LATE SUMMER WALK IN BLACKHEATH

LATE SUMMER WALK  IN BLACKHEATH

Mid February, and in my  Blackheath garden the banksia serratas are in bloom. They are loved by all the honeyeaters, but especially Wattlebirds and Eastern Spinebills. Bees are visiting the native lilly-pilly flowers on the bush outside Slurps café, in Wentworth Street. I know there must be

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BANKSIA SERRATA; WEIRD AND WONDERFUL!

BANKSIA SERRATA; WEIRD AND WONDERFUL!

Specimens  of  of the Australian native Banksia serrata  were  collected by Sir Joseph Banks in  1770 and later named for him. They are funny, gnarled trees that look ancient long before their time (rather like weather beaten Australian gardeners). Serrata refers to the  tough, saw edged  leaves; Their knobbled

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CHRISTMAS IN THE ANTIPATHIES!

CHRISTMAS IN THE ANTIPATHIES!

  CHRISTMAS DOWN-UNDER John O’Grady once wrote a best selling  book called, They’re a Weird Mob.  It was about Australians and yes….we are a bit strange.  What do you expect when we live in an upside down world? Alice in Wonderland described our fair country as; WHERE

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CHRISTMAS IN THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH

CHRISTMAS IN THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH

‘Oh! All that steam! The pudding had just been taken out of the cauldron. Oh! That smell! The same as the one which prevailed on washing day. It is  that of the cloth which wraps the pudding.  Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ Christmas in Australia is a

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