Our Gardens

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  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,250
    That is hilarious, @Annie C  … you should submit that to the Women’s Weekly with pics of the 3rd bower bird ….. it would be a winner xx

  • gumnut
    gumnut Member Posts: 1,010
    Some lovely photos of sunflowers taken a few days ago from just near my local fruit & veg store - love happy sunflowers  :) 
    not sure why the photos are so enormous 
  • Annie C
    Annie C Member Posts: 840
    All the better for me to see the beautiful sunflower photos.
    I love sunflowers, such happy sunny blooms. I am using fabric featuring these beautiful blooms in a quilt that I have been working on for a number of years, (I am easily distracted by other quilt block designs!).
    Ah the life of a gardener and quilter.
  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,250
    Gorgeous, @gumnut  xx. Such a splash of colour.  Can you get the seeds?  I LOVE sunflower seeds!

    I would have a ‘start’ seeing him in my garden too - but lovely that he is so comfy in your garden @Annie C  xx

  • jennyss
    jennyss Member Posts: 1,899
    What do goannas eat Annie C? 
  • Annie C
    Annie C Member Posts: 840
    Frogs, smaller goannas, snakes. They can climb trees to take baby birds from the nests. This one went fishing in our fish and lily pond, some years ago, and over the course of a week managed to eat every gold fish.
    He digs large holes in our lawns searching for burrowing frogs, ankle breakers I call these holes.
    Cane toads have now invaded our area in the Kimberley. A large dis-used gravel pit, about a kilometre from our block has become a haven for the toads. I hope that this big old fella does not succumb to the cane toads' poison.
    Our block is so far free from the cane toads. About ten years ago we re- fenced our block, replacing the three strands of wire with vermin wire over laid to 90cms with chicken wire (I still bear the fencing scars on my knuckles). The "experts" tell us that the fence will keep the toads out as they cannot climb nor do they jump more than 30 cm high. I am a little sceptical, however I will be pleased to be proven wrong!

  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,250
    That’s a bugger about the cane toads @Annie C  :(    THey even kill crocs in the NT!  :(   They’ve been found in the mid north coast area (east coast) too - we assume they are hitch Hikers & hope they don’t get a hold ….  :( 

    Sounds like your fence should keep them out xx

  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,250
    I’ve been visiting family & a buddy in NZ - and this is his back yard view in the South Island



    And I didn’t land a trout … tho I tried a few times …. And it was colder than it looks!!



    The next day, these peaks all had snow on them!


  • Blossom1961
    Blossom1961 Member Posts: 2,267
    @Annie C A friend told me dettol (or own brand) works a treat on cane toads. I won’t comment on whether I tried it or not as the animal lovers will be out in force.
  • Annie C
    Annie C Member Posts: 840
    I've heard that tip as well. This is the first year that cane toads have arrived in the West Kimberley. I think the "Powers That Be" have given up on stopping or eradicating the toads. It will be interesting to observe as to whether the wildlife succumb to their poison or adapt and learn that the toads are not a good food source.
    The "experts" in the Kimberley advise to place the cane toad in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer. Not in my freezer!
  • Fufan
    Fufan Member Posts: 117
    @arpie, I have visited 40+ countries and for my money NZ is the most beautiful.  Some good exports, too: my son-in-law.
  • jennyss
    jennyss Member Posts: 1,899
    @Annie C, Oh my golly goodness about the goanna's diet, and the cane toad invasion! Thanks for the report.
  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,250
    100% agree, @Fufan - they have the best of anything that Europe has (scenery, fiords, glaciers) but in a much smaller area & easier to access than most of the European countries - And my hubby was an export as well!  ;)  xx. We have 2 step children still over there (not his biological children, but from his 1st wife) and they regard him as their 'real' father .... and are lovely & have been very supportive xx

    @Annie C & @Blossom1961 - I mentioned the dettol to my brother last night (spent a lot of time in both Qld & WA) and he says it works too.  When you see the horrible deaths that the cane toads cause ..... their own demise, really, by any method, shouldn't really be lamented :(