Polyisobutene dumping at sea – Cornwall

Over the last few days in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, over a thousand stricken seabirds including guillemots, puffins and razorbills have been washed up on our shores, dead or dying. The culprit: a substance called Polyisobutene (PIB) which covers these precious seabirds in a toxic glue.
Currently, it’s legal to dump PIB at sea. But a simple change to maritime law could change that and help prevent the scenes of destruction we’ve seen in areas like Whitsand Bay this week.

Happier days - Puffin running on the water at Whitsand Bay

Earth Day in Lithgow – 23-04-2013

Autumn Poplars

Willow bottlebrush (callistemon-salignus)

National Parks of New South Wales protest rally in Sydney 18-04-2012

No Hunting in NSW National Parks!  3000 people were at this protest rally in front of NSW Parliament House.

Bob Brown speaking from the dais – inspiring, passionate as ever about the need to act as caretakers of the land and protect what remains of our flora and fauna in the National Parks.  "We go out into the wild to find ourselves, we don't go out into the wild to find bullets and guns”

Also speaking was former NSW environment minister Bob Debus who said that the Coalition government's decision to allow hunting in National Parks is part of a “deliberate attack” on the environment. "The point of National Parks is to be a safe place for Australia's native wildlife"

More Blue Mountains – Katoomba 15-04-2013

View from Carrington Park Katoomba

Yellow Admiral resting on Radiata Pine

Tricky photo  – taken in the garden, I worried that my shadow or presence could trigger its flight!

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden – Mount Tomah 14-04-2013

‘ Braidwood Waratah’ (Telopea mongaensis) – could well be wrong on this!

Ian Bundeluk Watson - Circle of Fire  2002 - depicting the Durag peoples use of fire for hunting animals. Kangaroo, witchety grubs, snake, lizard, cockatoo, echidna , possum and frogs.

Early explorers saw thousands of little camp fires from the Kurragong Heights not far from here.

Rimu or Red Pine ( Dacrydium cupressinum) ranging from southern China to New Zealand, but not Australia. It is an ancient Godwanan conifer that has existed for over 70 million years.

White topped Pitcher ( Sarracenia leucophylla)

Acers – in glorious colours

Fuchsia Heath (Epacris logiflora)

Various Proteas – South Africa

They belong to the same family of plants as the Australian banksias, grevilleas and waratahs

Blue Mountains trail – Katoomba New South Wales 01-04-2013

Taken from Burrabarroo lookout


Tree Ferns and bank ferns


Mountain Devil (Lambertia formosa)

Sydney NSW Australia 29-03-2013

Poppet! She is retiring gracefully,  yet still in command

Farrer Park MRT – Singapore 22-03-2013

Mass Rapid Transport system – Little India MRT station

Paving Little India MRT station

Stunning chairs on the way to Sim Lim Tower

Delectable egg custard tarts in thin short crust pastry found only at Farrer Park MRT station!

the National Orchid Garden – Singapore 20-03-2013

 








 
National Flower of Singapore – Vanda Miss Joaquim  (Vanda hookeriana) named after Agnes Joaquim in whose garden this hybrid originated

Chinese Gardens - Singapore 19-03-2013

Singapore squirrel

Singapore heron

Frangipani blooms everywhere here

This lovely building is near Speakers Corner

Hampstead walk - UK 13-03-2013

Old - black tile street signs

 
Lovely design not certain of date – possibly 1910 ?

D H Lawrence lived here


Exemplary terracotta plaque