Carpobrotus rossii (Pig Face, Karkalla)
3 Comments »25th October, 2006; Category: Birds, Climbers and Ground Covers, Drought Tolerant Plants
Pardalote's nest at base of Carpobrotus rossii (Pig Face)
Husband was checking out a pigeon’s nest in the corner of our block when a small bird seemed to fly from under his foot. Closer inspection revealed this little burrow at the base of the pig face, Carpobrotus rossii. The bird is the Spotted Pardalote. These and Rainbow Bee Eaters make burrows in sandy banks or cliff faces. During the spring and summer we often find scratchings that indicate the beginnings of burrows and it is quite exciting to actually have one being constructed on our place. Husband was able to get a photo of the bird carrying grass to the burrow to line it.
The nest is in the middle of the patch of this Pig Face. It is a very hardy plant like all succulents seem to be. I will be planting some of this on the edge of our driveway to create the illusion of ‘lawn’. There is no way that I could keep lawn going there and I wouldn’t want to anyway because it would be a waste of water.
Eucalyptus leucoxylon (South Australian Blue Gum)
Eucalyptus leucoxylon (South Australian Blue Gum)
This is one of those situations where one cannot use the common name for the species. Blue gum is the common name given to a few Eucalypts. The Tasmanian Blue Gum is Eucalyptus globulus. The Victorian Blue Gum is Eucalyptus globulus subspecies bicostata. The Sydney Blue Gum is Eucalyptus saligna.
This photo has Little Wattle Birds in the canopy of the tree. We were visiting a garden and sitting outside having a cuppa watching all this bird activity.
Xanthorrhoea semiplana (Yacka, Grass Tree)
No Comments »22nd October, 2006; Category: Hardy Australian Native PLants, Kangaroo Paws And Other Tufted Plants
Xanthorrhoea semiplana (Yakka) with trunks
This photo was taken because it was fascinating to see the age of these Grass Trees. The walking path passed between these two trunks. There is moss growing on the trunks. I would love to at least see my little plant make the canopy of leaves showing on these.
This plant seems to be a very hardy one once established. The flower stalk can be up to two and a half metres long. They often have a kink or distortion in the spike.
Rescuing More Plants
No Comments »20th October, 2006; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Frost Hardy Plants, Kangaroo Paws And Other Tufted Plants
Poor little grass tree from the previous post. I realised that it has been mown every spring for the last five years. It hasn’t had a chance. Now that I have rediscovered it, I am determined to give it some TLC to see if it will achieve some size.
There is one minor problem. It is in the spot where I want to grow some Banksias. I am not sure that Xanthorhoea and Banksias go together. I suppose in the south east, Banksia ornata and Banksia marginata both have Grass Trees in the vicinity.
Today has been a “rescue plants day”. I have some Geraldton Wax (Chamaelaucium ‘Meringur Mist’) which I want to use as a hedge plus windbreak. I think this Geraldton Wax will manage if we have heavy frosts again. It is certainly a drought tolerant species. It originated in a garden at Meringur, south west of Mildura which is a frosty location. I have found that the frost rating given to species is only valid in times of normal rainfall. In a drought year, the frost damage can be quite severe.
There was a frost warning for here tonight. It is quite likely that my tomato and Zucchini plants may suffer.
Xanthorrhoea semiplana Flower Spike
4 Comments »19th October, 2006; Category: Kangaroo Paws And Other Tufted Plants, Plants of South Australia
Xanthorrhoea semiplana Flower Spike
Husband took this photo. It shows the masses of little flowers that make up this marvellous spike. The insects and native bees were working over the flowers when he took me to see it.
I downloaded his photos to my computer as they were really good shots.
I found my small plant of this Grass Tree today. I raised a few from seed and this one must be 5 years old. It is about 30cm tall and is a tuft about the thickness of two adult fingers. Considering that it normally occurs in deep slightly acid sand, in an area of 500-600mm rainfall I guess it is not a bad size. We saw one about 10 years old in a garden and it had a flower spike.