tasmanica (Blue Flax Lily)

There are about 40 species of Dianella and almost half of them are native to Australia.  Dianella tasmanica is found in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania and almost extends to South Australia.  In general Australian Dianellas have smallish flowers that tend to not be particularly showy or long lived but many produce bright berries which stand out in shady areas.  A few varieties of Dianella have edible berries but those of Dianella tasmanica are not - they are indeed poisonous.

Buddleia davidii 'Ile de France'

Buddleias (sometimes spelt "buddleja) are often called "butterfly bushes" because they have a reputation for attracting butterflies with their often abundant sprays of flowers.  Buddleia davidii 'Ile de France' is an old variety introduced about 1930.  Buddleias are generally perennial plants that usually benefit from pruning after flowering.

Life is just a bowl of cherries!

There are two young "Stella" cherry trees in the garden which started bearing about 3 or 4 years ago.  Last year rats, possums, birds and insects snaffled crops off both trees before we could pick any so this year we invested in serious bird netting and piping to protect all the fruit trees.  The result was 1.3kg of cherries off one tree and 1.5kg off the other (this bowlfull). I reckon that with the cost of watering, fertilising plus the netting and piping each kilo has cost us about $150!  But they are very tasty.

First tomato

I noticed this ripe on one of our tomato plants a couple of days ago.  I suppose it's an indication of the warmer than average weather we've been experiencing which is not a good omen for the coming summer.  The creek by our place stopped flowing at the beginning of December.  In previous years that hasn't happened until January.

Ringtail Possum in drey

Ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) build scrappy looking nests called "dreys" in trees and the dreys are often communal, housing a family of ringtails.  This one has built its drey in a large prunus.  Ringtails are very fond of young leaves (especially myrtaceae such as eucalypts, lilly pillies, melaleucas) as well as flowers and fruit.  You need to net fruit trees and even seedlings in garden beds as possums can be very destructive (especially brushtails which are heavier than ringtails so their weight can damage thin branches).

Christmas cactus?

This "zygocactus" is called Easter cactus in the northern hemisphere where it flowers in the Spring and summer months.  But in Australia where the spring and summer occur around Christmas it's called Christmas cactus. It's a Rhipsalidopsis  whereas most "zygocacti" are now classified under Schlumbergera.  Zygocactus has had no botanical validity since 1953 (although many nurseries have sold these epiphytic plants under the name zygocactus since 1953, probably because they had the labels printed and didn't want to trash them).  Whatever, it provides a lot of colour.

Grey Fantail nest

Of all the fantails, the Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa) is known to be the most inquisitive and most likely to fly close to humans.  That's certainly my experience.  They particularly like it when you turn over a compost heap and they'll zip around getting insects.  There's been a couple of Grey Fantails flying around the garden lately and I thought they must be nesting in a neighbour's trees.  In a way I was right.  I discovered this nest today about two metres off the ground in a Pittosporum undulatum growing over our fence in a part of the garden seldom frequented by human traffic.  Grey Fantails are renowned for their "wine glass" nests and this one has been exquisitely put together with grass interleaved and the outside of the nest covered with spider webs.

Hippeastrum

Quite showy on a hot day!