A Visit to a Native Garden.

Jean and Allan's native garden, at Baulkham Hills, was opened as part of  the Australian Plant Society's NSW November Gathering.

I last visited this garden about 25+ years ago and I was just as amazed at the variety and quality of the plants this time as I was then.

(This outing was on the Saturday ( I cheated) luckily, as I stayed home on Friday because they were expecting temperatures up to 40 C (104 F) with total fire bans which meant National Parks would be closed)

Click on photos to enlarge.

The front garden gives a hint as to what is to come.

One of the native 'Hibiscus'.

A colourful gathering of smaller Grevilleas.

Dianella tasmanica  -  Tasman Flax Lily

Bulbine bulbosa  -  Bulbine Lily, Golden Lily, Native Leek.

A very good looking Xanthorrhoea sp. ( not the one in shorts).

A cool spot amongst the fern for the birds.

Grevillea  'Peaches and Cream' gives the other sun a run for its money.

Allan shows some of the visitors around the garden.

Derwentia arenaria  -  Speedwell.



Goodenia ovata  -  Hop Goodenia.

Flowers of the rain-forest.
Pink Lilly Pilly flowers
Graptophyllum ilicifolium  -  Holly-leaved Graptophyllum.  (top right)
and  Graptophyllum excelsum  -  Scarlet Fuchsia.

I don't think this is normal for the seed-pod of Acacia cultriformis  (Knife-leaf Wattle, Dogtooth Wattle)
but it makes for an interesting photo.

One of the Grevilleas.

Angozanthos  'Bush Pearl',  Kangaroo Paw.

Differing leaf designs

One of the Grevilleas.

Ricinocarpos sp.  -  Wedding Bush

Like gold dust, Chrysocephalum apiculatum  -  Yellow Buttons, adds a glow to the garden.

One of the Grevilleas.

FEATHERS, FUR and FANG.                 Some Of The Wildlife Seen Today.

Small butterfly on Wedding Bush.

This is the first time I had seen a Resin Bee.

Butterfly on Fan-flower.