An Orchid

( E or N ?)

in the local vicinity

(I think it's an Orchid!- click to enlarge Photo taken 18/8/o8)

The sign on the tree ...well it's a joke!

there aren't any crocs in this area,

Well! not wild ones anyway.

Australia Zoo has plenty, but that is about a 1/2 hour

drive from where I live.

12 days later this beautiful flower is in bloom! (30/8/08)

Creamy white with a faint perfume best described as vanilla-ish !

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This baby Grass Tree (the one in the front) will probably perish!

It is from the first batch Grass Tree No.1, Planted 30/10/07. The little plant has not thrived in the last two months and now the outside leaves are browning off. It has taken 10 months for this plant to appear unlikely to survive. The strike rate in the wild must be fairly high I expect.This may account for the idea that Grass Trees are hard to grow! My small plot has been fairly easy to germinate, however growing the plants to a decent size will be more challenging.

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The Tally

88 in yogurt pots + 8 adults (varying sizes) + 1 seedling in the garden,

= 97 Grass Trees

Cheers Carol.

The Newest Seedling!

You may have to *click on this photo to enlarge*

to see this tiny sprout!

It took from the 13/6/08 until 22/8/08 to appear

-10 weeks to germinate!

It has been winter so I am quite surprised and delighted

to see this little plant.Thanks go to my dear neighbour H.

for watering the empty little pot.

(while I was away for 17 days)

She had no idea if there was even a seed in there,

but kept watering it anyway.

Thanks H.

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Here we have an Opportunist Creeper.

This Gum Tree was cut down in the bush area near where I live.

I'm not sure if the creeper is native or exotic, It looks very healthy!

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I won!

My husband has conceded defeat...the stalk on this is closer to

the top of the fence than the mid line between the rails!

The prize...he shouted my ticket to the movies...

'Taken' with Liam Neeson 4/5 a really good action

movie with lots of blood and guts.

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GT No.9

This plant is stuck with a left hand turn ! It has 'Character' and
is continuing to grow despite a rocky start. The quote about

"when the going gets tough, the tough gets going ...comes to mind!

I love this Plant!

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The Tally

88 in yogurt pots + 8 adults (varying sizes) + 1 seedling in the garden,
= 97 Grass Trees

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BTW...my mystery tree/s is still un-named, however I have asked another horticulturalist about identifying the aforementioned tree, so I am hopeful of news soon!

Cheers Carol

A Visitor in my Yard.

I was taking a photo of my Grass Tree No.7...

Lo and behold this lovely bird landed right in front of me...

and sat for quite a long while.

I should have used the zoom! but I forgot...too busy looking!

*click on the pic to enlarge*

Here is a link to read about Kookaburras

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Here we have Grass Tree No.9 - aka wriggles (6 days later)

Sorry the photo is a bit off... blame the Queensland sunshine,

A little kinked now, but amazing how the stem has straightened.

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And the competition continues...

I'm hoping this flower stalk keeps going... then I win, the odds are looking good! *grin*

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The Tally
87 in yogurt pots + 8 adults (varying sizes) + 1 seedling in the garden,

= 96 Grass Trees

Cheers Carol

Grass Tree No. 7 .... 20 days later and still going UP !

I have a bet with my husband that it will reach the top rail

on the fence! He thinks half way from this point to the top rail...

ummm we will see.!

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Grass Tree No.9

This was Yesterday! still straightening!

By the way...that little brown bit in the stalk is a bruise, sealed over -

but a little damage was done in the garden shop in Big W

where I bought this beauty!

- squashed by the others!

Today!

Overnight, no doubt with a bit of water rising up the spear,

this plant is doing what all smart plants do!

Reach for the sky!

Tally

87 in yogurt pots + 8 adults (varying sizes) + 1 seedling in the garden,
= 96 Grass Trees

************

Cheers Carol

I Posted a Golden Tree, Here is a Pink one !

Same Variety and I still have no clue what it is?

It is decidious, leaves are 3 per stem, trumpet type flowers.

Just beautiful to see.

Blossoms Adrift

Pink petals passing
Scents above so high
Painted porcelain perfection
Blossoms caress the sky

Swaying silent shroud
Suitors strolling by
Pink petals passing
Lover's gentle sigh

Pastel hues falling
Slow fluttering grace
Pink petals passing
Lining streams in lace

Pink petals passing
Smoothest transit by
Soft essence floating
In most subtle lullaby

Inducing springtime slumber
Upon a satin shore
Sailing with the current
Pink petals pass before

Mary Fumento

(1999)

(Actual title is Cherry Blossoms Adrift)

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A close up of the flowers!

If anyone knows what it is please post! I am assuming it is exotic to Australia,

because it is decidious! *E*
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Tally= same as yesterday...Cheers Carol

My Lovely New Grass Tree No.9

I had some spare dollars so I could not resist my new purchase.

The question is why this one...well just look at that baby spear...

Is that not a question mark there! begging to be answered!!!

And after arriving home to live with me (will later to be planted out somewhere in the garden)

...this plant decided the question was answered...

it is straighting up!

I will keep you posted with photo's and we will see how straight and tall this plant will become!

It is a lovely specimen - this wiggles!

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The latest Tally....

The 3 doubtful seedlings had shriveled and died so I de-potted them on the 8/8/08

87 in yogurt pots + 7 adults (varying sizes) + 1 seedling in the garden,

and this lovely new aquisition= 96 Grass Trees

Very Cheerfully Carol

Hi, An update after many weeks...

Plants are great, mostly they just keep growing!

My lovely neighbour did just that!

You can see the lovely plump seed pods

developing in the spear.

I first noticed this plant sending up a spear back in late (24th) of April.

Now the start of August and these seeds look great!

(also we have had some lovely rains during that time)

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Grass tree No. 7

Wow I am so Pleased!

This was a total surprise... just noticed this 0n the 25th July 08.

Such a cutie...

Same day Slightly different angle!

Two days later...27th and grown approx 2 inches!

This is now the 2nd of August ... 6 days later

Growing like a green streak!

I'll keep you posted!

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Grateful thanks to my dear neighbour for looking after my seedlings while I was away in Vic.

H. did a wonderful Job. Thank You so much.

My Tally:

90 in pots(3 doubtful) + 7 adults (varying sizes) + 1 seedling in the garden= 98 Grass Trees

Cheers Carol