Spring has sprung, August in the garden.

 Little sister delights in pushing big brother, they're still keenly earning clicks.

 Partner very kindly dug in my green manure, I did the first bed and was surprised at how heavy going it was, big points for helping with this one! we harvested and feasted on the pea shoots before burying the remainder.

 Duck poo and tip found plastic carpet protectors for solarising (killing with heat) grass and green manure. Maybe some sort of future hothouse material too?  Awaiting the time to sow summer crops, frost last night and tonight too I suspect.

 Pollen filled webs, wattles and pines are sharing their yellow goodness everywhere.

 Second sown crop of peas emerging, they seemed to take forever, sowed some more today.   There can never be too many peas in our house.

 2nd year quince with new growth

 Rhubarb re-emerging after possum attack.

 Bamboo fading, don't think it likes its new home. Poor oldhamii.

 Potatoes emerging.

 Carrots looking promising

  Little one can't resist picking a Correa flower daily.

 Buddleia tree is coming into full bloom - bees were flocking, still awaiting the return of the butterflies, everything seems early this year.

Bush tucker Mountain Pepper flowering

  

 Golden Dust Wattle

I adore the heady scent of Brown Boronia. The smells around here are amazing - wattles, mixed with violets, buddleia, and jonquils. 

Sweet, sweet Spring.

Huntsman in the laundry

This lady has been lurking in our laundry for a few weeks, but was removed and placed outdoors after rearing up at my partner as he tried to extricate some towels from beneath her.  We grew up calling Huntsman spiders Cuthbert, mornings started with "Have you seen Cuthbert today?...... ah yes in the toilet" - no action required. I am less fond of them today after my sister was bitten by one in bed, she woke to one falling on her neck - went to brush it away - and it bit her.  She had to go on antibiotics to cure the bite and it really hurt.

My partner thinks he can see a monkey face in the abdomen (no, he's not taking drugs), I could see what he meant when I looked at the spider but the pictures he took don't really do it justice (I actually thought a little Chewbacca).  He took the above photos whilst holding the camera above his head, heart beating

.

You can see the face in this one I Googled if you use some imagination.

I think it's sad that some people get their house sprayed for spiders every year, even if you are not fond, they do add excitement to the house (and eat flys), all those chemicals can't be good for anyone.

The Museum Victoria has great information on spiders - I gleaned this interesting information this evening.

"The male must firstly introduce himself as a mate (not food) through a series of bodily shudders and vibrations, which culminate in him tapping and caressing her. If successful, he will then proceed to mate by leaning underneath her abdomen and engaging his feelers (palps). The bulbs at the end of his palps are where he stores his sperm. He may mate for quite some time, swapping sides intermittently".

Something to look out for!

Jack Frost

It's all sparkly said the little one

poor Sam seeks the only rays of sunlight on a frozen lawn

One of the heaviest frosts we've had, still, cold and beautiful.

Spider genius all lit up by sun and dew