Friday 21 March 2008

Not barking up the wrong tree

The sky on Good Friday at 5.45 am a few distant clouds over the ocean. Today will be a fine day.





Abutilon, a little beauty flowering now and yesterday today and tomorrow, flowering all year round with a "wee nap" in between.



Bark of a native Palm, Alexandra, 20 years old and patterned with lichen.




The bark of Dracena sports a small native Orchid.





Old man's beard, Tillandsia usneoides or Spanish moss,has established itself.






Tillandsia cyanea is displaying its pink paddles. It won't be long and it will open its intensely blue flowers.




Eucalyptus species, peeling its old bark away and revealing its new duck egg blue "skin".





Bromeliads have a hold on the bark of Erithryna, Coral tree.





Staghorn ferns like to attach to Tree bark.


Eucalyptus species peeling its old bark off to reveal its Sunday best.


Orchids and Bromeliads have made a comfortable home in the fork of this tree.


Eucalypt species, This one has put on its military gear!



The silky, blue trunk of Eucalyptus species.



Using a trunk with rough bark to climb up to the light.




Fishtail palm makes a black "hair net" over its trunk.


It is also producing a bunch of flowers. It won't be long for them to open up.


The "Cork" bark of an Erithryna tree. It flowers in spring and has long sprays with red shell like flowers, it looks spectacular when in bloom. Its bark is very attractive too.






Heart shaped leaves of Hoya"Valentine". It's not hard to guess why! A bit of Billy's tail. I have to shoo fly him, when pursuing my photographic career!




Scribbly Gum bark, Eucalyptus species are called "Gumtree" in Australia.


Melaleuca or Paperbark, is a truly beautiful tree. Its layer upon layer of bark look very attractive. The flowers are silvery, white sprays teeming with nectar seeking insects. The paper sheets can be used to bolster baskets for plants like ferns.



Delicate, native Maidenhair ferns flourish under the canopy of trees.

Believe it or not:When I am in my garden, I am in the state of (otium cum dignitate.)





2 comments:

Kerri said...

I see in your garden many plants my mum used to grow. She had several tiny orchids attached to her gum trees. Lovely things.
The maidenhair fern was always a favorite of mine.
That Abutilon is a little beauty indeed!
Wonderful photos!

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Kerri, thank you.I guess you have lots of aussie childhood memories when you spot australian Gardens. I have also gardened in Northern NSW, a little further from the sea. It was not much different.My
Garden would get sometimes, not every year frosts. Once all my Hibiscus were killed. Here I have never had frosts in the last 20 years. Not like your place...rug up..still