H2O

It's 7.30pm and we are sitting on the verandah with a glass of wine (3 Drops - yummy - thanks for the gift ladies :-) ).  It's been a hot day today (well, 32 is hot for us in Torbay he he he) but now it has cooled off to 22 and it is as still as still.  There is not a sound apart from the odd cricket and bird call.  Tranquility personified.

The hot weather brings forth to mind the need for water.  It has been a dry summer so far and the new plants are struggling a little.  We have a rainwater tank which is full but as yet no irrigation pipes in place.  I have planted about 70 native plants around the property, for wind breaks and screening.  They are all encased in their little green plastic protective barrier held in place with 3 bamboo stakes, which helps to protect them from wind damage, bunnies and also provides a moister environment to try and keep them alive in drought.  It's hard work stomping around a few acres with a bucket 70 times to water, so instead we have devised a much easier system.....

 

This is Helga, Helga The Magnificent.  She is our ride-on mower, the very best thing we have ever bought.  She is a workhorse, and better still, she has a trolley to cart things around.  The solution to the watering of plants was to put a 100 litre container in her trolley, fill it with water from the tank, and drive to the plants.  I give each plant about half a bucket of water each, so 3 fills of the container and it's done.

 

Here is Helga in the field, making our lives easier.  See how dry it is at the moment.  But amazingly, of those 70 plants in their green plastic houses, only 3 have turned up their toes.  Good eh.

 

This morning there was lots of activity near the wood pile.  We are thrilled to discover we have Splendid Wrens on our property.  They are the most beautiful bird, what a colour blue they are.  A real treat to sit and watch them.  I've positioned a bird bath near where they hang out in the hope that they use it.  Great photo opportunities if they do.

 

There was quite a ruckus this morning in the tall trees.  These are Carnaby's Black Cockatoos, or White Tailed Black Parrots.  They are endemic to WA and are huge birds, about half a metre in length.  They are around at the moment because they love to chomp on gumnuts which are prolific in the trees at present.  

Another day in paradise.  :-)