Holiday

My last Blogger post for a while - tomorrow we're off on a month's holiday!  Leaving our guests in the friendly, very capable hands of Chuck who is managing Daintree Valley Haven while we are away.  But I'll try to post something along the way!

Jade Vine

Well here it is in all it's glory, our beautiful Jade Vine!  Up in the trees with the Flame of the Forest and another bract low down just above the dropped Flame petals.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Flame and Honeyeater

The Flame of the Forest is still flaming!  And soon the Jade Vine will open properly and we'll have a curtain of red and green.  This little Macleays Honeyeater thinks it must be Christmas!

Winter ... and Moths

At last a little taste of winter with a couple of cold nights - down to a chilly (to us) 12 deg C last night and this morning our valley is cloaked in soft white mist.  Now the sun is starting to break through, the mist is clearing and it promises to be another magical Daintree winter's day with a forecast max of 27 deg.

And we're being honoured by the presence of this beautiful female Hercules Moth (see my archive for previous sightings).  She's on the insect screen outside our lounge, well-placed to warm up and dry her wings as the sun comes up over the valley hillside.  She's likely to stay there for several hours and I was able to measure her with a ruler - 24cm (about 9 inches) from wingtip to wingtip and 12cm in height.

Fire in the forest

It's that magical time of year when the Flame of the Forest vine comes into glorious bloom.  All around the house the trees are roped with this beautiful blossom to the delight of the Honeyeaters and Rainbow Lorrikeets.

Part of the vine is now intertwined with the equally-stunning Jade Vine which tends to bloom a little later on - I'll post a photo when it comes out.

We're still enjoying such a mild winter!  A coolish night earlier in the week, down to 15 deg C but last night back to 21 deg and the overhead fan going!