Author: FJB

Spittle Bugs …

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Well, every day brings something new …

I have a beautiful Medinilla which is flowering at the moment. The blooms are a delicate pink, developing to deep purple and burgundy berries.  This morning I discovered that something had deposited what looked like big blobs of foam on the branches.

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When I Googled “white foam” I learnt that this is a symptom of several nasty medical conditions which thankfully I don’t have. And when I added “plant” to the search string I discovered … Spittle Bugs!

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Spittle Bug on my little finger

It seems that the nymph stage of this little bug lives within a white, frothy secretion that resembles spittle (hence the name). The nymphs shelter and feed beneath this foam. The spittle is formed by air being taken into an abdominal channel and then expelled through the excreta, forming bubbles. I once knew someone who could do something similar with their eyes … a very disturbing party trick!

When you remove the spittle you discover a tiny pale yellow insect with big black eyes and a huge nose.  I’m hoping I get to see the adult stage …

Discovering fungi …

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It’s Autumn, and at first glance it looks like nothing much is happening in the garden, but if you don’t mind crawling around on your hands and knees you’d be surprised at what you find …

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Maybe a Marasmiellus ?

If I said that this one might be a Marasmiellus, you’d think I know something about fungi and I don’t, so I won’t !

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Apparently there are over 13,000 described species of fungi in Australia, but including those species not yet discovered there are over 250,000.  OK … so how does that work ?  I think I’ll stick to frogs  … trying to identify fungi, as fascinating as they are, might send you quite bonkers !

The lonely frog …

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The frogs have suddenly gone quiet.  Even the reliable little Dwarf Tree frog is silent.  Maybe it’s because the nights are slightly cooler, or maybe they are all waiting for a huge thunderstorm.  Or perhaps it’s just that they have finished their “frog business” for the season.  Who knows.

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The Lonely Frog

The last few nights there has just been ONE lonely frog, sitting on the edge of the pond quietly “quacking” every now and then.  It’s last frog species to arrive, the Great Barred frog.  The one that really shouldn’t be there according to his habitat requirements. Perhaps that explains his lack of enthusiasm?  I’ve pointed out to him that my pond is not exactly the Frog Hilton for the female of his species and that he needs to put in a bit more effort if he hopes to attract a mate any time soon.

We are both hopeful …

A day on Dangar Island …

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Dangar Island View

This little island is only fifty kilometres from Sydney on the historic Hawkesbury River, but once you reach it you could be half a world away. The cute (is there a better word?) island ferry drops you at the wharf right next to the Dangar Island Café  which has possibly one of the best “coffee views” in the world.

Dangar Island Ferry

There are no cars, and residents transport their shopping home from the ferry wharf by wheelbarrow along small paved “streets” which loop around the island allowing glimpses of the river, island life and quirky sub-tropical gardens.

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Morgan & Alison at the Dangar Island Cafe

We spent a leisurely few hours wandering the island, wishing we lived there and not wanting to return to the bustle and noise of Sydney.  To rub salt into the wound, our return ferry disgorged a happy little herd of school children returning to their idyllic island homes.

A beach pot planter
Approaching the island
Children’s tabletop artwork
Power pole decorations