Clare Valley South Australia
No Comments »14th May, 2006; Category: Animals, Art Galleries, Birds, Clare Valley, Picnics, Plants, South Australia
Morning Walk
We spent a very relaxing morning at home. About an hour before lunch we went for a walk. First we visited some ponds near my daughter’s home. Here I observed a flock of some 30 Australian Shovelers, one of the duck species. I hadn’t seen this species in 23 years; the last time was in the very same spot as this morning. We then walked along the banks of the beautiful Lake Inchquin, part of the Clare Golf Club. A delight here was the sighting of about a dozen Bill-Billed Ducks, another hard to see species. They seem to be resident here. We also saw about four Black Fronted Dotterels. This is a beautiful wading bird and a delight to see anywhere.
Model Trains
Next to the lake is a park where the local Model Engineers Club has set up nearly two kilometres of train track. They run their model trains twice a month and provide rides, for a small fee, for those who come along to watch. We stood talking to the members for about half an hour before walking home for lunch.
After lunch we drove to the nearby town of Blyth about twenty minutes away. We went to visit the Medika Gallery run by wildlife artist Ian Roberts. We’ve known Ian for quite a few years yet we’ve been negligent in never having visited the gallery. I love his work. He has an amazing gift of capturing the character of Australian birds in their natural habitats. When I’m rich and famous I plan to buy some of his paintings. He greeted us warmly, and after a few minutes discussion he invited us to visit his nearby bush block.
Windmill Cottage
The Windmill Cottage is in the nearby hills about halfway between Clare and Blyth. Ian is also interested in growing and planting Australian native species. He has a five acre arboretum just down the hill from the cottage, one of the many Bed and Breakfast accommodation places in the Clare Valley. We drove to the lookout he has on the property. Here he has set up a picnic table under one of the large old eucalypt trees. The view out over the Balaklava plains is simply stunning in the late afternoon autumn sunlight. The patchwork of fields, some green with the first growth for the new season, some still brown with the last of the drying grass from last year while others a chocolate brown after having been worked up by the farmers in recent days. The recent rain has been promising of a good cropping season to come.
Wonderful picnic spot
We had brought along a thermos for an afternoon cuppa plus a treat from the local bakery. Few picnic areas could rival our spot this afternoon. I managed some lovely photos in the late afternoon light, often the best time for such shots. As we left we stopped for a few minutes to have a look through the arboretum Ian had planted.
Kangaroos
We surprised a grazing family of three Western Grey Kangaroos. Ian had installed a rabbit proof fence to give the plants a fair go in getting going, this fence was no barrier to these determined animals. They actually seemed to be quite at home and were not at all upset by our presence. Perhaps they are residents.
Jamestown South Australia
Today we travelled north of Clare to the rural town of Jamestown. Family visiting time. We had lunch with my wife’s niece, her husband and three children – all under three years of age. That’s courage. That’s commitment. The twins are growing rapidly; they are nearly 18 months old. And their brother is almost three and quite the little man about the house.
Two Year Old anctics
I helped his father, Steve, putting up a new fence. Young Riley needed quite a few reminders that the posts were being set in cement and that they shouldn’t be moved in any way. Try telling that to an over-active two-almost three year old! Taking to a post one is trying to set in cement with a hammer is NOT recommended. Later in the afternoon my wife’s sister and brother in law came over from Peterborough for the evening. A very pleasant evening of catching up with family. We left quite a bit later than I thought we would and it was quite frosty on the way home.
Nocturnal bird sightings
As we neared Clare I was suddenly aware of a rabbit sitting on the edge of the road, but I quickly realised it wasn’t a rabbit as it flew off. By its colouration and size it must have been a Southern Boobook Owl. Good sighting. Reminds me of the sighting of a Spotted Nightjar on the way home from Geranium last week. Another great sighting and the kind one doesn’t get everyday.
Barossa Valley South Australia
No Comments »12th May, 2006; Category: South Australia
Mt. Lofty Ranges
Today we travelled to the Clare Valley to visit our daughter. Along the way we drove through the Mt. Lofty Ranges from Murray Bridge to Gawler. We passed through the picturesque Mt. Crawford pine forest area. This drive is beautiful at any time of the year. During the summer the paddocks are covered in dry grass which contrasts with the lush green canopies of the tall eucalypt (gum) trees. Their stark white trunks glow in the harsh summer sun like stately ghosts guarding the grazing sheep.
The Barossa Valley in Autumn
We are now in the middle of autumn here in Australia. This season is perhaps not as dramatic as some other parts of the world, but in certain areas it is just as beautiful in its own way. Before reaching Gawler we travelled through parts of the world famous wine growing district, the Barossa Valley. The vineyards are changing from their summer green and the leaves are orange and gold and starting to fall, carpeting the ground like confetti strewn all over by the wind. The other fruit trees, like apricots and peaches, are also losing their leaves.
New Growth
Scattered in between the vineyards and orchards we saw a patchwork of fields. Some of these paddocks are a carpet of green with the fresh pasture growth. The early rains have resulted in quick growth. Grazing sheep scattered over these paddocks make the scene an idyllic one and so typical of many parts of rural Australia. Some farmers have commenced preparing the soil for seeding wheat and other grain crops. The cultivated ground adds yet another texture to the amazingly beautiful patchwork pattern.
Mid North district
North of Gawler we left the ranges and travelled through the farming lands of the lower and mid-north region of South Australia. We went through the growing town of Roseworthy and its Agricultural College. On to the small towns of Tarlee and Auburn with many wheat fields either being worked up ready for seeding or being applied a pre-emergent spray to prevent unwanted weed growth.
Plant nursery
A roadside sign at Auburn interrupted our journey. We followed this sign and several others until we found a new plant nursery we had heard of but had not yet visited. Over a half hour later we were on our way again, together with a box full of native Australian plants to add to our collection at home.
It was a lovely sunny day with a cool breeze; the temperature was about 18 degrees. It was just right for a drive through a beautiful part of South Australia. This drive is one of our favourite drives.
Do you have a favourite drive? I’d like to hear about it. Why don’t you share it in the comments section?
Wild weather in Geranium
We had some really wild weather over the weekend just gone. Winter is definitely on the way here in the mallee districts of South Australia. On Saturday morning we packed up the ute (a Mazda Bravo) and the trailer with plants from my wife’s nursery (see Mallee Native Plants).
Geranium
We arrived in the little town of Geranium mid-morning, just in time for the set up phase for the sale. Geranium is about an hour’s drive east of home here in Murray Bridge. It is situated next to the Mallee Highway about mid-way between Tailem Bend and Lameroo. This little town has about 80 residents with many more in the farming areas that surround it. It is a tight knit and proud community and was the winner of the Tidiest Town Competition in 1999. It has a primary school, general store, garage, two churches and well established and maintained sporting facilities.
Plant Sale
Every year for the last ten years or so we have journeyed out to Geranium for the annual plant sale organised by the local Australian Plants Society (A.P.S.). We set up tables in a square in the school playground. The plants are then arranged alphabetically by species name. Description labels are placed at the front to assist the customers with their selection. Customers usually come from a wide area – anything up to 100km away or more. Some even come for the weekend, staying with friends or family.
Wild Weather
During the afternoon on Saturday the wind and cloud steadily increased. The wind was not so much of a problem because the sales area is protected on three sides by classrooms. During the evening we experienced heavy rain. All the local farmers were extemely happy because this rain was significant enough to commence their wheat seeding for this year. It will also mean good pastures later for their sheep flocks. Sunrise witnessed gale force wind gusts accompanied by more heavy showers of rain. These continued for most of the day. Dodging these showers was a regular event, but with lots of under cover areas we lived with it.
Poor Sales
The plant sales were down considerably compared with previous years. We think that there were two major factors at work. The weather most definitely discouraged many people from attending. The high fuel prices at present must also have impacted the willingness of people to drive distances to come to this tiny community. Despite that we all had a great social outing. Some of the growers, like ourselves, come from a distance so we “camp” overnight in the school library. We always have a barbecue on the Saturday evening as well as a combined tea after the sale on the Sunday. Getting together with these people is always good fun. If we make enough from the sales to cover our fuel costs we are usually happy.
Needless to say the sun came out late in the afternoon – after all the customers had left.
And then today has been a glorious autumn day – sunny, calm and very pleasant.
New links
No Comments »6th May, 2006; Category: General
Recently I have added a number of new links to my links section. To access these links go to the Links section to the right.
I have included links to a travel agent as well as some of my favourite places in Australia.