Mount Taylor, a summer walk..

Summer is coming slowly to the Brindabella Mountains, a lovely blue and green tinge lingering from spring.

This is the view of the mountains from our street.

 

This region is Ngunnawal country, and it was an important meeting place and significant to many Aboriginal groups.

The mountains and hills were used as markers and were excellent vantage points for keeping an eye on enemy clans, and signalling friendly clans.

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This is a glimpse of Mt Taylor from our back garden….a backdrop behind our  almond and  plum trees.

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Mt Taylor is part of a green belt between the satellite cities of Woden and Tuggeranong. This was all part of Walter Burley Griffin’s plan for green spaces between town centres

Last month, the end of spring, we enjoyed an early morning walk, up Mt Taylor.

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It was still cool, and the kangaroos were waking up slowly…

Amongst the grasses there were some wild flowers.

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Golden Everlasting

 

 

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St John’s Wort

Today, we did this walk again…..the signs of summer are everywhere…

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The kangaroos are alert and looking for greener grasses..

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Some wild flowers are still blooming…the grasses are drying off..

The natural bush colours of summer; grey, yellow and brown are everywhere to be seen.

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This is a Noisy Friar bird. He looks a little pre-historic, but his beak is very useful for feeding off Eucalyptus trees and wild flowers

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What a joy to see these flowering Eucalyptus trees…the flowers and supple branches are often used in Christmas wreaths, and always remind me of summer holidays..

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Here are two Wattle birds…like many Australian wild birds…quite bossy!

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The magpie calls a friendly hello from his feeding spot in the grasses and wildflowers

This cockatoo has landed with a deafening screech on a tree near us, and climbed to the top spot…

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The Corellas (cousins of the Cockatoos) are all feeding on some wattle bushes near the road…

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I wonder if that magnificent yellow crest increases self esteem for Cockatoos?

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As we walk back home I can’t help taking photos of two lovely flowers, one growing almost wild in a corner of someone’s garden. I’m not sure of its name, but one of the Protea family I think.

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Protea: Rocket pincushion

and the other, a striking Bottle brush, flowering quietly in the shade along the back track. (officially known as the Fire trail)

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And back home to our garden. Paul has spent a few heavy lifting days putting mulch down all over the garden, to keep the plants cool for summer.

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Here in the front garden we are planting for birds and bees…salvias, daisies, Grevilleas, and the lovely Chinese Tallow tree.

May you enjoy your green spaces, where ever you are in the world, and if you are in the depth of a northern hemisphere winter, then I hope you are planning for your spring!

Copyright Geraldine Mackey All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16 Replies to “Mount Taylor, a summer walk..”

  1. Well done Gerrie, you have captured” our backyard” beautifully. It is always interesting to see the area through someone else’s lens. I am always impressed when I go up there how good the constructed and natural landscapes blend and complement the Brindabellas backdrop. Once the temperature cools a bit later this week, I might follow your lead.

    1. Thanks Diana, I’ll label it on the post, I’m going to get one of them, the flowers are lovely. I’ll look out for the soft clear yellow one.

  2. How wonderful to live in a place with views of such majestic mountains, I bet you never tire of seeing them throughout the seasons. Seeing kangaroos would be a pleasure for me too, how marvelous. I loved your birds and wildflowers. I’d love to see a post on your land and gardens, that would be a treat.xxx

    1. Thanks Dina, yes the mountains are always a welcome sight when we come home. I would like to do a post on our garden, but as the weather heats up, everything looks a bit droopy and worn out!
      Hope all the animals and birds are going well.

  3. Those are wonderful views of the mountains from your street and garden. It is always so wonderful to visit you and see such unusual scenes. It is lovely to see the kangaroos in their natural environment. Sarah x

    1. The kangaroos are not tame, but they are used to be people at a distance, so they don’t run when they see a camera…lucky me! I enjoy your Dorset scenes too…. armchair/blog travel at its best!

  4. Great landscape and bird pics, especially that last one of the cockatoo. I like the idea of green belts, but there has been tremendous resistance to it in this country. Landowners feel like they are being cheated out of the value of their land.

    1. We were very fortunate to have green belts as the original plan of the city. I think these green belts will come under threat over time as the population increases. There is frenetic building going on at the moment, without much planning.

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