Monday, June 30, 2014

Around My House

When I looked out my back window the other day I saw something red high among the palm fronds. It wasn't a bird and palms fronds are not that color! When I went closer I saw that one of my Gymea Lilies (Doryanthes excelsa) had pushed a tall flower stem and flower head high among the palms. These plants are indigenous to the Sydney region down in New South Wales. The ones I have growing here are not as big and lush as the ones down in the Sydney area but are still very beautiful.
The Gymea Lily plant is the plant low to the ground with the long strappy leaves. There is a Sable Palmetto Palm in front of it and behind is a Golden Cane Palm which has grown more vigorously than I expected. 
No matter where I stood the flower was still partly shadowed by palm fronds.


These are Australian Wood Ducks (Chenonetta jubata)  and they often wander along the edges of the roads around my house. These ones were right outside my front gate. The male let me get some good photos but the female turned and walked off before I could get a really good photo. This is the male finding some tender leaves to eat.

 And the female walking off too soon for good photos!

My posts have become quite intermittent over the last few months. Because I get a bit annoyed with other bloggers who suddenly do the same or even simply disappear - I decided to explain that I have been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration in my eyes. I have a very good specialist and am getting injections in both eyes which have halted the degeneration. However, most things seem to have side effects, and I have become very sensitive to light!  This makes my favorite places along the shore and out on the bay rather difficult for me most of the time. However, I am NOT going blind! A few years ago (before these injections were available) I watched my Dad go blind from the same thing, so I think I am pretty lucky!

For more scenery from around the world visit Our World Tuesday

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday

25 comments:

  1. oh, mick! so glad you are getting treatment! i hope they can halt and possibly revert some of the damage!

    i like that exotic bloom but love those cute wood ducks and their tiny bills!

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  2. Hi Mick nice to see you still taking photos, the duck looks beautiful hope you get the female one soon. Can you train them to keep your lawn down so you don't have to mow it.

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  3. Yikes Mick. The thought of eye injections made me go cold all over. Great to read they are doing some good anyway. Shame about the side effect though.

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  4. I, too, am so very glad to know you are getting treatment and that the shots are making a difference!! I'll be holding good thoughts for you! A gorgeous bloom and, of course, I do love those ducks and they are cute with those little bills! I've never seen one of those! Hope you have a good week! Do take care!

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  5. Great post!! Sorry to hear that. Boom, Bobbi and Gary.

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  6. So sorry to hear if your eye problems but glad to know you are getting good treatment.
    The lily is such a rich, beautiful color. Interesting to see your wood ducks. Ours in the US are quite different.

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  7. Mick, I am so glad you are able to get treatments.. Maybe a good pair of sunglasses would help? Love the wood ducks and your pretty blooms. Great shots. Take care and have a great week!

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  8. Wonderful photography of nature ~ such beauty ~ Love the duck and so glad you are healing ~ sending distant reiki healing hugs to you ~ You capture such beauty want you to be able to continue for a long time ~ thanks ~ xoxo

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  9. A lovely set of shots! My dad is going through the same thing as you... Healing thoughts!

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  10. The liliy is quite amazing - it looks so tall and huge.

    Sorry to hear about your MD. My wife was diagnosed with it too, offered lutien pills and told to eat lots of greens but not offered any medication.

    I hate it too when bloggers go AWOL. It takes a lot of commitment to keep a blog going.

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  11. I love the close ups of the lily, Good to hear you are managing to get out and about. Injections in the eye sound hideous so I am glad they are keeping the degeneration at bay.

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  12. That lily is gorgeous! Love the detailed plumage you captured on the Wood Duck.

    My wife had surgery for MD two years ago. Much improved now. We hope all the best for you.

    I am quite guilty of being very inconsistent with blogging. Sometimes, life just interferes.

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  13. Mich, you need to wear brown sunglasses that wrap around at all times. My specialist advised me to wear sunglasses whenever I am outdoors. and the amber or brown ones mainly make things clearer.
    It was a huge expense having to replace both the Ute and the tractor as well as budgeting for the sheep. Sheep prices have gone through the roof!

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  14. Hi Mick. Sorry to hear about your MD in your eyes. the Lily in this post is amazing and. I love the shoss of the Wood Duck

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  15. Beautiful photos of the ducks. I'm sorry about the MD. I hope the treatment helps. Take care.

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  16. your wood duck is a very lovely duck.
    Thanks for telling about your eyeproblems. I´m a bit sensitive to light as well. Not as an illness though. I use hats and dark glasses when the sun is strong. Hope it works out for you. Guess kayaking can be a problem too when sun is shining.

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  17. A star is born amongst the palms ... gorgeous.

    Sorry to hear about the MD ... Wishing you all the best with the treatment.

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  18. Great photos of these gorgeous Wood Ducks. They are a regular at our patch on the Darling Downs, Qld also and we love them. Sorry to hear about your MD and hope your recovery is speedy and successful.

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  19. Oh Mick, I am so sorry about the macular degeneration! A year & a half ago I had a hole in my macula and had to have surgery, and the whole thing terrified me. I "baby" my eyes now, taking vitamins and using artificial tears, and I worry. Anyway, your flower is like the human spirit! It pushes up through the chaos of the this life to find the healing sun! beautiful! And the ducks are wonderful. Glad you are having the macular degeneration dealt with. Our eyes are precious to us. God bless!

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  20. Beautiful photos! Glad the treatments are working for you. Medical progress is so wonderful.

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  21. Thank goodness for modern miracles. My mom had that and I'm hoping to stave it off as long as I can ... but as you say they've already developed some help that she (and your dad) didn't have.

    I so appreciate your letting us know -- you are right, I know I'm not the only one who worries a bit when favorite bloggers just disappear.

    Your yard and neighborhood are full of beauty as these lovely photos show -- keep on enjoying them when you can and we will all be thinking of you.

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  22. How lush and lovely.

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  23. Hi there - sorry to hear about the eye condition - hope that the treatment works.

    Wood ducks are great - we often see them when we are out and about.

    Sorry for slow reply - hectic weeks!

    Cheers - Stewart M

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  24. Finally had a chance to sit down and read today. I'm so sorry that you have had to deal with this. We have a close friend here who deals with the same condition. He's doing well now and has had it for a couple years. Although the doctor's visits are a pain, he still enjoys driving his car around and working. The night before his visit, he always gets a bit anxious and quiet. After the appointment, he'll come home and shut the blinds in the house and hang low for several hours. Glad you have the help and special treatment. Crossing my fingers that all continues to go well.

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  25. Oh MIck! I am so sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. It's wonderful that you can get treatment. I do hope it doesn't affect your ability to do what I know you love!
    Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

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