Clinging and Creeping

I was lucky enough a few weeks ago to take a little jaunt out to Daylesford a small spa town west of Melbourne.  A lovely 24 hour escape from the usual hurly burly of life with a good friend. While I was there I came across these very well thought out fixings for climbers which complement the canopies and masonry structure of the buildings beautifully.  

I'm always delighted when I find something that is so well thought out ... the metal rods not only sit around the top of the canopies but are tucked within the masonry meaning that in time the plant can be trained (in the case of the rose) or will creep naturally along indents in the masonry.

It also is a good reminder that very little space is needed to plant something wonderful ... the planting spaces cut into the pavement were barely more than 10 x 10cm square.  I'm sure someone is a dedicated waterer but still ...

 

Back in Melbourne I came across this climber in the courtyard of a cafe.  And yes it is creeping up the frame of an old inner sprung mattress.

Also in Melbourne simple but effective - reinforcing mesh mounted on a brick wall.

And earlier in the season just around the corner from where I live my very favourite wisteria vine.

 

Natural Wonders

Flowering Grass Trees, September 2009 Wilsons Promontory National Park

I've just returned from a family expedition to Wilsons Promontory - at the very southern most point of Victoria.  We stayed close by to Wilsons Promontory National Park and made a day outing to the park.

During last year's fires a large portion of the park was decimated by fire which started from lightning strike.


Like many things in life it is often when they are taken from us that we appreciate them all the more.  The most amazing regeneration is taking place in the park.  One of the most spectacular is the flowering of the grass trees.  This is most likely to take place after fire and while they send up there flowering spikes (usually brown) it is often only after fire that they flower prolifically.  And in fact in areas protected from fire they are unlikely to regenerate without these conditions (Ward & Lamont).

The beauty of the regenerating landscape is quite astounding.  In this area of the park from what I could tell the flora was primarily Coastal Banksias and Grass Trees.  The Banksias are shadows (however the fire has opened their seed pods and they will regenerate) with the Grass Trees taking centre stage with the magnificent background of the granitic peaks.  

Further on stands of eucalypts were regenerating in their rather magnificent fashion of shooting out from the trunks and larger branches making them look as if they were covered in creepers - I haven't a photo here as there is only so many times you can make the whole family stop while you take photos of your niche interest! However the Wilson's Promontory Parks website has photos of the regeneration which are very interesting.
 
At the Tidal River camping ground the main flora was stands of tea tree (immersed in water in swampy ground).  Aaah nature - you are the best designer of all.

 

 

 

Vertical Web Wanderings

Vertical Display at Flora Grubb

The thing I love about the Web is that it opens my world to many things that would otherwise simply be out of my physical reach.  One of these is the San Francisco based Flora Grubb Garden Store.  They seem to have the most gorgeous displays of plants and garden accessories.  

One of my current favourites that they have on display is something called "Wooly Pockets" not the best name you would agree but seemingly a rather delightful low investment vertical garden.  Designed as a simple modular system for creating a vertical garden for inside (waterproof) or outside.  Even better they are made from recycled plastic bottles which has to be a good thing.   

Other vertical delights featured at Flora Grubb include those using succulents and a fantastic use of tilandsias. I highly recommend you hop over there for a look whichever way is possible (physical or metaphysical).