Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The Fall Collection

Autumn Comes Far Too Early To Melbourne

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


Three weeks ago, as Melbourne’s record-breaking hot, dry spell began, I noticed that the huge plane trees on our property were starting to shed their leaves, much earlier than normal.

Then we had that terrible run of consecutive days where the mercury hovered in the 115-degree zone, barely cooling down at night. The plane trees were quickly stripped of their leaves, more than semi-denuded not just in the suburbs but in the city centre as well.


I took these shots late on Friday evening, on a pathway in our garden. I keep an old pair of Nikes outdoors at all times and these are my gardening footwear. But as you can see from this shot, the swirling leaves, borne on the hot northerly winds that have fanned our bushfires, have swamped the Nikes.

This blue watering can is a miniature version of my huge watering can nearby. But despite my best efforts, this heatwave, the worst in my memory, has claimed more plants than I think I can save. (And at this point I should mention that none of these objects were moved for better photographic effect, because I simply shoot things where they are, in the existing light.)


It’s strange to think that we are in a hot zone ringed by bushfires, yet Queensland in the north is struggling with terrible flooding. Maybe some of their rain will find its way down here. Fingers crossed …..

Maybe one day this watering can will be filled with rainwater instead of leaves. Maybe I could find some success as a water diviner. Stick around while I try ...


Visit the creative team behind That's MyWorld Tuesday.

56 comments:

Jinksy said...

That blue watering can amongst the leaves is wonderful image to convey drought in a symbolic picture.

♥ Braja said...

I'm with Jinksy: love the blue watering can...and I do believe it's that color I call "Indian blue..." which doesn't really surprise me, David :)

Carolina said...

Are you sure it wasn't the smell of your sneakers.....? ;-)

And I'm not sure if your raindance worked at your end of the globe, but it has been raining all day here. Please stop! I will try and divert some, if not all of it your way!

Immodesty Blaze said...

Whoa! That whole talk about autumn really messes with my head.. Here I am in my northern hemisphere-centric frame of mind, hoping for spring.. But what beautiful photos!

Sass said...

It's been a while since I've visited... and then I saw you on blogs of note. So cool.

Jessica said...

it's been a while since i've visited, but i saw you on blogs of note - congrats! now i follow so i'll be back more often

Craig Glenn said...

I really like this post David. This is something I am working on. Taking pictures and telling a story with it. You are undoubtedly to master at this!

Nothing like learning at the masters feet!

Oooooo, another bad pun... sorry about that! lol

Craig

spacedlaw said...

I like the colour contrast between the watering can and the leaves. It is very early fall indeed: the heat has burnt the green off the trees.

Hilary said...

Such bittersweet photos, David. I love the contrast of colour but feel so sad that it's come about by nature gone awry.

I see that you've been listed on Blogs of Note. How wonderful that you've been recognized this way. You're so deserving. Your already-existing throngs will have to share you with many, many more. Congrats, pal! :)

Sue said...

As you know I read every day... admire the shots...and you always give me greatness to ponder upon...Thanks as always for that...

Anonymous said...

Halloo..first time to here...:)
i'm followed you and i like your blog....great...:)

regards,
Ana

Susan English Mason said...

I enjoyed your play on words at the end. Ditto Jinksy's comment.

Jazz said...

That post was just so strange. Fall? Wha... did we jump right over summer? It's not even spring yet! And then I realized you're in Oz...

I hate Monday mornings when my brain just won't start.

Great pics by the way.

Anonymous said...

I love it that you have been listed on Blogs of note, David...it was high time that your dedication to all us,we? bloggers was recognised.

RiverPoet said...

Isn't it awful that they are saying someone committed arson in at least one of the fires? Who would do such a thing?

On the other hand, fall is one of my favorite seasons (except that it's followed by winter!). Enjoy, my friend - D

Irene said...

I hope your long hot summer comes to an end with some honest to goodness autumn rain. It sounds like you really need it very badly. I wish I could send you some of ours. If only it worked that way. Australia is truly a land of extremes and it sometimes must be tough to live there. I suppose it's a bit like California where I used to live, always too much of one thing or the other. I've just added you to my Google reader and will be keeping up with you. Ciao...

Lee said...

Beautiful pictures, David! I love fall in all it color changes and moderate temperatures.

Have to admit that seeing all those dry leaves in a season where you all have had horrendous fires makes me worried. Are all the fires out? Dry leaves are a tenderbox waiting to happen. Hope the yard is now raked. :)

Cheers!

Sandi McBride said...

I can remember Mac kneeling by his watermelon rows, holding dry dead leaves in his hand during the height of our drought and thinking of taking a picture...but a permanent memory would have been far to painful...just thinking about it now is breaking my heart...I hope you get soothing rains very soon and a break in the heat...as much as I complain about the cold, I'll take it over the heat anyday...your photos are, as usual, thought provoking.
Sandi

Cheffie-Mom said...

What a beautiful blue color. This picture is one of my favorites. I love leaves. (:

Nessa said...

Your photographs are always so beautiful.

imbeingheldhostage said...

It is so strange reading an autumn post right now. I just raked up rotting leaves in hopes of flowers springing out from under them.

Flassie's Fil'a said...

Praying for rain to stop
the fires in your country.

Praying for the people who
were effected by the floods
also.

God Bless You and Yours!!!

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

Your photos are always so amazing! Delightful! ~ the contrasts, in not only subject, but color/texture.

ArtistUnplugged said...

Nice, nice photos, the watering cann is my fave. I hear they have a creep in custody for the fires...good!

Craig Glenn said...

Congrats on Blogs of Note!

Congrats on 400+ followers...

Craig

GreenJello said...

I love how you shoot things exactly as you find them. If only I were so pure... :)

Gaelyn said...

The captures are outstanding. The reality is mind boggling.

Merisi said...

So sad!

Venice has had aqua alta (high water) on and off this winter. Climate's haunting us.

Woman in a Window said...

A few simple collected items with quite a comentary.

Mojo said...

We had a similar early autumn here in 2007 when we went through the worst drought on record for the area. And we watched flooding in the midwest and into the northeast with the same reaction. If only they'd pipe some of that down here!

Hope things right themselves there real soon David.

Ivar Østtun said...

Beautiful photos.
I have seen your struggle against heat, wind and fire.
Here in Trondheim we have had 3-4 weeks of temperature below zero C. But the sun is starting to warm up in the middle of the day. We are heading for spring. But I know that there will be many cold days and weeks ahead.
Have a great week.

Annie Cherry said...

beautiful pictures ;)

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

I can hear the crushing of the dry leaves underfoot. I hope your garden recovers from this terrible dryness. I wish I could send some of our water your way.
Mine is on thisandthat.)

SandyCarlson said...

Ah, the heat, David! Wow. The watering can sure highlights the loss of color with that heat. The thoughts of heat and autumn are so remote now. Even the leaves are foreign.

Wishing you cool evenings!

Jane Hards Photography said...

So you join me on Being a blog of note. Wait for the onslaught. Nice to see a little more humour after such terrible poignant posts due to recent events.

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL photos. I love photographic arts too. I can't explain why. It's just exhilarating to see something, capture it's essence, then share it with others.

Maggie May said...

The weather is doing strange things all over the place.
No one seems to be getting normal weather for their country.
Last week was snowing here........ today was warm and Springlike. No wonder the leaves are falling off your trees after such terrible heat.

The blue watering can and the trainers are good subject matter amongst the leaves.

Sylvia K said...

Absolutely beautiful! and I, too, love the blue watering can! It seems all of us all over the world regardless of where, are all wishing for the current season to move on. Thanks, David, for such stunning shots!

Susie of Arabia said...

These are beautiful photos, Dave. I love the blue watering amidst the orange/brown leaves. Striking! Hope you get some rain soon.

Unknown said...

Wow!In Florida,we're so looking forward to Spring.But not summer,here.Loved the pictures!

Unknown said...

I like this shot David but am sad that a drought is the reason for it. I hope that Australia sees some much needed rain soon. I like the blue of your watering can too.

Cath said...

It just seems too soon for autumn but not soon enough for our spring!

It is so ironic - and tragic - to have devastating fires and devastating floods in the same country.

Beautiful photos - the blue of the miniature can next to the leaves is a beautiful contrast. Great shots again.

Britt said...

What kind of journalism do you do? I'm interested in entering the field...

thanks for the beautiful images. i especially like the third.
-B

p.s. check out my blog...it's semi political and highly geared toward moral and ethical problems...which is what i would like to write about in the future.

Anonymous said...

It seems unfair that we can't average our weather for better results, doesn't it? Nonetheless, you've made a visual poem out of leaves and drought.

Swarna said...

Hope you can save more plants. Keep safe! If autumn comes, can winter be far behind!

alicesg said...

Very beautiful photos. I like autumn, one can see the beautiful colours of the trees and it is not so freezing cold like winter. Congratulations on being on the Blog Of Note. :)

Loran said...

Great fall pictures, so strange to think of it here in the middle of winter and waiting for spring but the world is a BIG place! I hope you get rain soon.

antigoni said...

Excellent photos. I think you need some rain to recover from fire.

Rainbow said...

its really nice photos
i love to see autumn draw the gorgeous colors everywhere :)

Deb said...

Hi ~ I know you will probably not soon forget the incredible heat and devastation but pictures such as these will preserve this time in history. And...congrats on blog of note!

Unknown said...

Great shots and lovely posting.

DeniseinVA said...

A superb MWT post David. I wish you cooler days and much needed rain.

Unknown said...

David - aren't you worried about spiders in your Nikes!! It always seems so odd you are in the opposite season to us.

cheshire wife said...

Lovely blue watering can. It looks very cool amongst all that heat!

Louise said...

The photos are terrific, but sorry you have that to work with. If I saw that in August in the land of my birth (since there are not a lot of trees here, I can't compare well), I would be uneasy.

muffin said...

wow i like that!