The Rosemary Bush

Our Rosemary bush that we planted as a few twigs a couple of years ago has thrived and thrived, so much so that it has sprouted some rather pretty flowers.  I never knew they flowered...

Percy Thrower shows off the garden

River Silver (Mui Wo)

A quick walk around the garden in Man Kok Tsui, before the typhoon came along.

News snake sighting

Over at Mui Wo I was lucky to meet my first Copperhead racer snake.  Alerted by our neighbor who was franticly ringing our doorbell .  I eventually worked out what was wrong when the snake made a dash for freedom by zooming off towards the undergrowth from its hiding place behind the plant pots.   I guess it was between 1 and 1.5m long and its markings were clear and bright.   The dark stripes down its sides were in high contrast to its lighter shade skin.  Although not venomous the snake is known to be quick to strike out in defense.   The photo below is not the actual snake but lifted from the internet.

More bugs and lizards at Man Kok Tsui

Lantern Bug

Lantern Bug

Lantern Bug

Paris Peacock Butterfly

Gecko Chinensis

Gecko Chinensis

Spring is definitely in the air.   A magnificent buzzard was patrolling the hillsides, occasionally calling and then dropping down like a stone.   Not sure if it was displaying / trying to impress a mate but it was great to watch.  Alas no photos though.

The butterflies were definitely out in force.  These two certainly had things on their mind as they got down to business in the bushes.  The photo does not really do their colours justice.   Brilliant greens.

Meanwhile down in the fruit trees we discovered the branches to be literally crawling with these horny critters. Apparently folklore dictates anyone bitten by one of these will die unless they have sex within 24 hours.   Will report back tomorrow.   In fact they do not bite and the strange shape is their mouth that they use to suck spa from lychee and longan trees.

Then my instant tattoo appeared.   The gecko was lucky to live as I first thought I had a cockroach on my leg or some other less attractive beasty and just managed to stop myself swatting it.

Burmese python - Mui Wo

This snake slithered onto next door's front yard area in Mui Wo, yesterday evening.  During the afternoon the usually placid dogs that laze around in the garden next door were frantic, barking and generally very very excited.   I had a rake around in the shrubs nearby but never saw a thing.   Maybe I need my eyes testing as the python was appeared to be 7 or 8 feet long,  See the shoes in the pictures for a scale reference.   I grabbed an empty wheely bin and put it on its side next to the snake's head.   Within a few seconds it had taken the hint and was coiled up inside so I simply righted the bin and closed the lid.   Eventually the cops turned up and the snake was put into a rice sack and they carried it away.

  

Creepy Crawlies

Check out this creature. A truly wriggly and rather angry centipede. Not sure how long it is but it was as long as the water bottle we tricked it into crawling inside. One bite from this sucker and you would have a very very sore and painful weekend. Its not obvious on the video clip but we had made some holes in the bottle so it could actually breathe. What became of it? Ah well that's another tale, it was handed over to a rather eager recipient who had every intention of drowning it in brandy and leaving it in the brandy bottle to help enhance the taste!!!! well rather them than me, that's all I can say.

Snakes Alive!

Nuch and I were doing some weeding in front of the house at MKT today and out rolled this little fellow from under the leaves. Probably no more than 10cm long but beautifully marked.

What is it?
A white spotted slug snake

Is it venomous?
Not at all

Is it rare?
Apparently not at all

What did we do with it?
We evicited it from the garden and put it in the bushes down by the stream.

I am sure it will be back though as there are slugs aplenty.

The boys in the tree house

The boys spent most of the Christmas holidays standing or sitting in this tree. Amazing what fun can be had from an old pallet and some rope. Not a bad view from up there though!