Wherever grevilleas and banksias are found  expect New Holland Honeyeaters to follow. 

They mostly eat the nectar of flowers but in this instance I've illustrated my pair in gum tree blossom. Their habitat includes home town Brisbane right around the coast to just north of Perth (Western Australia). 

A big event in my small garden in Kangaroo Point – I impatiently await their arrival again this spring.  

South Side Art Market

September 20 2017

Big day today. Big sleep tonight.
Faces, friends, hot shoppers, lots of artists showing wares.
South Side Art Market really draws a crowd. 
And fun.

Update on Bondi Beach one man 
Bird-and-Orchid art exhibition

The March newsletter went out today with updates on the Bondi exhibition. Here's the link http://bit.ly/1M6wVbm if you are not already receiving GRAPHICs ON-LINE on a regular monthly basis. There is a subscription button if you so wish to join in. Best MaX

Visited the EKKA today

Everything moves and nothing changes.

The Royal Queensland Show is Queensland's largest event. The country comes to town to show livestock and produce. Show ring events prevail but the dog shows, cake making sideshow alleys, and junk food stalls are all part of the play. Strawberries and cream everywhere this year and the old Dagwood Dog now costs a whopping six Aussie dollars. Original buildings being torn down and repaired, school bands blasting off everywhere and the big People's Day ring events still to come. Could not find the flower pavilion so unable to check out the orchids. Drat! And sunburned head. Forgot the hat. The show goes on!

Mind travel

Today is my 77th birthday and for weeks I have been wondering how to celebrate it in true Capricorn style. A few days ago, I started this illustration.

The 8.5 tonne rock was a birthday gift to myself back in 2006. A watery cascade reticulated through and over the rock that sat in a small pond – display centrepiece in the orchid igloo. Perfect setting for Dendrobium – my favourite orchid family.

Here, Dendrobium fimbriatum sits foreground, Dendrobium Gatton Sunray lower rock, and Debdrobium chrysotoxum top of rock.

A backdrop of palm frees and a bamboo overhang, supporting various Hoya species, completes the picture. How many shots were taken of Orchid Rock over past years but, somehow, this illustration is the way I shall best remember the scene as I get ready to plan a new (and much smaller) orchid garden here in Brisbane.

Friends from afar

Orchids survive in the strangest of places and sometimes the pampered greenhouse pet takes a shine to life in the great outdoors. A homecoming so to speak. One of the beautiful Laelia Cattleya crosses from tropical South America is such an orchid. Set free to grow on the log of a fallen tree on the banks of a creek in South East Queensland, it provides a glorious site. Seems quite at home among the gum trees and the Australian wildlife.

Probably infra dig according to some environmental enthusiasts, but in my books one little orchid is not going to do much harm. And the Kookaburras are laughing.

Who knows. Maybe way out there un the jungles of the Amazon some guy is planting an Aussie Dendrobium at this very moment.

Lunch by the river

Enjoying a great Aussie tradition. A feed of prawns. Never better than during Easter break. Balmy autumnal weather. CityCats gliding silently by the Regatta Hotel ferry stop on the far banks of the river. Plump and pink Australian Banana prawns cooled in ice with the trimmings near at hand. Baker's rolls, spring onions, lemon wedges, unsalted butter, green capsicum and red ripe tomatoes. Quick! One shot for the records. No cooking and very little cleanup. A good white wine and tangy citrus lime juice for non-drinkers. Happy Easter!