The first week of the holidays I have had my mum and a good friends daughter visiting . These two are the best of friends, even though they haven't lived near each other since they were two. Back then the big Bowerbird was very fond of asserting herself by biting her golden locked buddy, leaving serious tooth marks. She obviously made an impression as the friendship has lasted. So pleased she grew out of her T Rex ways, all kisses, cuddles and giggles these days.
Hilarious to see these big girls balancing on little buckets.
Unfortunately the BF had to be returned home so we organised a rendezvous half way point at the Melbourne Museum. It was a beautiful day so we spent quite a bit of the day in the outdoor areas of the museum.
We didn't go to see the new Mesopotamia Exhibit but the middle Bowerbird had fun creating his own Mesopotamian village.
Playing with mirrors in the children's section, wish I'd taken a picture with all the kids, was a great effect.
The highlight of the day for me was seeing my blog's namesake. Mr Bowerbird has built and furbished the most divine bower in the museum's rainforest. I was rapt to actually get to see him inside the bower, he seems quite unworried by visitors and has gathered up quite a collection of blue treasures.
We spent ages in the dinosaur area talking to a volunteer about dinosaurs. We got to hold real fossils, including an ancient shark's tooth, and helped unearth the fossil of a 40 million year old crocodile. The kids have been instructed to act like a dinosaur here, not sure what sort the little Bowerbird is, Smilosaurus. A great day of catching up with old friends, playing and learning. The little one on the left insisted no visit to the museum was complete with pressing the fart button. I didn't know about the fart button (our little one wanted to know if the poo in the exhibit was real) but I think it may become a tradition with our kids as well.
A mystery revealed. We admired this bee all summer, it lingered through Autumn, and has only recently disappeared from our garden during the onset of colder weather. We watched with curious delight as it sipped nectar from the Crowea, occasionally visiting other flowers but always returning to is favourite hot pink bloom. We actually bought a second Crowea to encourage its visits. I like to know the name of things. This little critter was dubbed native bee and it didn't seem right, especially as it now adorns my header. Finally I got around to sending a picture off to the Discovery Centre at Melbourne Museum, and the same day they had an answer for me, such an amazing service.
Dear Kirsty,
Thank you for sending your images into Discovery Centre at
Melbourne Museum.
The Curator has said that he believes your specimen is Megachile
ferox, one of the leaf cutter bees.
Thankyou Simon. You have no idea how it pleases me to be able to give it a name. I have watched its daily flight, admired its fuzzy orange bottom and fluffy forehead, but without it's name it as if I have not truly known it. I am a huge fan of the author Ursula LeGuin, this is a quote from the Wizard of Earthsea as she describes the study of wizardry (well before Harry Potter):
"Ged sighed sometimes, but he did not complain. He saw in this dusty and fathomless matter of learning the true name of each place, thing, and being, the power he wanted lay like a jewel at the bottom of a dry well. For magic consists in this, the true naming of a thing".
What a fine, grand sounding name, Megachiles ferox. I love Latin names, the lolloping way they roll off the tongue, and the truth they hold within them. Chiles comes from the Greek word cheilos, meaning lip or edge. Perhaps referring to its leaf cutting ways. Ferox is latin for fierce, wild. Fierce seems a strange description, as this has been a tame bee, never bothered by our watchful eyes, gloriously fluffy, it apparently only has a mild sting if handled. I wondered what prompted the scientist who discovered it to use ferox.
The common name, Leaf Cutter Bee, is apt. Look below to see what they can do to a leaf. I will now be hunting my garden for signs of these distinctive perfect semi circle cuts, and I can give their creator a name. Leaf Cutter Bees are solitary, the female uses these leaves to build a cigar like nest that she places a single egg inside. The nests are hidden inside rotting wood, crevices and hollow twigs and stems. Such different behaviour to that of the honey bee.
We visited Scienceworks last week as part of a members opening to the Wallace and Gromit Exhibition. I am a fan of Wallace and Gromit, and their quirky dead pan humour, but you don't have to be a devotee to enjoy the exhibition.
I adored the 50s sets, how cool is that mirror, and the wallpaper.
There was heaps of hands on activities with the theme of invention, and the kids dived into them with the enthusiasm of mad scientists. The exhibition was given an Australian flavour by pointing out some of the wonderful things Australians have invented, like the electric drill, and Internet WiFi. Here's a more extensive list if you are interested.
Other more global inventions on display included the telephone, and Wellington boots. I tried reading some Braille with the oldest Bowerbird, we were totally amazed at the skill in learning to read dots with your finger, and managed to decipher nothing of what was written. Below they are making wallpaper and designing a logo.
The Bowerbirds made their own clay models and enjoyed adding them to a communal scene. A great insight into the world of clay animation and the skill required to create it.
My favourite bit, the vegie wonderland of course. Someone must have had a great time making those sets!
Wish there was a real Anti- pesto service, we could have done with their help last summer.
The kids favourite bit - when the power unexpectedly went out, especially the middle Bowerbird, who enjoyed the thrill of being inside a tunnel slide in the dark.
Up there with my favourites of the museums exhibitions, we could easily visit it again. Somehow I missed the karaoke shower, that sounds like a must.
The middle one was given a very special birthday present from his grandparents, an outing of his choice with them. He chose the Melbourne Museum, this is quite funny as we have already been there a number of times this year. We're members and love looking at collections and old stuff. Nanna and Pa took him to see the Tutankhamun exhibition which is all things golden and glorious. Love it that he didn't get more stuff from them, a doing thing is such a lovely birthday gift. I think his favourite thing about the day was that he was the centre of attention, it was all about him.
While the middle one had his special day, the Bowerbird girls went to the zoo. It was crazy school holiday busy, as we had been warned. We stuck to things less popular and moved on quickly when crowds gathered. Our kids don't like too much noise, so we kept searching for some quiet places to rest.
The Melbourne Zoo's gardens are a delight. On the way to the elephants and butterflies is an amazing bamboo forest where we felt tall smooth trunks, cold against our cheeks, as we duck and wove through the jungle. These simple stepping stones hidden in the bamboo kept the little one entertained forever, in fact it was quite a chore to drag her away.
Note the sad face when it was time to leave. We were very patient but after 10 laps it was time to see some butterflies.
The zoo now has a bakery with yummy vegetarian food! The food court area near it however, was heaving with people and raucous eating and shouting. It's amazing how many people seemed to be having a bad time at the zoo, a lot of rushing and crying. Just around the corner from the bakery is the tranquil Japanese Gardens which were, remarkably, empty, even the beautiful pavillion with chairs to rest in. We felt very smug sitting by the waterfall , eating good food and listening to the birds and the bamboo clunk, as others sat on plastic chairs in a concrete square. We soaked up the garden peace and then went exploring.
We wondered if these turtles were statues until they all dived into the lake all at once. Huge Coy Carp drifted beneath the water and ducks sailed by. The big one held the little one's hand near the water's edge, she has such a nurturing nature.
My favourite bits at the zoo this week were not about the animals at all, although there was plenty of joy here too. It was nice to take things slowly and enjoy some uncrowded moments.
