Hi All
Frogmouth family in E. nicholii just beside the
public footpath at our place (address below) - if anyone want to have a look
(take a picture). The four of them are at eye level from my first floor office
window (distract me from work a bit today . . .)
Re feeding - while it's a bit late for this year,
it is worth while to plant trees & shrubs that are especially
nectar-providing over the summer, and to allow a little more water to the
summer-flowering shrubs. We have eastern spinebills (and wattle birds . . .) all
year round, but, not sure how many more we could support.
Some suggestions (others would know much more than
me - perhaps the list can be added to from those with expertise or who can add
after checking their gardens:
Grevillea arenaria - label & books say
'compact, rounded shrub to 2.5 m' - ours is much taller and open, but it's
mostly in shade. Flowers reliably all year (though more or less at
different times), very attractive grey oval leaves, flowers soft
yellow/green/red (subtle & pretty).
G. 'Bronze Rambler' and G. 'Poorinda Royal Mantle'
(ground covers) also flower all year (esp former)
I'm still getting scattered flowers (and there are
buds) on straggly G. Johnsonii and robust G. barklyana (the spinebills
spend time around a group of these two plus other dense shrubs all year),
and some others.
I know there are lots of other grevilleas that
flower through the summer . . . Some callistemons (check labels) can flower on
and off through the year, esp. in response to water (targeted watering
. . .)
Our large Eucalyptus fastigata (Brown Barrel) is
coming into flower now.
Angophora hispida (dwarf apple) flowers
profusely in January, and attracts insects (a very mature, twisted one in
the Botanic Gardens) - I plan to plant one next year because of its flowering
time.
We have several young proteas currently in bud
(late Jan + flowers) - but not sure how usual this is (I have not
checked).
cheers
Barbara
