Posted on in Public gardens

A Tropical Paradise

botanicgardens-singapore_lah_7427Last November I took you on a virtual tour of the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia. Today we’re going to visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens. According to Wikipedia, “It is one of three gardens, and the only tropical garden, to be honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.” One visit, and it’s easy to see why.

The gardens were first planted in 1859 and presently contain over 60,000 plants. The place is huge—it took us hours to walk from one end to the other, but then I had to stop and appreciate every plant (and bird) I passed.

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Posted on in Bird ID Quiz

January Bird Quiz

I’ve been posting my little bird quizzes for several years now, and it’s time for a change. This year, instead of showing you a bird and asking you to identify it, I’m going to show you part of a bird and ask you to identify it.

Aren’t I nice?

I’m just trying to be realistic. How often do you get to see an entire bird? Too many times the bird is hiding in the bushes, or on the wrong side of the tree, and all we get is a glimpse. This way, you’ll get practice in the practical challenges of birdwatching. See, I’m being helpful.

Here’s an example—can you name this bird?

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Posted on in Plant Profiles, Xeriscape

A Flower of the Gods

dianthus-tiny-rubies-1Just as each month is associated with a particular birthstone (January’s being a garnet), so is each month paired with a particular flower. According to folklore, each of these flowers symbolized specific characteristics, which were in turn assigned to those born during that month. While some claim this custom arose with the Roman empire, I suspect that the florist industry might also have had something to do with it.

Well, it turns out that January’s “birth flower” is the carnation. Carnations are on my Top Ten list of flowers. They’re pretty, typically inexpensive, last a long time as a cut flower, and have a scent that I swoon over. Apparently, I’m in good company. Their genus, Dianthus, comes from the Greek for “flower of the gods.” How appropriate! (more…)

Posted on in Birding Trips, Birds

Pursuing a Purple Sandpiper

purple-sandpiper_dillonreservoir-co_lah_2314

Gelett Burgess may have avoided purple cows*, but a Purple Sandpiper is a different matter. During the last week of 2016, I was one of hundreds of birders who flocked to Dillon Reservoir, in the Colorado Rockies, for a glimpse of this misplaced bird. For a species that winters along the Atlantic coast and summers in far northern Canada and Greenland, an individual spending the holidays in Colorado was a bit out of the ordinary. Perhaps it was fooled by the unseasonable weather we had a month or so ago—or perhaps it simply got lost.

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Posted on in Birds, Nature, Photography

Parting Shots

As the year quickly passes into history, I traditionally post some “parting shots.” This year’s photos were all taken on our trip to Australia this fall. I hope they bring a smile as we finish 2016.

(You can see previous years’ pictures by typing “parting shots” into the search box in the upper right hand column.)

 

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Australian White Ibis, near Daintree Village, QLD

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Posted on in Birding Trips, Birds, Media Reviews, Nature

A Down Under Carol

We’re all familiar with French hens, turtledoves, and partridges in pear trees, but do you associate Christmas with bellbirds, friarbirds, and currawongs? You might, if you live in Australia!

Having just visited this amazing continent (and we barely got a taste in three weeks!), I am delighted to share this distinctly Aussie Christmas carol with you. It was written by William Garnet James and John Wheeler, is sung by Bucko & Champs, and was posted to YouTube by Shirley Wookie.

Carol of the Birds

Make sure your sound is on. I’m afraid the quality is rather poor, so don’t make the screen too big. And for the record, “orana” means welcome in an Aboriginal tongue.
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At top: Currawong (Faulconbridge, NSW, left), and Helmeted Friarbird (Daintree, QLD).

Posted on in Photography

Merry Christmas

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Joy to the world! The lord is come—let earth receive her king.
Joy to the world! The lord is come—Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing!

Now, please get off your computer and go spend time with real people. That’s what I’m doing. I’ll be back Monday with a new post. Merry Christmas!

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Posted on in Birds

Cold Brrrrrds! (a rerun)

birders_laveta-co_lah_7416Here it is noon on Saturday, and it’s currently -5 outside. Everyone is talking about the weather—especially because yesterday the temperature soared to 60 degrees. The entire country is shivering. Adding to the discussion is the fact that today is our local Christmas Bird Count. Hardy birders are out counting even hardier birds. Brrrr!

While the frigid conditions outside seem unusual for our area, an arctic cold front isn’t actually all that rare. Please go back to 2013 and see what I had to say then about Cold Brrrrrds! I think it is appropriate for today as well.