Hidden Worlds: Nocturnal Ants

We have lived in this house for 27 years yet still there are things which surprise. Tonight I was taking the puppy (Honey) out the front door for her ‘Goodnight’ toilet stop. (She is making progress) when I noticed for the first time that there is a nest of these 1 cm+ golden beauties right at our front door, yet we never see them – as they only come out in the dark! They do not seem to bite or sting, so they can stay there as far as I am concerned. I am not so keen on ‘jumping jacks’ which get short shrift around here!

We have lived alongside many other such creatures here in our little valley for nearly thirty years, as I have explained in previous posts, some of them rare to unique. We built our own mud-brick house here (with our own hands) and planted an orchard and garden (our third such). Our first, way back in 1976 (on our first farm) was what would later be called ‘permaculture’. So that together with our sheep flock we have always been largely self-sufficient – at least for the last 40 years!

Our own humble aim was to have as many different types of food/fruit growing all year round as we could. Winter is the most difficult time for fresh food, but even so there is a bewildering variety of things will flourish here in South-Eastern Australia with just a little help. Our children grew up just ‘grazing ‘ from the garden, and all still love fresh fruit and vegetables – and particularly asparagus and broccoli, surprisingly enough! Now it is our grandson’s turn!

Some other posts about Farming and Gardening (See Menu above under ‘About’)

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/its-that-time-of-year-again/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/progress-it-always-seems-more-than-it-really-is/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/political_correctness/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/paw-paw/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/winter-fruit-surprises/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/invisible-worlds/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/how-green-is-my-valley/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/the-last-rebels/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/vegie-gardening/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/bronzewings/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/things-that-keep-you-from-hiking-hunting/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/a-thrush-passes/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/a-merry-shear-mas-to-all/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/welcome-swallows/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/capillary-mat-plant-starters/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/jurassic-update-the-culprit-caught-in-the-act/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/instant-archways/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/perennial-vegetables/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/birds-in-our-garden/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/water-babies/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/root-vegie-pots-no-dig-no-weed-growing/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/instant-trellisfence/

http://www.theultralighthiker.com/vermin-proof-fence/