[Lanelle]

Squizzy,
Those are all cooool pics. The only time I see any of those plants, is in flower arrangements and at cut flower markets.
Please share any more that you have.

[Squizzy Taylor]

Hi Lanelle, Mexico and Israel produce the bulk of our wax flowers for the international cut flower market....something us Aussies have been unable to capitalise on. I will post a few more pics of some of our natives used in Landscaping soon. In the meantime here is the one that I am unable to grow (at home) at present:

http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/sa.emblem.html

It would probably go well somewhere like Nevada. Most of our natives here in the West are atuned to poor sandy soils. They do not respond well to cultivation (acid) and many will grow but not propogate well where there is additional phosphate or nitrogen. Many rely on fire for best germination. Can be challenging for the gardener but there is fantastic cultivars coming on the market every year.

[trees]

Squizzy...

For the bulk of us here, we can only look and dream. I think in Southern California, and possibly up the west coast, some of these plants may work, but for the rest of us... no luck.

Being a major plant geek myself, I am enjoying the pics, though, so post away. It's always a lot of fun to see what others can / are doing.

[Mark Oomkes]

The kangaroo paws are awesome, I want some. Somehow I don't think it'll work too well though.

Great pics, you can add me to the plant geek list.

[Squizzy Taylor]

Originally posted by Mark Oomkes
The kangaroo paws are awesome, I want some. Somehow I don't think it'll work too well though.

Great pics, you can add me to the plant geek list.

Mark, some of the Kangaroo Paws originate from very swampy areas and don't mind having damp feet or heavier soils. The big reds that grew wild around the farm where I grew up were most often in shade on red loam. Many of the cultivars are based on what we call "Cats Paws" which tend to be a bit hardier and tolerate a lot less water.

I will posts a few more pics soon but at the moment I'm on what I'm calling the "accelerated weight loss diet" being the latest bug the kids have come home from school with.

[Squizzy Taylor]

Here is, colloquially a Bottle Brush, known as "Kings Park" Callistemon Grows to about 15' if you let it. The birds just love these.

[Squizzy Taylor]

and another;

[Squizzy Taylor]

Here is a few pics of a big ole Banksia Tree up our mid-west coast. There is about 60 odd species of Banksia native to Australia.

[Squizzy Taylor]

and here is a closeup of the flower (which is actually a big nut inside). More on Banksias here: http://asgap.org.au/banks1.html

[Lanelle]

Just returned from a trip to San Diego and I saw some of the plants mentioned here. In the San Diego Zoo, is a sizable collection of Aussie trees and shrubs including the grass tree.
We were fortunate to be there at the time of the monthly botanical tour around the zoo. Saw so many things from Australia, Hawaii and Africa that were new to me that I would have to refer to the tour list to recall specifics.