The Nature of Robertson is drying out

Godaishu
(Tree Peony)
Obviously Robertson is not in real drought, but it is surely drying out. I know it is incongruous to complain about dry heat, and show these lovely Peonies - but I want to show them anyway.

Today was warm, and with moderate north-westerly winds. The forecast is bad, however.

Tasmania is sufferering hot weather which would be typical of February, not mid-October. Melbourne had its hottest October day (36.2 C) since 1914. (Thanks to Miss Eagle for the link.) So, as this weather pattern is moving towards us from the west and the south, it is likely that we will see these conditions in a few days. Hold onto your hats.

Coral Fay
(Herbaceous Peony)
I shall pick all Peony buds tomorrow morning, and bring the flowers inside to protect them. (See there was a reason to show the Peony photos in this blog.)

Meanwhile it is a mild night outside, and heavy scents of the local native Pittosporum trees (Pittosporum undulatum) are attracting various moths which are thick in the air. Mostly these are small moths, which I have been photographing, but which I doubt I shall ever get properly identified, as the tiny ones are very hard to identify from photographs (unless one is a Moth expert - which I am surely not).

It seems from the comment below that Miss Eagle has moths flying around down there too. Interesting, but not surprising - as Upper Fern Tree Gully is at the foot of the Dandenongs. So, she is also in Pittosporum undulatum country - indeed it is quite similar to Robertson, in climate, but with Eucalypt forest dominant, with smaller trees being rainforest-type under storey, as distinct from the true rainforest of Robertson. That is why the fire risk in the Dandenongs is far greater than here. But I don't wish to jinx anyone, by talking about Fire Risks tonight.

As a matter of interest, my Peonies are opening ten days earlier this year, than last year.