Monday, May 18, 2009

Nature yields some secrets

Our spectacular Madagascan Palm, which Steve bought as a 30cm high pot plant in Cabramatta about 7 or 8 years ago, and which now stands about 3.5m high flowered for the first time this month. It's actually a relative of the frangipani group of plants and this relationship can be seen in the very frangipani-like flower. Unfortunately, the flower is without the heady scent of a fangipani.
The plant sits in its pot on the deck we built for the spa and enjoys a view to the north west. However, we will have to move it soon to a spot where it won't get damaged by the frosts that we will most likely experience over winter.

This was a great find. I'd noticed a male satin bower bird a few times flying in the overgrown garden of our neighbour, Marissabelle, on our fenceline. I was down near this area on Saturday afternoon and heard him displaying so I crept over to where he was calling from and sure enough I spotted his bower of lurve, replete with a variety of blue objects. This bower bird is now going to have the most spectacular of bowers - Since Saturday I've left a couple of broken pegs, a bottle top and some blue plastic just near the bower on our side of the fence and he's accepted all my gifts which he's used to trick up the bower. Wait till I find where Steve keeps his sequinned material. he's going to be one popular bird.


1 comment:

Stolky said...

Wow - that's an awesome find Kev. Would love to see an updated photo once Steve's sequins are added...