Never mind the cuckoos, here's the first Acacia!
I trust the late Mr Ritchie and the still vital Mr Lydon won't mind me borrowing the cadence of their record.
It is well known that when The Times was the newspaper of record (ie before becoming taken over by the Murdoch Empire) they would often publish, in early April, a Letter to The Editor along the following lines.
In the Canberra area this model was followed for a number of years by local ornithologist McComas Taylor announcing the first blowfly of Summer.
I have seen neither a Cuckoo nor a blowie for some months. We don't expect to see blossom on the Acacia dealbata until mid-August when it gives us optimism that Winter is on its way towards ending.
So it was with some surprise that Frances spotted some open blossom this morning on her run.
Here is the bloom along with the buds and silver foliage more typical of June.
Noting, and agreeing with, the comment by Ian, here is a somewhat more seasonal bit of flowering, from Mt Ainslie. There were quite a few Hakea decurrens flowering at the saddle with Mt Majura.
It is well known that when The Times was the newspaper of record (ie before becoming taken over by the Murdoch Empire) they would often publish, in early April, a Letter to The Editor along the following lines.
The Vicarage
Chuntering under OuseHantsSir
On the Sabbath, whilst composing a Sermon, I chanced to hear a Cuckoo.
Sincerely
N Bassingthwaighte (Rev.)
In the Canberra area this model was followed for a number of years by local ornithologist McComas Taylor announcing the first blowfly of Summer.
I have seen neither a Cuckoo nor a blowie for some months. We don't expect to see blossom on the Acacia dealbata until mid-August when it gives us optimism that Winter is on its way towards ending.
So it was with some surprise that Frances spotted some open blossom this morning on her run.
Comments
It has been in full flower for several weeks now.
But I do share your enthusiasm for the first real show of colour from the "Spring Wattles" (winter solstice not-withstanding).
Personally I always ignore the pale spiky things which fail to give a decent "show".
Denis
We tend to hit A. terminalis somewhere along Cullulla Rd, East of Tarago.
This leads me to recall that Lord's great book "Shrubs and Trees for Australian Gardens" had a table that listed wattles flowering in every month. I must disinter my copy and see what it has to say on the matter.
Martin