Turn off the Engine...

Travelling home late in the afternoon from a rare trip alone to town , I came across one of my favourite spots, this being a large tract of sandunes/mallee/porcupine (spinifex) and all the assosciated understory, wildlife, and colour.
What it is about these mallee dunescapes which so strongly holds my heart I am not sure- but they are something which always brings me pleasure .The mallee trees are domed- the view of them is a gentle one. There are acacias and grevilleas underneath, which are also as neat and domed in appearance as a topiary of a suburban garden - albeit much more hardy! Porcupine clumps are also rounded-- in all dimensions- being mounds of spikes..and they also grow outwards, making groups of plants into a circular'fairy ring'.

Maybe it is the perennial green and soft contours which are pleasing? Even in the midst of the red and dusty years we have had- the mallee landscape is still green.Whatever it is , this one afternoon, with the sun setting, and in no real hurry, I just turned off the car engine, and wound down the windows-coasting downhill a hundred metres, with a cacophony of crickets/cicadas cheering me on.

I then stopped,and went for a short walk off the road.A grey butcherbird flew onto a tree near me, and she sat there for some time, wondering why I was there ... watching me , and following my every move. There were many small bird noises off in the trees, and then there were two grey kangaroos , startled by my appearance, and bounding off into the sunset, fine red sprays of dust hanging in the cool air.

Why wouldn't anyone love 'the mallee' ? :)

Scratchings- the first. Because these images deserve a spot of their own

This morning, it was Spring. In Autumn. For a short space of time I was in a little patch of bush which smelt, sounded ,and looked like Spring :)Since recent rains and warmish weather ,so many of the plants have just 'exploded' with new growth, and they and the insects seem to be making the most of ideal conditions.
My favourite shrub, the Spiny fan Flower, with its tiny intricate flowers and amazing sweet scent is playing host to an assortment of moths, flies and small feeders.

The red eremophila looks beautiful against the grey/green foliage,
Two cassia species are in bloom, their yellow flowers throwing scent to the winds , the few native Pines left have on new rich green foliage :)



I hope you enjoy a little "Spring" moment or two :)