Not even on the edge really. We took a morning walk along the banks of Ross River which disects Townsville in North Queensland Australia. We were on the town or more established side of the river where there is a walking path and wide open space between the last row of dwellings and the wildish banks of the River.
Some places along the river are mown and landscaped right down to the water but on this walk it is more natural. Between the trees we caught glimpses of Mt. Stuart in the distance and the Rowing Club on the opposite bank of the River.
I found a tamarind tree and went for a closer inspection. I cook Asian Food when I am at home and buy tamarind paste in a bottle. I know I could make it from the real thing, but they are so high up and my pleas to my husband to think of a way to pick them fell on deaf ears.
Further along there was an abandoned mini orchard of mango trees. I am an avid mango eater so I will be keeping my eyes on these as the season progresses. At the moment we are experiencing what we call the mango winds which come in August and blow the flowers from the trees, but prior to Christmas we will be eating them by the bucketful (I hope).
And then we found the biggest surprise of all. Kangaroos, or are they Wallabies? I came across them laying down, but as soon as they spied me they became alert. It is not normal to find them in the suburbs. I assume they came from the other, less populated side of the river… but did they swim across or hop across the bridge during the night. I have lived in Australia most of my life and I have never seen a kangaroo hop across a bridge.
Have you found nature in Suburbia?
This post if linked to Keryn’s Friday Postcards over at Walking on Travels which has nature in the spotlight this week.
Wowee, that looks and sounds soooo serene! You need to a ladder with you to pick the fruit! Kangroos can swim????? Lordy, this redefines a nice walk out in nature! Very nice, Jan! 🙂
I have never heard the term “mango winds.” Interesting. I wish I had a mini-mango orchard near me… and some wallabies.
Michele, I think that is a very local saying. It just so happens that August is windy in Townsville, exactly the same time that the mango trees have flowers on them. We don’t like the fact that the wind blows the flowers from the trees as we think it means less mangoes. Hence the mango winds. 🙂
Sounds like a lovely place to go for a walk! We’ve spotted a few bits of nature around home this week, including a hedgehog which was so cute 🙂 Would love to see a kangaroo though!
Hedgehogs are cute – not that I’ve seen one 🙂 I have seen an echidna which is similar.
wonderful, I´m going to visit Queensland next month. I´ll be birding there for three weeks 🙂
Wow, whereabouts in Queensland shall you be?
Lovely photos…
What a green and lush place. And you can even find mango trees there! I love mangos so maybe I should visit the place in the mango season 🙂 And the kangaroos look so cute. It would be nice if I could see one one day.
North Qld. is a good place to call home Sacha. The kangaroos surprised me – not usual in Suburbia.
It is such a nice treat to live in a place so close to nature. I remember that you love mangoes. Those orchards certainly looks something to be excited about. But thanks for letting me know about the mango winds that come in August, I’ll make sure not visit around that time. They give me bad allergies. I was in Hawaii during mango winds seasib; oh boy, my allergy was pretty intense. Those kangaroos/wallabies are nice surprise indeed.
I am glad I told you about the Mango winds too 🙂 The Kangaroos surprised me too!
That sounds like a very exotic walk in suburbia to me. Kangaroos and tamarind – very cool Jan. I think of pad thai when I think of tamarind but I’ve never tried it fresh.