Breakfast @ the Paperbark

Our Weeping Paperbark

Once again, it's Summer in Brisbane and gone are the dry, sunny days to be replaced with wet, stormy skies. Summer is becoming more and more like the sort we get up in Cairns but hopefully, without the cyclones! After the disastrous floods of January, I've noticed that us Brisbanites are becoming more clued-up on storms and disaster preparation. The odd thing is, storm awareness was always prevalent amongst Cairns locals. It's just that Brisbane doesn't have the same kind of regular exposure to mother nature that Cairns does.

Craig and I are settling well in our house, despite going through our first break-in. Actually, I've decided to start a one year adventure of getting to know the house and its seasons. The other day, I was getting ready for work when I heard a commotion outside the front of our house. Curious, I looked outside and what did I spy, but a gang of 4 to 5 rainbow lorikeets feasting on the Weeping Paperbark. Now this is a massive Aussie native, standing at maybe 11m. It recently flowered, which translates into a breakfast buffet if you happen to be a Lorikeet.

A Rainbow Lorikeet

I have fond childhood memories of  rainbow lorikeets from when we first moved to Australia. When my parents brought their first house in Ravizza Drive, there was an Australian Silky Oak that regularly attracted Lorikeets when it flowered. Mickey and I spent a lot of time outside, playing in the yard that was completely filled with all sorts of plants (like the orange Birds of Paradise). It was in Australia that we learnt about weird creatures like hairy caterpillas (which shouldn't be touched as they caused you to itch ridiculously) and other deadly Australian creatures like red-back spiders.

The Lorikeets are fond of feeding upside down, and are nearly completely camouflaged when doing so.

Smile for the camera!

After so many years in Australia, I've grown to love the strange flora and fauna alike. There's something truly special about the unusual collection of shapes & colours and knowing that there are so many Aussie plants in the garden, truly make it home for me. And we're beginning to suspect that we might even have a macadamia tree in our backyard... we're going to do some investigating and tell you more. Hope you're surviving the pre-Christmas panic. We finished our shopping today.

Lots of Love,
Demi & Craig.