AUTUMN BIRDS OF BLACKHEATH

AUTUMN BIRDS OF BLACKHEATH

Autumn is a busy time for the birds in our Blackheath garden.  So many seeds to snack on, so many fallen leaves to scrabble about in.  And I swear there are those who  just  know they look good against a blaze of colour. The cheeky rascal below

Read more

The Waratah – history and folklore.

The Waratah - history and folklore.

The spectacular  waratah (Telopea)  is the state emblem of New South Wales, and  so much a part of the beautiful  Blue Mountains, where I live.  The plants flower  both in our gardens and in the local bush. They are part of our identity. In 1912, an article

Read more

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

Read more

EVE’S PARADISE: WOMEN IN THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH

EVE'S PARADISE: WOMEN IN THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH

  The spectre of climate change and periods of prolonged drought have created  an upsurge of interest in the growing of  Australian native plants. However, we have been  slow to embrace them. I suspect  this would surprise and disappoint  women  pioneers such as Elizabeth Macarthur, who began

Read more