Willow Bottlebrush

The Willow Bottlebrush (Melaleuca (Callistemon) salicina): New growth emerges as red leaves. It is Spring.

This is a small tree I have growing in my backyard. It has white papery bark and spikes of flowers which are creamy in colour. Some species have white flowers and there is also a red one.

Footnote:

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Spring

The following pictures are of native Australian flowers I have grown.

Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosa)

Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosa)

Banksia Giant Candle (Banksia ericifolia x Banksia spinulosa)

Footnote:

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Willow Bottlebrush – the Flowers

In my previous post, I wrote about the new growth red leaves of the Willow Bottlebrush. Since then, my Willow Bottlebrush (Melaleuca salicina) has burst into flower.

Willow Bottlebrush, Callistemon salignus

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I am the owner of these photographs and therefore the copyright holder. Please respect this right.

Willow Bottlebrush

The new foliage of the Willow Bottlebrush or Callistemon salignus is pink to red. I think this is one of its best qualities. The other is its yellow flowers, which are just forming now in late spring.

Willow Bottlebrush or Callistemon salignus an Australian native plant, this one is growing in a private garden in south-west Victoria, Australia

Willow Bottlebrush or Callistemon salignus an Australian native plant, this one is growing in a private garden in south-west Victoria, Australia

The new foliage of the Willow Bottlebrush or Callistemon salignus is red or pink.

Footnote:

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Acknowledgements

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Australian Indigo

Australian Indigo is an excellent habitat plant for wildlife. It is a rich source of pollen and nectar for insects, including bees and wasps, as well as a good food source for butterfly larvae.

Australian Indigo (Indigofera australis),growing in the rainforest section of the Botanic Gardens at Colac in Victoria, Australia

Common and widespread, Australian Indigo grows in a number of different habitats such as open woodlands, eucalypt forest as well as desert. It also is found in the margins of rainforest.

Australian Indigo

Australian Indigo

Australian Indigo

Footnotes:

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Acknowledgement:

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Hairpin Banksia

Banksia spinulosa, also known as the Hairpin Banksia, is a species of woody shrub native to eastern Australia. The following photos are of the Hairpin Banksia I have growing in my back yard.

Hairpin Banksia, Banksia spinulosa, South-west Victoria, Australia

Hairpin Banksia, Banksia spinulosa, South-West, Victoria, Australia

Hairpin Banksia, Banksia spinulosa, Barongarook West, Victoria, Australia

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

Acknowledgement:

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Prickly Paperbark Tree

The Prickly Paperbark Tree (Melaleuca styphelioides) is a small to medium size tree native to eastern Australia. The following photographs are of the flowers of the Prickly Paperbark Tree I have growing in my backyard.

Prickly Paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides) Victoria, Australia

Prickly Paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides) Victoria, Australia

Prickly Paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides) Victoria, Australia

Acknowledgements

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Flowers of the Lilly Pilly

My Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii) tree has burst into flower. The cream-white flowers appear in panicles at the end of branches.

Common Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)

Common Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)

The above photo, shows the glossy dark-green leaves of the Common Lilly Pilly. New growth has a reddish tinge. As Australia moves from summer into the cooler months the flowers will be replaced by red berries.

Common Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)

Common Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography

Acknowledgements

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Bottlebrush Kunzea

The Bottlebrush Kunzea (Kunzea baxteri) or Crimson Bottlebrush, a member of the Myrtaceae family, is native to the south-west of Western Australia. Like many other popular native plants, they made their way into Australian gardens on the East coast through specialist native nurseries which became popular from the 1970s.

These specimens pictured below, were growing at the entrance to the platform at the Colac Railway Station.

Bottlebrush Kunzea (Kunzea baxteri), Railway Station, Colac, Victoria

Bottlebrush Kunzea (Kunzea baxteri), Railway Station, Colac, Victoria

Bottlebrush Kunzea, (Kunzea baxteri), Railway Station, Colac, Victoria

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

Acknowledgements

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

An Iconic Aussie – Flame Tree

I received a nice surprise, yesterday, when I went for a walk in the local Botanic Gardens. The iconic Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) in all its brilliant glory. This tree was immortalised in the song “Flame Tree” by the Australian rock band Cold Chisel.

This particular tree was planted in 2001 to celebrate 100 years of Australian Federation after being donated by the Friends of Colac Botanic Gardens.

Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) in flower at the Botanic Gardens in Colac, Victoria, Australia

Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) at the Botanic Gardens in Colac, Victoria, Australia

Acknowledgement:

I respect and acknowledge the Gulidjan people as the First Peoples and Traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which I live.

I acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging.

Please Note:
I am the copyright holder of all photographs that appear on this blog. Please respect my copyright.

© Fred O’Donnell Photography