Carol's Clobber

2010-10-22T13:56:00.003+10:00

Grass Trees in the wild!
Thanks to my daughter for these photo's of a collection
of resilient Grass Trees living in central Queensland.
As you can see...a dry area, wooded with eucalyptus trees!

A pair if scruffy little ones !
However they have had flower spears and the new growth
in the center looks nice and healthy!

This lovely specimen has been effected by
fire, the old leaves have been cleaned up recently.
This could have been done by a naturally occurring fire
or possibly proactive trickle burning
by the forestry department!

Here you can see 2 old dry flower spears
standing tall above their wizened tree stumps!
Fantastic old warriors of the Australian bush!

A visitor to our suburban yard in North Brisbane!

Thanks to the North Brisbane Koala Rescue Group
who came out late at night (1am) to relocate this
lost and bewildered Koala.
The poor little fellow appeared not to know how
to negotiate the quagmire of suburban fences.
The two ladies who came, gave him an all clear for health
and said he would be relocated to the
closest stand of tall Eucalyptus trees!

************************************
I have been very tardy with my blog...apologies!
My collection of baby plants (102) have all been
growing really well in their shelter,
no fatalities to report!
Cheers Carol

2010-03-28T12:42:00.011+10:00

Grass Trees 5 & 6... an Update

I think these plants are now approximately

3 1/2 years old + maybe 1 year...

I'm not sure, I bought them at a garage sale!

These two little ones gave me the idea to try

growing some more plants with the seeds collected from

Grass Tree No.1 growing in my front yard!

An altogether successful venture, both in achievement and results!

This is Grass Tree No. 5 which is still slightly

smaller the the one below!!

Grass Tree No. 6

If you click on this photo to enlarge you can see it has really started

to thicken in the center!

The leaves are very strong and the same thickness as an adult plant.

I haven't decided yet when to plant these two into the garden,

maybe another 6 months!!!

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

This beautiful Blue Tongue Lizard

lives just behind our back fence... and came visiting.

No doubt looking for snails, bugs and other garden pests etc.

To read more about these lovely animals click here

After having a look at him we let him go back under the fence

and have seen him a couple of times since going about his business.

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

Another lovely Green Tree frog

perched on the spouting...

Nearby an outside light draws small flying insects.

An attraction providing supper!

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

Seeds

I have collected seeds from my Grass trees No. 2 & 7 in late 2009...

and I have possibly 100 seeds to Give Away.

If anyone would like to try raising their own little plants!

I am happy to send you some. (Australia only.)

Bearing in mind people...these plants take a long time to grow!

(Although the seeds can be fast to come up - 2-8 weeks)

Perhaps 20 each or less ... depending on response!

(I have no idea about sending seeds OS quarantine etc. so I'll stay out of that!)

I can't guarantee they will be viable seeds,

however I have an idea which ones look goer's by now,

the big fat ones!

Send an email to me with your name and address

and how many you would like!

clockyer@tpg.com.au

Once I have run out of seeds to give that's it.... till next time I get a new crop!

It seems a waste not give these seeds to someone to grow as

I cannot house any more little plants myself...

although I would love to,

I have enough already!

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

1 Fatality to report!
I accidentally pulled a little plant out of it's pot ...

The plant had lovely long leaves hanging down and

I caught it on the lid of my rubbish bin!

And hoicked it out of the pot...

broken clean off at the bottom damn!!!

So there are

110 Grass Trees residing at this house!
102 of them seedlings!

Cheers Carol

2010-01-09T20:34:00.010+10:00

Illawarra Flame Tree (N)

This beautiful Native Australian tree should be the choice
of local Councils instead of the Poinciana, (E)
although it is lovely! (see previous post)

A link to that great site Wikipedia... here
for more info on the Flame Tree

Our own brilliant flowering red tree has even
inspired a fantastic rock song!
Flame Trees sung by Cold Chisel
A link to Utube here!

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

Bougainvillea (E).
This very attractive plant look wonderful decorating
the back fence of a nearby neighbour.
Another link ...hope it works!

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

Another neighbour...
this Brushtail Possum jumped off the fence to
escape the human invaders (us) in his area!
The rotten apple he/she dropped was rather horrible!!
A beautiful animal!

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

Grass Tree No. 7
This photo of a new spear was taken on the 25/7/o9.
It has taken 5 months for the spear to
reach the seed state you will see in the following photo.

(Click on any photo to enlarge.)
Here you can see the little seeds
still sitting in the opened pods.

**************
No Fatalities to report!
I have collected heaps of seeds from the two prolific
flower stalks mentioned over the last few months!
111 Grass Trees residing at this house!
103 0f them seedlings!

Cheers Carol

2009-11-28T20:25:00.014+10:00

Flowering Trees in the neighbourhood.

Delicate flowers on this flowering tree.
I think? it is an Acacia of some sort!
Lovely to see on a morning walk.

***********
This Lovely Tree is a Poinciana.

Planted many years ago in a nearby council park.
Not native to Australia and in fact now classed as a weed!!!
You can follow this link to read more about
these beautiful trees from Madagascar.

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

My New Baby Grass Tree house!

My Man of Work (husband) made this fantastic
purpose built home for my numerous seedlings.
I have moved them to the side of the house so
they can experience more natural weather conditions.
ie. in Aus ...drought and flooding rain!!!
However they do have some shelter from the
worst nature can throw at them
with their own shade cloth covering.

Here they are all lined up, getting used to the elements!

The shade cloth goes across the top
and can be rolled up or down and fits
into metal slots in the front. (left side)

**************
New to the neighbourhood!
There is another Grass Tree lover in our area,
this handsome plant has recently been planted
in a local front yard.
A conservative estimate would put this
tree at approx 20-25 years old.

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

The Tally.
I had a re-count and discovered that I have 103 seedlings.
I must have failed to count some of the new seedlings
which sprouted earlier in the year.
So...
103 seedlings it is.
6 Adults in the garden.
2 youngsters in large pots.
= 111 Grass Trees.

Cheers Carol

2009-11-10T18:36:00.009+10:00

Seeds Forming!!!

Grass Tree No. 7 is forming a sparse array of seeds.
This may be due to the flower stem's growth in the
winter months here in Australia!
Perhaps there were not as many pollinators.
eg. native or non-native bees or flies.

Grass Tree No. 2
is doing much better!
Forming a lot more seeds
than than the aforementioned GT.7
This blasts my theory of less bees etc.
It is possible this plant is just better at seed production!!

****************
Hippeastrum
Another lovely plant consisting of many bulbs ...
given to me many years ago by
our old neighbours. Remembered
with great affection every year
when they bloom.
Auntie Tilly and Uncle Bill

**********************
Green Tree Frog
Litoria caerulea
This little frog lives in our water spouting,
moving around from pipe to pipe...
we hear her/him croaking from different
directions around our house.
The last time we had a decent rain shower
I nearly stood on him/her! and was I thankful
the animal relocated to the garden instead of the patio!!

A closer view ... the flash has lightened the photo!
(click on any photo to enlarge)

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

The Tally
No fatalities to report,
my 98 seedlings are doing fine...
fertilised today with a half strength solution of Seasol.

6 garden Grass Trees and 2 GT pot plants
Cheers Carol

2009-10-06T20:44:00.000+10:00

4 Weeks On... GT.7

These 2 photos taken on the 19 of September
and show the delicacy of the
Grass Tree flower stalk!
At the side is the previous stalk still attached.
Fairly soon little native bees, honey bees,
ants and some wattle birds will visit and
help with pollinating the flowers.
In the early morning the flowers
have large drops of a clear nectar!
(Please click on the photo to enlarge)

This close-up photo shows each individual flower.

*********

Grass Tree No.2

7 weeks on... this Grass Tree's
flowers have a quite different
look from the photo's above.
The flowers are thick and almost tangled,
so far almost all of my seedling have
come from this most productive plant.
Photo's taken 6/10/09

A crowd of flowers!
(click to enlarge)

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

Hippeastrum

I found this bulb dropped on the footpath
by a weekend gardener
on a morning walk about 3 years ago.
Since then it has excelled in
beauty and size!

(what a find!)

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

I have 6 Grass Trees planted in my garden.
2 small plants in pots (medium)
98 seedlings(no fatalities)

Cheers Carol

2009-08-16T16:43:00.006+10:00

And then there were two! GT No.2.

Just after the last post we discovered there was another
little stalk on the way!! This little stalk took 9 days to
develop and emerge out of the center greenery!
(Please click in the pic to see an enlarged version &
another photo in the side column)

This is 3 days later than the photo in the side column.
You can see how quickly the stalk gets going once
it finally rises out from the center.

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

Grass Tree No.7
is going well! Approximately 3ft or 90cm. tall in this pic ...
this was 8 days after being noticed!
The old stalk shows no sign of falling off!

***********
My two potted Grass Trees No. 5 & 6 are
here amongst the other plants in my garden!

The bird bath is a frequently visited by the local birds,
Turtle doves (non- native)
Little Wattlebirds (native...we call them - speedy gonzales!)
Butcher birds (pied-native)

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

I have: 6 Grass Trees planted around the garden.

2 in medium pots.

98 seedlings.

Cheers Carol

2009-07-28T17:18:00.006+10:00

July 2009 Update

Last year my GT No.7 produced this terrific stalk!
(photo taken 9th September 08)
At last something decent to post!!!

Now Again only 14 months later a new baby flower stalk has appeared!
You can see the old stalk still on the plant!
The photo taken 25thJuly 09 ...
I estimate 2 days after emerging.
(when I noticed!!)

*****

My seedlings are still chuffing along...
I have lost a few and a some late planted seeds have sprung up as well.
Totalling 98.
One in the front center is quite strong as you can see...
if you click on the photograph.

********

Grass Tree 1.
The seeds on this flower stalk have still not opened and there are not many.
This is possibly due to the winter weather here in South East Qld.
Pehaps they will open when the the days are a fair bit warmer.
( I am just having a guess on this.)

**********
I have: 6 Grass Trees planted around the garden.
2 in medium pots.
98 seedlings.

Cheers Carol

2009-04-25T14:18:00.009+10:00

Freshwater National Park Qld.
This National Park is 34 km north of Brisbane, an absolute treasure!.
Grass Trees by the hundreds, thousands even!
This small NP covers a small area of only 0.94 sq.km.

These photos were taken last week in the
south-eastern corner of this small park.
(please click on the photo to enlarge)

After such a rainy summer ...
the trees in this NP are looking so healthy!
You can see how the leaves are shining in the sunlight!
I noted the earth was a little swampy in this area.

It appears luckily no fires have burned through this area
in recent years, the older leaves were forming lovely skirts
around the plants. We had to be very careful not to stand
on any of the new plants hidden in the grass.

This pic shows the prolific tree growth in the Park.

These photo's also show that it is not necessary
to have fire the for germination of seeds.
A reminder too... that these plants only grow
approx 2 &1/2 cm or 1 inch per year!

Grass Trees of all sizes.
I will be visiting the Freshwater National Park again!

A delight for a Grass Tree lovers!

*************
The Tally 2009 seedlings = 34 (-4)
2008 seedlings = 64
6 in the garden and 2 in large pots.
Total = 106

Cheers Carol

2009-04-06T15:23:00.011+10:00

Boars Head, Katoomba and Inhabitants

Recently my daughter went abseiling at this
wonderful Australian landmark!
The Rock so-called because of it's
likeness to a Boar.
And definately not a bore!

Katoomba is in the Blue Mountains
in the State of N.S.W

This lovely Grass Tree with a flowing skirt of old
foliage was growing half way up Boars Head!
Thanks for the terrific photo Joanne!

(Click on the photo's to enlarge)

**********
This Grass Tree is a lot closer to home!
In fact only 2 km from where I live.
I had never noticed it before although
I had passed by many times!
Possibly because of the recent
two lots of rain we have had,
It has sent up a very tall flower spear!

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

Last year I posted the photo's of some caterpillars
pruning my Crown 0f Thorns plant!
Well! a relative is back this year!
This one has the same white dots on its head.
Croton Caterpillar - Achaea Janata
As you can see he/she has had a great chew!

******************
Orchids
Recently A neighbourhood couple showed me their
collection of 300 orchid plants

(amended from 80 plants -apologies)
This one was slightly damaged (a point made vigourously by the owner)
which I felt did not detract one bit from this lovely Orchid.

******************
The Tally

2009 Seedlings = 38
(2 doubtful - 1 frail & 1 whitish)
2008 seedlings = 64 seedling(2 doubtful)
6 in the garden 2 in large pots.
Total = 110 !

Note-It seems at any time these little plants can
up and die - basically they all are kept in the same
area and given similar amounts of sunshine,water
and fertiliser, however some die!

Cheers Carol

2009-03-16T23:39:00.006+10:00

Day 34 - for a flower stalk!
A Close up of the Tiny flowers which will become seeds eventually.
Sorry about the darkness in this pic...
however it does show the lace-like delicacy of the flower.
(click on any photo to enlarge)

Day 39 in full flower!
Those little black dots there are harmless native flies
and I imagine extremely important
to help pollinate these flowers.

************
A new crop of seedling have sprouted for 2009!
These were planted on the 11/2/09.
They came up from the 1/3/09 until the 17 th March,
I still have more to show their cute little shoots!
So far on this date, I have 33 shoots
from both GT's 7 and 9.
out of a possible 48 seeds planted.
Very successful so far!

Enlarge to see the tiny shoots.

*********

As you can see insects have been having a lovely chew on
this Longifolia Lomandra #N.
This yellowy/green grasshopper
kept moving under this leaf as I tried to take his/her photo.

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

The Tally
2009 Seedlings = 33
2008 seedlings = 66 seedling
6 in the garden 2 in large pots.
Total = wow 110 !
Some of the new ones are mere slivers of green of course!
Cheers Carol

2009-02-18T20:07:00.013+10:00

Day 25 in the life of a Grass Tree flower stalk.

This stalk is now 89 & 1/2 inches tall. (227cm)
Measured from the ground level

The flower part at the top is now 24 & 1/2(62cm)
This is the tallest spear this plant has had so far!
( to my knowledge ... )
Amazing !

We had 11 inches of rain in two days!
I think moisture, rapid growth and lovely
sunny had this dramatic effect on the stalk.
However the next morning it was straight again.

A small interloper in a seedling pot!
This rather sweet little fungi/toodstool
and a few other little mates
has taken up residence with a seedling.

********

This beautiful orchid lives in the neighbourhood!
Along with approx another 60 -80 varieties grown
by a very nice man
who kindly let me photograph his flower.
He told me it was the National Flower of Singapore!

Honestly this photo does not do the flower justice... it is stunning!

The Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen from among 40 flowers,
30 of which were orchids, to be the National Flower of Singapore.
This makes Singapore the only country to have a
hybrid as her national flower.
(if you google - lots of info available)
********************

The Tally
is the same.
66 seedlings in black pots.
6 in the garden. 2 in large pots = 74

Cheers Carol

2009-02-05T20:50:00.007+10:00

A little info: GT1.
When the little flower stalk first appeared on the 23/1/09
the stalk was approx 24"(60.9cm) from ground level.

On the 1st of February:
9 days later the stalk had grown to 64"(162.5cm) from ground level.

averaging 4 1/2 inches per day (11.4 cm)
(usually measured approx 4pm daily)
****
When this photo was taken on 2/2/09 taken in the morning,
the plant measured 66 1/2 " (or 168.9cm) = 2 and 1/2 inches overnight.

3rd /2/09... 11th day 69 and 1/2 inches (176.5cm).
Actual stalk measures 45 1/2 ''(115.5cm)

4th Feb 2009 ... 12th day.
72 inches from ground level (183cm).
-24" for the plant = 48'' for stalk (122cm).
Growth of approx 4 inches per day or (10.16cm).

Taken from the other direction!
and you can see the top part where the actual flowers
will appear is growing rapidly as well!

(Click on any photo to enlarge)
*************

Introducing Storm ...

The beautiful neighbourhood horse.
He has a real fan club in our area,
we keep him supplied with carrots and apples.
An Anglo Arab gelding and I think about 14 yrs old!
(not positive thou!)
He has a beautiful nature and loves his visitors,
and he gets very jittery when it's really windy!

What a Honey!!!!
************

The Tally
is the same.
66 seedlings in black pots.
6 in the garden. 2 in large pots = 74

Cheers Carol

2009-01-31T21:32:00.006+10:00

7 Days Later

This flower spear has really shot up!
This photo is facing to the south and the
west is on the right. (Please click on the photo to enlarge)

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

The following two lovely trees
are in our neighbourhood.
The first photo is of a Poinciana tree.
*E Delonix regia
A native of Madagascar where unfortunately it is endangered.
It is however planted all over the world
and very popular here in this part of Qld. where you see
them everywhere at this time of year.

More info here

Flowering Gum Tree
#N Corymbia ficifolia is
one of the most commonly planted
ornamental trees planted
in the broader eucalyptus family.
It is native to a small area in Western Australia and
flowers can be any colour from pale cream through
pinks, red, orange and deep crimson.
These are also planted throughout this suburb.

More info here

*********
The tally is the same.
66 seedlings in black pots.
6 in the garden.

2 in large pots = 74

Cheers Carol

2009-01-27T22:53:00.008+10:00

Four Days of Growth!

Grass Tree No.1

On the 23rd of January 2009 we noticed this new stalk
emerging on the eldest Grass Tree in our garden...
It was already in the garden when we came here nearly 8 years ago.
I had never seen one of these lovely plants before
then and now I just love them.
(My H. is holding the leaves back whilst I take the photo)
Newborn!

Day 2 - 24th Jan 2009

Day 3 - 24th Jan.

Day 4 -25th Jan

These plants sure know how to grow a flower stalk.
Quite Amazing!
Tomorrow I will put a marker up and measure the progress!

***********
Trees entwined! Beside the walking track in outer
North Brisbane are these trees...
No way of knowing if it was natural,
or someone passing by entwined them as young trees!
They look nice though!

(there is a road on the left)
***********

The Tally
66 seedlings,
6 adult plants in-ground
2 in big pots = 74

Cheers Carol

2009-01-24T20:11:00.013+10:00

Grass Tree N0.9 is Planted!

Just after New Year - on the 6th of January we

planted this little tree into the front yard...no setbacks!

Going Great!

Also over this month

I have been collecting the seeds

from GT No. 7

Quite a Haul!
Some of the little pods had up to 3 seed in each Pod
Generally there was 1 seed per pod...which makes it easier to extract the
seed with the pointy tweezers.
I think approximately 80% of the seeds are viable!

***

GT No.9 did not have as many pods but they developed
into some lovely big seed pods and some even have two seeds in them.

This is about half of the seeds I collected from GT7...
I forgot to take the photo of all of them!!
However I did put the match in there for a size reference.
If you look closely you can see on the left side center (9o'clock)
one little seed is rather puny...not viable I would think!

I will be planting quite a few of these seeds fairly soon.

***

The Tally
The same as last post... No fatalities
and I fertilized the seedlings with Seasol (weak mix for natives)

66 seedlings in black pots
6 in the garden
2 in large pots = 74

Cheers Carol

**********

2009-01-16T22:30:00.009+10:00

Frangipani
glowing with wonderful colour
and fragrance. (*E*)

We are incredibly lucky these plants grow so well in South-East Qld.
These trees are growing in my suburb...the morning air is
filled with their sweet fragrance! And there are dozens more!

A little info!

Frangipani or Plumeria are a native from the tropical Americas,
introduced to the pacific islands by missionaries
they are a favourite tree across warmer climates.
A well drained soil rich in humus and a sunny position
(frost free please).
With great perfume and a huge range of colors from white
with pink though yellow, purple and red.
Frangipani are a fantastic addition to the garden.
Frangipani can be pruned and will do well in pots.
With interesting hybrids now being developed
watch out for new flower forms and colors,
including 'Dwarf' or miniature frangipani such as
Duvauchelle (Dwarf) and Dwarf deciduous white Frangipani.

Last year the flowers on this tree were yellow through to orange,
salmon pink and dark pink, this year we
had a lot of rain and the flowers are this deep red.

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

This smaller plant is on a nature strip.
*******************

Last year I picked up a broken branch of this one and
was able to strike 5 new plants from it.
The local school crossing lady, told me the method I needed...
cut the tops off the branch approx 50r 6 inches,
nip off 3/4 of each leaf, toss the stalk on the ground for 3 days,
then plant it into a pot! (Thanks Sue)
They all lived!!

**********

The tally of Grass Trees...
6 seedling fatalities! since January 1st.
The weaker seedling just fizzed over or browned off and died!

The ones remaining seem a fairly strong bunch.

66 seedlings in black pots
6 in the garden

2 in large pots = 74

Cheers Carol

2009-01-01T14:54:00.007+10:00

Happy New Years Day 2009
to all who celebrate on this auspicious day.

I want to share with you these magnificent photographs taken
by a mountain biking friend.
(Thank you Chris)
The view is taken from the top of the Bunya Mountains
in South-East Queensland.
(Please feel free to click on the photo to see a larger version)

Chris came across these beautiful trees and kindly sent his photos on to me.
He said they were the tallest he'd ever seen.
As a general rule the Grass Tree grows
approximately 1 inch per year,
so these trees must be very old !!

The benefits of mountain biking are many...
not only do you keep fit and active
...you see the best the planet has to offer!

The walking/biking track through the forest of trees!

My No.1 New Year resolution is to see
some Grass Trees similar to these!

***********

The Tally

A few more seedlings have died... it was expected!
Most remaining ones are looking great!
sending up beautiful new leaves.(2??)
... shown next post!

72 seedlings (2?)
8 adults (3 in pots)

= 80 Gt's

Cheers Carol

2008-12-03T20:13:00.011+10:00

A Mystery Solved!

3 days ago I was lucky enough to meet a lady who knew the name of two trees I had posted about previously. One was a magnificent flowering gold and the other pink. Both trees are growing in a park close to where I live here in a northern suberb of Brisbane.

Tabebuia

In the same league as jacarandas and poincianas, once seen in bloom a trumpet tree cloaked in pink or golden flowers,is never forgotten!

I previously had a link here..and had heaps of trouble with the dashed link ...

if you want to know more

Check google.

The Gold version!

The Pink Version!

**********

An update on Grass Tree No.7

This is a slow process waiting for the Flower spear to produce seeds! The spear first emerged approx 25/7/08 The first flowers burst open 30/9/08
Now on the 3/12/08 I'm waiting for the little pods to open
...soon maybe 1 or 2 weeks!

*******************
An update on the seedlings!
Here we have a photo of some of the re potted Grass Trees
... they are not looking too bad! (click to enlarge)

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

And the very latest to pop up! Still in the old yogurt pot.
When the little plant is older I will transplant it to the black pots as well!

*******************
The Tally! As I expected I have had a few Fatalities 2 in fact!
...I expected more really!

I have
76 seedlings in black pots
(2 are still doubtful...they had a rough trip over!
Still hanging in there though!)

I had 1 tiny seedling in the garden (on a previous post)
I had to transfer it to a yogurt pot...it had met with some unknown
fate and looked fairly crook!
I put it into a yogurt pot which had the Jamie Durie Native Australian
pot mix...this is a great mix 5/5 I think.
I have bought another Australian Native pot mix from a
Huge Hardware chain here in Au...
It was awful..don't buy any, full of sawdust!

1 seed which just came up (pic above)

8 adult plants - 5 in the garden 3 in pots (varying sizes also previous posts)

Total = 86 Grass Trees

Cheers Carol

2008-11-20T23:03:00.010+10:00

An Update on Grass Tree No. 9

This photo was taken 2 weeks ago... the developing seeds
can be seen with a number of little flowers drying off
on the spear.

This poor quality photograph taken 2 weeks later and shows
how the seeds have become quite plump and healthy.
This small flower stem has produced approx. 30-40
seedpods, a good number considering it is still in the pot!
I intend to plant little specimen into the the garden very soon.

Cycads...
This lovely spiky!...plant grows very happily in our garden,
I am not sure if it is an Australian Native variety or not!..
I have include the following Link which has
interesting information about these plants.
The perfume of the central flower is really sweet and pungent.
Insects seem to appreciate the aroma as well!

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

The Tally:
2 seedlings have died... they were very weak and were
counted in my doubtful list.
However I am really pleased with the condition
of the little plants...
many are putting up new spiny leaves...
which have a lovely fresh green colour!

78 seedlings in new black pots - 12 pots with 2 seedlings in each pot.

(2 still in doubt...a rugged transplant!)

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

Cheers Carol

2008-11-11T22:29:00.011+10:00

Transplanting from Yogurt pots to Black pots!!

In my last post I planned to transplant all my baby Grass Trees to new pots!

This task has been completed...with varying success.

I also have learned some helpful information!

Firstly the seed raising pot mix I used was too sandy...many little plants

had not developed roots very well and in the transfer to the new pots,

the soil just fell away and it was quite a juggling exercise to hold

together the cut away bottom of the Yogurt pot

and replant to the larger pot!

Secondly the soil did not hold moisture well either!

I had prepared the new pots with Jamie Durie Native Plant Mix

($9.45 at Big W)

I used this fantastic mix to repot GT's 6 & 7 ...they are doing really well!

Thirdly I learned...Yogurt pots...not a good Idea!

When I next plant a batch of seeds I will plant straight

into the larger pots in the beginning and save the

trouble and risk to these contrary little seeds/plants!

I graded my efforts on a 1-10 scale and most only rated 5/5 for root disturbance!

However over the last two weeks none have died, in fact some of the ones

I thought would surely cark it ...Haven't! though early days yet!

I have about 4 plants which I expect to shrivel, but it's

really surprising that they are looking so good!

A few completely lost ALL the soil in my hamfisted effort and

I was left holding a slender stalk!! 1/10

So I planted it and there you go! Still living two weeks later!

This will be interesting to see how much grievious bodily harm I have inflicted on them!

**************
An update on Grass Tree No. 7

As you can see from the photo the seeds are looking great

...little buzzy bees have done a great job, nice plump developing seed pods!

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

This is a rather unusual garden ornament...looks fantastic though!
(residing at the plant nursery )

The Golden Rooster!
************************

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

The Tally

80 seedlings in new black pots - 12 pots with 2 seedlings in each pot.

(4 in doubt...a rugged transplant!)

8 adults (varying sizes)+ 1 seedling in the garden,
=
89 Grass Trees.

(Note: Between the last post and now approx 6 seedlings died due probably to soil conditions and lack of water and nutrients in the soil.)

Cheers Carol

2008-10-24T21:51:00.009+10:00

Recently on a visit to a local Plant Nursery ...

there was this host of Baby Bottle trees #N.

Under the tag of 'trees' (below) you can see an adult Bottle tree

Brachychiton rupestris is a member of the Sterculiaceae family.

And is commonly referred to as the Queensland Bottle Tree

The common name “bottle tree”refers to the characteristic trunk
of the tree, which can reach a 2 m diameter.

How terrific to see this batch of baby trees!

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

This is a photo of the

Magnificent White Bird of Paradise plant,

growing in my daughter's back garden.

Strelitzia nicolai, *E* commonly known as the White Bird of Paradise , Wild Banana or Giant Bird of Paradise, has erect woody, palm like stems reaching a height of 6 m (20 ft) and the clumps formed can spread as far as 3.5 m (12 ft).
The 1.8 m (6 ft) long leaves are grey-green and arranged like a fan at the top of the stems, The cluster of flowers is composed of a dark blue bract, white sepals, and a bluish-purple "tongue". The entire flower can be as much as 18 cm high by 45 cm long and is typically held just above the point where the leaf fan emerges from the stem.

Flowers are followed by triangular seed capsules after they have fallen off.

This unopened flower is huge and certainly looks similar to birds head!!!

In this photo you can see how large the entire plant is!

The fence is a regular 6 ft. or 1.8 mtr. fence.
(click on the photo to enlarge)

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

The Tally

88 seedlings in yogurt pots -2 still doubtful!
8 adults (varying sizes)+ 1 seedling in the garden,

97 Grass Trees

I have bought 80 new pots ...

so in the next few days I'm going to transfer the little plants to their new homes.

The fertiliser has given the plants a real boost...a few are still doubtful,

however the stronger ones look great!

Cheers Carol

2008-10-15T21:14:00.009+10:00

It's Lily Time in South East Qld.

Around my suburb these beauties are blooming!

These are Hippeastrum Lilies ...

or Amaryllis or Knight's Star Lily and they are Fabulous!

They are exotic to Australia and come from

Central or South America

How to grow them? Read here

Another garden down the street!

Yet another!

This stunning group dazzled the camera!

In the previous photos all the plants were growing in garden beds, this one is in a pot!
Where it does quite well every year...

I brought this from Victoria when we moved here 7 years ago. There are other photo's of these and the other Lilies I have, in the side column of this blog. (from last year)

**********

An update on Grass Trees No. 7 and 9, both flowering!

I put the smaller one (still in it's pot) out by the larger one so the little native and honey bees could find it and hopefully do their job pollinating the flowers.
(click on the photo to enlarge)

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

The Tally

88 seedlings in yogurt pots

(1 died but a new seed came up 4 days ago so = no nett loss/gain)
+ 8 adults (varying sizes)
+ 1 seedling in the garden,= 97 Grass Trees
(2 still doubtful)

I'd had a few fatalities...so I bought some fertilizer to help the remaining 88 seedlings,

a product called Seasol - Seaweed Plant Food and Liquid Fish Fertilizer for Gardens (free add!)

I have noticed the little guys have perked up though i made the solution 1/2 strength to be on the safe side!

My new pots are on order and are 7.5 x 7.5cm x 12 cm deep, these will be perfect for these little plants which have a long central root.

Cheers Carol

2008-10-05T22:22:00.008+10:00

Today would have been my old Mum's birthday.

5th October 2008

She would have been 84.

Today is a special day to remember her.

This lovely photo of the plaque was take by my dear sister-in law

just after it was recently positioned at the grave site.

Thank you Eve

Daphne adored plants!

(I have inherited this gene!)

One of her favourite plants to cultivate were Cymbidium Orchids
similar to this lovely specimen

for more information on these and other orchids visit this site

Daphne showing her orchids to her twin sister Dorothy who visited her in Australia in 1988
Dorothy passed away recently on the 30th August not quite reaching her 84th birthday either. Dorothy lived in the USA for 60 years.

Daphne and Dorothy

5.10.1925 - 2008

Do not stand at my grave and weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905-2004)

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

2008-09-30T22:22:00.006+10:00

The local Tree Orchid.#N#

Recently I posted an earlier photo of this Tree Orchid, well I was Lucky- I receive a

ABC Radio National newsletter with upcoming info on programming!

Lo and behold the following Link shows information about

Native Australian Orchids. And they named my one! Cool!

ABC article:

Rock Lily Orchid (Source: Kaye Placing, University of Sydney)
The common King Orchid (Dendrobium kingianum), has white to pink flower spikes and is found from NSW to Cape York in Queensland. Two epiphyte species are found in Tasmania, Gunn's Tree Orchid (Sarcochilus australis) and Dockrillia australatus.
Rock orchids or lithophytes occur on rocky areas where species such as the Rock Lily Orchid (Dendrobium speciosum) can form spectacular flowering clumps in springtime.

PS. the local one is actually up a gum tree!

(Thanks ABC)

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

Grass Tree No.7 is flowering!!!!

It looks so beautiful...

and the Honey and Natives bees love it too!

The geometric pattern of the flowers is lovely.

*click on any photo to enlarge*

A close up -

There are no bees in this pic, however 4 or 5 were buzzing around !

I noticed the bees had pale yellow nobs of pollen on the backs of their legs...pretty cute!

The bees are vital to this plant producing viable seed... where will I fit them?

(Yikes I will have to save more yogurt pots!)

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

Tally:

Another new seed up!

Planted 9/Aug/08 - Up 28/Sept. /08 - it's about 1/16 of an inch high!

(..I had 90-4 = ) now 86 in yogurt pots+ 8 adults (varying sizes)
+ 1 seedling in the garden,
= 95 Grass Trees
(4 seedlings are now declared dead. )

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

I am about to purchase a stack (90 odd) of new pots and Native plant pot mix,

I think it may be time to carefully transfer the the seedling to larger deeper pots

- they may be running out of nutrients!

Cheers Carol

2008-09-23T22:11:00.006+10:00

Shock! Horror!

My lovely neighbour has been Fired!

Either the owner,gardener,or a vandal has set fire to my

favourite neighbourhood Grass Tree.

As I walked past there last weekend I saw the poor thing,

burnt and the tree behind looks crook too!

In the wild, fire often burns these lovely trees and they survive fairly well.

However it is not necessary to burn them deliberately to

promote growth or open the seed pods...

In fact in a very hot fire it would seem reasonable to assume

fire could destroy the seeds...even the tree!

A bit like roasted peanuts!

This tree will survive, however this was a useless exercise

and may have severely damaged a lovely tree!

*click on the photo to enlarge*

Our misguided tree owners

have planted another smaller tree...

Isn't it sweet! Just a baby!

( I think it was the owners because the whole garden has been renovated!

er... fired up! I hope this one does not suffer the same fate!)

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

GT No. 9

Still going up, sorry the photo is listing to the right! The permanent bend has straightened marginally, doing OK though! I will plant this when the flowers have finished I think!

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

Another seed popped up 4 days ago!

Planted 13/6/08, up 20/9/08 - 14 weeks to germinate!

The other seed in the pot took 10 weeks...

*********

The Tally...

...89 in yogurt pots+ 8 adults (varying sizes)

+ 1 seedling in the garden,

= 98 Grass Trees

(3 now doubtful...I'm fairly sure 2 will croak!)

Cheers Carol

2008-09-16T22:06:00.007+10:00

This is a pic of Grass Tree.No.7...

see those lovely little baby GT's sprouting slender spiny leaves at the base of the

Tree stump...!

Well ... I was duped, mistaken, fooled, by Mother Nature,

yesterday I noticed something a bit different about them...

They had SEEDS...Nooooo!!!! it is a WEED!!!!! (hahahaha!)

(click on the photo to enlarge and to see the little seeds)

How really wonderful evolution had been, to produce plants that look like something else ...this plant (the weed) has been nurtured by Moi... until it seeded!

***********

I well and truly won the "estimate the height of the spear" competition!

I'm 5 ft & 1/2 (I used to be 5'2' & 3/4...but I got older eh! and shrunk a bit!) You can see how huge this flower spear has grown and I don't think it has stopped yet!

***********

This is a photo of the Lake Kurwongbah approx 2km from where I live on the outskirts of Brisbane. Only a small lake! but so beautiful to see with clouds reflected in the water.

I'm very fortunate to live here!

***********

The Tally...
88 in yogurt pots
+ 8 adults (varying sizes)
+ 1 seedling in the garden,= 97 Grass Trees
(2 still doubtful...I'm fairly sure 1 will croak!)
Cheers Carol

2008-09-09T20:29:00.009+10:00

The following 4 photo's are from the www.

An Australian web page - The Brisbane Ranges in Victoria Here

These 4 photographs are of some weird

and beautiful flower stalks.

My favourite is the 3rd down...this plant is giving

us all the finger!!

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

An update on my GT.No7...

Wow... It surely grew above the fence line!

This Plant has the smooth, very fine sort of flower stalk,

similar to grass Tree No1.

Most of the seeds I collected from GT No.1 didn't come up,

but I was quite a novice at collecting them back then.

So I hope to have more luck with this one!

I'd better start in on some more Yogurt for pots!!!

(*click on photo to enlarge*)

*********

The Tally...

88 in yogurt pots

+ 8 adults (varying sizes)

+ 1 seedling in the garden,
= 97 Grass Trees

(2 still doubtful)

Cheers Carol

2008-08-30T21:32:00.007+10:00

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 !

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

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.

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

The Tally

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

= 97 Grass Trees

Cheers Carol.

2008-08-24T22:29:00.009+10:00

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.

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

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!

**********

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.

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

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!

**************
The Tally

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

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

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

2008-08-21T21:43:00.009+10:00

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

**********

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.

*******

And the competition continues...

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

**********

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

= 96 Grass Trees

Cheers Carol

2008-08-15T20:14:00.009+10:00

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.!

*******

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

2008-08-14T21:45:00.005+10:00

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)

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

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

Tally= same as yesterday...Cheers Carol

2008-08-13T21:11:00.008+10:00

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!

*********

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

2008-08-06T21:37:00.014+10:00

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)

******

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!

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

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

2008-07-17T21:26:00.004+10:00

A Tribute to My Mother

Daphne May Martin

5.10.1924 - 28.6.2008

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

Mary Elizabeth Fry 1905-2004

Daphne and Missy

*********

2008-06-25T21:50:00.008+10:00

Here we have Bottle Tree #N in the neighbourhood.

This unusual tree in in a small nearby park.

Brachychiton rupestris is a member of the Sterculiaceae family
And is commonly referred to as the Queensland Bottle Tree
The common name “bottle tree”refers to the characteristic trunk

of the tree, which can reach a 2 m diameter.

More information here

*********

My other neighbour is sleeping in another nearby park!

This is a lovely Koala having a kip!

*click to enlarge*

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

Tally 99

Cheers Carol

2008-06-21T16:35:00.009+10:00

Blooming WEEDS !

Here we have a fine example of exotic plants gone wild in a patch of Australian bushland.

Mother-of millions (Bryophyllum spp. *E*) is a native plant of Madagascar.

Its beautiful flowers have made it a popular garden plant in eastern Australia,

especially in the drier, inland areas.

Unfortunately, mother-of-millions is highly toxic to stock!
The plant's ability to reproduce in such large numbers and to

withstand droughts explains why it has escaped from gardens

and rubbish tips to become a serious problem in many rural areas.

(Mother of millions, those red ones in the photo)

And in the above photo are also swags of Asparagus officinalis *E*

Asparagus is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 100-150 cm tall, with stout larissa stems with much-branched feathery foliage. The 'leaves' are in fact needle-like cladodes (modified stems) in the axils of scale leaves; they are 6–32 mm long and 1 mm broad, and clustered 4–15 together. The flowers are bell-shaped, greenish-white to yellowish, 4.5–6.5 mm long, with six tepals partially fused together at the base; they are produced singly or in clusters of 2-3 in the junctions of the branchlets. It is usually dioecious , with male and female flowers on separate plants, but sometimes hermaphrodite flowers are found. The fruit is a small red berry 6–10 mm diameter.

As you can see wild Asparagus goes bonkers in the bush!

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

Brazilian Nightshade *E*

Perennial shrub or twining climber from South America. Stems mostly hairless. Leaves deeply
lobed, hairless except edges and veins on the under surface. Flowers mauve-blue, 2-3cm across in groups of up to 50 in spring and autumn. Fruit a bright red berry about 1cm across.

Seeds spread by birds and water.

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

Umbrella Tree *N*
Umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla) is native to northern Queensland, north of the tropic of Capricorn. In its natural ecosystem it has maintained a balance with other native species, however when it is grown in southern Queensland this fast-growing invader out-competes local native species. Umbrella tree is not a declared plant under Queensland legislation, however its control is recommended.

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

Tally: I had 100 but the little seedling I thought would cark it, did, so....

92 (seedlings) + 7 (garden) = 99 Grass trees.

Cheers Carol

2008-06-17T17:20:00.003+10:00

This is an update about the moths I captured as caterpillars.

The moths turned out to be Achaea janata.

This one below was No.3 Moth. There it is looking at a flower from the plant

where I found the caterpillars.

I had dipped the flowers in a honey/water dilute mix.

The moths seemed to enjoy having a drink of the mix.

This moth was great ... really calm.

As you can see the moth is not frightened,

this was his/her last meal before Freedom!

* click on the photo to enlarge*

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

The doubtful seedling is looking crook! (previous post)

I think it will cark it! Good news though... another seed popped up.

Tally 92 +7=99 +1 (new) = 100 (only temporary I'm afraid)

(I included the new seedling in the garden to the seedling tally.)

Cheers!

2008-06-13T22:21:00.009+10:00

I had a surprise today... with my Grass Trees!

Approx 2 months back, when I was replanting a few yogurt pots after some seedlings died. I spilled a few seeds. I thought I had picked them all up. The next day when I watered the seedling I found a seed lying on the top of a pot, and because I was lazy I just planted it over there in the garden...Today I found it, the little seed has come up! it's pretty cute!

*click on the photo to enlarge *

Also today another emerged, actually it was yesterday but I didn't notice until today!

It was planted on the 26/4/08 and emerged 12/6/08... 48 days,.

Quite a bit longer compared the seeds germinating in the summer months.

The new plant is on the left in the photo below.

The plant on my doubtful list carked it yesterday.Below on the right.
*click to enlarge*

********

The seedling below is quite small (center pot on the right) I'm hoping it will survive. I have had a few seedling like this that have picked up with a little TLC. Some seedlings seem to have very fine leaves/spines.

Tally 1 death, 2 new... 92 +7=99 (yikes 99!)
Now do I add the little one in the garden to the seedling or to the garden?

Cheers Carol

2008-06-07T22:34:00.005+10:00

Whilst My Grass Trees are just ...um growing!

I thought I might show this rather lovely tree (?) which is growing

in the same area where I photographed the Koala.

When I saw it I was reminded of the poem ... by William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

I wandere'd lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Now I know this is not a Daffodil, but it certainly is a host of gold!

and there is a lake just over there... yonder from this lovely sight!

Ps I have no idea what sort of tree this is...I am assuming it is exotic to Australia, because it it decidious! *E*

Tally....a new seedling...Yes (tiny it is)

91seedlings +7 = 98

Cheers Carol

2008-06-03T22:33:00.005+10:00

Two new seedlings... late in the year too!

*click photo to enlarge*

Left & center front pots.

The second row right side is the only doubtful plant, the other died 2 days back! So my tally is still going up even though I'm losing the odd one or two. They still seem to fail to thrive and rot away and break off at ground level.

*********

I am so lucky to live where I do,

this lovely Koala was up a Gum tree in the park less than a km from my home.

He/she is climbing up this huge gum tree, if you enlarge the pic you can see the sharp claws grasping the tree. This koala has a really dirty bottom!! No doubt gum sap and a bit of poop.

I was in a perfect position to see this wonderful animal, they seem to think if they can't see you you don't exist and turn their backs on you if they can.

Please note that beautiful Queensland blue sky, this was 9.00am 10 days ago.

***********

Tally 90 seedlings + 7= 97
Cheers Carol

2008-05-30T16:37:00.012+10:00

My Grass Tree No.7 is in the ground in the new garden area

and it has been raining.

There is nothing like a few negative ions to perk a plant up!

You can see the little plants growing at the base of the trunk.

Pretty cute eh!

GT no. 7 is an Australian Native plant Xanthorrhoea Johnsonii#(N)

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

Previously I posted a few photo's of caterpillars eating my

Crown of Thorns*(E) plant

The caterpillars (4) turned into cocoons in the last

week of April 08.

This photo below is the the moth which emerged.

Achaea-janata has quite a lovely tail section!
(oops! he lost that bit of his left wing when I tried to photograph his hind-wings)

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

Tally 89 + 7 = 96

(two doubtful- seedlings not thriving)

Cheers

2008-05-25T19:27:00.010+10:00

Updates:

This update is of the Grass Tree who lives down the road...

It has been flowering for about 3 weeks, with more little flowers opening each day!

*click on photo to enlarge*

This photo shows my total number of baby Grass Trees in yogurt pots!

89 in total, nearly all a single plant in each pot.

Some of the pots have 2 seeds in one pot and one with 3 seeds.

2 pots are in waiting !

This photo shows the newest sprout there in the center front.and directly behind it is one in doubt ... it is not thriving ! Quite a thin stringy little seedling especially when compared to the one on the left of it. Now that is a strong little one !
*click to enlarge photo*

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

Tally 89+7= 96

Cheers

2008-05-22T20:43:00.006+10:00

I thought this was interesting...

An older article from the Magnetic Times Newspaper link

July 17th 2007Smoking grass trees
The "Stick lease," a 1538m2 tract of land formerly associated with an oyster lease and noted for its superb grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnstonii, near Magnetic Island's West Point, was the scene last week for an unusual NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) activity.
The land is under Department of Natural Resources and Water management and is currently being used cooperatively by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Wulgurukaba., Magnetic Island's Traditional Owners, who teamed up with staff from QPWS and other government agencies to conduct a controlled burn. According to Wulgurukaba's Mr Michael Johnson, who is also a Magnetic Island based QPWS Officer, "Fire has been used by indigenous people for thousands of years to manage country. It's been very important for (government) agencies to come together, contribute and assist in this management."

The burnt results:

You can see a silhouette of the traditional owner/ranger in the smoke.

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Tally... I've still got 96....

(89 seedlings +7 plants =96)

Cheers

2008-05-20T21:17:00.003+10:00

I Found these old,old black and white Photo's on the www

Here

(*click to enlarge*)

Gosh check out the size of these beauties!

The photo's are part of the Powerhouse Museum collection.

The date on the collection says these were taken in 1900.

The gentleman in the photo is holding a gigantic flower spear.

The format is *glass plate negative*

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On this one a couple of men are sitting up in the dead tree looking into the distance...

I wonder if there were more Grass Trees, These must have been really old trees in 1900, imagine how many seeds would have been in those flower spears.

These are wonderful photo's, it's so amazing being able to find this sort of info on the www.

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Another little seed popped up on Monday, that is No. 89

89 seedlings + 7 = 96

Cheers

2008-05-17T22:04:00.002+10:00

This photo from the WWW is from Rockingham ...

The Grass Trees look as if they are dancing in tutu's

*click to enlarge*

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My neighbour - one week later...

more flowers have opened!

It's really hard to see, but there was a tiny native bee hovering on the left side.

*Click on photo to enlarge*

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Tally is still 95
88 seedlings+7= 95
(although 1 seedling is not thriving!)

Cheers

2008-05-14T22:11:00.007+10:00

My Neighbour is Flowering!

Look there are tiny flowers on the spear!

*click photo to enlarge*

I first noticed this plant around the 3/4/08 so it has taken

approx. 5weeks to reach this stage.

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The plantlets or seeds growing around the base of this

Grass Tree No.7 are growing nicely.

An area in the garden is being prepared and this plant should go in there in about 3 weeks.

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I thought this little plant (below) would die,I just touched the green top lightly and it broke off at earth level in the pot...

I suspect it had root rot or something like that!
this meant I'm was back to 86 seedlings...

But two more came up yesterday so now I have 88 seedlings

...not counting the ones around the pot above because I didn't actually propagate them!

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Tally 95

88 seedlings+7= 95

Cheers

2008-05-11T19:11:00.008+10:00

Information Links

I thought I would put some links to the websites I've found useful and interesting.

Sites which have helped me to grow my baby Grass Trees.

Monica’s site: Here

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YARRALUMLA NURSERY – GARDEN ADVICE SERIES

Here

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Australian plants On-Line : Here

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Parks Victoria Grass Tree, Fact File
Here

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Aboriginal Uses of Native Plants

Here

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Tally still 94

(although the one I'm doubtful about looks a bit sick!)
Cheers

2008-05-09T21:16:00.014+10:00

Two new Sprouts... are 86 and 87

*click to enlarge*

1. Planted 5/Apr./08 - Up 3/May/08 = 29 days...gosh!

2. Planted12/Apr?08- Up 5/May/08 = 24...not as long!

It's is cooler at night now 10-16 C. so I think this is a fairly acceptable period of germination. I have been setting my seedlings out in the early morning sunshine for an hour (approx.) The plants normally live under my back veranda in the shade. I usually water them daily with a spray bottle or give them a tablespoon of water for a good drenching once a week. This is a hit or miss affair and I just go with how I think they are looking...maybe if they look a bit dry I give a few extra squirts!!

They are pretty cute though!

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This Photo from the WWW it's called Dancing Blackboys...sorry I've mislaid the link. Google 'grass trees blogs' and it's in there?

This one also from the WWW and called Persistance, see how the plant is growing out from the rock! Tough little dude!

This trio is clearly very old...

I wonder if they are ok... it looks as if there is a fence and concrete in the background of the photo so they have may transplanted to this site!! The one on the right looks pretty good though!

*Click to enlarge*

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Tally still 94 in total.

Cheers

2008-05-05T21:46:00.009+10:00

Over this weekend...

I have re-potted my No.5 & 6 Grass trees.

No.6 (on the Left)has really long leaves for a small plant.

No. 5 has an upright stance.

I used Australian Native pot mix from Big W.

I was very careful not to disturb the roots ...they hate it!!

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A Caterpillar Update!

They have all got cocoons!

*click to enlarge*

I have numbered then to show which ones took the plunge first!

They are expected out in the spring...

I have to separate them and take photo's of each too identify which

moths come from which cocoons!

The caterpillar with the white on it's head is in cocoon No.2.

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Tally 2 new babies = 87 ... (Pic's later)
87+7 =94

Cheers

2008-05-02T22:03:00.005+10:00

Beautiful and Strange Photo's from the W.W.W

A forest of spears!

*click to enlarge any photo*

Now this IS the strange one !

John Waine's Link

In this one we can see the new plants growing around the base of these 'adult' plants. Some of the smaller plants in the area have quite large spears too!

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Cheers

2008-05-01T21:50:00.006+10:00

Yesterday ...

I added this photo to show this tiny little plant which is the one most likely to fail!

(go on prove me wrong, ...please)

It was planted at the same time as his/her pot-partner!,

Alas I tried to delete a line and the whole blooming photo disappeared!

(click to enlarge)

*****

Caterpillar update -

This photo shows the white spots on this resident in the insect house.

That leafy thing there on the stalk is a pupa wrapped into the dry leaves found hanging on the plant. I added the whole stalk to the insect house.

Here we see a green leaf added to cocoon, under that leaf is the white spotted caterpillar from the previous photo, and it happened overnight! What a little cheater, used most of his companions cocoon and only added 1 leaf!!! (the small green leaf above the flashed yellow leaf)

You can also see another (3) Caterpillar having a chew on the leaf at the top of the photo, this one has No white on it's head.
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Tally still 84+7=91

Cheers

2008-04-30T22:20:00.002+10:00

The insy winsy little sprout in the photo is Baby Seedling No.85.

Planted on the 1/4/08 and came up 29/4/08.

It came up 7 days later than the other one in the yogurt pot.

29 days... gosh, earlier in the year(it was warmer) it was taking approx.15,16,or 20 days.

Check out the little wiggly seedling in the center pot... its a bit strange, as if it's got curly hair!!

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An update on the caterpillars: there were 4 on my plant.

Don Herbison-Evans suggested that I capture the little fellows and raise them in captivity to see exactly what moth they are going to be? Apparently they are a bit different to the one he thought they may be. This has been quite interesting and something I've never done before. (except for keeping a Praying Mantis when my kids were little, we fed it flys )

At this time 3 have turned into Pupae... two encased themselves in dry leaves on a plant stem and the 3rd on the sand at the bottom of the insect house...in a bundle of dry leaves. This one really liked those red flowers! Just given him/her a new bunch.

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Tally= 85 seedlings +7 = 92

Cheers

2008-04-28T22:11:00.004+10:00

A lovely neighbour.

A neighbour has this very nice Grass Tree in their front yard, it is actually a double plant as you can see from the photo, and raising up from the center left side of the plant is the spear.

I first noticed this about 3 weeks ago.

This Plant has a very tall, slender spear, similar to my No.1 GT.

The top part is very fine, smooth and closely packed with potential flowers.
(please click to enlarge for a better view)

I will keep an eye on this beauty to see how it progresses.
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Tally: still 84 seedlings and 7 others = 91

Cheers

2008-04-26T22:58:00.007+10:00

Even though it's getting Cooler the little plants are still popping up!

Planted on the 1/4/08, came up 23/4/08

If you enlarge this photo (click on)you will see some of the plants have extremely long leaves.

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An update about the caterpillars on my Crown of Thorns.(Euphorbia splendens), they are possibly Croton Caterpillars (Achaea janata) or his cousin ? due to not having white dots in the head area... I found this information here and from the very helpful Don Herbison-Evans.

My Plant is growing ever Slimmer!

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Grass Tree Tally 84 seedlings + 7 = 91

(I also had the 2 doubtful plants die and planted 4 more seeds)

2008-04-22T20:08:00.011+10:00

This one is not growing well! (corner pot)

Sprouted Mid/January/08

I expect it to croak! Meanwhile I'm trimming off the leaves that die.

The center pot is also in strife!

This is one of 5 seedlings from my No.1 Grass Tree.

Planted 30/10/07 - probably took 16-20 days to sprout.

So this little one has struggled along for 5 months... gosh!

One of the doubtful ones died yesterday, the above one came onto that list so I still have 2 in doubt! The Tally is 85 seedlings.

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Something a little different...

I have one of these plants in a pot, not sure of the name, something starting with a P I think!

It is a bit like a cactus as it has treacherous spikes on the stalks!

It has 4 temporary residents!
These guys/gals!

(click to enlarge photo to see spines)

They are eating their house Down!

I have no idea what sort of Butterflies they turn into? (if anyone knows feel free to tell me) I'm leaving them though... I will probably lose 1/2 the plant by the time they are through!

The amazing thing about it is, How the caterpillars can climb about on the plant when they are so soft! and the plant so spiky!
Cheers

2008-04-19T21:41:00.005+10:00

An Update on the Seedlings

This photo was taken on the 31/3/08, the 3 seedlings in the center pot. The next photo is the same 3 seedlings and was taken today 19/4/08. You can see the slow progress, although they have grown quite a few new leaves/spines they haven't really grown all that much in 19 days.

(If you click on the photo you can enlarge for a better view)

PS. definitely 3 active cultures!!

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This photo shows how a plant can be hampered by the circumstances of the seed husk and leaves, this one is trapped into a loop.

I think the little plant is quite a strong one, some others are really quite spindly and if the thin leaves get damaged by a bit of wind or get a touch too much sun, they can die off. I have found that if I snip off the die back then they send up more shoots. I put the plants out into the sunshine for about 45 minutes most mornings before it gets too hot. (again enlarge for a better view )

Cheers

2008-04-18T21:41:00.005+10:00

More Photo's from the Net:

I forgot to get the links for these

so apologies to the original posters/photographers.

This one must be hundreds of years old! Probably half the size

when Captain Cook ran aground in 1770 in Qld.

(Nathan Johnson)

These ones have had a close shave with fire ...that's for sure!

Amazingly long flower spears!

(Thanks for the great Photo KellyMacDonald)

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This is a close up of the spear drying off in the center of Grass Tree No.2
You can see a few spines/leaves have been damaged by the spear and have turned brown. This spear first appeared in Mid August 2007 and it is now Mid April 2008 and it still is firmly fixed to the plant. I'll let you know when it falls off!

The tally for seedlings is 86 - 2 still doubtful, they haven't grown or died yet!

Total number of my GT's is 7 and 86 seedlings = 93!!

Cheers

2008-04-14T20:47:00.002+10:00

And now I have 8 new tiny plants...the new tally is 86,

two of these doubtful, but still hanging in there!

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Some Unusual Flower Spears

Here are a few more lovely photo's found on the WWW.

this one is taken by Travis Easton ...link

Another link to this wonderful photo is here

this will take you to a red bubble site where there are other photo's as well.

This strange flower stalk would be an appropriate logo for the Australian ABC!

This one is clearly a non-conformist!!! link here

Cheers

2008-04-12T20:31:00.004+10:00

5 More Seeds Up!

These seeds were planted on the 22/3/08 and the pot below on the 23/3/08

approx 20-22 days to appear as these tiny green shoots.

This is a few days longer than earlier in the year, it may be due to cooler weather or whatever? (click on Pic's to enlarge)

3 here!

2 Here!
New Tally 83
including 5 new and 2 doubtful.

*****

Another unusual Grass Tree from the Net, has had a few twists in it's life!

5 Huge beauties Somewhere in Perth WA.

Cheers.

2008-04-10T20:11:00.007+10:00

As my Resident Grass Trees are just choofing along... hopefully just growing!

Here are two fantastic photo's found at other sites here on the net...

posted by Grass Tree devotees.

A group of lovely old Australian residents!

Their more likely predators would be land developers!!

See below for the second photo.

( I lost the photo and had to do this bit again ...still don't know how to rearrange the photo's after I've put them in the blog!?!)
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Another Interesting relative in the Xanthorroea Family...

also residing in my garden.

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Xanthorrhoea Species
Fire Spear (or Didgeredoo Sticks)
An Australian Native
A hardy and long-lived evergreen tree with a dense rosette
of narrow arching needle-like leaves of 60-90cm long.
Tiny white to cream, bird attracting flowers are clustered
on long “spears”, and usually appear in spring or as a
reaction to fire in the wild.
This plant prefers an open sunny position in well drained soil.
Benefits from burning off occasionally. Can tolerate dry or
wet periods in most soil types once established.
Fertilise sparingly using organic fertilizer for natives.
Minimise disturbance to root ball when planting.
An ideal feature in the garden or a pot.

Actually the plant looks similar to a smaller bullrush or a tussock bush!!

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2nd Photo

This one clearly has had a hot time of it...Still surviving though!

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Seedling tally still 80 - 77 healthy? 3 dicey?

Cheers

2008-04-07T19:30:00.004+10:00

No's 5 & 6 are Trunk less so far...

I think these little plants are about 18 months old...

I'm not really sure...

I've had them about a year and they were quite small when I got them, they had hardy leaves/spines so I estimate them to have been about 6mths young!

No.5 is a smaller plant, its leaves are about 2 foot long.

No.6 has about 9 Leaves and they are about 3 foot long...

I wonder how long it will take (years?) to get a little woody base?

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Leaves/Spines

GT No7

This photo shows how dense the leaves are on a large plant, heaps of fantastic green leaves.

GT No. 1 Leaves growing out from the center.
These colours are a true indication of the actual leaf colour.
Cheers

2008-04-05T21:24:00.004+10:00

A Variety of Grass Tree Trunks...

This is a closer view of Grass Tree No.1, the narrow waist

must have been a lean year! (before we lived here!)

Apparently many gardeners burn the trunks with newspaper to

promote growth... wrapping a sheet or two around the trunk, setting fire to it

and no doubt burning off all those little sticky out bits!

This would add ash to the soil below and promote extra growth.

Grass Tree No.2... this one has a lovely uniform,cylindrical shape!

This wonderful plant is the one I have collected most of the seeds from and

so far germinated nearly 85 little plants...(unfortunately had approx 7 fatalities...)

Grass Tree No.3...

nearly as round as the above two, but only 1/4 the height of No2
I planted this one in 2006.

Grass Tree No.4... the smallest I have in the ground, planted in mid-year 2007
A more open pattern to the trunk, this may be a different variety or ?

Grass Tree No7. (no.5&6...have no trunks yet!)

My latest beauty! Waiting for the new fence to be built before I Plant him/her out into the garden, I want to plant so to show off the lovely slant on the trunk, which I think adds lots of character to the plant. I really like the little plantlets too!

Seedling Tally... 80 seedlings.

The 2 dicey seedlings I expected to perish ...DID!

I have 6 pots replanted, with nearly the last of my leftover seeds...some of them look a bit small so I hope they come up, also the weather is cooling down, we are in Autumn now and the days are great, however we have cooler nights!

And

I've no idea when my Grass Trees will have spears again, so I hope to give every seed a chance! Cheers

2008-03-31T21:48:00.004+10:00

Today I went to the Shops!

To buy a little ornamental house... similar to the one featured below

to put in another part of the garden...

Well ...

instead I came home with THIS!

Who could resist!
Heaps of character, approx 20 cm trunk, lots of great leaves/spines.

Take a closer look...you can see little baby plants coming from the base. I don't know if they are from seeds fallen into the pot or if these are pups of the larger plant. Cycads produce pups underneath the leaves close to the ground... so these may? be like that!

Cannot wait to plant this Lovely No.7 ...

My tally of seedlings is now 82, one I expected to die ...did! And I have two more doubtful ones. However I am again waiting for 4 more pots of seeds ... due in about two weeks or so...

Cheers

2008-03-26T21:26:00.002+10:00

A few Fatalities

While I was away I had a few little plants fail to thrive, 4 died.

You can see (or maybe not! photo didn't upload as I'd hoped) the difference in the tiny plant in the center compared to the others

One of the 4 ... not doing too well!
Here are 3 of the little bodies ... mostly they were brown, maybe they

had too much water or maybe not enough...who knows!
or they were just little dud seeds...

However my total is still 83,
76 singles
6 pots now have 2 seeds in them and one has 3...
I have planted the 4 pots (previously deceased) with new seeds.
I expect 2 more fatalities as the seedlings are looking a trifle midgety.
Cheers

2008-03-22T15:56:00.005+10:00

Fertile Seeds

I've been away for two weeks and G.L. has been looking after my little plants, and Boy! have they grown!

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This pot has germinated 3 seeds, I thought the seeds were a bit mangy, so I planted three in

in case... they all came up!

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Here we have 2x2 to the pot.

And just today another tiny one next to earlier sis/bro. Situated on the right in the center pot...hard to see...

(I don't know if Grass Trees have gender when a seed ... must find out about this!)

Update is: 83 in total

70...1 to the pot, 3 in 1 pot, 2 in 5 pots ...1 of the 70 looks as if it may cark it...

More later ... Cheers

2008-03-06T20:33:00.003+10:00

This Tiny Sprout is Seedling No. 70

As you can see it is very new and very pale, this one took 22 days to emerge. From Feb 15th to March the 6th, Planted in the same day as some that emerged after 16 days... I am now waiting for the next 9 plants which were planted on the between the 15th and 24th of Feb 2008

I just checked the pots again to make sure of the dates and Gosh...now I've got 71...
update-now waiting for 8 seeds!

Cheers Carol

2008-03-05T21:28:00.007+10:00

Yes! your eye's ARE ok!

this photo was so out of focus!

and it looked Great!

I like the little 1/2 moon shapes

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Grass Tree No.2

very plump seed pods, this photo was taken 1/12/07, some of these pods had 2 seeds inside.

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A Different Angle on Grass Tree No.3

Cheers Carol

2008-03-03T20:27:00.006+10:00

Plant Fatality

This little plant came up with the seed pod stuck on the top,

consequently the plant failed to thrive, it didn't grow much bigger than you see in this photo.

After about 10 days and no more growth in the plant, the seed pod fell off, then the little plant went brown and died. I had continued to water the plant...but it died!

After the plant died I dug it out of the yogurt container and examined the remains of plant... (a plantautopsy...) I drew a line on the plastic lid to show how long the little tap root was. A really amazing length considering the size of the plant.
I buried the tiny plant in the garden...

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This is a photo of GT. No.2

The seed spear when it reached full height and before the flowers started to develop on what will become the seed pod.

Good news though! 69 baby plants now ...two more peeped out today!

2008-03-02T16:11:00.005+10:00

Grass Tree No.2's Babies

A seed...

Here we have a seed compared to a regular match, as you see the seed is not all that big!

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Baby Grass Tree's: first day above ground ! (in a pot)

You can just see 2 tiny shoots in the 2 left-hand side pots,they emerged on the 16Th day after I planted them. Probably 1mm above the pot mix. These little fellows are in yogurt pots because: 1. They are cheap pots. 2. I can just cut each side of the pot, when I want to remove the plant (if it lives)to a bigger pot and I won't disturb the roots.

With or Without seed pods:

When the seeds first emerge they can either have their seed pods or husks still attached or not. I first observed sometimes the seed pod was pushed upward... I first thought that bugs may have been eating them... but after observing more seedlings this seems to be luck of the draw for the new baby plants. Below are two plants with seed pod still attached, they will eventually fall off .(I've read this somewhere)

Without pods:

Success!

So far counting the 4 tiny shoots that came up today, I now 67 baby grass trees 5 from GT No.1 and 62 from GT No.2

Unfortunately ... see that empty spot there, umm I had a fatality...more about that later!

2008-02-28T20:42:00.006+10:00

Grass Tree No.1

Seeds and baby plants

This is the long seed stalk on the plant our No.1 plant, it is twice the length of the No.2 plant which we bought at Big W. Definitely different varieties I reckon!

Seeds

These seeds are in a plastic strawberry punnet, so you can see that they are fairly small, approx 9 0r 10 mm long and 4mm across at the widest point. These seeds are inside little pods when on the plant...there was generally only one seed in each of the little pods. I gathered most when the pods were just opening and let them dry and open...

Next time i will leave them a bit longer I think...

5 little plants

These are the results of my first go at propagating the seeds... there were three others, two were very pale and died ...I think they were missing their chlorophyll gene! the other one just died.. however I was really pleased when I managed to have 5 survive my amateurish efforts... the dates on the pots are 30/Oct/07 and 12/Nov/07. (photo taken 25/Feb/08)

Latest photo of Grass tree No.1

The spear goes brown and dries off, then the top crumbled away and the whole thing fell off. The plant looks great, really lush and healthy, and as we have had a rainy summer I expect that was the main reason why!

More next time...

2008-02-27T21:47:00.004+10:00

Grass Trees in Pots

No.5 and No.6

I bought these two little plants at a garage sale in our neighbourhood. They were in very small pots, I gingerly transplanted them to these pots. Grass trees loath to have their roots disturbed, so I was really careful not to disturb the earth, I cut the pot up to get them out. After about a month or they hadn't turned up their toes... so I figured they had survived the move to their new homes. I'm going to leave them in these pots for ages...and see what happens!

Grass Tree No.5

(bigger pot)

Grass Tree No.6

(in smaller pot)

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Landscape photo of Grass Tree 3 and 4

The other plants in this photo are Lomandra, the trunk of an Alexander Palm, rock daisys,wax plant, a ground cover cyprus, in the back left a ponytail plant, um...dead bark chips.

Next will be ...

2008-02-26T22:32:00.003+10:00

Grass Tree No.4

(a little cutie this one!)

This little plant was planted in September 2007 after we removed a huge Cycad which grew over the path in our front garden, Cycad's are very spikey! This is the smallest little plant we bought which had a woody trunk and seemed to suffer no setback at all when planted into the garden.

This photo was taken 26th Feb.08.

This little guy hasn't grown all that much since last September, Grass Trees grow about 1 inch a year...the trunk that is! When they are healthy they grow lots of lovely green slender leaves from the center of the plant. The colour of the new growth is a fresh green colour which darkens as the leaves spread out and then curve downwards in a graceful arch.

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Another Photo of Grass Tree No.3

Taken 26th Feb 2008. You can see the lovely green mass of leaves in the center of the plant, this plant has really picked up over this summer, we have had lots of rain this summer and hot had excessively hot day...great weather, usually 27-32Centigrade.

These two plants are in the same garden area, only about 5 foot distance between them.

Cheers Carol

2008-02-25T21:04:00.007+10:00

Grass Tree No. 3

Planted in 2006, Bought in Big W, if I recall correctly the plant was $39.95

This plant had a spear on it when purchased, and struggled

for a year or so with the new growth having brown tips to the end of

each leaf. (doesn't seem quite right to call the spiky leaves ... leaves...

as they more resemble the spines on a pine tree ... only really long.)

This year the plant really looks healthy.

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2007 -8 Grass Tree No.2

Flower stem

This flower stem was laden with tiny little flowers and attracted a swag of bees, both small native and larger european types. The green shrub in the background is s Mock Orange (Pittosporaceae.Pittosporum) and has been removed since this photo was taken.

As you can see the spear is really tall and it shoots up to full height over the course of approx two weeks, then the green flower spear develops grows longer and the flowers are in full bloom in about a month. I took digital photo's nearly every day which has been helpful with dates!)

No.2 in Full Bloom

Below is the same stem after the flowers have dried off and produced seed pods , the right side is denuded of seed pods, because I gently prised the little pod out as they opened and the little seed was about to drop to the ground. It took approximately 4 months from full flower to this photo with the brown colouring.

In the next post I will show Grass Tree N0.4

2008-02-24T22:27:00.006+10:00

Grass Tree No.1

This is Grass Tree No.1, you may notice it has a tall spear which had flowered, seeded

and now is drying off, this photo was taken September 2007

I collected the seeds from this plant and managed to grow 5 seedlings.

I hope to have better results next time I collect the seeds.

I believe that I may have taken the seeds too early... when the little seeds

were not mature enough.

I read on the Net some pages of Info about Grass Tree seed collecting and after actually collecting and nurturing the seeds, I now think that I had many non-viable seeds.

I planted approx 35 seeds and raised 7 baby plants...still have 5 but 3 died, they looked as if they were missing a gene or something and they were very pale in colour, nearly white.

I planted the seeds into clean used yogurt pots and used Yates Seed Raising pot mix.