Begonia Staudtii is Blooming!

I bought this B. staudtii last September at the ABS convention and put it in one of my terrariums.  It's been doing well and is now blooming.  I like the texture of the leaves and the yellow blooms.

B. staudtii

B. staudtii

B. staudtii

B. staudtii

B. staudtii

Deuterocohnia Brevifolia

My deuterocohnia brevifolia is flowering! I've had this plant for many years. It was about 4" in diameter when I bought it, and it's now over 13''. The last picture was taken with a digital microscope. It's growing over the edges of the pot and I'm not looking forward to repotting it as it's not a lot of fun to handle.

deuterocohnia brevifolia

deuterocohnia brevifolia

deuterocohnia brevifolia

Nuttall's Woodpeckers

A pair of Nuttall's Woodpeckers have been making a hole in the dead stalk of the giant Agave Salmiana. The male has a little bit of red on his head.

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Agave Salmiana

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Mourning Doves Hanging Out In The Garden

This afternoon I sat on the steps on the hillside watching a few birds.  Mostly Mourning Doves and this one Western Scrub-Jay that was in the Pine tree above me.

Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove

Western Scrub-Jay

Black-headed Grosbeaks Return!

Some Black-headed Grosbeaks have been here for a few days, and I finally got a picture of one! They are very skittish, and every time I quietly step outside, they fly away.   

Black-headed Grosbeak

Black-headed Grosbeak

Social Distancing in A Begonia Nursery!

Seeing Red, In The Garden!

Visiting Bushtit

This little Bushtit has been visiting us for the last few days. It likes to hang out just outside the kitchen French doors, making short flights between the begonias, geraniums and the door. I like how it peeks inside the house.

Bushtit

Bushtit

Bushtit

Bushtit

Bushtit

Bushtit

Bushtit

Bushtit

It's Springtime!

Nothing says spring has arrived, like an arrangements of tulips!

Tulips

Healesville Sanctuary - Healesville Australia

What's a visit to Australia with out seeing a Koala?  Before leaving Australia, we visited the Healesville Sanctuary.  Due to the COVID-19 virus, we could only go into open air exhibits, all of the the exhibits in a building were closed.  This sanctuary is one of two places that have successful bred Platypus in captivity.  We were able to see some platypus in the Platypus Walk, but is was too dark for pictures.

Koala

Koala

Koala

The Keeper is trying to lure the Koala with Eucalyptus leaves down to the scale to be weighed.

Koala

Koala

Galah Cockatoo

Emu

Barn Owl

Heron

Heron

Kangaroo

Kangaroo

Kangaroo

Kangaroo

Tasmanian Devil