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)

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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

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.

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

Cheers Carol