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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STAR JASMINE

STAR JASMINE

WHAT A STAR! I have  the gentle climber Star Jasmine  (Trachelospermum jasminodes ) growing all around my garden (ten plants at last count). It is extremely hardy, and survives our Blue Mountains frosts and snowfalls without the slightest  problem.  In the photo below  it is tumbling down

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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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THE SPINEBILL FUCHSIA

THE SPINEBILL FUCHSIA

 THE FUCHSIA Fuchsias were discovered growing in the Caribbean in the 17th century,  by  a French monk  called Charles Plumier.  He named them in honour of  German botanist, Leonhart Fuchs. There are so many varieties it would be impossible to   list them here. Anyway, there is only one, very

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