We got to the point of our hike where we were pulling ourselves up rocks but we reached a wonderful view. The Wedge-tailed Eagle has long wings (wingspan 2.3 m), a characteristic long, wedge-shaped tail, and legs that are feathered all the way to the base of the toes. The bill is pale pink to cream, the eye brown to dark brown, and the feet off-white. Young Wedge-tailed Eagles are mid brown in colour with reddish-brown heads and wings. They become ... Read More

After the Pinnacles and the Beach, we hit the road again. We were headed east, looking for wildflowers, the brochures promising "carpets of everlastings" and "rare and endangered orchids". Neither proved true, but what we did get to see was... ... Read More

Western Australia has 12,000 species of wildflowers, and even though they grow all year round (even in winter), spring is a good time to see many of them. What amazes me is how in one place you can find so many different varieties growing. After we finished our climb on the rocks, we took the easy trail to the car and many flowers caught our eye. ... Read More

Every September Kings Park in Perth holds a wildflower festival. This is one of the reasons I wanted to come to Australia in September. I started to post one of each of the varieties I saw there, but there are SO MANY. So here are a few of the amazing wildflowers from our visit to Kings Park: No one takes a photo of a pink fairy orchid like John does, he captured one and sent it to me years ago, and I fell ... Read More

Today, after a rough night, I decided I should probably go to see a doctor. Turned out, one could see me as early as 12:30 in the afternoon. So we did some food shopping while waiting, and as luck would have it, we ran into John's Dad and Iris at the shopping center. I went to the doctors and was diagnosed with a sinus infection and a fever. Since the weather was chilly and rain showers, and I wasn't feeling well, John ... Read More

Tomorrow, if all goes to plan, Laura and I will head out for a vacation that we have waited on, to Perth, Australia. We are almost weary before we begin, as the 5 hours from Baltimore to LA, the 15 and a half hours from LA to Melbourne, and then the 5 hours wait there, add to that 5 more hours from Melbourne to Perth has us wishing we could cross our arms and "blink" to our destination! It should be an ... Read More

I remember the first time I ever saw glorious wildflowers by the highway, and that was while driving through the south of France to Spain. I don't know when the highways of the United States started doing it, but in Maryland it's been a few years and I love wildflowers growing by the highway. Except for one thing; they are never in a good place to stop and take photos. So after years of  frustration, Laura and I decided (Ok Laura agreed ... Read More

For 9+ years that I've been talking to John on the net,  I've heard about the  12,000 species found in Western Australia. I've learned the names of many of them. I can recognize a Banksia, a Kangaroo Paw, a Pink Fairy Orchid, and a Donkey Orchid just to name a few. The wildflower season ranks as one of Western Australia's most fascinating and precious natural treasures. For several months of each year wildflowers are scattered across 2.5 million square kilometres of mysterious ... Read More

We have had so much rain and cold, and the warm days we've had up till now have been very busy. It was good to go to one of my favorite spots and just walk in the park with my camera...   ... Read More