Lughnasadh 1999 Newsletter Editorial

Hello and welcome to another edition of PAN. A big welcome also to all of our new members. Thanks also to those who stopped by our stall at the Midsummer Fair in Manly last year. It was great to be able to say hello and catch up with you all. Thanks must also go to Rowan who organised the event, we look forward to being a part of this again!

Summer has well and truly arrived in NSW bringing high humidity, sleepless nights, lying in the shade, ice-blocks, one dayers in the cricket, deafening cicadas. It has also bought a koel and her mate into our Fig tree that has just finished fruiting. The two koels and various currawongs have enjoyed feeding on the ripe figs, which this year have been abundant. The male koel is totally black and the female is brown and white spotted with some black feathers. They have a very distinctive call and are great to watch jumping around in the tree on the skinniest of branches.

There are many garden orb weaver spiders, including St Andrews Cross spiders building their webs in our garden. There are always plenty of insects to be found. They hang in the fig tree, off the clothesline, on the cactus’, where ever they can get a hold.

The Jacarandas have finally finished flowering, and at the same time the Illawarra Flame trees have started to display their magnificent red colours in parks all over Sydney.

Summer King tides have been producing great conditions for fishing in the harbour. King tides usually happen at the time of the full moon. Keep your eyes open for Clean up Australia ads that should start to appear soon. It’s a great opportunity to give back to the Earth and to be involved in your local community’s effort to repair your local environment.

As I settle into watching and playing cricket in the sun, and paying homage to the fading sunlight, I wish you all the best of the season.

Blessed Be
Adrianne Harris
NSW Co-ordinator