When we moved to Blackheath (Blue Mountains) twenty years ago there was a large crabapple in our garden. I suspect it was planted by a previous owner, a professor of architecture who established the garden in the 1960s. The tree scarcely bore any fruit and eventually I
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The resident Wonga pigeons in our Blackheath garden have just completed their fifth hatching in this extraordinary year of 2020. The couple have been with us for a number of years, but had only ever had a single, spring hatching ……until now. We wondered if they sensed
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Up by the railway station in the Blue Mountains village of Blackheath is the sweetest, most delightfully idiosyncratic gift and hobby shop imaginable…. the Old Tythe Barn. If that name conjures an image of a vast agricultural building (it did for me), then you are in for
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MID AUGUST 2020 – I was creating a new garden bed recently when I spotted a currawong gathering roots for its nest. A yellow robin on the look-out for worms was watching on with a wary eye. The currawong nest was constructed high in a eucalypt (local
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WANTON – Collins Dictionary definition……..Sexually loose or unrestrained. I’m afraid this label must now be attached to the. resident Wonga couple in my Blackheath garden. Here is mother Wonga with her very new chicks. They were brought down from the nest about ten days ago. But now,
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The Blue Mist Cafe is located at 8 Station Street, Wentworth Falls. Have to say it looks very old-world and inviting. My partner Rob and I had been to a kitchen showroom up the road, and needed to discuss a few things. Coffee always helps consensus. We
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In the spirit of increasing biodiversity, my partner and I bought a little insect hotel for our Blue Mountains garden. Perfectionist owner-builder Rob decided to seal the back panel with Bondcrete and add a waterproof membrane to the pitched roof. Well, we do get a lot of
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We are a competitive lot in the Blue Mountains of NSW. At a Blackheath outdoor pool, this little silvereye was training for the 20cm breaststroke event in Birmingham, and yes, struggling a bit. Keep that head up! Oh the relief to get to the end! And an
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There was initially some reluctance on the part of our Wonga twins to attend nursery school in the garden. That nest high in the conifer was so snug and secure. The pair hatched in August and by mid September one parent was offering encouragement from an adjacent
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What an unusually high temperature we had on Thursday. Even the breeze was warm. Maybe it doesn’t bode well for summer, but I did revel in it, and so did the crimson rosellas. Time to get out and about, much as I appreciate the delights of home.
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