Showing posts with label Wolemi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wolemi. Show all posts

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Virtual world of zombied friends


On 'Sydney Eye' durng this week gone, I made a crack about the younger generation and their penchant for mindless computer games and electronic gadetry. And I did not twig that what is good for the goose, is good for the gander. Being someone who spends an inordinate amount of time in a virtual blogging world, does that make me, and those with whom I am in touch, zombies. Well, to reassure folks, that would be a definite 'non'! And this little parcel from Ararat which arrived late Thursday, is proof of that particular pudding.


Inside the parcel - to open I did not beat around the bush, but went straight to the Stanley Knife - was a cornucopia of goodies: two jars of home-made jam; two brown paper bags of purple potatoes; and, a handwritten note. What joy! I even put the parcel into my caddee and took it out to MUH to walk Kirsten through it. She was entranced. The fact that she threw up nearly immediately, was by-the-by.


All through yesterday morning as my 'baby girl' underwent yet another round of surgery (the 5th in twelve months), I slaved around my courtyard moving anything that was heavy. Actually, everything that was heavy. I wanted the taller things to provide afternoon shade, and I wanted more space for child's play. And there is another issue. I have been losing plants of late. Not meaning they disappear over the fence. No, they simply cark it! Why? Why? Why? I ask myself. Out loud.

Too much rain? Not enough sun? Not enough watering? Or ... eerie music ... Is my upstairs neighbour doing nefarious things when I am not looking? I lost a large Lavender. I lost my Wollemi Pine. My Lemon tree is sickly (now I ask you, who could kill a lemon tree?) And that Gardenia Augusta up near the gate looks out for the count.

Ah, well, what the heck! Look what I just had for brekkie ...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The heart of a Wolemi Pine


I bought three of these - on behalf of my father - for Christmas 2006, his final Christmas in the real world. He then proceeded to give one to Ross, one to me and one to his wife, Peggy. For the Christmas just gone, I bought him a Wolemi Pine to nurture in his nursing home together with his two African Violets and his pointsettia.
The WP has a fascinating growth pattern which I will try to document through the cycle. It has a liking for multi-forking and secretes a white waxy substance to seal the newly forming "spikes". Very neanderthal ...