Monday, June 15, 2015

Reflecting...


Today, on a cold and grey winter morning I had an early appointment. I was in the general area of where I grew up and close to my old primary school so I decided after my appointment to visit a place which as a girl and young woman was very special to me. I was commenting on a blog not that long ago about a creek and nature reserve which was directly behind my school. On special nature days, accompanied by our teacher we were allowed to visit the reserve and creek to study the vegetation, water plants and grasses, water birds, frogs, dragonflies, hover flies etc., and collect leaves, seeds and draw pictures of the insects, birds and plants.  Today I was so disappointed to find that the sandy shores have now all silted up, also the sandy bottom of the creek. The once crystal clear water is now murky and filled with ‘Alligator grass/weed’, an invasive weed which destroys native vegetation and chokes waterways. Much of the native vegetation along the shore has been destroyed by the invasion of Lantana, a noxious weed in our State. The local Council is addressing the problem but it is a huge undertaking.  I walked around reflecting on what was once here and how beautiful it was. It is still a pleasant place, quiet, with the sounds of the rippling water and birdsong but sadly only a shadow of its former, pristine beauty. Here are a few photos of the creek, the Reserve and some Australian White Ibis, Black Ducks and Pacific Black Ducks. I came away feeling quite sad, perhaps if I return on a sunny day it will not look so bleak. Please enlarge the images.









21 comments:

Crissi said...

So beautiful shots!
Have a great week
Crissi

dianne said...

Thank you dear Crissi for your kind words.
Have a great week!
xoxoxo ♡

Leovi said...

Yes, in the photos it is a nice quiet place which would be beautiful as you describe in your childhood!
Besos!

♥ Łucja-Maria ♥ said...

Hello Dear Dianne,
Very charming place.
The sun's rays beautified by this corner.
I also like to go back to memories.
Kisses and greetings.

JUAN FUENTES said...

El amor por la naturaleza,te hace mucho más persona
Saludos

Marty said...

we have some beautiful images of our childhood and sometimes
we don't find again what we had in our memory !
that's life - c'est la vie !!
bisous Dianne

dianne said...

Thank you dear Leovi for your kind words, yes, it was a much more beautiful place in my childhood. It has been ruined by pollution from the invasive weeds and the water from gutters which flows into storm water drains which are filled with discarded rubbish. So sad.
Besos
xoxoxo ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear Lucia for your kind words. Thank goodness our memories of a place remain the same even if the reality is not as beautiful.
Perhaps it would look better if the sun was shining.
Kisses and greetings.
xoxoxo ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear Juan for your kind words, I love the beauty of nature and am saddened when something so beautiful is spoiled by progress and neglect.
Hugs
xoxoxo ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear Marty for your kind words. I realise that when we look back at places through the eyes of a child that they seem more beautiful and magical.
This is not the case here, I can vividly remember the sandy shore, the sandy bottom of the creek, the crystal clear water glistening in the sunshine. You could see baby fishes swimming around, frogs and many water insects flitting around. The lovely vegetation such as rushes and other grasses which were once there have now gone, destroyed by the invasion of Lantana. There has been an industrial area built just nearby which I would guess has added to the pollution. So very sad.
Besos
xoxoxo ♡

Leovi said...

Thank you very much!

Laura. M said...

Gradually we are destroying nature. Dianne, and it's a shame we do not know keep it.
Besos.

JUAN FUENTES said...

A veces los poetas sueñan

blueshell said...

I feel for you and for the nature.
It is really very sad. But ...there has to be a solution, no? Nobody can do nothing?

Well, let's have some hope, okay?
Kiss

BShell

Fernando Santos (Chana) said...

Belas fotografias...Espectacular....
Cumprimentos

dianne said...

You are most welcome dear Leovi your abstract art is always amazing and beautiful.
Besos
xoxoxo ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear Laura , for your kind words. So true, it is sad that we are destroying something so precious, purity which cannot be replaced.
Besos
xoxoxo ♡

dianne said...

Gracias, querido Juan por sus amables palabras, menudo sueño de un mundo mejor.
abrazos
xoxoxo ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear Yannis for your lovely words, there is always hope in my heart for a more caring world.
Hugs
xoxoxo ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear Blueshell for your thoughtful words, I feel sad each time I think of my beautiful memory of that place.
It should never have been allowed to deteriorate so much, the local Council is addressing the problems but this place shall never be the same.
Yes, all I have is hope that something will be done to reverse the damage.
Kisses
xoxoxo ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear Fernando for your kind words, I wish all of my followers could have seen this place when it was beautiful and unspoiled by weeds and pollution.
Hugs
xoxoxo ♡