![Ozzy and the Violas](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52438291143_50dde83b43_b.jpg)
Ozzy and the Violas
The white-flowering Ozothamnus diosmifolius with twirling Hardenbergia violacea climbing up its spindly trunk. We have an Ozothanmnus growing in the garden at the moment and it always attracts compliments! [Wianamatta Nature Reserve, NSW]
![A Fine Collection](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52438290983_151cea9a42_b.jpg)
A Fine Collection
Such a lovely assortment of trees could be seen at Wianamatta Nature Reserve. I really enjoy the differing heights, colours, shapes and textures the combination creates! [Cranebrook, NSW]
![A Lovely Mix](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52438290773_f80310a2dc_b.jpg)
A Lovely Mix
Pretty Prostanthera scutellarioides growing among the bushpeas. The combination of yellow and purple made of a very pleasing flower walk. [Wianamatta Nature Reserve, NSW]
![Shimmering Remains](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52438226480_6dd11bbccd_b.jpg)
Shimmering Remains
The left over carapace of a shiny beetle; perhaps a jewel beetle of some kind. It was iridescent in the sunlight. [Wianamatta Nature Reserve, NSW]
EDIT: Big thanks to Bernhard for identifying this as the Golden Stag Beetle (and its left elytron at that).
![The Start of the Spring Show](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52438226300_f997551784_b.jpg)
The Start of the Spring Show
Prostanthera scutellarioides beginning her spring show! These flowers tend to spot throughout the year but put on their best performance in the garden (the one in out garden is flowering nicely now). We saw many of these native mint bushes along the trail adding splashes of purple. [Wianamatta Nature Reserve, NSW]
![So Many Leaf Shapes!](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52043411503_c14d3115c1_b.jpg)
So Many Leaf Shapes!
I was so thrown by this plant, because even though I now know it to be the same species (Polymeria calycina), the leaves looked totally different. I saw one earlier on my walk with long thing leaves, and then one with these oval-shaped leaves. To make matters worse, it also bears a very strong resemblance to Pink Bindweed (also native to the region). Nature can really troll you like that! Here’s the description from PlantNET: “Perennial with trailing and twining stems, moderately to densely pubescent. Leaves with lamina linear, elliptic to ovate-oblong, 1–6.5 cm long, 3–20 mm wide, apex barely acute to rounded and emarginate, base cordate-sagittate to auriculate, margins entire, ± pubescent; petiole 5–35 mm long.” [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Unknown Flower Wasp](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52042312787_ed86eff5f7_b.jpg)
Unknown Flower Wasp
Stunning flower wasp on Micromyrtus minutiflora. Such wow factor! [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![And a Fly to Top it Off!](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52036909401_287f2a16a0_b.jpg)
And a Fly to Top it Off!
And of course we have to include a lovely fly photo for Fly Day Friday (iNaturalist reckons Amenia genus. Might be Amenia chrysmae.). Hope everyone has a lovely weekend! I’ll be celebrating my partner’s birthday this Saturday so I am looking forward to cake. 🙂
![Cheerful Groundsover](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037163779_ebcefa23a3_b.jpg)
Cheerful Groundsover
Another guinea flower plant shot! [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Sunny Guinea Flower](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037431320_f525e4a3ff_b.jpg)
Sunny Guinea Flower
Another guinea flower close up! [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Perfect Polly](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52035871562_b235692c41_b.jpg)
Perfect Polly
Based on the leaves, I think this is Polymeria calycina. There were quite a few of them trailing the ground in the area. Such lovely little pink flowers! [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Cute Calotis](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037431040_1be98a3305_b.jpg)
Cute Calotis
I think this was Calotis cuneifolia (should have photographed the leaves – I was too overwhelmed by new sightings that day to recall such things!) [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Distant Dollarbird](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037430915_153eba4240_b.jpg)
Distant Dollarbird
A fine silhouette of a bird, ha ha! My camera is no good for birds. This was my very first sighting of a Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) so I made an effort nonetheless. Google them and you will see how beautiful they look u close! [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Lovely Round Siler](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037163009_599d08cb2e_b.jpg)
Lovely Round Siler
The lovely round silvery leaves of a species of Eucalyptus (I am hopeless with trees!). [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
EDIT: Correction, this is an Acacia. Likely the Silver Wattle (Acacia podalyriifolia) which, while native to Australia, isn't native to this area and is a bit weedy in the Sydney region.
![Tiny Red Jewel of a Spider](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037162904_cd00bee7c6_b.jpg)
Tiny Red Jewel of a Spider
Unknown species of spider (though I have a few suspicions – I need to set time aside to hunt down an I.D.). It was very small but, I thought, very beautiful. [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Nice Colour Combo](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037162784_6d553f0df4_b.jpg)
Nice Colour Combo
I think this is Paropsis maculata. Such lovely beetles! [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Snazzy Beetle](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52035870697_e9c674cb26_b.jpg)
Snazzy Beetle
Between iNaturalist and my own online searches, I could not find an exact match for this beetle. I am guessing Paropsisterna sp. Perhaps Paropsisterna nigerrima or Paropsisterna octolineata. Any I.D. help much appreciated! This beauty was spotted by my friend Shell. [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Long Flowering Bursaria](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52035870547_514dca092b_b.jpg)
Long Flowering Bursaria
Bursaria spinosa. These plants flower throughout late spring all the way to early autumn. They have mean thorns! [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Wianamatta Reserve](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52035870377_c89642378a_b.jpg)
Wianamatta Reserve
Some of the woodland at Wianamatta Nature Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW
![Prostanthera Flower](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52035870232_ce6ce3a26d_b.jpg)
Prostanthera Flower
When I first saw the flowers of this plant I thought they might be something else entirely, but after looking at the leaves on the PC, I think this is a wild growing mint bush. Possibly Prostanthera scutellarioides. First time I have seen this growing wild (we have one in the garden now). [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Mint Bush Leaves](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52035870092_73a78cd94b_b.jpg)
Mint Bush Leaves
When I first saw the flowers of this plant I thought they might be something else entirely, but after looking at the leaves on the PC, I think this is a wild growing mint bush. Possibly Prostanthera scutellarioides. First time I have seen this growing wild (we have one in the garden now). [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Wild Mint Bush](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037429675_d61a14832f_b.jpg)
Wild Mint Bush
When I first saw the flowers of this plant I thought they might be something else entirely, but after looking at the leaves on the PC, I think this is a wild growing mint bush. Possibly Prostanthera scutellarioides. First time I have seen this growing wild (we have one in the garden now). [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Dianella Most Dainty](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037161829_23487e5dfb_b.jpg)
Dianella Most Dainty
Dianella sp. The flowers of Dianellas look very similar but there’s a bit of colour variation. Not 100% sure which species this one is. [Wianamatta Reserve, Cranebrook, NSW]
![Wide Shrub Shot](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52036958788_ac39d11ecf_b.jpg)
Wide Shrub Shot
More photos of the mysterious Dillywina I saw at Wianamatta Reserve. It might even be Dillwynia tenuifolia as that is local to the region and its flowering time is February and March. [Cranebrook, NSW]
![Happy Summer Pea](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52037161569_e95698a06b_b.jpg)
Happy Summer Pea
More photos of the mysterious Dillywina I saw at Wianamatta Reserve. It might even be Dillwynia tenuifolia as that is local to the region and its flowering time is February and March. [Cranebrook, NSW]