Tuesday, December 29, 2015

TUESDAY CHAT

In my recent post about flowers Delores from "Under the Porch Light" lamented the fact that at this time of year the only flowers they have blooming in their garden were on the *holly.

It immediately made me once again think of our beautiful Western Australian Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda) which I have mentioned here previously.


It is one of three underground parasites and one which does not destroy the host.  They come into bud in about October and by mid-December are in full flower.


One can only imagine, in the early days of settlement in Western Australia, how the newcomers would have felt it so strange to celebrate Christmas in this new, hot and sometimes hostile land.  I would think they would have really enjoyed these cheerful tress......hence the name of Christmas Tree.

We have several growing near us and we never fail to admire them at the end of each year as we drive past them.  They are on a very wide median strip so hopefully will remain there for a number of years to come.

*many folk in Australia also grow holly in their gardens.  My sister-in-law always had a holly bush growing.

10 comments:

  1. Very beautiful tree....thanks for sharing it with us.

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    1. Always a pleasure to show off something truly Western Australian.

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  2. They are gorgeous - and something I have never seen. Thank you.

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    1. I am sure you would love them as much as we do and I was so pleased to share them.

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  3. That is a bright and beautiful tree, I wouldn't mind seeing a few of those over here, but they probably don't grow in SA.

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    1. It certainly stands out in the landscape. I am surprised they only grow here in WA but then it's I think about 1,500 miles to Adelaide so a long way for it to travel.

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  4. Hari OM
    I loved seeing the Eastern Christmas Bush on my recent visit home to OZ... I do miss it! This is a beaut... YAM xx

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  5. I must check out the Eastern variety....not heard of it. This one I think takes the prize. xx

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