Grevillea 'Royal Mantle'

Grevillea 'Royal Mantle'

Planted as a grafted standard, this Grevillea has exceptional vigor and produces masses of flowers throughout winter and spring.

Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite'

Grevillea rosmarinifolia 'Scarlet Sprite'

This compact metre high Grevillea has been a favourite of mine for many years. It is just starting to flower and I probably should have waited a couple of weeks before taking a photo of it . The only down side to this sharp leafed Grevillea is that it can cause some skin irritation or rash if you come in contact with the foliage. I give this one a light pruning constantly, as it is growing, so as to enhance the shape. If mass planted it would make an excellent retreat for small nectar feeding birds which would be protected from predators put off by the prickly leaves.Trouble free to grow and not really requiring special treatment one established other than a light prune from time to time and a handful of fertilizer in summer.

Grevillea 'Fireworks'

Grevillea 'Fireworks' 

This is a terrific small growing (1metre) Grevillea which I planted about eight months ago and it is just coming into flower. It is one bred by Bywong Nursery which is situated about 30 km north east of Canberra in the settlement of Bywong. It is a hybrid between Gevillea rosmarinifolia 'Scarlet Sprite' and Grevillea alpina. What I like about it is the compact growth habit making it an ideal low hedge plant as well as the brightness and quantity of flowers which explode in all direction from the top of the bush.The leaves are also soft with no spines or prickles. This Grevillea is protected by plant breeders rights PBR.

Grevillea 'Flamingo'

Grevillea x Flamingo (G 'Superb' x G 'Moonlight')

Grevillea Flamingo is just starting to flower and as the bright pink buds open, the weight of the nectar in the blooms draws them down so they resemble a Flamingo feeding.
When I think of Flamingos, I associate them with the Kensington Roof Gardens in central London at the old Derry and Tom's Department store in Kensington High Street. After Derry and Tom's closed, the Art Deco inspired fashion store Biba opened there in the mid 1970's and the Flamingo image was part of that "Golden Age of Hollywood", 1920's and 30's revival. Sadly it has also long gone but four Chilean Flamingos still reside in the 1.5 acre garden that is now owned by Sir Richard Branson.

Kensington Roof Garden Flamingo (Photo: Bryce Edwards)

My metal Flamingo is now rusting away in a corner of the garden

My concrete Flamingo needs a coat of paint.

Another famous Flamingo from Alice in Wonderland, a drawing by John Tenniel

The infamous 'trailer trash' Flamingo as portrayed by Divine in the John Waters movie.

Grevillea 'Coochin Hills'

Magnificent Bougainvillea at Coochin Coochin homestead near Boonah in south east Queensland. It was planted to celebrate the homecoming of Aussie troops after World War1.
Coochin means red in the Jagera language of the Ugarapul people and is named for the red bill of the black swan

Coochin Run 1854
Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
Queensland Art Gallery
Grevillea 'Coochin Hills'indigenous to the area

Black Swan 1792
First Fleet Artwork Collection
Natural History Museum
London