Oct 3, 2012

Backyard Bounty!

by Sharon Archer


One of the fabulous things about having people to visit (apart from their company!) is that it makes you look at your own "backyard" with fresh eyes!



Lovely Anna Campbell is staying at Chez Archer for a few days and today the weather is glorious - a perfect spring day!


We made a spur of the moment trip to the botanical gardens!  The timing couldn't have been better.  We've had two years of normal rainfall after 10 years of drought so everything is bursting with life.  We have grass!  Lots and lots of lush green grass.  The blossom trees are laden, there are camellias the size of bread and butter plates, beds of azaleas and tulips and poppies cut colourful swathes through emerald lawns!




















Lake Wendouree is full to the brim with water so the water birds have come back and the black swans have had babies!  The cygnets are little grey fuzz-balls and seriously cute!

It's enough to make me wax lyrical and take lots and lots and LOTS of photos!  These are just a few!




So how about you?  Any treasures in your backyard that you've 'discovered' - with or without visitors?

14 comments:

  1. Sharon, what gorgeous photos! Didn't we have a lovely morning? I loved seeing the baby swans. What isn't clear from the photo is that they were about six inches from a busy road. It didn't seem like the best place to raise a family! Gorgeous botanical gardens - the flowers were so spectacular.

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  2. Sharon, love the photos. You and Anna look like you were having a fab time.
    Last week we were lucky enough to have dolphins come into our bay. While this happens at this time every year it always feels so special. And the wood pigeons and tuis are making their way back for summer. Love this time of year.

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  3. What a gorgeous place! And those signets are too cute. Thanks for sharing your snaps. :)

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  4. The Silky Oaks in the backyard are bursting with Rainbow Lorikeets these days. They are noisy & beautiful.

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  5. I was on a school trip to the local council farm last week(in NZ). Super-cute there with all the baby animals - even a tiny black lamb to be bottlefed - everyone's favourite out of all 29 of them! (I'm sure no one's missed him yet!) :-) Spring is absolutely my most favourite time of year.

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  6. Thanks, Anna! We did have a delightful time in the gardens, didn't we! Yes, those swans had set up the family right beside the road with the cars whizzing by so close! You'd think it would upset them but they all seem very relaxed about it - it's only the people on legs that they take exception to!

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  7. Thanks, Sue! Oh dolphins in your backyard - how special is that!

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  8. Rachel, aren't the signets gorgeous! I think I'm used to the idea of yellow chicks so these grey ones look like they've been playing in the soot!

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  9. Mary, rainbow lorikeets are SO noisy! Such astonishingly bright colours!

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  10. Awwww, Clare, little lambs are high on the cute register! That farm visit sounds like lots fun! LOL on the black lamb - were you tempted to smuggle him home?

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  11. Looks like you're having a marvellous time with Anna, Sharon. I find myself visiting scenic places when we have visitors - the sort of places I usually don't get to, including lookouts, walks in the bush and yes, parks.

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  12. It's been great, Annie - the time has just gone so quickly though!

    Having visitors is a marvellous motivation to go exploring - and I think we all have treasures in our 'backyards' just waiting to be discovered!

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  13. Sharon, what beautiful pics! Love the baby and all those gorgeous flowers. That's what spring's all about.
    My backyard holds no surprises. It's in dire need of a renovation. I did have the urge to plant some flowers last week but I'd only kill em =/
    Beyond our back yard, however, is parkland with gorgeous trees and wildlife. The owls are my fave!

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  14. Thanks, Robyn! Oh, I'm a bit of a brown thumb too! The plants in our garden are hardy hardy hardy - nothing tender or temperamental!

    I'm an owl fan too! There's something about those big eyes.

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