Nature's Paintbox

My mate Martin sent me this beautiful slide show, too good to pass by....

Mother Nature's paintbox spilled onto the landscape....

No other words are necessary, just enjoy

Update on the Black Swan Saga

Last week I mentioned that the Cantonal Authorities of Bern want the black swans (Cygnus atratus) banned from the Lake of Thun because they are not native to Switzerland, they are native to Australia but have been there since the late 1980s and the people love these birds. They have integrated beautifully and are no threat to local flora and fauna, nor do they breed with the native white mute swans. (Cygnus olor).

As I mentioned, the local people are outraged and have written lots of letters to local newspapers and contacted radio and TV stations.

Last Saturday, hundreds of people assembled in the town square of Thun and released hundreds of black and white balloons. A few local politicians joined the crowds and promised to bring up the matter in the cantonal and federal parliaments. Hopefully they are successful  in persuading the bureaucrats to lay off the black swans. We'll see....

500 black and white balloons are released

in the town square of Thun, Switzerland

(Photo Berner Zeitung)

johnny (A short Film)

John Sokoloff sent me his fabulous short movie, I hope you like it too

A short film starring Emmy nominated actor Terry Kiser (Weekend at Bernies, Carol and Company.)
Directed by John Sokoloff. Writers: Terry Kiser and John Sokoloff. Music: John Sokoloff

The battle of the Black Swans

If you remember some time ago I wrote about the struggle the people around the lake of Thun in Switzerland had to save their beloved Paddle Steamer, a struggle that lasted for 17 years and was won by the people over the owners of the ship that wanted it destroyed. Today the proud ship is back in service.

Well here we go again. In the late 1980s a couple of black swans appeared on the lake of Thun. They are native to Australia and are quite different from the white Swiss swans plentiful on the lake. The people took to these swans with gusto and took them into their hearts. Over the years, they have multiplied and had to be culled. No one complained, the culling was understandable and accepted.

Recently however, some boffins in the administration decided the black swans had to go as they are not native to the area. Well, now, here we go again. Numerous letters of outrage to the editors in newspapers  have appeared. A lot of letter call it racism!

"Black people are accepted in Switzerland, why not black swans" some wrote...

They are beautiful Australians, aren't they?

The question is: Will the black swans be allowed to stay? I'll keep you posted!

Tree Lopping

Living among trees has its dangers. Some of our trees were getting too closed to the house, so we called Lionel, our tree lopper who came with his two offsiders and solved the problem for us:

Branches are too close to the roof

At the same time the paperbark tree we love so much was starting to lift our driveway. Two gigantic roots had gone under the driveway to look for moisture during the dry we had for the last few years, so they had to go.

Lionel exposed the roots but they were too thick to be cut by hand so he had to fetch the large grinder

It needed two blokes to lift the machine

Then Lionel climbed up into the tree

to cut the offending branches

And finally they turned the branches into lovely mulch which will go onto the garden.

More pictures will be on Diane's blog

Carol-Ann sent me these pictures of the Grindelwald Region in the Swiss Alps

Our daughter Carol-Ann who lives with her husband David in London, has sent me the following pictures she took last week in Grindelwald in Switzerland where they both had a wonderful week of hiking, eating and relaxing. 

Under the Eiger mountain

On a hike from First to Bachalpsee

Carol was fascinated with the melting snow patterns

A Swiss mountain fence

So many beautiful alpine Spring flowers

View of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau

Carol loves taking pictures of interesting shapes and patterns

Another shot of the three famous Swiss mountains

A "Sennehütte" in a field of flowers

The Blümlisalp range

A cog rail line

The Schynige Platte cog railway

Fantastic view over the lake of Thun

Thank you Carol and David. You really are a lucky couple. We would have loved to be there with you.

Spring in the Swiss Alps

I get regular emails from nature photographer Fritz Bieri on Beatenberg in the Swiss alps. Mr Bieri takes beautiful pictures on his walks through his mountain region. The latest pictures he sent was on a walk just a week or so ago. The spring flowers are in bloom and present a spectacular view.

Here are some of his pictures:

A line of mist over the alps

A field of crocus flowers

more mountain flowers

Sunset over the Eiger Mönch and Jungfrau

Sunset

You can see more of Fritz Bieri's pictures on his web site: 

http://www.beatenbergbilder.ch/home/home_index_e_.htm