Pieris japonica grows best in a cool climate, with mildly acidic soil. It loves dappled shade. For this reason, gardens in the upper Blue Mountains suit it perfectly. It has racemes of pearly white or pink flowers that resemble lily-of-the-valley. Here is my white flowering shrub, growing
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The quirky business card from Bowery in Katoomba gives a clue to what you will find inside the old St Andrews church building,,,other than the great food I mean. By the way, that’s Mr Lorikeet, dressed to impress. Bird related items form part of the restaurant’s
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I do realize that Katoomba is a long way from Paris, but we Blue Mountains residents adore croissants as much as anyone else around the world. This sulphur crested cockatoo is no different. But which ones to choose? Well don’t look at me mate, it’s entirely your
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Recently I have been struck by the similarities in building style between our local male bowerbird and my partner Rob, aka Bob the Builder. The pair are simultaneously constructing ‘decks’ here in the Blue Mountains at Blackheath. It’s all about precision, and never settling for second best.
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Charles Spring died at Mudgee hospital just before midnight on Friday, August 27 1938. He was 72, and had been in failing health for some time. Mr Spring had requested that he be cremated at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney. Next day his grieving widow Georgina boarded the
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I live just around the corner from the Blackheath duck pond, in the beautiful Blue Mountains. It recently underwent a complete makeover and re-design. The long-necked turtles were re-homed at The Rhododendron Gardens. Two metres of silt were removed and will be used elsewhere. The last
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Desmond, aka Editor Des, has been sitting at the woodheap bird watching with his mate Bob Banksia; full name Mr Robert Banksia Serrata. They have been hoping to see the arrival of the blue wrens. No luck so far and I think the tension must have led
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Celebrations in Australia for the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth were on a scale it’s hard to imagine these days. Every town and city in the nation strived to do the occasion justice. The Blue Mountains, where I now live, certainly stepped up. At Katoomba there was
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My parents-in-law, Alan and Jean Conolly (nee Atkins) were married in Manly in December 1946 and spent their honeymoon in the Blue Mountains. They were certainly not alone! I was amused at the following snippet relating to couples who had chosen a winter wedding. Wow, quite risqué
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A sweet, Eastern Water Skink family have lived inside an old stone wall in our Blue Mountains garden for years. When we were building a new house on the site we had to dismantle part of the wall. My lovely partner Rob decided it was only
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