Poppy love

Each year, I wait hopefully for the pink poppies to open and this year I’m rewarded with some lovely blooms.  The insects absolutely adore the flowers also, and appear to go into raptures over the pollen.  This does make it easier to get up close and personal with my camera – they seem to be blissfully unaware! Just like this tiny hoverfly.

The immigrants

I was thrilled to see this week, a pair of Rainbow Birds, Merops Ornatus, nesting in the high banks of the river.  It’s the first time I’ve seen them nesting here, although I knew they nested further downstream.  The Rainbow bird is an immigrant from northern reaches.  It is very welcome here, bringing colour and grace and diversity.  As most immigrants do.

I shudder to think how Australia’s culinary habits would be without the influence of non-British peoples.  Actually, I have memories of how it was…..almost enough to put me off eating for life….stodgy overcooked slush….

This week, an uproar occurred in my state, when the Federal government announced their intention to transform an old Defence housing area in Inverbrackie into a low-security detention centre for immigrants waiting processing.  Families.  Women, men and children.  Families.  I am disgusted at the lack of compassion displayed by vocal locals protesting  about this proposal.  I lived in that area some years ago and am familiar with its facilities and think it’s about time Australians got off their selfish butts and walked in another’s shoes for a time.  After all, those who are protesting are not the indigenous people of this land – the only ones who have a right to speak.  The ones protesting are immigrants themselves…nay, descendants of invaders to this glorious land.  As I am.  And I say welcome.

Biological diversity?

The Convention on Biological Diversity is underway in Nagoya, Japan. Like many other Australians, I am bitterly disappointed that there are no Australians representative at this convention.  When I checked out Australia’s Profile at first glance it appeared not too bad, but on closer examination I could see that:

“Terrestrial protected areas covered 10.52% (80.89 million hectares) of the country in 2004 whereas marine protected areas, including ‘no take’ zones’, covered 64,600,000 hectares or 7% of Australia’s marine jurisdiction.”

So…..17% total of area protected…..hmmmm…….where is the opportunity for biological diversity when there is so little protected?

Australia grows huge quantities of grain.  No opportunities for diversity there.  A monoculture crop. We’re told we need to feed the starving millions….yet the current path we’re set on, appears to ensure there will always be starving millions….

My heart weeps for humanity’s wrongdoings…..

Beautiful imports

Yet another case of ‘visitors’ to this country who have mixed blessings.  Although I don’t know what benefit at all the white snail has – it’s of significance to crops in downgrading their quality.  In some areas they are almost as thick as snow on the ground, but thankfully not like that here yet.

The purple flower is an Echium species, variously called Patterson’s curse or Salvation Jane, depending on which state of Australia you’re in.  Efforts to control it have met with limited success and this plant causes death to horses if grazed in any quantity yet can be useful drought feed to sheep.  Beekeepers also find this plant useful, as it provides nectar in dry times when most other plants have given up.  Did I mention it also causes extreme hayfever in some humans?

Such a beautiful purple colour flower….. what a pity it has decided to become a weed….