By Beatrice Hawkins
For some weeks now I have been away in an area of no internet and very limited phone service. The weather there has been awful with cold grey days, heavy frosts, rain, snow and sleet and on rare occasions, sunshine for very short periods of time!
Not my favourite climate in case you are wondering!
However I have managed to take a few interesting photos and will eventually, when I have the internet again, research and write more about pyrocantha and hawthorns, as they are providing spots of colour in an otherwise fairly dreary landscape.
These two shrubby bushes were commonly used in cold areas as the first and last row of windbreaks as their thorns stopped livestock, domestic and native, from attacking the emerging trees the farmer wanted to grow, usually raidiata pines.
They have however become somewhat of a problem as our native birds love the bright coloured berries that are visible now when there is little else around for them. Consequently they appear in places in paddocks where they are not really wanted.
There used to be quite a lot in a tree breaks around the Armidale area and there are still some spectacular specimens bordering the highway bypass. They range in colour from vivid yellow through orange to bright red and I love the look of them.
The shrub itself is similar to a cotoneaster but has a glossy serrated leaf and of course, sharp thorns! Fortunately over the years our ideas of windbreaks have changed and we now see more native species being used.
Hawthorns were also used as hedges forming a natural fence line and this is again an emerging craft in some areas of Victoria. Once again, our hungry birds relish the berries and the prickly shrubby trees appear in places we would rather they didn’t.
The photo with the frost on the berries was taken about 10.30am in the morning near Numeralla in NSW! At present some of the bulbs are flowering here and dainty little snow drops, with the green dot on the end of each petal, are making me smile.
With a heavy snow fall here recently I noticed for the first time, how picturesque snow on gum leaves, appears. Although I’ve lived in areas where we occasionally had snow falls, I guess I hadn’t taken the time to look at the beauty. Usually it was more of a concern for the fate of livestock in the unexpected conditions and making sure they had protection and feed.
This time however, from behind glass and with a roaring fire going, I really enjoyed the view and wished I had my better camera with me!
I have had a query lately from a reader for information on snail plants so will include a photo of the, I think, beautiful and fragrant flower. It is a climber that is fertilised by ants, as the shape of the flower precludes fertilisation by bees. I have found it a fairly tough plant that has kept going for a number of years in a pot in various locations as I’ve moved about.
I’ve also recently seen a specimen that had, over many years in a frost protected spot, grown up a trellis and formed a canopy that I stood under! What a delight that must be when in flower! Mine used to die back each winter and come again in spring.
My original plant was grown from seed by a very dear elderly friend and was greatly treasured in her memory. Unfortunately it succumbed to the drought but a lovely reader gave me a new one last year and it has flourished.
The Horticultural Society is planning the annual Garden Extravaganza for the Wednesday and Thursday of the Jumpers and Jazz Festival during the last week of July. Make sure you put it into your calendar and come and support the many exhibitors who will be displaying their wares in St Mary’s Hall in Wood Street.
*This is an old article that has been digitised so our readers have access to our full catalogue.
