It is just under twelve months since the previous Correa post, and since then there have been some new seedlings come into flower. The three oldest plants in the garden are red and green Correa glabra,  and a rough-leaf form of Correa reflexa from the Mottle Range. Correa decumbens and Correa Dusky Bells were also in the garden for many years but both are long gone. Seedlings are always appearing, and deducing the the parentage from the flowers and foliage is an interesting exercise. Eastern Spinebills and New Holland Honeyeaters are at present feeding in the correas, and who knows how many new hybrid forms may eventuate from their pollen covered foreheads. Here are photos of the old and the new for the inquiring mind.

Correa glabra, green form.

Correa glabra red form.

Correa reflexa Mottle Range.

The next three hybrids are growing in close proximity to the latter two.

Two plants germinated inches apart at the base of a Grevillea Ned Kelly, the flowers are quite dissimilar.

And here is the newest, a metre or so away from the preceding two.

Grow Correas!

Click to enlarge.

Photographs of a variety of creatures from the garden and the moth light.

First, a Leaf Hopper, or Lantern Fly, Rentinus dilatatus (Hemiptera, Fulgoridae) these come to the moth light occasionally. After wandering around on the ground sheet, this friendly individual thought denim was a better material to perch on.

Early autumn sees large numbers of Elhamma australasiae come in to the light, and inevitably the odd one on the groundsheet gets trodden on. Bull ants are usually on patrol and collect the casualties. There was competition for this one while a water beetle looked on.

Also into the light, a winged termite,

and this unknown species.

Many correas are coming into flower in autumn, and bees, both blue-banded and honey varieties are busy collecting pollen.

Autumn is also the time when Leaf-curling Spiders, Phonognatha graeffei, are at their most numerous. This one scorned the available leaves for something more colourful.

One that came inside in its rolled leaf attached to gardening clothes was taken outside for a photo on the wall, giving an uncommonly seen complete view.

All the St. Andrew’s cross spiders in the garden have now lived their lives and disappeared, but the female up under the house eave is still there. She has constructed a phenomenal five egg sacs.

Although beetle numbers have dropped there are still some interesting and attractive ones to be seen in and about the garden.

Quite a few weevils are wandering about, two of this species were observed while cutting firewood. Of interest are the small bulbous structures  on the feet, seen in the frontal shot.

Click all images to enlarge.