Tag: flowers

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 26

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

Last weekend, my Wife and I ventured up to an oft visited place, Millthorpe (near Bathurst/Orange) in Central West New South Wales.

We went up to visit our very friends, Diane & David, plus attend the Millthorpe Garden Ramble. Different gardens are on display in different years.

This selection of photos were taken last weekend.

Till next time!

Written & photographed by David Johnson

9 November 2025

Natural History Illustration Workshop

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the above workshop. It was held at the Alan Baker Gallery in Camden, NSW, which is about a 20-minute drive East of where we live.

The workshop was facilitated by talented local Natural History Illustrator Esther Bolz. It focused on capturing the flora and fauna of the Nepean River, celebrating World Rivers Day.

We were asked to choose from a selection of flora or pick out an animal from an image, and draw from that. I chose flora, namely, “Australian Indigo”, as seen below.

Chose to paint it in Watercolour. Quite happy with it.

Till next time!

Written & painted by David Johnson

6 October 2025

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 25

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

This morning, after my gym workout, I went for a 2.3km/1.4-mile walk. It so great to have an area so beautiful that is so close to the gym.

Here are some images I took along the way.

Till next time!

Written & Photographed by David Johnson

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 23

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

The following images were taken in May this year. We had a trip up to Millthorpe (near Bathurst/Orange/Blayney), NSW, in May for a good friend’s 60th Birthday party. Some of the images are from there, and others are around and about.

If you ever get a chance to visit the towns/cities mentioned above, please do so. Lots to see! Abercrombie House, just outside Bathurst is definitely a must. A three-storey mansion, built in 1870, where you can have lunch and do a self-guided mansion tour. I highly recommend it.

Till next time!

Written & Photographed by David Johnson

30 July 2025

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 19!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

All the images in this post were taken on a small walk I did this morning. We are almost one month into the Summer season here in south-western Sydney. More often than not, the best time to walk is early morning.

The early morning light was again majestic this morning.

Till next time!

Written & Photographed by David Johnson

29 December 2024

A Real Beauty!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

Almost a year ago, a fellow Cacti & Succulent lover gave me a cutting of the plant below and it has just flowered for the first time.

Like some of my other Cacti flowers, it is a nocturnal-opening flower and it was such a joy to be greeted by this flower when I walked around the corner of the house a few days ago.

When I saw it initially, I thought it had opened fully however, much to my surprise and enjoyment, it opened up even further during the day.

To identify it, I posted a some photos and a question in the Members Only Facebook Group of the Cacti & Succulent Association of Australia. It has been identified as a ‘Peniocereus serpentinus.’

I am so looking forward to seeing the plant’s next flower bloom.

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

30 November 2023

Things That Attract My Eye Part 7

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

I’ve often said that walking is a great way to clear the mind, do some exercise and I always come up with a few ideas, whether they be for our business, a poem, a painting, sketch etc.

It’s also a way to sharpen our senses and awareness. There is so much beauty around is, natural or man-made, and on my walks, I love to capture this. Here are some more examples of ‘things that attract my eye.’

Till next time! 🙂

Written by David Johnson

28 November 2023

Celebration of Life

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Haiku Poetry

Summer Beauties

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

Well, it’s been the best Spring/Summer for blooming Cacti flowers that I’ve had in quite a few years!

Here are a couple of more beauties…

The series of 3 images is from a Notocactus variation, and the Yellow flower is from an Echinopsis variation.

At the end of the flowering season I shall put together a post showing all the flowers that have bloomed from my Cacti and Succulents this time around.

Looking forward to the next beauty!

Written by David Johnson

15 December 2022

Orange & Yellow

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

Say ‘Hello’ to my latest Cacti flowers, from my Parodia Mairanana!

I was walking up the side of the house (that we just moved to) and something caught the corner of my eye…it was the gorgeous colour of these flowers.

My Cacti and Succulents (before we moved) had grown to 160 plants. Some of them were duplicates, most not and I have realised that my hobby was getting out of hand. We intend to buy a house next year, however, after the latest move I have come to the conclusion that I need to downsize my collection.

We had a garage sale before moving and I sold/offloaded about 50 plants, reducing my collection to 110. This is still a lot of plants to move, particularly when you consider the size of some of the plants and the pots.

I am going to bite the bullet and pick out my favourite say, 30 plants and have another garage sale.

I also think that I am going to change direction slightly in terms I what future Cacti and Succulent plants I will buy, i.e., I think I will aim for the smaller, flowering plants. There will still be some columnar plants but mainly smaller Ball-type ones.

Written by David Johnson

28 November 2022