I smelt home today, the clean astringent smell of bush aromatics so typical of my homeland. And I came across a stand of Bottlebrushes behind the tennis court – look, it’s the Big Bad Banksia Man*!
As with many of Australia’s native plants, the flowers and seed pods of the Bottlebrush (each stage of which co-exist on the tree together) are fascinating and sometimes grotesque and I found myself waylaid for some time, taking studies of these gorgeously eccentric trees. I hope you will understand why I’m unable to restrict myself to just one shot of the Big Bad Banksia Man – though I’ve limited the post to shots of one variety!
Bud Stage
Flower Stages
Seed Pod Stages
* A character in May Gibbs’ “Snuggle Pot and Cuddlepie”, the marvellously illustrated adventures of the bush babies from my childhood.
Another Paradise 
Good heavens! I foresee treats in store on here 🙂
Bless you Jo – I’m on a mission to uncover them 🙂
🙂
Clearly, Wanderlust, whichever place you are in it becomes a paradise. What beautiful photographs, and excellent idea to launch a new blog to record your return to your homeland. Welcome home.
What a flower, Meredith! I’ve never seen any flower quite like that ‘bottle brush’ before. This is a reminder why Australia is such an enchanting land (and continent).
Ah, yes … Our weird and wonderful plants and animals … I hope I’ll be able to show you lots of the ordinary Oz, Bama, and still nourish a desire to add us to your bucket list 🙂
what wonderful shots…can’t wait for more
So Australian, aren’t they? Now I’m on the net, and beginning to settle down, I hope I’ll have lots more to show you Jo. 🙂
Me too
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super post, the best banksia man set I have ever seen! I love the pinky tinge in the first ones 🙂
I’ve never seen that pinky stage before either, Christine, and was fascinated – it looks waxy and very delicate.
I’ve found another tree, with huge bad men … 🙂
oh great!!! we don’t have that kind near here, but there were lots where lived in Sydney 🙂
Do you have some new stuff, Meredith, or are you just busy? Thanks for your visits. Hope all’s well 🙂
Took me ages to figure out which plan to sign up to Jo and was too busy to make it to the library to post, but I’m off and running now!
🙂 There’ll be SO much to catch up.
There sure is!
I love these native plants, they are beautiful! Thank you, Meredith!
I’m so glad to show you some of the plants from this unique habitat, Amy. I’m looking forward to catching up with all you’ve been up to 🙂
Lovely photo’s Christine I LOVE the banksia and there are so many of them
I’d forgotten just how many of them there are, Pommy. And I’ve come back just a at the right time to see many of them flower, which is such a treat. 🙂
In WA I came across a farm that had every variety growing It was an amazing place to see them all and they had such diverse forms.
Oh, wow – that must have been incredible – I’d love to see that.
Maybe one day you will
This plant is very cool. It almost seems to be breathing.
One day I’ll manage to find a good specimen at a decent time of day and you’ll swear the whole tree is running after us! 🙂