Bright as a lolly wrapper it was impossible to miss. But how did it get there at the base of the Brush box (Lophostemon confertus) across the road on the nature strip between the road and the railway line where the council workers mow and whipper snip diligently. Small and nestled against the trunk of… Continue reading Lolly wrapper
Tag: wildflowers
International citizens
The much maligned dandelion must come from somewhere… Taraxacum officinale is the most international citizen, the greatest transgressor of borders, (which we know are abstract and arbitrary) and so I seek them in the thick uncut grass on the street verges and in the unkempt front gardens and parks. When I see the bright yellow… Continue reading International citizens
Biodiversity
Field flowers allowed to grow! Oh, for the death of the ‘prefect’ monoculture lawn. Who indoctrinated us to think that a single species grass lawn was a high point of gardening prowess? I could be suspicious of all the companies that benefit from the sale of tools, chemicals etc. that aid the avid lawn lover… Continue reading Biodiversity
Cobbler’s pegs and dandelions
This morning as I walked down through the front garden to fetch the newspaper I spotted a familiar plant— cobbler’s pegs (Bidens pilosa). Although small, the plant had a single flower. Faster than the speed of thought I had stooped and plucked it out. Then I paused— my front garden is full of so called… Continue reading Cobbler’s pegs and dandelions