Happy St Patrick's Day, dear Readers.
Those of us with a bit of Irish ancestry like to have a little celebration..
Little Aussie had fun with the Irish trinkets on display at Ye Olde Cheap Shop...
I have been thinking of the emerald green fields of Ireland:
we loved them when we visited for our son's wedding in 2016...
In other news, the Red Cardinal Garden of Neglect has not enjoyed our brutal Summer...
Yet again, we had an all-time record breaking heat wave last week with temperatures soaring up to 40c deg.
While the flowers died, some plants are opportunists, and a large fig tree behind our front fence became much too tall for comfort..
It was time for the tree loppers...
Can you see the young man high in the tree with his chain saw?
It looks a little bare there now, but the palm tree has been freed to fan itself with glory, and the old fig tree will shoot and grow again to shelter the underplanting..
You can see the cut off stumps in the background -
it is still as high as the house!
All our herbs and potted flowers had died, so a trip to the plant nursery was in order...
Joy of joys, it started to rain yesterday, and has been raining on and off for two days! The plants are so happy..
A misty morning view for St Patrick's..
And a sweet pair of lorikeets trying to keep warm in the drizzle..
The rain has been so welcome, and I hope our parched farming lands get some as well. It has been a difficult year for our country.
I don't want to frighten you (well, maybe I do) but I met a big python on the path where I walk each day:
I crept up a bit closer to take a photo, but it realized I was there and raised and turned its head. I was startled and accidentally cropped it off the photo, before running back very quickly the way I had come!
Perhaps it is time to stop trying to take pictures of snakes...
My mother used to tell me that St Patrick struck the ground in Ireland with his stick, chasing all their snakes through to the other side of the earth:
Australia.
Thank you St Patrick...
As a child I always found the story about St. Patrick and the snakes in Ireland quite amusing. In the UK we do have grass snakes, smooth snakes, and the occasional adder too, but in fact I have never actually seen one - this is because in prehistoric times we were attached to Europe by a land bridge. Ireland was never attached so has always been 'forever' completely snake free.
ReplyDeleteThat python looks quite skinny on the photo so just be careful Patricia as he might be rather hungry.
Glad you had a happy St. Patricks Day.
So interesting, I never knew Ireland was not originally attached to the UK - from the shape of the coasts I imagined they broke away and formed the Irish sea. That certainly does explain the lack of snakes, and other creatures also I imagine.
DeleteYou are right about the python, I think it was looking for a meal. They don't tend to be crossing open space unless looking for something, and after a feed they curl up in a safe place for days.
We did have fun, went to a St Patrick's Party!
I'm really nervous around any type of snake, but a python, goodness me, had no idea they were also in Australia!!!!!! Scary to say the least.
ReplyDeleteSorry you had to cut down the fig - do you really know it will grow back?Interesting. I pruned mine a few weeks ago - looks better with a few less
lateral branches, it's so big now.
Great post - and of course we are celebrating everything Irish here, being the Sullivans, haha! Back to Ireland soon also, such a fabulous land.
Erin go Bragh.
Hugs, Mary
I am nervous too, and we need to be vigilant. I read that there has been a 50% increase in snake bites since 2010 (and population too, I think).
DeleteThe tropical fig has been cut back before, and grown again. We shall see. I don't like doing this, but the space in the garden does not really accommodate such a big tree. Ah, you are Sullivans, a great Irish name. I look forward to seeing some Irish posts, what fun.
I loved seeing your pictures of Ireland; it's on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are getting some rain after your hot week. It's been raining quite heavily here in Sydney especially on the coast where we are. It's storm season too so we.ve had a couple of hailstorms but no damage thankfully.
Hello Pieta, I do hope you visit Ireland one day. It is greenly unique! I heard about heavy rain in Sydney - what a Summer we have had in Australia.
DeleteLovely, Patricia. You must be longing for some of that Irish green. What a summer you've had there. The heat sounds too much even for a heat lover like me! I'm so glad you've had some rain. You're welcome to some of ours. It's been lashing down over here!
ReplyDeleteI am longing for a bit of green and a few flowers, Val. The sun is shining again today so two days of rain must be our allocation for now. Last week I met a friend who had recently been to Rotterdam, and I asked if she saw the cubist houses near you, and she did :) She probably saw your sweet barge too! A small world these days.
DeleteHappy Paddy's day! That python looks terrifying. I think the extreme heat would have upset me even more. I'm so glad you've got some rain at last!
ReplyDeleteOn balance, the extreme heat upsets me more than the snakes also. So lovely to have rain, I am sure even the python enjoyed that :)
DeleteBelated Happy St Paddy's Day. Love your beautiful memories of Ireland. The heat has been long and trying! So very happy to see some very welcome rain. You are braver than I regarding our slithery friends xx
ReplyDeleteHa, brave or stupid: that is the question!
DeleteRain is wonderful, even the Very Crazy Storm we had this afternoon, which refreshes everything. xx
Happy St. Patrick's Day, Trish. This year I was not able to make Irish Soda bread since we don't yet have gas to turn on our ovens yet. But it turns out I have wee bit of Irish ancestry 6%, which I learned from the popular DNA tests that people like to send off and have done. So I don't just celebrate in spirit only, but legitimately. :)
ReplyDeleteLucky you, to have a fig tree. Hope you enjoy the figs.
I love your 6% Irish! I have not had the DNA test but one grandmother was Irish so I figure that makes me 25% :) How fantastic that you know how to make Soda bread. You will have to tell me how to do that some time. Unfortunately, our fig tree does not have figs - I know, madness. It is an Australian tree of dubious capabilities!
DeleteHi Patricia great pics love the one of Little Aussie.
ReplyDeleteOmg i am so scared of snakes i think i would've wet my pants,lol.
Awesome post my friend xx
Hi Sheryl, Aussie is so theatrical, and loves performing at his drama group. He might end up on the stage! I am more scared in hindsight - I will need to be careful in future, as there are too many snakes around here. xx
DeleteSt. Patrick needs to visit your yard. I don't mind looking at snakes when someone else points them out but I hate being surprised by them. I'll trade you a week of out rain for a week of your sunshine, ok?
ReplyDeleteSuch a funny and cute picture of little Aussie. The fields of Ireland are so green and beautiful. My kids would love to visit one day, as they have some Irish heritage in them. I'm glad you got some rain! It was good for your potted plants. The purple flowers are so lovely. We are supposed to get more rain this week and into the weekend. It is always needed and appreciated.
ReplyDeleteA happy week to you, Patricia.
love, ~Sheri
ps....those Lorikeets are something else. I can't believe how pretty they are, and it must be an amazing sight to see them right around your home. : )
DeleteHi Sheri, hope you all get to Ireland one day. It is fun and different. I hope you get rain too - it is precious for both our lands.
DeleteLove those lorikeets too, I can hear them twittering as I write :)
Be sure to choose appropriate attire and remember to pay attention to hair and nails.satta king
ReplyDelete