Sprinter

From time to time there is discussion about the inappropriateness of the 'four seasons' model in much of Australia. It's certainly not appropriate in Sydney. Spring started in my garden at least a month ago.

Aboriginal people around the country had different seasonal models (see link below).

Dr Tim Entwistle of Sydney's Botanic Gardens proposes a five season model:

Summer: December, January, February, March
Autumn: April, May
Winter: June, July
Sprinter: August, September
Sprummer: October, November

Read more here.

Spring trees

Winter afternoon

Spring 2 : Poppies in a vase

A huge thank you to my friend, Hainee, who organised for these to be sent to me at home while I recuperate.

Poppies, sweet pea and spring blossom.

Signs of Spring 1: Camellia japonica

"Officially" it's still winter here in Sydney, but the signs of spring are all around me, even in my small suburban garden.

Been confined to barracks lately after a small operation, so garden patrol is about as far as I have roamed.

Midwinter's Day

Winter solstice in Sydney - warm (20 deg C), sunny, still, quiet. Birds twittering, children playing in neighbouring yards. A blissful day.

Winter sky

Rockdale

Illawarra Flame Tree

Photos taken 29 Nov 2012 on iPhone 4S

A contrast to the lavendar of November jacarandas is the native Illawarra flame tree. They are often planted alongside each other. This specimen is in Arncliffe Park.

The Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)  is native to subtropical regions on the east coast of Australia. Sometimes it is called a Kurrajong, like other brachychitons of which it is a relative.
The flowers are bell-shaped, and it has pod-like fruit, which contain masses of thin bristles and seeds. The seeds were eaten by Aborigines after toasting.

Sydney - November - Jacaranda

Jacarandas bloom all over Sydney; the petals fall to form carpets of lavender, which then turn to slippery brown sludge as the inevitable November storms make themselves known. November in Sydney is:

kids doing their final school exams;
summer trying to put in an appearance - hot, sunny days of 34 degrees and cool, cludy days of barely 20;
thunderstorms;
christmas making its presence known in shops;
early pre-christmas office parties, and family get-togethers;
putting away the doona and those nights where you can't decide it you're hot or cold;
all the blue flowers - jacarandas, agapanthus, iris, plumbago....
my birthday



Morning

The sun was shining this morning over Arncliffe Park as I was on my way to work; so I had to stop and capture the oh so green green-ness, a result of all the rain we've had lately.

The sun is noticeably lower in the sky and the season is changing, but it's still warm, humid and summery. Beautiful!

Autumn ----> winter colour

In much of the world, the official change of season is at the equinoxes and solstices. In Australia, seasons change "officially" by calendar date: Spring - 1 September; Summer - 1 December; Autumn - 1 March; Winter - 1 June. Of course, plants don't read calendars, and late autumn colour is still very present even when the official designation is winter. These were taken last weekend. Indigenous seasons are another thing again, and vary from place to place.

Winter colour

One of the fashion dictums my dear mother adhered to was "Blue and green should never be seen without a colour in-between". Another was the view that black clothes were only worn by Mediterranean widows - "widows' weeds".

And mum was from Melbourne, a city where Henry Ford's edict on cars "you can have any colour as long as it's black" pevails with respect to satorial elegance.

These days Sydney also tends to think it's Melbourne (or London), as a stint on the railway station this morning once more demonstrated.

Except for the rebel in the pink jacket and multi-coloured scarf who apparently refuses to read the memo!

Ducks on the pond, Sydney Park

Autumn in Chalmers St, Redfern

Beautiful autumn colour in Chalmers St, Redfern.

Most native to Sydney foliage is evergreen, but these street plantings of deciduous trees add lots of colour and enable winter sun through.

Purists mightn't like them, but I love it!

Any opinions?

Late autumn sun

There's nothing like some gorgeous late autumn weather to lift the spirits. The water temperature at Bexley Pool yesterday was 25 degrees, the air temperature hot 23. I took advantage of the benign conditions for a swim. A great way to iron the crinkles out.

Basking in the sun

Today is what I call a "perfect Sydney day" - still, warm (currently 20 degrees, heading for about 26),  sunny, and a weekend! This pair have found the perfect spot to bask. I am taming my garden wildrerness then going to stretch out with a long swim. Heaven.

Autumn bloom

It's autumn and that means my camellia sasanqua starts to bloom.

Long morning shadows

After the deluge, beautiful sunshine, and long morning autumnal shadows

Sydney Harbour summer morning

9:13 am on New Years Day (daylight saving time, so really 8:13), and the sun was already very hot. Aaaah, summer!

On a day like today....

.....it's great to be here! Bexley pool.