Storm Aftermath

 13 August

This is a busy week, with next to no time to read blogs, let alone write mine. I had mentioned in my previous post that another storm was coming.

These images were sent to the Bureau of Meteorology. Across Brisbane there was a scattering of hail but Grafton 3 1/2 hours south of us certainly didn't miss out. It is very unusual to have storms in winter.

Doug O'Neil, Qld.

Evelyn Sienna, Grafton.

Hel' On Wheels, Grafton.

Bel Turner, Grafton.

 Caroline Maul, Mororo, NSW.

Caroline Maul, Mororo, NSW.

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My Winter Garden

August 13, 2025

September and spring are only a few weeks away. August is often our coldest month, especially if the westerlie winds blow. The temperatures for this week, are fairly average for the winter months and yes, we complain about it being COLD! 

I must add, that I do love winter. Our summers are far too hot, for far too long.

I was scrolling [just now] for an image of the front of our home and came across this one, 4pm drinks with the neighbours, June 2020. Yep, this is winter! Perhaps a little overkill, but we were waiting for the fullmoon to rise.

We have garden colour on all sides of the house, so this winter tour is starting at the front and travelling around the house in a clockwise direction, from the front.

Grevilleas.

Our lawn of bees and clover.

Bromeliads

Three potplants and my PEI purchase from this year's visit, greet visitors at our entrance.

The garden looking to the left of the entrance.

Moving on to the northern side of the house.

Under the pergola, looking east.

Turning right and looking across the pool to the sweet pea bed.

Outside the lounge door. 

The plant holder was a Mother's day gift from my sons, 25 years ago. The plants are looking droopy as I was away over the weekend and forgot to tell Frank to water them, even if it was raining and it did!

Recovered!

Outside our bedroom doors and the southern side of the house. [The shaded side all year.]

A special hydrangea. A birthday gift from over 18 months ago.

The very last of my camellias.

This past weekend I travelled with friends to Girraween National Park on the northern end of the New England Tableland, where light snow fell last week. I was amazed by the mass of flowering wattle and other native wildflowers.

Here is a taste, with a post of the weekend to follow.

 The paddocks however, were clearly still in their winter brown. 

Frost is a regular feature of winter at this altitude. This vineyard was just 10 mins away from our accommodation and we did visit.

July 21

Whilst looking for the frost image, I discovered this forecast for us tomorrow.

Well, within minutes of adding the above storm warning, our skies darkened and the sound of thunder  was heard. Time to take the camera out again.  This is what unfolded over the next 20 minutes.

Sensational moments enjoyed!

Post script - I have no idea why some words are highlighted in green. Ever helpful google?

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Winter Clouds and Other Joys

 Last weekend, 2 August, saw the east coast of Australia having the chilliest weather of this winter. Heavy snow fell along the Great Dividing Range to a point just three hours from Brisbane. Chaos on the roads and for the farmers. Snow rarely falls this far north. 1984 was the last time this amount of snow had fallen.

I remember it well. My husband and I, along with two friends, were returning  from a

 weeks skiing in the Snowy Mountains. I write 'skiing' but actually the snow fall was dismal and we set off on our return journey feeling extremely disappointed. On climbing onto the the Great Dividing Range just north of Tamworth [550 km from home], we were suddenly filled with excitement.  Snowflakes were falling and continued to do so for the next 350 km to Stanthorpe. Roads closed behind us. We stopped in Armidale and made a 'small' snowman in a park. Our neighbours had booked for the week ahead and skied in the most incredibly wonderful snow conditions. Yes, we were jealous. The following days were bitterly cold. Thankfully that wasn't the case this time for us. By coincidence, I am going with a group this weekend, to stay outside Stanthorpe, where light falls occurred over the weekend. 

June 1984

Armidale Park - I've np idea how we came to have pipe cleaners in the car.

Frank trying to start rolling a snow ball for the snowman!

Alas, there is no photo of a completed snowman here, so I guess we ran out of time before its completion.

I have a dear friend living in a nursing home, who loves clouds. Because we have our wonderful view over the golf course, I am able to send her snapshots of the many cloud patterns passing over each day.

Thursday saw a rare event that had not only had me clicking the camera button, but photographers all over Brisbane. Magnificent altocumulous undulatus clouds filled the sky. Just stunning. 

A few days earlier, I had spotted ibis and pelicans on a waterhole just 5 mins away. At sunset, I hoped the colour would be spectacular there, so set off with my camera. Alas, many of the birds flew off as I arrived and the colours were muted, but it wasn't a wasted drive.  

The Hungry Hikers took a bay walk on Wednesday.

8.30am

Clouds and the pink haze of blossom, on a soaring Eucalyptus.

Mid morning cloud at Point Danger, mid June.

Sunrise

Sunset magic

Unusally for our winter, noisy thunderstorms with heavy rain have been passing through. West of Brisbane, they have also produced large amounts of hail.

Hailman not snowman.

On one of our evening walks, the Hungry Hikers got caught in a downpour that just wouldn't let up. Four kilometres had to be covered to get to our 6pm destination of St Stephens Cathedral. The lightshow, to an adapted Vivaldi's Four Seasons, was worth the discomfort.

This evening's clouds, feathery and dancing across the sky.

Spot the moon.

Dinner was late again tonight!

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