Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 16 November 2014

Sunday Selections #198

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week I am being lazy and reverting to two of my obsessions, birds and the garden.

These birds have all visited this week.

First, a corella



Then King Parrots, the male (orange head) and his more subdued but still lovely mate...




Then to the garden.  My double poppies have just started to flower and as soon as the first one flowered I thought of Carola Bartz - who grows some stunners of her own.


Then to the Christmas Cactus (also known as Orchid Cactus) which are just starting to bloom.



And some plants I succumbed to at the Farmers Markets.  If we get the promised rain (which we need) I hope to put them in later today.

Cape daisies...


And something described as a Norwegian Bell Flower.



128 comments:

  1. Wow! I simply love the birds and especially the cape daisies. It's just lovely in your part of the world, EC. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DJan: And it is gently raining at the moment. Which is making me smile rather a lot. The cats aren't happy though. At all.

      Delete
  2. All looks like a painting...but the male King Parrot is stunning for sure!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bookie: They are beautiful aren't they? So very beautiful.

      Delete
  3. Your cactus and the shops have both peaked a little too early for Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew: I am wondering how soon after Christmas hot cross buns will hit the shops. It was before the New Year this year. Sigh.

      Delete
  4. Those Cape Daisies are interesting looking. I don't think I've seen them before.

    A couple of Kingies visited me during this past week. I never tire of seeing them. They're glorious.

    It's very hot up here this weekend...I'm sure all our suit-wearing visitors at the G20 in Brisbane are feeling the heat. They should hold the Summit an air-conditioned indoor pool!

    I hope you and the Skinny One have a good week and don't get bossed around to my by the two Js! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee: It has been hot here too. Very hot. Too hot. I don't have a lot of sympathy for the suits at G20 though.
      A good week to you and your furry overlords too.

      Delete
  5. So much beauty in your surroundings, and your lovely pictures gives us a chance to have a little peek. Fabulous birds and flowers ... enjoy both :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Whisper Mist: There is a lot of beauty - and I am more than grateful for it.

      Delete
  6. Gorgeous birds and flowers, I can't decide which I like best. Things of beauty are joys forever.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've seen cape daisies before (in Northern California) but did not know what they were called. As usual your birds and flowers are wonderful and lift the spirits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: They lift mine. And cape daisies go by a number of names - and some stunning colours too.

      Delete
  8. Christmas Cactus are indoor plants here...labelled tropical...the hubs mother had one that measured a good four feet across the top and it flowered like a demon at Christmas time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Delores: Ours live outdoors all year round - and don't seem to be phased by frost. Four feet across? That would have been quite a sight. Most of ours are in the two to three feet range.

      Delete
  9. Wow. Those birds are beautiful but the flowers are even better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie Faris: I am very grateful that I don't have to choose between them. Except that the birds are fairly good at plant destruction from time to time. Beheading the tulips always makes me a bit hissy. But only a bit.

      Delete
  10. Wowee, number three is a genius, well shot EC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob Bushell: Isn't he beautiful. He was just outside the window looking in. As we looked at him.

      Delete
  11. So much color!
    The corella has sad eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: The corellas are cheeky chappies and mostly seem very happy. I think it is their blue eye-shadow (which they wear better than any human) which makes them look a little sad.

      Delete
  12. I will always be happy for you to revert back to your obsession. Your birds and flowers are phenomenal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you. I do sometimes feel guilty for inflicting them on people time and time and time again.

      Delete
  13. What I would give to see those King Parrots up close - and to have your photography skills!
    Beautiful flowers as well, EC - I hope you get your promised rain and that it lasts long enough to soak in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexia: It is raining now. Mostly gentle soaking rain. Which I am very, very happy to see. The garden is drinking deep.
      King Parrots are an almost daily treat at the moment - and treat it is.

      Delete

  14. Magnificent. The birds and the flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  15. theres good rain in sydney right now, makes a very welcome change.
    the suits at the G20 are getting a little taste of their futures - muahahahahaa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kylie: Rain is such a wonderful thing. Life-giving, cleansing...
      And no, I am not in the slightest bit sorry for the suits. And believe that Brisbane is going for a top of nearly 40 today. Snicker, snicker.

      Delete
  16. I assume the first bird is a Little Corella? Really love the shots of the King Parrot; You flowers are lovely also. I hope you have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret Adamson: It is indeed a Little Corella though we also get some which have bred with the Long-beaked Corellas. Similar colouring, but a longer beak - and a fondness for green apple.

      Delete
  17. I am so happy to see your flowers; now I know I will fill bare spots with daisies come spring. Our Christmas cactus are coming on, too. In the house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne Noragon: I do like daisies. They spread happily and provide waves of colour - and seed readily too.

      Delete
  18. Those purple and white flowers with the yellow hearts are the most exotic I've seen in a while. They look like they're from Mars. I love them. I want want want!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Guyana-Gyal: I couldn't resist it. It was cheap ($4) and will spread. And, as a perennial it will be back next year. And with luck will seed prolifically too.

      Delete
  19. WOW! Beautiful! Birds and flowers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Teresa: We love them. Always. Your garden is a marvel too.

      Delete
  20. I'm sure the inside of your home is lovely, especially with your new bathroom and all. But, if I lived where you live, I don't know that I'd ever come inside during the day. The stunning view would mesmerize me, The flowers you grow are incredible and the birds are unimaginable. At least that's my perception from here in the desert. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Myrna R.: The inside of our home is eclectic, cluttered and dusty. And I spend quite a lot of time outside - and even more looking outside.
      Mind you, your desert has an exotic charm and a pared back beauty of its own.

      Delete
  21. The corellas looks so creamy - are they actually so in real life?

    Beautiful flowers. I'm going to absorb the beauty from your garden since I couldn't see my own this summer when my eye was out of commission! Thanks for sharing it here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jenny_o: That particular corella is on the grubby side - they mostly are beautifully creamy. And their eye shadow always makes me smile.
      I hope your eye is well and truly back in commission now - and will stay that way.

      Delete
  22. My poor magpie looked like the one in your header today - a little worse for the weather. Love the 'pin wheel' Cape daisies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. J Cosmo Newbery: We had some very, very wet galahs earlier this morning. They looked sooooo sad.
      And yes, 'pin-wheel' daisies is a perfect description.

      Delete
  23. Those King parrots are stunning, I would love to have them visit (we don't have them over here so not likely unless it is a caged escapee!!) but this week we have had lots of honeyeaters in our garden and some really fat doves. Sitting looking out my window at my climbing rose with lots of flowers contrasting against a blue, blue sky. Thanks for sharing your visitors and garden. Happy Sunday xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kakka: Our skies are grey, and my roses barely blooming so I love the sound of your view. And honey-eaters are always a delight. Ditto doves.
      Have a wonderful day - and week.

      Delete
  24. I love those pink daisies, I'll have to find out if they will grow here in Adelaide. The double poppies remind me of frilly ruffly little girl dresses. I'm jealous of your Christmas cactus, I had one and it would never flower, so my mum took a piece and grew it and it flowered for months! humph!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River: I can't see any reason why those daisies wouldn't flower for you. I really like that colour but there are also white, purple, mauve and yellow ones. Our Christmas cactii are, like the begonias, very happy on the front veranda. They get watered from time to time and occasionally fertilised - and pay dividends.

      Delete
  25. I have stopped going to floral temptation vendors. It is hard enough to keep things barely alive with the limited water I have. My Christmas cactus was ablaze last week when a friend called in and it happened to be her birthday. She too is a great plant lover and had never seen one before, so now it hangs in her porch and looks magnificent.
    I only had a few poppies come up this year but the first was out yesterday.

    Love your new acquisitions. The first two look drought proof and will bring you much joy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arija: We too have been very, very dry but yesterday and today have had life-giving rain. The daisies are largely drought proof. They need a little water while they are settling in - but are very hard. Which things need to be.
      The signs are that we will have another long hot dry summer. And I went to the markets for some sour-dough bread. The plants tripped me up.

      Delete
  26. Wow, the birds we have here seem so drab by comparison! And what kind are those purplish daisies? I've never seen anything like them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mshatch: Some of our birds are drab, and most are very far from musical. We get some stunners though.
      That purple daisy is also a Cape Daisy - and was described in comments as a 'pin-wheel' daisy. I suspect that description would nail it down in a nursery.

      Delete
  27. "Elephant's Child" has been included in our A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that we hope this help to point even more new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-sunday-drive_16.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jerry E Beuterbaugh: Thank you so much. I will be over to visit shortly.

      Delete
  28. Great photos, loved the birds and the flora, especially the cape daisies. Nature rejuvenates us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. D.G Hudson: Rejuvenates and/or soothes - whichever is required.

      Delete
  29. oh my word you have so much beauty surrounding you, that red headed bird is wonderful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda Starr: There were five or six king parrots visiting this morning. Yesterday was wet and windy and they were in need of sustenance. Which I happily gave them.

      Delete
  30. Love those beautiful birds and how fortunate you are to have them pay you a visit. I heard some corellas nearby us yesterday but they don't stay long.
    Your flowers are amazing. We once grew those daisies with the unusual petals but after several years they reverted to normal shaped petals which surprised me. I've not seen double poppies before and are the Christmas cactus similar to zygo cactus?
    Thanks again for sharing so much beauty.
    I saw on ABC24 today a severe weather warning for Canberra so hope you stay safe and storms etc don't spoil the beauty of your garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mimsie: We have had one of those pin-wheel daisies before too. It disappeared and I am not certain whether it died or reverted. Fingers crossed that these breed true.
      It was wet (hooray) and windy yesterday - but very little damage was done here. And the garden badly needed a drink.

      Delete
  31. I'm going to pitch a tent in your garden and move in, I swear. Your flowers are stunning! The Christmas cactus and Cape daisies are beautiful. So are your feathered friends. I never get tired of looking at your pictures. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River Fairchild: You would be more than welcome. And would be woken up by my feathered friends very, very early. Perhaps you could sleep inside.

      Delete
  32. I like that name, corella. Is that stresed on the CO, or on the RE? To me it sounds like coRElla. Lovely bird. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A Cuban in London: You are right - the emphasis is on the REL. cRELLa. And they are beautiful. Noisy - but beautiful.

      Delete
  33. Those cape daisies, especially the ones with the pinched petals, are just stunning! Every time you post about your bird visitors, I can't believe how beautiful and abundant they are. You're very lucky!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raquel Somatra: We do know just how lucky we are. Most days five or six species of native birds visit - and are very, very welcome.

      Delete
  34. Visiting from Jerry's site. Nice to meet you. Catherine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catherine: Welcome and thank you. It was very nice of Jerry to feature my blog on his Sunday drive.

      Delete
  35. Just popped in from Jerry's site too, but I've seen your name around other blogs like Alexia's! Beautiful photos, you have a good eye with your lens!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen S.: Welcome and thank you. My point and shoot camera has been very good to me.

      Delete
  36. Sue,
    you live in a kind of heaven. I wish I were there to experience those birds. OMGOSH, STUNNING creatures. xxx KISS From MN.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Inner Chick: We are lucky aren't we? Hugs and kisses back to you.

      Delete
  37. I like those Cape Daisies. Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strayer: They are good aren't they? And hardy. And prolific.

      Delete
  38. I always have bird envy when I come to your blog! All that colour and beauty captured by you. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LL Cool Joe: And they all visit freely - which is even better. And I can't tell you how often I suffer from bird/plant/general envy here in the blogosphere.

      Delete
  39. That peach colored bird is so beautiful, and the flowers... wow. I feel a sense of peace when I come here and look at your lovely pictures.
    Have a great weekend

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. totallycaroline: Thank you. I get peace from the birds and the garden (when they don't drive me to distraction) and I am very happy to share.
      Hugs.

      Delete
  40. Double poppies never seen them before, they are pretty good.
    Merle..........

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merlesworld: They are good aren't they? And come up year after year. And I save the seeds as well.

      Delete
  41. SO lovely! I enjoy thinking of you visited by feathered color and cultivating such sweet blooms, Dear!


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cloudia: I love your rainbows and the glorious colour you give us. And the wisdom.

      Delete
  42. Oh what I'd give for a king parrot to visit me here in the north! And what I'd give to have your green thumb EC!
    You truly have a beautiful selection of plants growing.
    Enjoy your week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rose ~ from Oz: There are some things for which my thumb is definitely brown. Perhaps black.
      But the king parrots are, as you know, a joy. Whenever they visit.

      Delete
  43. Such beautiful photos. Your Christmas Cactus is different from the ones we have, it's so lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mason Canyon: Plant (and bird) names show a surprising lack of originality don't they? Our magpies are different to your magpies which are different to UK magpies...

      Delete
  44. It's hard to believe those beautiful exotic birds grow like flowers in your reach.....such a gift to see and share them! Thanks for the feather love:)
    -Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer Richardson: Grow - and remain unpicked. And brighten any time they arrive.

      Delete
  45. Replies
    1. R. Mac Wheeler: As I said to LL Cool Joe, I am very familiar with blog induced jealousy. And grateful for the magic which is shared.

      Delete
  46. The flowers looked amazing and you seem to have a really good camera too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael D'Agostino: Thank you. I bought the camera before I went to Antarctica and it has never let me down. A really good point and shoot.

      Delete
  47. I don't think my comment got through grrr....Loving the daisies! They're just my cup of tea, and the Norwegian Bells are very pretty too, though the King parrot has my heart today, what a face, and what a shot too, well done that woman and thank you *smiles*.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All Consuming: The King Parrots make my heart sing with every visit.

      Delete
  48. Ah! You brighten my heart each time you post pictures of parrots, you know that? It's all smiles for free. I must be some sort of hybrid with parrot ancestors somewhere. Most beautiful birds! Big dragon hugs and additional ones for posting parrot pictures. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Al Diaz: My heart goes out to anyone who doesn't smile at parrots. Any parrot, all parrots. And Dragon Hugs are always welcomed - and returned.

      Delete
  49. Wow, the poppy is gorgeous! This is the kind I call "fuzzy poppies" because of their fuzzy edges. It's a lovely flower. I also love cape daisies and I have exactly the same shade in my front garden as you ( the pinkish one). They are still doing beautifully although they are not quite the stunners yet as the purple and lavender ones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carola Bartz: In my usual restrained fashion we have a lot of cape daisies. White ones, purple ones, yellow ones, mauve ones. And these additions will fit right in.
      Love the fuzzy poppy description. Thank you.

      Delete
  50. The cape daisies are very unusual! Everything is so prettttty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. furrybottoms: We do love our garden - and our birds. And also find them pretty. Very, very pretty.

      Delete
  51. A delightful collection, as always. What a difference to my dreary November garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Friko: When your garden is white, ours will be crispy brown. And I know which I would prefer.

      Delete
  52. I love the blue eyes and beaks on the corellas! And this is the first time I've ever seen a double poppy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol Kilgore: We love our corellas too. And welcome the double poppies each year. Frilly dancers...

      Delete
  53. Hi human, Sue,

    Wonderful! It's nice to see a a garden with such blooming nice things. I miss having a garden. However, I'm sure my human dad, Gary, doesn't miss all the hard work. Lovely stuff, my human friend.

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Penny the Jack Russel dog and modest internet superstar!: How nice to see you. I am sure that you do miss your garden - and that part of Gary does as well. It IS a lot of work though.

      Delete
  54. I've never seen a plant like the one above the cape daisies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Snowbrush: My father gave me a cutting of the Christmas cactus more than twenty years ago. I now have many, many hanging pots full of it - and think of him each year when they blaze into bloom.

      Delete
  55. Wonderful splashes of colour and beauty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ladyfi: Thank you. They are cheering me up each day.

      Delete
  56. Christmas cactus? now that is cool!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tammy Theriault: It is - now when our weather is very, very far from cool.

      Delete
  57. I'm really quite taken with the Cape Daisies. I've never seen one until now and they are really pretty to me!! Of course, they're all nice, and so are the gorgeous birds. The red is just stunning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mail4rosey: For such a common plant, the Cape Daisies are really, really pretty. And hardy. Which is a winner.

      Delete
  58. WOW I love those King Parrots. So incredibly beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Optimistic Existentialist: They are. Very, very beautiful and we are privileged to see them so often.

      Delete
  59. The corella is so beautiful! Please don't stop taking photos of your birds and flowers... in the midst of this early snow and single digit (Fahrenheit!) temperatures they are a most welcome reminder that all is not frozen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacquelineand...: Thank you. I do sometimes feel guilty about continually posting pictures of my obsessions.

      Delete
  60. What gorgeous little guys! And the flowers too. I forget you have spring/summer when we have fall/winter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Riot Kitty: I am soooo envious of your cooler temperatures (and snow) at the moment. Over the next few months as I melt I will be revelling in photos from your side of the world.

      Delete
  61. Late to the party, as usual…

    It will never cease to boggle my mind what exotic (to a Californian) beautiful birds hang out at your house. They're so wonderful, I almost wouldn't mind their droppings. Maybe. ;-)

    And your eccentric, lovely, lovely flowers. Sigh…

    However, I do wish I could share some of our increasingly frigid nights with you so you could have the best of both!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): You are so very busy that I feel honoured whenever you find the time to drop in. And have reminded me that it is past time to scrub the veranda. The little darlings have been scoffing mulberries so the crap is quite decorative. Purple and mauve. And very, very difficult to remove.
      Frigid nights? I wish. How I wish. Last week was an oven, followed by a couple of mild days. It is heating up again. Fast.

      Delete
  62. Those birds look like royalty, and you have the most exquisite flowers, too, in your neck of the world.
    Be well, EC. Hugs to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rawknrobyn: Some at least of those birds ARE royalty. And the only kind of royalty that my republican self respects.
      Hugs to you - and I hope you are being productive - and having fun.

      Delete
  63. That male parrot is glorious! And he looks as if he knows it, but I'd rather be friends with his subdued mate. :)

    Gorgeous flora there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn: Despite his stunning looks the male is considerably flightier. When we have king parrots who will eat from our hands it is almost always the female who leads the way.

      Delete
  64. How can you ever do more than simply sit and admire all the beauty around you? So very lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grannie Annie: I count time I spent absorbing the beauty as productive time. Which is probably just as well.

      Delete