Blue Mountains Journal

The sunny day had given way to misty rain so it was time to go back home. Heading back to the car I noticed this hardenbergia vine twining across the path, spring is about to explode in the forest. But first, we're going on a Sweet Wayfaring adventure by the sea ... see you over there.

Mount Hay has the most amazing diversity of flowers. It seems that the harsher the conditions the harder nature works. In spring time there are dozens and dozens of tiny flowers. At this time of year things are leaner but there were still some to be found. The autumn banksias above and the Mountain Devil (Lambertia Formosa) below. After a while the weather got quite devilish too ... I'll show you that tomorrow.

Drumstick plants (Ipsopogon anemonifolius) are common on the Mount Hay heath. At this time of year it's easy to see why they have this name. Here is what they look like in spring .

Banksias are designed to open their pods during fire for new seed to generate. Click here to see. These ended up as mere skeletons today.

The fires were in late 2006. In January 2007 new growth was already beginning to stir from the earth. In October 2007 is was beginning to establish and today is now quite lush but still has a way to go.

While I was taking the photo of the wattle I looked around to see what else might be in flower and found this Styphelia tuboflora on the other side of the road. Tomorrow I'll show you what's at the end of this track.

Winter is not traditionally a time when there are lots of flowers but there are always a hardy few. A notable exception are the low growing wattles which are dotted throughout the forest floor. A cheerful addition to cold winter days. I love wattles (see here , here , here and here ) and for some reason like seeing into their fluffy balls in macro.

We are off on another drive along 20kms or so of dirt track. We are heading off in the opposite direction to our last trip -- this time to Mount Hay. As usual, there's lot's of forest to pass through on the way.

This is my 500th post in Blue Mountains Journal! I began in early 2007 when I was retrenched so for some months had the luxury of time to go walking daily. It kindled a passion through which I've discovered so much -- about the mountains, about the native plants and birds, about poetry, about photography, about light -- as I have walked and been blessed. I no longer write here everyday because I split my time with Sweet Wayfaring, a journal of journeys beyond the mountains. A new adventure begins over there today . I'll be back here with a new walk in a couple of weeks time. Words to walk with: From the Holy Bible Psalm 89:15 (New International Version) Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

While we are waiting to get there I will show you a few plants we saw on the way. The autumn banksias were in flower but I find these dead husks from the summer flowering variety interesting too. This particular type of banksia has been made famous as the Big Bad Banksia Men in children stories written by May Gibbs. Words to walk with: From Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs "One day a wise old Kookaburra came to the neighbourhood. All the Blossoms and Nuts crowded in to hear him speak. He said, "I am old! I have traveled! I have seen Humans! Humans are strong as the Wind, swift as the River, fierce as the Sun. They can scratch one stick upon another and, lo, there will be a Bush Fire. They love the Fire. The male Human carries it about in his skin and the smoke comes out of his nostrils. They whistle like the birds; they are cruel as the snake. They have many skins which they take off many times. When all the skins are off the Human looks like a pale frog."

We are on our way to Weeping Rock but I love to just look around at the trees and keep an eye out for birds flitting around their branches. It is sooo good to be out walking again even though this track is taking me down more steps than I remembered from last time I was here.

Kanimbla Valley road branches off the to the West from Shipley's plateau. It is a pretty drive with lovely trees and tall rocks in the quiet of the bush. Words to walk with: Silence by Thomas Hood "There is a silence where hath been no sound, There is a silence where no sound may be, In the cold grave—under the deep, deep sea, Or in wide desert where no life is found, Which hath been mute, and still must sleep profound; No voice is hush’d—no life treads silently, But clouds and cloudy shadows wander free, That never spoke, over the idle ground: But in green ruins, in the desolate walls Of antique palaces, where Man hath been, Though the dun fox or wild hyæna calls, And owls, that flit continually between, Shriek to the echo, and the low winds moan— There the true Silence is, self-conscious and alone.

Being spring, I have written a lot about wild flowers recently. I think this and yesterday's image put them in perspective. They are not in great swathes or an abundant show but more like a spinkle of little flowers on the sandy soil. In this picture you can see white smoke bush , pink kunzea and blue dampiera , each one beautiful in their detail (click on the links to see them close up). Words to walk with: From Auguries of Innocence by William Blake "To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour."

At this time of year I always keep my eye out for waratahs flowering in the bush . But for something different this year here is a photo of waratah blooms for sale at the Blackheath festival recently.

And at the top these new old man banksias growing up for their summer display. Words to Walk with: From Who Walketh Wonder Shod by Dame Mary Gilmore "Feed the mind and feed the heart, Fill thy life and wonder! Wonder binds, and, though all part, Naught there is can sunder. Wonder is the word of God Spoken in the soul, He who walketh wonder shod Walketh not in dole."

Up the stairs, after a bit of huffing and puffing I was back at the top on the sandy track where I found these pink kunzea flowers. Aren't they lovely. Words to walk with: From Who Walketh Wonder Shod by Dame Mary Gilmore "Feed the mind, feed the mind, Feed the mind with wonder! Feel the marvel of the wind, Th' astonishment of thunder; Find enigma in the grass, Splendours in the dew, Till all things shall, as in a glass, Show the glory through."

Because I had sat thinking so long at Adelina Falls I didn't finish the waterfall circuit. Instead I retraced my steps. At the viewing point about half way up you can't see much of the falls because the trees have grown too high but I used it as a good spot to take a breather -- to listen to the falling water and the calls of the birds. To my delight I saw a small bird with a red beak -- a finch which I haven't seen for ages. As usual, too slow with my camera so I took this shot of the fresh new red gum tips instead. Words to walk with: The tree by Anne Finch (1661-1720) "Fair tree! for thy delightful shade 'Tis just that some return be made; Sure some return is due from me To thy cool shadows, and to thee. When thou to birds dost shelter give, Thou music dost from them receive; If travellers beneath thee stay Till storms have worn themselves away, That time in praising thee they spend And thy protecting pow'r commend. The shepherd here, from scorching freed, ...

I sat down on rock by the waterfall, thinking. I was thinking about today. I am vacating the city apartment and going back to living full time in the mountains (but commuting to the city each day). I'm looking foward to it! Words to walk with: Thinking by Walter Wintle "If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win, but think you can’t, It’s almost a cinch you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost, For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellow’s will; It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you’re outclassed, you are; You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man; But soon or late the man who wins Is the one who thinks he can."

At the top of the cliff, in the dry sandy soil, there was a profusion of yellow pea flowers , rice flowers , smokebush , heath and native iris to name a few. I found pink hakeas as well and since I have not included them before was keen to get a good shot. Unlike yesterday's flower, Hakea not at all easy to capture. The flower grows along the branch where leaves also stick out. I just could not get the right bits focused so in the end made a choice (hopefully a good one) of this more abstract rendition. Words to walk with: The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth. Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same. And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had...

I was inspired by a recent post by James at Points of Light which showed the same lighthouse photographed at different times in different light conditions. I thought it's time I visited the South Lawson waterfall circuit again to see what might be different this time around. This 2.5 km circuit which takes in five waterfalls starts at the bottom of Honour Avenue. I have walked it quite often but perhaps never at the height of the spring flowering. I was amazed at the profusion of flowers I found, all of them familiar from other walks I did during my year of learning. Today's flower is a Drumstick ( Ipsopogon anemonifolius ) -- wonderfully photographic with it's neat symmetry. Words to walk with: From The Broken Drum by Edgar Guest "There is sorrow in the household; There's a grief too hard to bear; There's a little cheek that's tear-stained There's a sobbing baby there. And try how we will to comfort, Still the tiny teardrops come; For, to solve a vexi...