Foxtail

In the 1980s a new species of palm was discovered in far North Queensland. In order tp protect the wild trees from poachers, many trees were grown and passed to local governments to plant in parks and to nurseries for sale to the public. 

In thr 1980s the bright red seeds were worth $50 each. Now they are ignored as they rot on the ground in the car park.

It is still a beautiful palm with lovelly seeds.

Lilies of Brisbane Valley

 

A friend gave me a couple of plants - Brisbane lilies - Proiphys cumminghamii. He said his mother used to grow them and they were easy to care for. They have flowered after a year and now there are plenty of seeds to spread around.

Down to Earth

 Op shopping I also found Down to Earth by Rhonda Hetzel (ISBN 978-0-670-07592-8, 2012). She is also from South-east Queensland.

So far I've only read five chapters but it is engaging, and she has a recipe for making soap. Her theme is simple living and it is from the view of a retiree.

She also has a blog https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/

Leaf cutter

 Earlier in the year I noticed a bee - I think a native solitary bee - flying around the ferns like it was looking for something. So I took a tree branch out of the rubbish pile and drilled a hole in one end then put it with the ferns.

Now a leaf cutter bee has made a nest in the bore hole. I has laided eggs in the hole and made chambers with leaves.

Now I watch and wait.

Thunder Days

 

Now in Brisbane is the storm season. Days of thunder and lightning and hail. Usually my lilly pilly trees flower on the day just before the storm and the flowers are destroyed in the storm. however this year has been great for rain and the trees keep on flowing so after the storms there are more flowers.

Native Hibiscus

 

The usual colour for the native hibiscus flower is white, but I found this pink specimen. I grew several from cuttings and put one in a sunny spot in my garden. In the bush they can grow to 3 meters high or more.

Strawberries in tubs

 

Growing strawberries off the ground keeps them out of the dirt, and away from pests.

Strawberry Flowers

 

In spring the flowers bloom and the the insects visit them.