Cabbage Tree Flowers

Tradition has it that an abundance of flowers on the cabbage trees presages a hot, dry summer. If that is so then we will have a zinger of a summer. The cabbage trees are absolutely loaded. I can’t remember seeing them so laden. Some of the trees in the countryside look like pompoms on sticks. My avatar tree is no exception. I took this shot from the front door to avoid going out in the constant rain. These flowers are not on the crown, but growing out of the trunk.

It looks like the cabbage tree moth caterpillars have been at work on the leaves.

The extra shot is of a cute praying mantis nymph chewing his toenails. I was surprised to see that already the stubs of wings and wing cases are evident.