Expedition to an Island Beach

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In the dunes that back the beach, it amazes me that anything can grow ~

No nutrients in the soil, and such good drainage no water will hold between the fine white grains of sand -

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Yet, defying possibility, these coastal plants produce luscious yellow blooms.

Flower_186Keeping close to the ground, hugging the sparkling shard minutia, they duck the salty sea winds.

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Just their pollen rich blooms stand proud to catch the attention of passing pollinators ;)

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Between the plants, signs of animal life leave their marks.

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Not everyone is in hiding ~

Who goes there?

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Who’s asking?

Not sure who is taken more by surprise ~ The wallabies or us!

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Then, finally, through the bushy scrub between the trees the first glimpse of the sea.

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There is possibly no more beautiful a sight than that first view through the she oaks

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Once down onto the beach ~ I like a patch of shade from where I can look out to sea…

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And wonder at the waves and the scale of the Pacific Ocean ~ Nothing lying between me and South America.

Where is your favourite beach?

Strangler Figs and Natural Bridges

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Natural Bridge is an arch of basalt that spans Cave Creek, in SE Queensland, Australia.

Water pouring down the creek bed over millions of years has eroded and worn through a thin layer of basalt so it now cascades through an opening in the roof of the cave leaving a natural arch bridge spanning the creek.

Natural Bridge, Queensland AustraliaNatural Bridge (some call it Natural Arch) is located in SE Queensland. Just an hour and a half by road south of Brisbane, its situated only 4kms north of the NSW – Queensland border.

Natural Bridge Walking Track MapThe short walk to Cave Creek goes through a small pocket of rainforest starting at a stunning strangler fig tree that holds many memories for locals who have come to see the glow worms in the cave at night and have started the trek by shinning their torches through the void left from the host tree.

Strangler Fig Queensland Australia

This is the infamous strangler fig ~ It really is a superb example

Strangler Fig Queensland Australia

Strangler figs start as an epiphyte, meaning a seed is in most cases bird deposited in a crevice high in a host tree. From here, the roots grow downwards to reach the soil, while the top grows up to reach the light above the dense rainforest canopy.

Strangler Fig Queensland Australia

As the strangler fig roots grow down, and over time thicken, they envelop and totally engulf the host tree with a lattice of roots ~ When the host tree dies and rots away, the columnar hollow structure of the strangler is left with a central void core, as in the case of this tree.

Natural Bridge, SE Queensland Australia

I first featured Natural Bridge as a subject in my Photo Friday series.

Then when Michela of @rockytravel came over to Australia from Italy for a 3 month trip and I got to meet her face to face for the first time I took her to Natural Arch to show her a greener lusher impression of Australia. The photo above shows the water cascading through the cave ceiling and then flowing on down stream under the arch.

Natural Bridge, Queensland Australia

From above, one can see the hole where the rock has been eroded and the water pours down into the cave

Rainforest Vine Epiphyte

Such a gorgeous spot so close to Brisbane -

 

Have you been there?

 

When, and what memories does it hold for you?

Birds Nest Tree Ferns – Epiphytes

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Australia Photo ~

Epiphytes ~ Birds Nest Tree Ferns in the rainforest

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Epiphytes are plants that use another plant or object as a host upon which to grow ~ Their roots are not therefore in the soil so nutrients are derived from the air, the rain, and sometimes an accumulation of leaf debris.

These Birds Nest Ferns were seen at Natural Bridge

during a recent visit when showing an overseas visitor our local SE Queensland tourist sites :)