The hop bush, also known as the native hop bush, sticky hop bush, the wild hop bush or sometimes even the oyster bush – due to its resemblance to the mollusc. First Nation artist Goompi Ugerabah tells us about the plant: “Through the cold months, the oyster spawns and can’t be eaten. As it warms […]
Did you know that Australia has its own, native version of the indigo plant? Indigofera australis is a lovely little shrub, with sweet little purple flowers. Its name literally means, bearing indigo. A member of the pea family, the flower ranges through soft purple hues, often pinkish in colour. Apart from the obvious dye that […]
There is nothing quite as Australian as the eucalyptus. The first thing that comes to mind is the smell, closely followed by a Koala bear, who love to eat ! I mean, everywhere you go in Australia, there is a eucalypt tree. They dominate our landscape – you will find them in backyards, beaches and […]
You’ve heard of the kangaroo, but have you heard of the kangaroo paw? The stunning kangaroo paw gets its name from its flowers, which are often red, fuzzy and shaped just like a kangaroo’s paw. Other colours include anything from yellow, orange to pink. The nectar in the long and tubular flowers are an important […]
Flannel flowers (Actinotus helianthi) are velvety and soft with white flowers and silver leaves. Although it looks quite similar to a daisy, it is actually from the same family as the carrot (say whaaaaat?). Another unusual trait the flower takes is that the petals are really leaves and the flowerhead is in the middle. If […]
The paper daisy (Rhodanthe chlorocephala) is such a sweet flower. These little beauties really feel like paper, and I can hear the crisp sound the petals make as you squeeze the dry buds. They grow quite readily in the west of Australia and there is even an festival dedicated to them in Perth each year. Paper […]
Oh man, the Waratah. What a flower she is.In my flower bed dreams, I have thousands of these shrubby plants growing. You will find the seriously amazing flower in crimson shades. These flowers are big too and can reach sizes of up to 10 centimeters. Don’t be fooled though, those flower heads are actually made […]
The acacia is probably most well known by its blooming flowers which come up like wee little pom poms on it’s branches. These little buds are more commonly called wattle and pose much suffering for their hay-fever victims particularly in my home town, Canberra. There are literally thousands of acacia varieties across the world and […]
I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which I draw my inspiration. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past, present and future. Australian Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for at least 40,000 years. For many (many!) generations the land provided them with everything they […]