Columbia Boulevard is one of the many streets on the former Chirnside Park Country Club golf course. It is very steep in parts, which is why I never liked playing golf there.
Columbia Boulevard.
Starting my walk at Locksley Road, a magnificent sight greeted me. Over 40 galahs ground feeding on a grassy reserve. It was a fluid scene as more galahs arrived and others departed until I witnessed a mass departure.
Galahs feeding and departing.
Galahs arriving.
There are numerous trees along Columbia Boulevard and some galahs preferred to perch within them.
Galahs in trees.
As with new housing estates, the small blocks dictate small front yards, so flowers and shrubs dominate, rather than larger plants and trees. Azaleas and camellias were popular choices in many gardens.
Azaleas.
Camellias.
Echeveria plants are native to semi-desert areas of Central America, Mexico and north-western South America. Fanflowers, polygala bushes and a rose add colour to many gardens.
Echeveria flowers, fanflower, polygala and a single rose.
Several plumbago plants were growing, including a tall one.
Plumbago creeper.
Escallonia is a genus of shrubs native to North and South America.
Bees like the escallonia flowers.
Bees also like daisies, even less than perfect specimens.
The bee likes daisy pollen.
Most garden ornaments were small statuettes. A nice ornament was a white metal ornamental tricycle.
Many gardens had just one small ornament. Meerkats always look cute.
Garden tricycle.
A few magpies were about. I was pleased to capture three on a tree branch and another on the grass.
They arranged themselves nicely.
A cockatoo and a raven were other birds seen. Cockatoos often make their presence known by loud squawking and landing in a nearby tree.
Cockatoo and raven.
Bird of Paradise flowers, magnolias and kangaroo paws all have a uniqueness about them.
Bird of paradise, magnolia and kangaroo paws.
Along Columbia Boulevard are several small grassy parks. Some of the original trees have been left standing in them.
Two of the parks.
Another small park.
Old trees.
One park backs onto Rolling Hills Road houses. On one property I was glared and barked at by a dog of indeterminate parentage.
I'm glad the fence was there.
Hebe bushes, lobelia and pelargoniums were other flowers seen. A nice batch of English lavender offered a more subtle colour. Only one unidentified flower was photographed.
Hebe, lobelia & pelagoniums.
English lavender.
Unidentified flower.
I only encountered one walker, slowly walking uphill.
Walker, walking uphill.
This walk will test your fitness, but watching the galahs will restore your enjoyment.
