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.
