A full blown orchestra in our bathroom

With the onset of warmer weather, the frogs living in our bathroom are becoming more vocal. Today, when Doug plugged in his electric shaver and turned it on, the sound triggered an explosion of croaks from the green tree frogs living in the toilet plumbing. Whenever water runs out of our hand basin, a desert tree frog pops his tiny head up through the holes in the drainage pipe to say, "Hello."

Last year a desert tree frog lived in our shower recess and was not the slightest bit perturbed about our showering. We were careful, however, not to splash soapy water on to his glistening fawn coloured skin which was dusted in gold.

Old-time values in a modern era

Decorated in the theme of emerging butterflies, the Mitchell Shire Hall was last night the grand venue for 10 young girls to make their debut. Purple, mauve and white balloons and butterflies decorated the hall, along with magnificent Australian native foliage and flowers from Jenny and Roly Walker's property. A crowd of about 400 people came to watch as the 10 local girls, beautifully dressed in white, and with partners and flower girls, walked the long hall and were presented on the stage. After the formalities, the crowd clapped and cheered as the young couples took to the dance floor. The band played all the old-time dances as well as a few fun dances for the young and the young at heart. There were couples whose expertise on the dance floor was faultless and those of us who stumbled through the steps, but had fun! Knowing two of the debs made our evening especially enjoyable, likewise the fact that we knew so many people. All ages blended together to support the debs and their partners, and to have fun celebrating old-time values in a modern era.

Is the red designed to attract or scare away predators?

I gave myself a treat this morning by doing a watercolour drawing of a doolan branch with open seed pods. Although the doolan is a very plain looking acacia that most people don't like because it drops branches, its seed pods are extraordinary. The seed is jet black and shiny and is surrounded by a layer of bright red material. When the seed drops to the ground the occasional flash of red betrays its position in the leaf litter. I wonder if the red colour around the seed has evolved to attract or scare away eaters of seed?

A descendant from the First Fleet

Following on from yesterday, at Gigi's Garden Day, an unusual rose caught my attention. Years ago Gigi collected a rose hip from a plant that was a descendant of a rose from the First Fleet. She kept the seed in her fridge for about a month and after planting and germination, nurtured the young seedlings until one in particular became the fine specimen in her garden today. Growing in a shade house, taro and arrowroot add to her list of unusual plants.
A visit to Gigi's outside toilet opened the door to a photo gallery of framed photos with wildlife the subject. One in particular caught my attention, frog with a moth perched on its back. These photos are the work of Gigi and her son Lachlan. On our way out to the car, I paused beneath the shade of the tree to say good bye to a friend. The dense shade was the result of an acacia carrying such a heavy load of green seed pods that the leaves were barely visible. Driving away I caught a fleeting glance of a Siamese as it stalked around the edge the gathering; regal, untouchable. Then we were on our way, stopping at three gates before we reached the bitumen; one gate at the Dingo Fence.

Gigi and Scott believe in natural pest control

Gig's green touch is evident the minute you step into the the oasis she and her husband Scott have created around their home, located on a cattle property north of Mitchell. No-dig vegetable gardens (some shaded and netted); an orchard producing amazing quantities of fruit which they bottle; a rose garden with blooms so perfect you'd be forgiven for thinking them artificial; and all manner of unusual flowering plants and succulents spill out to the boundary fence where paddocks stretch way into the distance. 30 or so people gathered under a long shady verandah at Gigi and Scott Robertson's home to celebrate gardening in the outback, to talk with friends, exchange plants and drink tea and coffee, with some food as well. This is a monthly occasion, with a different garden open each month; a relaxed gathering with a love of plants and gardening the thread that binds the group together. Guinea fowl,silky bantams, and light Sussex chooks gobble up any insect that even looks like it might eat a plant. Gigi and Scott believe in natural pest control and never use pesticides. As a result the produce from their garden is 100% organic and all their plants are flourishing.

Mutton birds and flying foxes darken the sky

When we live on Phillip Island, the nightly return of thousands of mutton birds to the rookery beside our house is a highlight of our day. Now, in Mitchell, hundreds of flying foxes flap and quark overhead at dusk as they stream from their roosts along the river to feed on the silky oaks and eucalypts that are in full flower all over town. It's a wonderful sight and sound.

Snakes are out and about, with tracks seen in the sandy soil and many sightings around town. I hope our dogs keep a respectful distance from any snake that enters our property. Doug keeps the grass short in and around the house so at least we can see if there's a king brown around.

Do what you love to do and don't look at the clock

Do what you love to do and don't look at the clock was the theme of Karen Wolski's acceptance speech at the Maranoa Club last week. The Joan Robinson Award for Educational Excellence is open to anyone in the Roma and district area that works in the field of education. It's an annual award. Karen is a secondary school teacher at Mitchell State School and well-known as a teacher who puts in an incredible amount of time, energy and expertise into everything that she does at the school. A bit of trivia: three Karen's in a row have won this award! Congratulations Karen!