February

February

journal > 2016 > February

Short Chinese New Year's eve walk around Garden City

Mountain palm February DSC_7382

Weiwei peek-a-boo February DSC_7383

Edible Canna (Canna edulis)? February DSC_7384

From the path at the base of the steep cliffs across from the community that runs along Lanxi. February DSC_7385

Trail flag February DSC_7386

Old homestead ruins. February DSC_7388

Gardening in the ruins February DSC_7390

Bamboo charcoal water. What is this used for? February DSC_7391

Doorways to the jungle February DSC_7392

Window of hand hewn stone building February DSC_7393

Scarecrow

Weiwei smelling the forest February DSC_7399

Studying the bamboo February DSC_7405

Fulvetta

cliffs above the Lanxi stream February DSC_7412

Fields still being cultivated February DSC_7414

Philip studying me studying the bamboo February DSC_7415

trail to Xiaocukeng 小粗坑 February DSC_7419

Butterfly catching some solar energy February DSC_7420

townhouses from across the valley February DSC_7424

pangolin activity February DSC_7426

Black Bulbul 紅嘴黑鵯 (hóng zuǐ hēi bēi) Hypsipetes madagascariensis

Tammy coming out of the forest next to the river February DSC_7433

Found some old bottles just off the trail February DSC_7438

Dan checking out the old bottles. February DSC_7440

Tammy and dogs February DSC_7442

Tammy and dogs February DSC_7443

Dan sporting new glasses February DSC_7444

The Lanxi river February DSC_7447

Spider wrapping a leaf February DSC_7448

Weiwei enjoying the stream February DSC_7449

His happiest times are here in this stream

Community Garden

Dan took apart a tatami so that the straw could be used in the garden. February DSC_7458

Philip starts work on the stairs in the garden February DSC_7460

Building material for the stairs. February DSC_7463

Patricia and Kathrin join in the stair project February DSC_7465

Sudden mushrooming following the long rain February DSC_7468

Mulching begins again with rice straw from the tatami February DSC_7469

A rare sunny day and lots to catch up on in the garden February DSC_7470

Mulching again in earnest while we have some sun February DSC_7471

The nasturtium have survived with our mini-raised bed strategy February DSC_7472

Amazing the lettuces and broccoli survived the long, cold rains February DSC_7473

Strawberries, planted high, and letucces made it through the cold rains.

Visit to the Garden and more work on rebuilding the bamboos stairs with discarded brick rubble.

Tammy's birthday BBQ down by the Lanxi stream 蘭溪

a brithday feast February DSC_6995

Patricia brings family February DSC_6996

abandoned riverside house

potatoes in the fire

Home meals

Chana masala with tomato, roasted capsicum, cilantro salsa and sauteed zuccini and onions becomes "dip" for the cheese-covered tortilla chips.

orange oakleaf 枯葉蝶 Kallima inachis fomosana

orange oakleaf 枯葉蝶 (kū yè dié) Kallima inachis formosana

The orange oakleaf or dead leaf 枯葉蝶 (kū yè dié) 別名: 枯葉蝶, 木葉蝶, 樹葉蝶 Kallima inachis formosana with wings closed resembles a dry leaf with dark veins and is a spectacular and commonly cited example of camouflage. Wingspan ranges from 85 to 110 millimetres. The orange oakleaf is a powerful flier and usually flies in dense forests with good rainfall, amongst undergrowth and along stream beds. It is attracted to tree sap and over-ripe fruit, and is also known to mud-puddle. When in danger the orange oakleaf flies erratically, soon dropping down into the foliage and occupying a stationary pose with wings closed, so that the birds are very often quite unable to find them.