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| Banksia "cherry candles"; this is what the one below is supposed to become |
Thus it is a shock, twenty years down the track to "discover" a whole genus of plants which has been on my doorstep the whole time, quiet achievers; so absorbing to watch the flowers slowly evolve over months from small candles, to big wiry brush like flowers, to amazing seed pods.
Everything I learnt about feeding and planting in drought conditions has had to be discarded as these plants need sharp drainage and low phosphate fertilisers. In fact I have been so warned that I am terrified to even put cow manure on them! The showiest- and scariest to grow are from Western Australia, and I am watching them through their first, very wet season with bated breath.
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| Banksia "cherry candles" before fully developed |
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| Birds nest banksia, developing; my garden |
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| Same birds nest banksia, fully developed 2 months later |
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| Banksia coccinea with protea in a bunch of flowers; I really want to grow this one day |
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| Banksia Menziesii at the Australian gardens in Cranbourne; I have a small plant in but no flowers yet |
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| Banksia Blechnifolia in my garden; first flower |
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| Banksia Burdettii at the Australian gardens in Cranbourne |
