The Flickr Gumleaves Image Generatr

Pentax K20d

Giraffa camelopardalis
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo

Giraffa camelopardalis
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo

Smile on Saturday: Expose the E
Eucalyptus leucoxylon, commonly known as yellow gum, blue gum or white ironbark is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has smooth yellowish bark with some rough bark near the base and lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, A widely cultivated species, it has white, red or pink flowers.

Macro Mondays: Fill the frame
52 in 20205 One Colour

Paddy and Scout are visiting Katy Kola, who lives in the gum tree we planted on the nature strip outside our house for her to live in.

KATY KOALA: *Munches gum leaves contentedly.*

PADDY: "Happy Australia Day, Katy!"

SCOUT: "Yes, Happy Australia Day Miss Katy!"

KATY KOALA: *Stops munching gum leaves.* "Oh why thank you Paddy and Scout!"

SCOUT: "We thought that as an Australian ma... mar... marsup..."

PADDY: "Marsupial, Scout?" *Helpful.*

SCOUT: "As an Australian native, we thought we should wish you a happy Australia Day. Miss Katy!"

KATY KOALA: "That is very thoughtful of you, Scout. Would you two care to join me for an Australia Day tea party?"

SCOUT: "A tea party!" *Excited.*

PADDY: "Why thank you, dear Katy."

SCOUT: "What are you serving with the tea? Shortbreads? Caramel fudge? Grumbly tummy Miss Katy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

KATY KOALA: *Giggles.* "Oh no, Scout! Something much better than shortbreads or caramel fudge!"

PADDY: "Daddy's shortbreads are pretty hard to beat on a deliciousness scale, Katy."

SCOUT: "What could be more delicious than shortbreads or caramel fudge, Miss Katy?"

KATY KOALA: "Well, you see I’m not particularly keen on shortbreads or caramel fudge, so I’ll be serving these gum leaves instead." *Holds up gum leaves. "These ones are especially sweet and juicy because they are young and fresh. Here try some.” *Holds them out for Paddy and Scout to try.*

SCOUT and PADDY: *Nibble tentatively at a bit of gum leaf each.*

PADDY: “Oh dear!” *Sticks out cute little bear tongue.* “These gum leaves they..."

KATY KOALA: "Yes?"

PADDY: "Well, they taste… err... that is to say that from my perspective...”

KATY KOALA: "Yes?"

SCOUT: “They taste yucky!” *Sticks out cute little pink bear tongue.* “They taste yucky Miss Katy, even more yucky than prunes! Blagh!” *Sticks out cute little pink bear tongue again.*

PADDY: “Scout!"

SCOUT: "It's true Paddy!" *Nods seriously as he screws up his muzzle in distaste. "And Daddy says that we must always tell the truth!"

PADDY: "I know, but... well there is such a thing as decorum." *Shakes head in disapproval.*

SCOUT: "Who cares about decorum! Those gum leaves taste yucky, Paddy! Blagh!” *Sticks out cute little pink bear tongue again.*

PADDY: "Well, thank you so much for the invitation, Katy, but I think we may stick to our own Australia Day tea party with shortbreads and Krówki Polish creamy fudge for our elevenses.”

KATY KOALA: “Goody! More for me then! Grumbly tummy Paddy! Grumbly tummy Scout!” *Proceeds to munch on gum leaves contentedly.*

PADDY: “Hullo everyone and everybear! Do you know what? Today, the 26th of January is Australia Day: Australia's national day! Now for many people and bears, it is a day of celebration and tea parties and fun as we celebrate the joy of living in such a beautiful and wonderful country with unique flora and fauna - like Katy who is not a bear, but an Australian marsupial, which is an animal that carries its babies in a pouch. However, for some others, Australia Day is not a day that represents happiness. If you are celebrating Australia Day today, happy Australia Day! If however you are not, whilst we are not political bears, we are diplomatic and we respect that too, and we would like to wish you a lovely Sunday anyway!"

My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.

He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.

Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.

Katy Koala is a special guest, who was going to live with one of my goddaughters some years ago, but I became rather attached to her, so she never made it there, and instead took up residence in the gum tree we planted the same year she came to live with us. The profits raised from her purchase go towards preserving native habitat for koalas.

Abbotsford Convent gardens

All Nations Park, Northcote, Victoria

Fish Creek, Victoria

Summer has come to an end here in Melbourne, where I live. It was late in getting here after a long and grey winter, and one of the wettest springs on record. Now it is gone, according to the calendar anyway, however not before it gave us beautiful blooms bursting forth in profusion and in beautiful colours. This includes my Just Joey rose, photographed here after a late shower towards the end of this most peculiar summer of ours.

Just Joey was bred by Cants of Colchester in England in 1972. It was named for the wife of the Managing Director of Cants of Colchester, Joey Pawsey. The bloom has a beautiful ripe apricot colour and pretty frilled petals which grow more informal as the flower expands. This bloom is only one day old. The Just Joey hybrid tea rose has a delicious perfume too!

For Smile on Saturday!:-)
The theme this week is 'Man-made leaves'

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