Amazon Lily

I was entranced by this amazing water lily in Adelaide's Botanic Gardens

Participating in James' http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

Wishing you all a fabulous, healthy, happy and safe 2013, and many thanks for the joy you've brought to my days with your wonderful photography.

I spy . . .

Spent a delightful few hours early yesterday morning with my photography buddy in Adelaide's Botanic Gardens. The capture above was one of many feasts for the eyes.

Joining Nick's http://www.floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/

Red sky at night . . .

This was the fiery sunset from a friend's property at Springton in South Australia's Barossa Valley a few weeks ago, after a rather hot day. (Thankfully it was not a fire, despite giving every appearance of one!)

Joining Skywatch Friday at http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/

On Golden Pond - take 2

"Captured" these 2 during the recent visit to Chain of Ponds around sunset

Joining in with Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com.au/ 

and http://camera-critters.blogspot.com.au/

Make hay . . .

With Christmas on our doorstep, so to speak, my mind is drawn to the birth of baby Jesus and the bedding on which He lay. 

Contributing to http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com.au/ and

once again, wishing fellow bloggers all over the world a very Happy and Special Christmas.

A Landscape Sandwich

Sunset from Chain of Ponds in the Adelaide Hills last night.

(An interesting exercise in safety before photographic zeal, watching for traffic while not wanting to miss a second of the beauty unfolding!)

Joining in with http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com.au/

Sincerely wishing all fellow participants a very happy, safe and meaningful Christmas

Christmas wreaths

Wishing all bloggers a simply wonderful, meaningful Christmas spent with loved ones and a big thank you to all for the joy you've spread throughout 2012 with your marvellous photography.

Joining in with James' http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

(special thanks to you James for hosting this entertaining site!)

Historic Hahndorf

This is one of the pathways leading to the home of the late wonderful artist, Sir Hans Heysen. It is located at Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills and, wandering around his property, one can easily see how his surroundings would have provided inspiration for his marvellous talent.

Joining in with Friday's Fences at http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com.au/

Raindrops on Roses...

Participating in Nick's http://www.floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/ 

Christmas colours

Linking in to James'  http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

Good tidings to all and trusting that, in the midst of Christmas preparations, gift buying and meal choices, that you are able to "take the pause that refreshes" (and I don't mean Coca-Cola!).

Heavenly shades of night

Linking up with Skywatch Friday

Visit http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/ for more sky shots from around the world.

Rose in Shadow

Joining in Outdoor Wednesday - visit http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com.au/

for more images

History's home

Pictured above are Levels 1 and 2 of the Mortlock Wing of the State Library of South Australia. These provide quiet study areas and internet access. The ground floor houses exhibition bays that open a window into the history and culture of South Australia, featuring the people, places, issues and events that have contributed to the State's development.

Mr John Andrew Tennant Mortlock (1894-1950) was the eldest son of William and Rosye Tennant Mortlock, a wealthy pastoralist family, whose residence at Mintaro near Clare was Martindale Hall, made famous through the movie Picnic at Hanging Rock.. He was educated at Glenelg Grammar School and St Peter's College in South Australia, and at Jesus College, Cambridge University.

In honour of a substantial bequest from him, the Libraries Board of South Australia (LBSA) resolved that a percentage of the South Australiana Collections would be housed in the wing and named the Mortlock Library of South Australiana. The Mortlock Library was opened in 1986.

Visit http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/ for
 links to other scenes from around the world. (and many thanks to our lovely hostesses)

St Wolfgangsee

This scene I captured 40 years ago during a skiing holiday in Austria. This is Lake Wolfgangsee.

(I have been going through my old slides and converting them - those that are worth saving, that is; and this one qualified!)

(Wikipedia notes that: Wolfgangsee is a lake in Austria that lies mostly within the state of Salzburg and is one of the best known lakes in the Salzkammergut resort region. The municipalities on its shore are Strobl, St. Gilgen with the villages of Abersee and Ried as well as the market town of St. Wolfgang in the state of Upper Austria. The town and the lake are named after Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg, who, according to legend, built the first church here in the late 10th century.)

Joining in James' http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

A pink crown

Came across this unusual hydrangea recently - one I've not seen before. I believe it is called a Lace-cap and the crown or coronet of pink petals surrounding the "lace" sets it off nicely.

Participating in Nick's http://www.floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/

White and pink and ...

Joining in with Friday's Fences at

http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com.au/

Night & Day

After another hot day recently, a trip to the beach at Largs Bay provided some welcome, cooling relief.  As the sun sank below the horizon . . . .

. . . so the moon came into view behind us, playing "peek a boo" behind the trees.

Joining Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com.au/

Soft orange

Connecting with http://www.lorikart.com/2012/11/mandarin-orange-monday-20.html  http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com.au/ and

http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/

Grateful thanks to the hosts of these sites, enabling us to share with one another

A quiet Saturday

As our eyes soaked up the splendour of these Jacaranda trees, our feet were treated to a veritable carpet of fallen blossom.

Here the vivid red Oleander provided contrast to the Jacaranda

A very pleasant, relaxing (and wonderfully cool !) start to the weekend, observing this refreshing blossom throughout several Adelaidean suburbs (followed, of course, by the "compulsory" cappucino - or is that capuccino?)

Joining in with http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com.au/

Lakeside

A balmy evening at Mawson Lakes

Linking with James' http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

Happy weekend to all!

A thundery finish

Soon after these shots were taken at dusk earlier this week, we had a VERY loud thunderstorm but precious little rain.  The sky was so fiery, it was as if a bushfire had got out of control - thankfully that wasn't the case!

Linking to Skywatch Friday at http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/

Eagle eyes?

Help requested!

These photos leave much to be desired in many respects, however, I was trying out my new camera and tripod in some local wetlands and suddenly saw what appeared to be an eagle. Am wondering whether one of our many bird watchers might be able to assist in identifying it and perhaps even explain what the eagle might have been doing?

(I have this impression that eagles build their aeries on high, not on the ground).

Wedge-tailed eagles are fairly common here in South Australia - could this be one?

This next shot gives an idea of the bird's wingspan.

(I'll aim to get better shots, given the opportunity, in future, but meantime hope someone has the patience and interest to help out with an ID!)

Joining in with Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com.au/

Bottoms up!

Observed in nearby wetlands and just couldn't resist that first shot

(oh no - is there a trace of paparazzi in me?!)

Contributing to http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/

Blue and Green

I wonder how that old adage "Blue and green should never be seen" ever came to be adopted in the fashion world!  These colours are the very essence of nature.

Contributing to Nick's  http://www.floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/ 

Wishing all a wonderful week.

Country life

Contributing to http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com.au/

Happy weekend all!

Out and About . . .

Following a refreshing 15 degree drop in temperature from Tuesday's 37oC, yesterday was the perfect opportunity to venture out once more with camera in hand!

Joining Nick's Floral Friday Foto meme.

Do visit http://www.floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/ for more floral images.