Week 2 January 2001: The Blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa) is beginning to flower. At Yallaroo this one of the shrubs regenerating rapidly. It is also known as both the Tasmanian and South Australian Christmas Bush. Blackthorn is one of the most environmentally useful native plants.
We were given a Waratah, dwarf Banksia spinulosa and red Kangaroo Paw for Christmas. They have been potted on into large containers and placed on our back patio. Eventually we will propagate more of the Waratah and Banksia from cuttings and divide the Kangaroo Paw.
Planted two climbers against the northern wall of our shed. Hibbertia scandens has large yellow flowers and Pandorea jasminoides with clusters of pink, bell-shaped flowers. We hope they will clamber up wire netting and screen the shed wall.
Great excitement this week. We have large numbers of Hyacinth Orchids (Dipodium punctatum) flowering in our grassland areas. This week we found a green-flowering species (D. hamiltonianum), which is very rare. This is only the second plant seen at Yallaroo.
The Angophora floribunda are beginning to flower. Many specimens, of this tall, cream-flowered tree, are dotted throughout the eucalypt forests growing on the surrounding hills. Many honeyeaters are attracted to the nectar-filled flowers.
Replanting in one of our large garden beds where a few plants have died. We expect some losses because many of the species we are cultivating have not previously been grown on the Northern Tablelands.
This week we divided a large Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum species) that has been growing in a large pot. Potted on about ten new plants in smaller pots.