#native australian fruit

[walkeroliver45]

Iconic Australian Foods and the Role of Bush Ingredients  

Australia's rich culinary heritage is deeply intertwined with its diverse landscape and unique ecosystems. While the country is known for its iconic dishes like Vegemite and Tim Tams, many of its traditional foods have a hidden gem - bush ingredients. These native edibles add exceptional flavours to meals and play a crucial role in preserving Indigenous culture and promoting sustainable practices. In this article, we will explore some of the most beloved iconic Australian foods, and the important role that bush ingredients play in shaping the nation's gastronomic identity. 

Embracing Australian Bush Foods 

Australian bush food are a variety of edible plants and animals that have been part of the Indigenous diet for thousands of years. They include fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices that thrive in the country's diverse landscapes, from the arid deserts to lush rainforests. These ingredients have been used for both sustenance and medicinal purposes, reflecting the deep connection between the land and the Indigenous communities. The Significance of Bush Ingredients 

A. Cultural Heritage: For Indigenous Australians, bush foods are more than just sustenance; they hold immense cultural significance. The traditional knowledge of identifying, harvesting, and preparing these ingredients has been passed down through generations, carrying stories and traditions that are essential to preserving the community's identity. 

B. Sustainable Practices: As the world faces ecological challenges, the role of bush ingredients in promoting sustainable practices cannot be overlooked. These native foods have adapted to their environments over millennia, requiring minimal intervention for cultivation. By incorporating bush ingredients into modern cuisine, we can support sustainable agricultural practices and reduce the strain on the environment. 

Exploring Iconic Australian Foods 

A. Vegemite: Perhaps the most iconic Australian food, Vegemite, is a yeast extract spread known for its distinct salty flavour. While not a bush ingredient itself, it represents the Australian way of life and is often associated with bush camping and outdoor adventures. 

B. Macadamia Nuts: Originating from the rainforests of eastern Australia, macadamia nuts are a sought-after delicacy known for their creamy texture and rich, buttery taste. These nuts were a traditional food source for Indigenous communities and have since gained global popularity. 

C. Quandong: The quandong, also known as the "wild peach," is a bright red fruit found in arid regions. It has a tart flavour and is a common ingredient in jams, sauces, and desserts. Indigenous Australians have used quandongs for centuries, and their unique taste adds a touch of Australian authenticity to dishes. 

D. Bush Tomatoes: Bush tomatoes are small, intensely flavoured fruits found in central Australia. They are rich in antioxidants and have been used in Indigenous medicine for their health benefits. In modern cuisine, they lend a tangy punch to sauces and salads. 

Integrating Bush Ingredients into Modern Cuisine 

A. Fusion Cuisine: In recent years, Australian chefs have embraced the use of bush ingredients to create innovative fusion dishes. By combining traditional Australian flavours with global culinary techniques, they showcase the versatility of bush foods while introducing them to a broader audience. 

B. Restaurant Menus: Many restaurants across Australia now feature bush ingredients on their menus. From native Australian fruit like pepper berries as a spice to lemon myrtle-infused desserts, these additions elevate the dining experience while promoting sustainable practices and supporting Indigenous communities. 

Challenges and Opportunities 

A. Conservation Efforts: As bush ingredients gain popularity, there is a growing need to protect the native plants and animals that sustain these traditional foods. Conservation efforts are crucial to maintaining the delicate balance between harvesting and preserving the environment. 

B. Ethical Harvesting: It is essential to follow ethical harvesting practices to ensure the sustainability of bush ingredients. It involves understanding the life cycle of the plants and respecting the cultural significance of these resources to Indigenous communities. 

Exploring Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom 

Incorporating bush ingredients into modern Australian cuisine also provides an opportunity to learn from Indigenous knowledge and wisdom. Indigenous communities have an intricate understanding of the land and its resources, and by respecting and embracing their traditional practices, we can gain valuable insights into sustainable living and environmental stewardship. Learning from Indigenous elders about the uses of different bush foods and their significance in cultural ceremonies fosters a deeper connection with the land and its inhabitants. By acknowledging and supporting the preservation of Indigenous knowledge, we ensure that future generations inherit a rich tapestry of culinary traditions and ecological wisdom. 

Bush Tucker Gardens and Sustainability 

Creating bush tucker gardens empowers individuals and communities to embrace and preserve Australian bush ingredients. These gardens can be cultivated with native plants that have both culinary and medicinal value, promoting biodiversity and supporting native wildlife. Bush tucker gardens can serve as outdoor classrooms where people of all ages can learn about Indigenous history, culture, and the sustainable use of native plants. By planting and nurturing these gardens, we foster a sense of responsibility for the environment and contribute to the conservation of Australian bush foods. 

Culinary Tourism and Cultural Exchange 

Iconic Australian foods and bush ingredients have become magnets for culinary tourism. Visitors from around the world seek out authentic Australian dining experiences that feature these unique flavours. Such tourism supports local economies and provides an avenue for cultural exchange and appreciation. Tourists can interact with Indigenous guides, who can share their knowledge of bush ingredients, traditional cooking methods, and the cultural significance of different foods. This exchange of ideas and perspectives enriches both visitors and locals, fostering a sense of unity and appreciation for the richness of Australia's culinary heritage. 

A Call to Embrace Sustainable Gastronomy 

As we celebrate iconic Australian foods and the role of bush ingredients, it is essential to remember that we all have a part to play in promoting sustainable gastronomy. Whether we are chefs, home cooks, consumers, or policymakers, we can contribute to preserving Indigenous culture and the environment through our food choices and actions. 

A. Choose Ethical and Sustainable Products: Support food producers and companies prioritising ethical sourcing and sustainable practices. Look for products that carry certifications or labels indicating they are harvested responsibly. 

B. Educate Ourselves and Others: Promote awareness about the significance of bush ingredients and their role in Australian culture and ecology. Encourage others to explore the unique flavours and benefits of these native edibles. 

C. Respect Indigenous Cultures: Show respect for Indigenous cultures and traditional knowledge. Acknowledge the importance of their contributions to culinary heritage of Australian bush food shops and strive for meaningful collaborations and partnerships. 

Embracing the Flavors of Australia Iconic 

Australian foods and bush ingredients weave a compelling narrative of cultural heritage, ecological wisdom, and culinary excellence. By embracing these native edibles, we can savour the flavours of Australia while fostering sustainable practices and supporting Indigenous communities. As we embark on a journey of exploration and appreciation for bush ingredients, let us remember that our choices can make a difference. Embracing sustainable gastronomy is not just about what we put on our plates; it is a celebration of the land, the people, and the stories that nourish us and shape our shared future. Together, we can create a gastronomic landscape that honours tradition, promotes sustainability, and preserves the essence of Australian identity. 

[fingerlimesmelbourne]

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fingerlime fruit australia Are you looking for the unique flavour of desert limes? Look no further than Finger Limes Melbourne. Our natural desert limes are carefully harvested and inspected to meet the highest quality standards. We take pride in growing and selling the best citrus fruits in their most natural state. Our rigorous quality inspections ensure we meet relevant industry benchmarks, so you can trust that the fruit you buy is of the highest quality. Our Finger Lime trees are grown in the best possible conditions, and we use only natural fertilisers to ensure they are healthy and productive. We also provide ongoing care and maintenance to ensure your tree lives a long and happy life. If you Buy Desert Limes Melbourne, contact us now. 

[voidbirds]

Welp! Guess my queue ate all my posts!

Anyway! Heres a staple of Australian Nightlife, the Grey Headed Flying Fox! We commonly call them fruit bats, due to their diet being made up of mostly Fruit and Nectar!

An interesting fact for you! Australia is free of traditional Rabies (Another important reason we are so careful about transporting pets) but we do have ABLV or Australian Bat Lyssavirus which has on occasion been spread to humans.

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Banksia integrifolia

Banksia is an Australian genus in the Protea Family, and most of the species are shrubs, though some of the larger ones can become trees (like this one). Banksia integrifolia is native to Queensland and Victoria in the eastern part of Australia, where the rain comes in summer, but it does well in our winter-rainfall California climate. The name "integrifolia" implies that the leaves have smooth edges (without lobes or teeth), but our plant has them anyway. The second photo shows the attractive cylindrical flower head, and the third photo shows the seed-bearing "cone" (this type of unusual fruit, resembling a cluster of clams, is the norm in Banksia).

-Brian

[bethanythebogwitch]

Australian Pokemon

Another set of Fakemon from my Goorda region based on a mix of Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Previous posts in this series: misc 3, single stages, non-natives, regional standards, creepy lines, regional variants, birds, early-game standards, misc 2, misc 1, starter variants, starters.

Drolladrong, the Lungfish Pokemon, Ground or Water-type. Drolladrong live simple lives burrowing through dried-up billabongs and seasonal streams. They are considered by most to be a dull and forgettable Pokemon. However, when the rainy season comes, Drolladrong metamorphoses into a majestic form and swims freely through the water to attract mates and lay eggs before the dry season returns.

Drolladrong is normally in Dry Form, a slow, defensive ground-type. If rain starts, it will shift into Wet Form, a speedy glass cannon. It has a unique ability called Seasonal Rains that causes this. Drolladrong is based on lungfish, which are famous for their ability to survive on land during dry seasons due to having lungs. The name comes from "drought" and "billabong" (seasonal wetlands).

Yowookee, the Hooligan Pokemon, normal-type. Yowookie are too small to participate in the rough games played by their evolutions, so they stand on the sidelines and cheer and holler to encourage their team. They paint their faces and leaves with berry juice to further show their support. Yowookee from opposing teams sometimes get into fights and they will throw wild parties if their team wins and riots if their team loses.

Yowookee evolves to Champowie, the Athlete Pokemon, normal-type. Champowie live in groups that act like sports teams. Different team play games against each other with the goal of getting a ball (made of giant seedpods) through the other team's side. These games are very rough, involving tackling and wrestling. To protect themselves, fur on the arms, legs, and chest has developed into thick padding. The best player of a team is the leader. As the ball is used, it sheds seeds, helping spread the parent plant population.

Yowookie and Champowie are based on sports fans and athletes. Yowookee is based on overenthusiastic fans like the football hooligans from the UK, with the decorated leaves being like flags and banners. In a game, members of this line from different routes would have different paint colors to represent the different teams. Champowie are the athletes and I based the game they play on rugby, which is popular in Australia. The padded fur is based on protective pads worn in sports like rugby and American football. They are also based on the yowie, a creature of Australian folklore said to look like an ape man. Basically, Australia's Bigfoot. The names come from "yowie", "rookie", and "champion".

Sepiliar, the Familiar Pokemon, psychic/poison-type. These rare Pokemon live deep in the forest and move through levitation. Each one carries a stick that it uses as a focus for its psychic powers. They are sent out to collect ingredients from throughout the forest and bring them back to their master. People in the past belived them to be spirits of the forest.

Sepiliar evolves to Sorsuttle, the Forest Witch Pokemon, psychic/poison-type. Sorsuttle lives in the deepest part of the forest and heads a coven of Sepiliar that are sent out to gather ingredients. It hollows out a boulder and uses it as a cauldron to brew potions. These potions are stored in hollow, dried fruits. Legends say that people who protect the forests may be gifted with potions from a Sorsuttle, while those who harm the forest will be attacked with poisons.

Sepiliar and Sorsuttle are based on witches, familiars, and the flamboyant cuttlefish, the only venomous cuttlefish. Naturally, they live in Australia. The reason they live in forests instead of the ocean is I had a dream involving flying cuttlefish in a forest. Yeah. Sorsuttle brews up potions like witches do and its reclusive nature as role as a protector of the forest drawn from various stories of witches and pagans. The blue rings on both stages are a reference to the blue-ringed octopus, another venomous cephalopod that lives in Australia (Because where else would it be?). Their names come from "Sepiida" (the taxonomic clade of cuttlefish), "familiar" (an animal-like servant of a witch), "sorcery", and "cuttlefish".

[blueiscoool]

Prehistoric 'Giant Goose' Skull Found in Australia

The skull of a prehistoric "giant goose" has been discovered in Australia.

It belongs to a now extinct giant flightless bird that weighed 230kg (36 stone) - about five times as much as an emu.

The 45,000- to 50,000-year- old fossil is the most complete skull of a Genyornis newtoni to have been discovered.

And researchers say the “stunningly rare find” will give them insight into what the bird looked like.

"Realising it was an intact skull was just so satisfying," lead author of the study, in the journal Historical Biology, Dr Phoebe McInerney, of Flinders University, Adelaide, said.

"I thought, 'Oh my gosh, this is amazing - we actually found one'.

"The Genyornis has been known [about] for 128 years - and now we've actually got a skull for it."

The 32cm (1ft) skull was found, in 2019, in the dry beds of Lake Callabonnam - a remote region of inland South Australia where thousands of animals once became stuck in the mud - attached to an almost complete fossilised body of the bird.

The only other known skull for this species, reported on in 1913, was heavily damaged and had only a small amount of the original bone, so little could be gleaned from it.

But this latest discovery reveals these giant birds had:

a massive cranium.

large upper and lower jaws.

an unusual casque, like a helmet, on the top of their head.

They also had a wide gape, strong bite and could crush soft plants and fruit on the roof of their mouth.

Genyornis newtoni is a relative of the Australian magpie goose but evolved before them in a separate lineage and is more closely related to the South American screamer species.

Unravelling its relationship to other species had been complex, Dr McInerney said, but the new find had enabled researchers to start to "piece together the puzzle, which shows, simply put, this species to be a giant goose”.

The last of the large, flightless mihirungs, or thunderbirds, native to Australia, they roamed the outback at the same time as other giant creatures, including lizards and kangaroos, and when the first humans arrived, about 50,000 years ago.

And the size and appearance of this "weird and wonderful" bird would have made it "quite a sight to see," according to Dr McInerney.

Jacob Blokland, who has created a scientifically accurate reconstruction of the about 2m (6ft) bird, said: “Using modern birds as comparatives, we are able to put flesh back on the fossils and bring them back to life.”

The researchers also discovered the giant birds had many unusual adaptations for aquatic habitats, protecting their ears and throat from water when submerged.

And they said this could have led to their extinction, some 45,000 years ago, as fresh water bodies in northern South Australia were now mostly salt lakes.

Dr Gerald Mayr, an ornithologist at the Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt, said fossil bird skulls were "stunningly rare" and this "extraordinary find" provided insights into the role the giant bird played within the Australian ecosystem at the time.

By Nia Price.

[battle-of-the-birds]

Remember to read about the contestants before voting!

Australian Magpie

Although called a magpie, this bird is actually not closely related to the Eurasian magpie! It was once thought to be three different species, but it’s now classified as one species with 9 subspecies. Despite its name, it’s not only native to Australia but also native to New Zealand and Southern New Guinea. They are very vocal songbirds, and have a wide variety of vocalizations. Learn More!

Cedar Waxwing

These birds get their name from a waxy secretion that comes from the tips of some of their wings. Although it is usually red, thus giving the red feather tips, some Cedar Waxwings are known to have orange tips, likely picked up from an introduced species of honeysuckle. They are specialized in eating fruit, and sometimes a cowbird placed into their nest will not survive because they are not prepared for such a fruit-centric diet. Learn More!

(Australian Magpie photo by Evan Lipton) (Cedar Waxwing photo by Darren Clark)

[not-poignant]

15 and 27 for the soft asks! <33

15. Comfort food?

Gird thy loins it's like 4,000 things:

Sue Lewis chocolate first and foremost but I only get to have this like twice a year.

Homemade prawn cocktails (*sobs in I'm so whi-hi-hiiiite*)

Lemon and sugar crepes

Chips with chicken salt (no, not like shoestring fries, no, if you're not Australian you probably haven't encountered chicken salt, it's complicated, the Australians know)

Cadbury Black Forest chocolate (I literally ate some today, I wonder why... *stares at the US in commiseration*)

Good tiny mandarins

Good tangelos

Fresh pineapple

Actually a lot of different fruits we're gonna be here a while

Fresh apples and local honey (very pagan very yum)

Dim sum (yum cha)

A good bubble tea, especially the Okinawa that Presotea does

Whopper Junior from Hungry Jacks with heavy onion (and heavy pickle)

Ham + cheese + onion toasties

Iced Mocha

Strawberries + melted dark chocolate from San Churro's

Shio and tonkotsu ramen (and menma, lots of menma)

Those really nice korokke, the crab and cheese ones, from South Korea

That one sushi place in that one suburb that does the tuna sushi and it somehow manages to be the best thing I've ever had in my entire life

The cheesecake I had in England that one time

A good (good!) lemon meringue pie

(Remember when I said we were going to be here a while) Rice pudding

Chocolate mousse

Mum's chocolate self saucing pudding

Calippos in Summer

Pralines & Cream gelato from Gelare

...okay I gotta stop I GOTTA STOP

Mapo tofu

Bun bo hue with extra spice

OKAY I'M STOPPING

There's more though.

GOOD BREAD

HAha I promise I'm stopping

dslakfjsa

27. Do you like to garden? Have you ever grown something?

I love to garden! And I have grown many things. I am growing many things this year actually. I'm too disabled to do as much as I'd like to do. That part sucks. But because it's a passion of mine and it's so rewarding, I do prioritise it.

So my entire back garden was created from scratch, literally it was a sandpit because this house basically didn't exist until we moved into it. So xeriscaping / landscaping is something close to my heart. I typically focus on local native plants because of our fragile and specific ecosystem, for local pollinators, but as time goes by I've also fallen in love with many other plants from other climes and places too.

The front garden has more 'exotics' in it. This year, from seed, I'm growing dahlias, zinnias, Californian poppies, basil, snapdragons, poached egg plants, foxgloves, marigolds, spinach and cucumber. In the back garden in pots we also have karapincha (curry plant) given to me by my Sri Lankan sister-in-law, from her curry plant. I've kept it alive in a pot for about 15 years or so. I also grow aloe vera (more like I can't fucking kill it), citronella (begone!), lemongrass, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage (until it finally died this year). Also daffodils and gladiolus from bulbs.

I am super proud of my garden and its many changes. It's a good place to raise a puppy. It's a great place to watch the world go by. It was once sand, and now it's a haven of Eucalyptus trees for many different species of honeyeater and wattlebird. It makes up for the fact that I'm too disabled to go anywhere and do anything most of the time. Even if I only leave the house to do something other than a medical appointment about 4 or 5 times a year, at least the garden is there for me!

I actually post way more on my Instagram!

--

From the soft asks meme!

[haveyouatethisfruit]

Native Cashew

(semecarpus australiensis)

Also known as marking nut or cedar plum

Like the cashew (anacardium occidentale) and its other relatives, the nut of this species is encased by an accessory fruit, a brightly coloured hypocarpium that forms as the flower stem swells. Neither the nut nor the accessory fruit are to be eaten raw, as they contain highly irritant, toxic resins. Along with the sap, leaves and even the sawdust, they can cause severe skin reactions. Roasting the nut and the fruit will remove the toxins, making them edible, though this can be a difficult process because even the smoke from roasting the fruits can cause problems. Indigenous Australians covered their hands in clay before handling the plants and made sure to prepare the fruits a good distance from their camps.

🍍 Reblog to share a fun fruit and to increase sample size! Check out even more interesting fruits here or in the list of all polled fruits. 🍍

[blueyinthebush]

night, fruit bats! - grey-headed flying fox

requested by @alpaca-dave

grey-headed flying foxes have appeared in two episodes so far: season one's "fruitbat" and briefly in season three's "bedroom". bluey loves fruit bats, and so do i! australia is home to over 75 species of bat, but the grey-headed flying fox is the biggest. flying foxes--also called fruit bats--are megabats, the larger of the two classifications of bat. while microbats primarily eat insects, megabats love to chow down on all sorts of fruit and nectar. since we're going to be talking about fruit trees as well, this post will be under a read more.

these bats are highly social, forming groups called "camps" that can contain tens of thousands of individuals. there are three other species of flying fox found in the country (black, little red, and spectacled) and all are effective pollinators, promoting forest health as they disperse seeds and pollen. as bingo correctly states in "fruitbat", these critters are primarily nocturnal, like all bat species. they roost during the day and hunt for fruit, pollen, and nectar at night.

grey-headed flying foxes are partial migrants, and will travel hundreds of kilometers as foraging locations change. the episode gives us a nice montage of dream-bluey and her flying fox friends on a couple different types of fruit tree. lets take a quite detour to learn about some fruit trees.

first up is a nice looking mango tree. this one looks like it could be a bowen variety. they're the most common and one the most tasty kinds grown in australia. so well beloved, in fact, that there's even a 10 meter tall fiberglass one in its namesake town!

next, a papaya. there are two main varieties, mexican and hawaiian. this one is mexican, the larger of the two, and is a favorite of fruit-eaters like birds and megabats. despite their prevalence, papaya plants are not native to australia.

this is a cavendish banana, by far the most popular banana in the entire world--it makes up 99 percent of all bananas grown. the primary variety used to be "big mike", but a devastating fungus-borne disease wiped them out in the 1950s. its likely that the same could happen to the cavendish if we're not careful.

last but not least, a guava tree. this one is a recognizable common guava, which are native to south and central america and the caribbean. they've been introduced worldwide, and can quickly take over. interesting to note that australia actually does have a native guava species, but a highly infectious invasive plant disease called myrtle rust is driving them to extinction.

such a fun assortment of fruits for a cool critter! these big bats are often considered a nuisance in cities, but they are vital to maintaining healthy forests. one grey-headed flying fox can spread as many as 60,000 seeds in a single night! they're particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures, and experts have noted a considerable decline in their numbers in the last century. the grey-headed flying fox is a beautiful and unique member of the australian ecosystem, and it's high time we appreciated them for the wonders they are. so the next time you say good night, be sure to thank these fascinating animals for all the work they do while you're asleep.

[hezzabeth]

Next story part of Saying Farewell to Armageddon

A forest had engulfed Baker Street. A romantic, sunlit forest with twisting trees covered in puffy, bright yellow blossoms bursting from upturned cobblestones. Dotted among them were smaller, dark trees heavy with bunches of magenta berries. Two of the feral children had already attacked the berries, their lips a deep purple.

Dityaa stopped helping Revati with the popcorn cart and started skipping towards the children. Revati sneezed loudly as the pollen hit her nose. She hated to admit it, but it was all rather pretty.

A few feet away, Brigadeiro was working outside the greenhouse along with the school students and Dusk. Mrs. Gupta was glaring at them with firm disapproval. “Does that fool have any idea how much water plants use?” She grumbled to Revati, who was pushing the cart towards everyone.

“I told you, Mrs. Gupta, these are all drought-resistant native Australian plants,” Brigadeiro replied as he stooped over an upturned cobblestone, spraying the mud below. There was a faint rustling sound, and a bush burst from the earth. The bush had peculiar finger-like mint-green leaves. Seconds later, it was covered in hot pink fleshy fruit.

“They look like your hair,” Revati remarked, faintly startled by the entire thing. “Here, try one,” Brigadeiro replied, picking a piece of fruit and handing it to Revati.

“I was only gone for less than an hour,” Revati pointed out.

“I know, if I had more time, I would have been able to turn that old fountain into a herb garden,” Brigadeiro said with a small shrug.

A fresh, salty-sweet flavor hit Revati’s tongue, and she swallowed loudly, staring at the fruit with astonishment. “It’s so unusual,” she said after a second of shocked silence.

“Enchylaena tomentosa, otherwise known as Ruby Saltbush; they used to grow wild all over the deserts of Australia,” Brigadeiro said as Revati devoured the rest of the berry.

“Australia? Is that one of the smaller Saturn moons?” Revati asked, and Brigadeiro chuckled.

“No, it’s an ancient old Earth country,” Brigadeiro said. As far as Revati knew, nobody had stepped foot on old Earth in almost a thousand years.

“Don’t laugh at me, you thought a dog was a shoe!” Revati snapped back, tossing the rest of the fruit onto the earth. The bush rustled, and a branch grabbed the bright pink berry, shoving it into the dirt.

“Is it supposed to do that?” Revati asked, faintly horrified.

“Oh yes, it’s just reabsorbing its nutrients! All plants are modified to be self-sustaining,” Brigadeiro said cheerfully, and he reached into his jumpsuit pocket once again. This time he pulled out a tiny, slim plastic box. He held it up to his eye, and it made a clicking sound.

“What’s that?” Revati asked suspiciously.

“Oh this is just my seed vault! I did my master's thesis project on native Australian plants,” he said as he showed Revati the inside of his vault. The inside of the box was filled with tiny balls of clear goo, each with a speck inside.

“Why are you doing this? These seeds would be worth a fortune on the black market,” Revati asked, and Brigadeiro shrugged.

Here's the corrected version of your text:

"The least I can do after you saved my life is to build a self-sustaining garden for your community," he said, plucking one of the gel balls out before closing the ball with a snap. "Besides, it’s fun! Gardening has always been my passion," he added as he walked to the old fountain.

Juniper and Aurora were busy filling the fountain with volcanic Martian dirt. "You agreed to help him on this project? I thought you hated him," Revati whispered to Aurora.

"Shhh! I don’t hate him! I just don’t want you getting into a mess! I’m willing to like anyone who makes us more food," Aurora hissed.

"Miss Juniper! Will you say our prayer before the planting?" Bridgadeiro asked, and Juniper rolled her eyes.

"Fine, O Goup, Divine Goddess of Fertility and Wellness. Bringer of cosmic balance and nurturer of all that grows. We seek Your bountiful grace and nurturing embrace. To foster life’s richness wherever it flows.

In Your lush gardens, where seeds turn to flowers, Grant us the strength to cultivate with care, To nurture each bud and blossom with love, And rejoice in the abundance we share.

May Your fertile essence inspire our lands, With a symphony of life, vibrant and bright, Guiding our steps in the dance of creation, Under Your watchful, life-giving light. Amen." Juniper finished.

"Amen! That was lovely! You could be a high priestess," Bridgadeiro smiled.

"No thanks," Juniper replied as Bridgadeiro pushed the gel ball into the soil. Bridgadeiro then pulled out the bottle of serum, which was now half empty. "Two pumps," Bridgadeiro smiled, pumping the soil. A vine-like plant with sharp leaves sprang out of the fountain, seconds later covered in heavy greenish-yellow vegetables. "Bush banana, very high in protein, but it tastes best cooked," Bridgadeiro smiled, gesturing to the plant.

Bridgadeiro reached for his seed vault again, and Revati grabbed his hand. "No, you've given us more than enough! Stop wasting your serum," she said firmly.

"What the hell is that doing here?" Nanni's voice suddenly screamed. Nanni was standing next to the popcorn cart, pointing at the broken android.

"We found it in the maze, right after I sucked a bunch of black sand out of Queen Victoria’s bosom," remarked Dityaa. Dityaa was sitting on the ground, fashioning a flower crown out of several yellow flower-covered twigs.

"Actually, I found it first. She warned me that something called 'the spider' is coming," Revati explained. Nanni was trembling, shaking her head from side to side.

"You need to burn that thing! The only good thing that came from it was your sister!" Nanni said, and Dityaa glanced up, looking faintly confused.

"I came from that? Didn’t I grow in Anna’s body like Sissy?" Dityaa asked curiously, and Nanni pursed her lips together.

"No, you grew in that maternity droid… lots of babies did before the war," Nanni said evasively.

"I did! Then we should save it, we should dress it up and put it on display," Dityaa smiled. Dityaa slowly got up and then tenderly placed the flower crown on the android's head. "Your mother can't see this! Go make a fire right now," hissed Nanni, ripping the crown off.

"It's made out of solid metal! I can't make a fire hot enough to burn it," Revati pointed out.

"You have no idea! This thing killed over a dozen people! It destroyed ripped their hands off!" Nanni grimaced, kicking it.

"Really? It seemed more interested in saving us," Revati said dubiously.

"It's an empty shell, you can't trust emptiness! It could be filled with anything," Nanny said firmly, and Aurora cleared her throat slightly.

"Mistress?" She asked.

"Hmm," Revati replied.

"We could take the android to the blacksmith forge; they would be able to melt metal," Aurora said with a small shrug.

"The blacksmith forge, the one in the medieval faire? I'm not in the mood to have rancid urine thrown all over me," Revati shuddered.

"They use it to brush their teeth," Dityaa said helpfully.

"I know a back way of getting in, I use it when I visit my girlfriend," Aurora admitted, blushing bright red.

"Girlfriend?" Revati cried with surprise.

"Yes, she's the daughter of the guy who plays the castle's beekeeper," Aurora admitted with a small shy smile.

"Is that where our honey comes from?" Revati asked, and Aurora nodded meekly.

"Well, you are a lady full of surprises!" Revati said, and Aurora looked pleased.

"I always meet her at noon; we have plenty of time to get the android there," Aurora said. Revati glanced up at the sky. "It’s hard to tell what time it is; the trees are blocking the sun," Revati grimaced with annoyance. "It's 10:32 AM circus Martian time," Bridgadeiro said helpfully, flipping over his wrist. A glowing clock had been tattooed onto his skin. Revati flinched, and Bridgadeiro smiled reassuringly.

"Don’t worry! It’s just a standard tattoo clock; it doesn’t think for itself," Bridgadeiro said reassuringly, and Revati sighed with relief.

"Can I come too? I’m dying to see the inside of Medieval faire!" Dityaa remarked.

"Only if you go clean yourself up; you’re starting to smell like a blocked drain," Revati firmly replied.

"I smell like vanilla and fresh flowers!" Dityaa shrieked back before storming off in the direction of their home.

"Medieval Faire. Before the tornado, Revati only ever visited Medieval Faire once a week. Revati would slip her hand into her father's, and together they would head down to trade carrots. Father had at one point asked if they wanted any tomatoes, and Lady Morganna shrieked it was "new world poison." Out of all the actors, the residents of Medieval Faire were the most authentic.

[dougdimmadodo]

Long-Tailed Mouse (Pseudomys higginsi)

Family: Typical Mouse Family (Muridae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Found only on Tasmania but widely distributed across its home island, the Long-Tailed Mouse is one of relatively few non-marsupial mammals native to Australia (with its ancestors having likely drifted from southern Asia on beds of vegetation around 6-8 million years ago.) While members of this species can inhabit a wide range of habitats they are most abundant in wet, humid forests, and are largely nocturnal (spending the day in a burrow dug in soft, damp soil, although in areas where predators are scarce they may become increasingly active during the day.) Long-Tailed Mice feed on insects, fruits, ferns, mosses and other forms of damp vegetation (often taking in so much water when eating that they do not need to drink,) and dig networks of tunnels across the forest floor near their home den to allow them to forage without being detected by predators such as Australian Masked Owls, Eastern Quolls and invasive Domestic Cats with which their natural predators are forced to compete. Adults of this species breed mainly between November and April (although mating may occur at any time of year following heavy rainfall, with the population of this species often exploding in size following rainy periods,) and it is typical for a single female to produce two litters of 2-4 young in each breeding season. Newborn Long-Tailed Mice are furry but unable to move, see or eat, and remain in their mother’s den where they are protected and fed on milk until they are around 40 days old. Although a mother Long-Tailed Mouse will typically leave her young in their den when she goes out to forage, she is able to carry them away from the den and to safety in the event of an attack by having them cling to her underside using specialized blunt, inwards-facing incisors with which they are born.

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Image Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/45216-Pseudomys-higginsi

[drhoz]

#2193 - Avicennia marina - Grey Mangrove

AKA White Mangrove, and mānawa in New Zealand. Currently in the Acanthaceae family, although that remains contentious.

Native to Africa's East coast, the Arabian Peminsula, all Australian states, and parts of New Zealand. Grows remarkably far south for a mangrove.

Grey mangroves can be found as shrubs, like those in my photos, or up to 14 metres tall in tropical regions. The gnarled branches have smooth light-grey flaky bark. They excrete excess salt through glands on the leaves. Like other Avicennia species they have aerial roots to absorb oxygen and anchor the plant when tides come in. Fruit often germinates on the tree, falling as a seedling that may spear into the mud of the estuary or float away on the outgoing tide.

Mascot, Sydney, New South Wales

[stimsofooo]

Recipes for a Parakeet Therian!

Breakfast:

Banana Nut Breakfast Farro - Budget Bytes

Whole Grain Porridge - Veggie Inspired

Blueberry Smoothies Recipe | Bon Appétit (bonappetit.com)

Lunch:

Salted fish with macadamia and native pepper recipe | Gourmet Traveller

Colorful Millet Salad with Chickpeas, Veggies, Garam Masala (katheats.com)

One-Pot Millet Pilaf With Vegetables & Turmeric Recipe on Food52

Braised eggplant with saltbush | SBS Food

Stir-fried Australian native greens recipe by Kylie Kwong | Gourmet Traveller

Kingfish ceviche recipe with avocado and finger lime by Jacqui Challinor | Gourmet Traveller

Dinner:

Millet Veggie Burgers - Detoxinista

Gorgonzola, leek and walnut orzotto recipe | delicious. magazine (deliciousmagazine.co.uk)

Celeriac & Walnut Tacos (eatingwell.com)

Kap mauri oxtail ragù recipe | Gourmet Traveller

Barramundi with cavolo nero and capers | Gourmet Traveller

Thai Peanut Noodles - Nora Cooks (PARAKEETS CANNOT EAT PEANUTS.)

Snacks:

Puffed Millet Granola with Almonds, Honey and Coconut - Craving California

Tasty Millet Zucchini Fritters - Vibrant plate

Kale Chips!

Kakadu Plum, fingerlime, and all sorts of fruits & nuts!

Dessert:

Baklava Recipe-How to make the BEST Honey Baklava (themediterraneandish.com)

Greek Walnut Spice Cake (eatingwell.com)

Pavlova with Fresh Berries | Williams Sonoma (williams-sonoma.com)

Lemon myrtle brown butter madeleines | Gourmet Traveller

(i put too many desserts because it was fun!)

[thephysicsofmiracles]

This evening, I went for a stroll in an area I hadn't explored yet. The cloudy moon was ghostly and in the Celtic wisdom which my mother bestowed upon me, (though I was the only one listening!) I know it symbolises the caution to find stillness in the unknown and not make hasty decisions - wait for more information to come to light. I stumbled upon a community garden filled with flowers of strange varieties and burgeoning fruit and fat hens that stared at me obnoxiously. After wandering for a half hour or so, taking mental notes and snap shots for my own future permaculture planning that I've been envisioning for years, I was captivated by a fluttering ensemble that wafted over-shoulder so close I heard it's winged rapture reverberate in my ear, which turned out to be two butterflies in the midst of a balletic waltz, tumbling over, around and besides each other, amorously lost in a spontaneous orbit of mutual admiration. My immediate thought was: "If only I could be loved like that." Bold as they were, their time together seemed fragile, and I walked on as proscenium-arched jacarandas graciously harboured their momentary paradise. Wandering on and musing some more, I came by a tiny library the size of a doll house, the likes of which children had labouriously constructed containing an assortment of books and paraphernalia and labelled above in painted handwritten letters, "Free". I decided to peruse the generous but tatty collection, hoping for something with poems or a local guide to trees and native fauna. Immediately, I was surprised to see a copy of a recommendation from a friend from about 18 months ago, which I'd had on my "to read" list ever since: The Celestine Prophecy. I had recalled the conversation I had with her where I confided about finding someone I felt a strong, energetic pull toward and the confusion I experienced when they developed a serious connection with someone else. She recommended it for the clarity it provided around soul contracts and past lives and how the dance or "quantum entanglement" of two Souls can progress you just as powerfully and passionately in your Soul's development without an ensuing romance. It rang true because the inspiration I received from him to change my life was a profound turning point for me, one which I have only motioned forward from ever since. Something about his example, his heart’s intention to continuously evolve and self-invest in the face of the common adversities most Australian males almost never overcome for fear of social alienation from their immediate family and friends, mirrored my transformation intensely and helped me re-route toward my authentic individual purpose on Earth (outside of everyone's expectations) seriously for the first time. At that point I had only an inkling he had found a deep connection to someone; it wasn't until much later that my apprehensions were confirmed, although I was the same tangle of sadness and perplexity, missing someone I hadn't the opportunity to know but somehow felt a complete otherworldly sense of belonging to or with, or something. I don't know if I'll ever read it, to be honest, but it's message does give me the strength to let the beauty of the knowledge be mused over with sincerity and conscious appreciation for its value and fleeting cycle of life, before it passes out of view. I know my heart's song belongs to a great someone, and I am praying that his integrity and self-investment to prepare for a strong foundation for true love is as intentional and committed as mine. Though the meaningful passage of tangled magic that was this persons deep reflection has left a gentle imprint on my life that I hope will yield the same love which he discovered in a kind-natured someone, to me in due time. ~ Chantal Eva

[blubushie]

Any thoughts on how good pimican(sp?) is as an actual ration?

I assume you mean pemmican?

It's basically mincemeat, but dried and portable. So yeah, it's excellent. You have to use the right meat for it though. White meat like chicken or rabbit doesn't dry or keep well. You can make it out of any red meat really, but I prefer venison when I can get my hands on it. Luckily there's a lot of feral deer in Australia, so there's not much a shortage of venison. You can even use fish (in my experience white fish doesn't work well, red fish like salmon works & dries excellently). For the fruits I usually use ginger berries, midgim berries, or rarely native plums or quandong diced into small chunks. If I'm very lucky, it's lilly pillies.

If you make a stew of it (boil it in water with some flour and veggies if you've got them) it's called rubaboo. If I'm honest I find it preferable to raw pemmican. I usually just add potatoes, onions, and whatever edible tubers I can find, along with whatever seasoning I got on hand.

But as a survival food? Yeah, it's excellent. You can live off that shit. It's got all the necessary things you need for your health—protein (from the meat), fat (from the tallow), sugars and vitamins (from the fruit). The only thing it doesn't have is greens, but you can last a summer without them if you're in a drought and can't find fresh greens, and if there's not a drought shit like stinging nettle is edible (seriously, all you have to do is dry them over a fire or boil them) and found readily around freshwater.

Pro tip: If you plan to eat it raw, add crushed nuts. I use bush peanuts. As I assume most of you aren't Australian, so use whatever nuts you like. But it's better with nuts.