PLEASE DON’T FEED THE COCKATOOS!

PLEASE DON'T FEED THE COCKATOOS!

Nobody loves our beautiful Australian birds more than I do. I photograph them and  write about  them  daily.  BUT, this is a plea not to feed the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos  here in the Blue Mountains (or anywhere else for that matter). The population  of these birds has

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DUCKS IN BLACKHEATH SHOPS WORTH TWO IN THE POND!

DUCKS IN BLACKHEATH SHOPS WORTH TWO IN THE POND!

EARLY HISTORY OF BLACKHEATH DUCK POND When the Great Western Railway crossed the Blue Mountains of New South Wales in the 1860s  a reliable water source was required for the steam engines. In the village of Blackheath a catchment area to the north and east of Gardners

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BLACKHEATH BEAUTY IN MAY

BLACKHEATH BEAUTY IN MAY

A  WANDER ALONG WENTWORTH STREET. Since the Great Western Highway from Sydney to the Blue Mountains was upgraded  there has been a huge rise in visitor numbers.  My home  of Blackheath is one of the highest  villages, and in autumn Wentworth Street in particular is a joy

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Glenbrook; Gateway To the Blue Mountains

Glenbrook; Gateway To the Blue Mountains

Recently I conducted a little social history  survey on how the various towns and villages of the Blue Mountains are perceived.  Do they have a distinct character?  Well certainly most of them do. Most surprising of all to me was that Glenbrook is considered by many to

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THE QUEEN VISITS THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

THE QUEEN VISITS THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

In a now famous reference to Queen Elizabeth; ‘I did but see her passing by, and yet I’ll love her until I die.’   Prime Minister of Australia R.M. Menzies. (1963) Early in February 1954, a group of WWI diggers travelled down to Sydney to see the young

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SPIDERS ARE NOT SO SCARY.

SPIDERS ARE NOT SO SCARY.

I can’t say that I like spiders, but I have become quite fascinated with the ones I see in my garden here in the Blue Mountains.  Of course most of them I don’t actually see….only their intricate webs. People on an Australian spider ID site  told me the

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BANKSIA SERRATA; WEIRD AND WONDERFUL!

BANKSIA SERRATA; WEIRD AND WONDERFUL!

Specimens  of  of the Australian native Banksia serrata  were  collected by Sir Joseph Banks in  1770 and later named for him. They are funny, gnarled trees that look ancient long before their time (rather like weather beaten Australian gardeners). Serrata refers to the  tough, saw edged  leaves; Their knobbled

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MOUNTAIN DEVIL!

MOUNTAIN DEVIL!

A favourite shrub in my woodland  garden is the spikey  Australian native shrub  Lambertia Formosa.  It was once known  as  the honey flower, but today is more usually called Mountain Devil. It is related to the proteas. The shrubs grow to about 2 metres. They are great

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