Love the descriptions of the eucalypts. An arresting group of plants.
Australia has a couple of birds that get mixed up. The native Australian or ‘noisy’ miner (Manorina melanocephala) found in eastern states and the introduced Indian mynah (Acridotheres tristis) which is invasive and several states have mynah/myna management programmes under way.
I believe that the ones harassing the brush turkey were the native species. Certainly weren't the Indian mynah, because I know that one well from New Zealand, where it is also invasive.
I really enjoyed your descriptions of the eucalypts and the contrasting nature of the Australian forest you visited and those in New Zealand, Melanie. I’m in awe of eucalypts and their ability to survive in Australia’s diverse and harsh environments. I recently wrote about a river red gum here in Adelaide that was felled to ground level and still refuses to die. https://open.substack.com/pub/glynsmusic/p/resilience?r=3w1kec&utm_medium=ios
That was so lovely, thank you. I do love the red river gums. I was lucky enough to see them in central Australia many years ago.
My symbol of resilience is the mānuka, which is a Leptospermum species, and closely related to Australian species of tea tree (and also the eucalypts, although less closely). It's not as resilient a plant as a eucalypt, but in New Zealand it's one of the first species to come back after the forest is disturbed or damaged, and acts as a shelter for the less hardy species which follow.
Thanks for reading my post, Melanie and for sharing your favourite resilient plant with me. I know the mānuka from its honey and it’s good to know that it is so hardy. I’ve also just read your latest post and your encounter with scribbly-gums. One of the things I love about eucalypts is how diverse they are and have adapted to so many different environments in Australia. Have you seen the eucalyptus regnans? We’re heading to Tasmania soon and will be visited them again. It’s very humbling to stand next to a 90-100 metre tree that may be 500 years old. They grow in Victoria too, which you’re probably already aware of.
Thanks Glyn. I've probably seen Eucalyptus regnans in cultivation, since it's one of the species we cultivate here. But not in the wild. One day I will though - it's something I plan to make happen. I'm fascinated by the way eucalypts have adapted to such a vast range of environments in Australia and I really want to see more of them.
Love the descriptions of the eucalypts. An arresting group of plants.
Australia has a couple of birds that get mixed up. The native Australian or ‘noisy’ miner (Manorina melanocephala) found in eastern states and the introduced Indian mynah (Acridotheres tristis) which is invasive and several states have mynah/myna management programmes under way.
I believe that the ones harassing the brush turkey were the native species. Certainly weren't the Indian mynah, because I know that one well from New Zealand, where it is also invasive.
Yup. Eucalypti are marvelous. We just have too many in Southern California. They can take over whole canyons, pushing out natives entirely.
Agreed. THe most wonderful tree can be a disaster in the wrong place. Even the precious pohutukawa has become invasive in places
I really enjoyed your descriptions of the eucalypts and the contrasting nature of the Australian forest you visited and those in New Zealand, Melanie. I’m in awe of eucalypts and their ability to survive in Australia’s diverse and harsh environments. I recently wrote about a river red gum here in Adelaide that was felled to ground level and still refuses to die. https://open.substack.com/pub/glynsmusic/p/resilience?r=3w1kec&utm_medium=ios
That was so lovely, thank you. I do love the red river gums. I was lucky enough to see them in central Australia many years ago.
My symbol of resilience is the mānuka, which is a Leptospermum species, and closely related to Australian species of tea tree (and also the eucalypts, although less closely). It's not as resilient a plant as a eucalypt, but in New Zealand it's one of the first species to come back after the forest is disturbed or damaged, and acts as a shelter for the less hardy species which follow.
Thanks for reading my post, Melanie and for sharing your favourite resilient plant with me. I know the mānuka from its honey and it’s good to know that it is so hardy. I’ve also just read your latest post and your encounter with scribbly-gums. One of the things I love about eucalypts is how diverse they are and have adapted to so many different environments in Australia. Have you seen the eucalyptus regnans? We’re heading to Tasmania soon and will be visited them again. It’s very humbling to stand next to a 90-100 metre tree that may be 500 years old. They grow in Victoria too, which you’re probably already aware of.
Thanks Glyn. I've probably seen Eucalyptus regnans in cultivation, since it's one of the species we cultivate here. But not in the wild. One day I will though - it's something I plan to make happen. I'm fascinated by the way eucalypts have adapted to such a vast range of environments in Australia and I really want to see more of them.