Week 3 June 2001: There are plenty of Crimson Rosellas around Yallaroo virtually year round. One morning this week there were five of these beautiful birds clambering over a hybrid Grevillea near the house. They chew off the flowers and extract the nectar. Rosellas do the same with some of our Eremophilas. Often the ground is littered with decimated flowers. With our large garden there is always plenty of flowers for birds and gardeners.
Had contact with a publisher this week. In the future we may publish the Garden Diary and items from our 500 or so newspaper articles in book form.
A student, form the University, came out and put bags around the flowers on some of our Grevillea lanigera. He is comparing the pollination mechanism, of this species, with a rare Grevillea from Northern NSW.
Visited an Armidale garden to collect Banksia cones. The plant in question is a large Banksia marginata covered in bright lemon flowers. We also collected cutting material. Banksia marginata is one species that we have propagated from cuttings. We are experimenting with cuttings from other eastern Banksias.
Started digging holes in a new large garden bed. This will be known as the Lawn Garden because it will be established on an area that has been mown in the past. There will be a large frog pond and room for lots of plants.
Our new heating mats are working well on our propagating bench. Grevillea and Eremophila cuttings are producing roots.