22 replies to this topic

[Daryl]

OK, It's not really like the Bridges of Madison County, no love affairs here... but we took a drive down to a great rainforest nursery in Burringbar, Northern NSW this weekend. It is about a one hour drive from home. I thought I'd take a few photos of the surrounding area to give some perspective to it.

We headed south and drove past the ever-present Mt Warning, crossing the Tweed Valley and the wonderful natural beauty of the area.

One thing that struck me was the number of bridges and tunnels on this stretch of motorway. So, a little documentation as we traveled along the concrete ribbon that winds it's way through the valley...

Mount Warning is always making its presence felt in the cane fields...



Some of the roadside plantings heading into the town of Condong..



Condong sugar mill



Exotic palm growing near the road...



Some Norfolk Island Pines lining the road



Nice roadside forest made for a pleasant drive



Brachychitons are flowering at the moment...



As are Jacarandas...

[Daryl]

Getting closer to the nursery and we are greeted by this friendly horse...



A lot of Aussie native rainforest trees and shrubs have colourful new growth...

Bopple Nut





Syzigium erythrocalyx has great colour



More colour...












Rose Silky Oak




Native Cassia was flowering

[Daryl]

Here's a few other plants growing around the property...







The owner, Chris, had a decent collection of Livistonas. He had set fire to the trunk of one to try and emulate its natural habitat (and to clean up the trunk)




Linospadix apetiolata




Chris also had an awesome stand of Licuala ramsayii, this being the northern form (tuckerii) which is almost spineless













Petioles with no spines




A young Normanbya

[Daryl]

Leeches like Ratpack Andy's blood!


The drive back home...here are all of the bridges and tunnels I mentioned...













Mt Warning again...




The ranges










Some remnant Bangalows on an old farm...

[Daryl]

More old Bangalows


More Tunnels...




Nice Tunnel-side plantings







Last lot of Bridges...



Crossing the border back into Queensland




I hope you enjoyed this little trip through the Tweed...



Daryl

[Kim]

Hi Daryl, I like your 'bridges' theme. It's entertaining to see what your part of the world looks like as you cruise down the highway, plus I enjoyed all the unusual plants and the glory of the flowering trees. What IS that thing in the second-to-last photo?

[Daryl]

Hi Kim, It is some kind of structure that signifies the state border netween Queensland and New South Wales.

regards,
Daryl

[_Wal]

Hi Daryl, did you or anyone else pick up anything from the rainforest nursery ?

[Daryl]

Wal, the three of us (Green boys and me) had a little spend on the day. I picked up a Eucalyptus deglupta, Pandanus monotheca, Licuala lauterbachii, Calamus australis and Arenga hookeriana! Not bad for my $20...Chris generally gave me a couple of the plants.



Daryl

[Pedro 65]

That was enjoyable Daryl, nice to see some countryside thats so close to us especially the Mt Warning Caldera. That stunning plant in post 3 is a rainforest proteacea called Hollandea Sayeriana. Theres a few great backyard nurserys in Burringbar a cooee from where you were. Cheers Pete

[Ntheastpalms]

Hi Daryl
Excellent photos
Chris has a wonderful collection of native plants, the old man & I had a visit to his nursery in spring last year.

[JD in the OC]

Nice pics Daryl. Do they use any purpurea's in cultivation there?

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hi Daryl
Kris stayed last Sunday night, he planted all of those plants , creating the rainforest on the property himself since he was 15, it was all clear paddocks back then. He has 1500 native species at least growing there now, he has very interesting and rare native plants for sale.
He is also planting some exotic palms now and you will see a big increase in his collection over the next few years
regards
Colin

[redbeard917]

Great pics as always (I also enjoyed the driveby palm photos you posted in the main forum). About this photo, I see the long grass growing up there, is this a wildlife bridge? There is one here in Florida over a busy 6-lane interstate which is actually planted with native shrubs and palms, Serenoa repens. Also I can't help but wonder about the stones encased in metal wire. I've seen those used for erosion control, but it seems like once that wire rusts away, stones will drop on cars. Anyway thanks for posting pics of the lush and beautiful terrain of your part of the world.



I found a picture of the "Cross FL Greenway" on Flickr. I suspect that path is used by Homo sapiens as well as other wildlife.

[_Wal]

Great pics as always (I also enjoyed the driveby palm photos you posted in the main forum). About this photo, I see the long grass growing up there, is this a wildlife bridge? There is one here in Florida over a busy 6-lane interstate which is actually planted with native shrubs and palms, Serenoa repens. Also I can't help but wonder about the stones encased in metal wire. I've seen those used for erosion control, but it seems like once that wire rusts away, stones will drop on cars. Anyway thanks for posting pics of the lush and beautiful terrain of your part of the world.



I found a picture of the "Cross FL Greenway" on Flickr. I suspect that path is used by Homo sapiens as well as other wildlife.

Yeah there's a few of these wildlife bridges along this stretch of road.

[KrisKupsch]

Hello everyone, thanks for posting pics of my garden. The colourful Proteaceae is Hicksbeachia pilosa 'Topaz'. Hollandaea sayeriana has simple leaves not compound as per this beauty....Daryl, please can you amend reference to my name "Kris"...happy gardening-gotta get back to it. cheers Kris

[aussiearoids]

Kris is a great source for many rare and unusual plants .. I got my Anthocleista grandiflora from him .
Do not think we can edit posts after a few hours Kris ..

[Daryl]

Hi Kris, sorry about the spelling of your name, I only found the correct spelling a few days later. Unfortunately these posts are locked against editing after 30 minutes.


regards,
Daryl

[KrisKupsch]

Thats OK....Do you still need me for the upcoming talk?
I've been planting lots of interesting Palms. Yesterday I put in a Pelagodoxa henryana (large seeded form), I chose the best spot where the wind wont damage the leaves but just enough sun and lots of ground water. I know this large seeded form is more cold sensitive than the small seeded form, however I will see! Its occurs at 8deg south and im at 28deg south with temps down near 2 deg C. My microclimate is notable due to the established garden. I also plugged in 3 Linospadix palmeriana, a Licuala lauterbachii, Chamaedorea oblongata, Calyptrocalyx hollrungii, Pigafetta filaris, Pritchardia pacifica and beccariana, Dypsis pembana plus other New Caledonian ones.
Cheers Kris

[Daryl]

Hi Kris, i'm pretty sure Mike has you down as the guest speaker at our next meeting. Good to see that you are planting more palms! They should all do well, but I'm sure it will be a challenge for the Pelagadoxa and Pritchardia pacifica. and welcome to Palmtalk too!


regards,
Daryl

[KrisKupsch]

Hi Daryl, do you know where I can get a Livistona alfredii? Thanks Kris

[Daryl]

Hi Kris, I'm not aware of any that are available locally, but Palmtalk Forum Member 'Wanderinwills' is currently living up that way and may know if any are available.


regards,
Daryl

[KrisKupsch]

Wanderinwills will be getting a message !!! Thanks Daryl