Here, in SE Australia, the autumnal break heralds nature's annual reawakening after summer's searing heat. Epacris impressa, Victoria's floral emblem abounds , ranging from white to deepest pink, occasionally varigated. The tiny and apparently fragile Eriochilus cucullatus (Parsons Bands) has also reappeared. Both demonstrate the resiliance of our indigenous flora after years of drought. Other orchid leaves are emerging including the Acianthus pusillus which will flower shortly.

Scarlet robins, returning from the high country, gladden the eye with their brilliant red breasts as they dart for insects. Ever-elusive Lyrebirds have been bolder in foraging leaving much evidence of their searches for food.

The natural regeneration of species on the site, some after a decade or more of conservation , together with enrichment through the return into surrogate natural habitats of species belonging to the Diamond Creek catchment, with the subsequent widening breadth of nectar and seed sources, continues to support increasing visits by bird species. At this time epacris and correa are regularly visited by the beautiful Eastern Spinebill which will next take advantage of the local grevilleas and hakeas. A completely different facet of the biodiversity (and one might say art form) lies in the fungi, mosses and lichens now appearing and continuing into the winter season.

Our regenerating understories with adjoining open areas are increasingly favoured by lyrebirds whose varied calls are now heard widely in the cooler seasons. In the last three months two male birds have been constantly competing with each other and we have been delighted to find that a female has now been attracted and is nesting on our site.. After photography the nest area has been given a wide berth.

The winter scene is enlivened by the flowering of local species including the Hakea decurrens- ranging from white to pink, the Grevilleas alpina and Hurstbridge rosmarinifolia, Hardenbergia violacia, Davesia ulicifoli, both the early Caladenia (praecox) and four Greenhood orchids together with Acacias acinacia, genistifolia, lanigera, myrtifoia, paradoxa and verniciflua. The White-eared Honeyeater with its strong call has joined and is beginning to replace he Eastern Spinebill in exploiting the Grevillea's rich nectar. Periodically our family of Choughs loudly confer at their beautifully crafted mud nest in a tree near the Quint, apparently in contemplation of further use. Sadly within days of writing, this much admired attraction of five years has unaccountably disappeared.

On a lazy, hazy summer's day, rest under a magnificent mountain grey gum and listen to nature. A pardelote calls hospitably 'come to tea'', a golden whistler sings cheerily and down a ferny track a rufous fantail flits engagingly displaying its russet feathers,while yellow-tailed black cockatoos weave majestically up the valley.

Up drier slopes, wonder at the resilience of seemingly delicate bluebells and spy pink hyacenth orchids scattered randomly. Bronze-winged pigeons search for grass seeds, frequently in gravelly areas and you could startle a quail in tussocky grass which sometimes conceals a nest.