Sunday, 3 March 2013

Every cloud has a golden lining

This post has strayed off its initial path. The aim was to take up the challenge thrown down by Les at A Tidewater Gardener in his Winter Walk-Off 2013 to share what can be seen within walking distance of my home. (I might add despite the very best of intentions, I failed previously to follow in Les's footsteps by organising and posting my best photos for  2012).

Here in Brisbane, it is not winter, but it is incredibly wet lately. In fact, if you hear of Ikea selling DYI Ark kits, I may be interested. 

I set off optimistically yesterday, but I hadn't even made it to the end of the block before it started raining again, so I knew it was going to be a short walk. However, even in that short distance, I can across this native beauty and have been been keeping an eye out for them since then.


This is the Xanthostemon chrysanthus known as the Golden Penda, a member of the myrtle family and endemic to North Queensland. While I was driving around today I noticed they are just coming into flower all through the neighbouring suburbs.

The young Golden Penda was planted next to a pink frangipani






This is the hill opposite mine, with bigger, more modern and more colourful houses; there's a  great purple one over there somewhere that has a coordinated jacaranda planted beside it.

The Golden Penda lives at the house on the corner where the street signs are. 


This guava was growing with the yellow allamanda on the opposite street corner.


Spotted this Duranta 'Geisha Girl' on my way back.


I spent the rest of what was a very dark and gloomy day a little preoccupied by Golden Pendas and was hoping to find a larger tree to share with you. This afternoon I was very pleasantly surprised to spot this one in a cul de sac only a block from home (in the opposite direction). The lime yellow blooms look wonderful beside the burgundy foliage of the nearby plant.



It came with an added bonus: some rainbow lorikeets were feeding on the nectar - a sight guaranteed to add colour to the gloomiest of wet weekends.






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12 comments:

  1. Les3 March 2013 at 23:20

    Thank you so much for participating in my Walk-Off. I think you have officially become the most distant entry. That Penda is beautiful. I have never heard of it, and am pretty sure it would only grow here in a greenhouse, a big greenhouse. Thanks for risking the rain, and I hope you don't get too much.

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    1. Marisa4 March 2013 at 18:23

      The walk-off was fun. At least when it's wet here, it is still warm. We had a short break for a while today, just long enough to dry a load of washing.

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  2. Anonymous4 March 2013 at 06:07

    Wow! The Penda is amazing. You're right, you cannot be gloomy after seeing something as colorful as lorikeets in the Penda tree.

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    1. Marisa4 March 2013 at 18:31

      The lorikeets are gorgeous. Loads of personality and so raucous.

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  3. VirginiaC4 March 2013 at 20:47

    I love the Golden Penda tree, it's beautiful, but I can imagine the cleanup when all the blooms are spent.
    Glad you were able to take a short wet walk around your neighbourhood, sure beats being cooped up inside.
    Loved the rainbow lorikeets too.

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    1. Marisa11 March 2013 at 10:56

      Thank heavens there's finally some blue sky today. Might even get some washing done.

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  4. BernieH4 March 2013 at 23:04

    The Golden Penda is one of my favourite trees. It's simply magnificent when it's covered in those fabulous blooms. Great photos. It sounds like you're really getting to know what wet season rain is like! We're missing it up here in the north.

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    1. Marisa11 March 2013 at 11:00

      I think we got your wet season this year, Bernie. You are very welcome to have it back. I've had enough!

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  5. Gardens at Waters East5 March 2013 at 03:11

    I like the idea of stepping away from one's garden at times to take in the wider area of land that cradles the home garden. All of my postings are only of the immediate garden here on the shores of Lake Michigan in USA - EXCEPT those labeled "Watershed". That is my way of reaching beyond the sights and flowers here to include so much of the beauty that lives around and beyond this garden. I use your idea to get out into the wider neighborhood. I think it give all of our gardens the full context of being a part of the Earth. Enjoyed my visit today. Jack

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    1. Marisa11 March 2013 at 11:02

      I agree, Jack, Context is really important. When I travel, I am one of those people always looking out the window of the plane. I love to see how it all fits together.

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  6. Lynn Hunt13 March 2013 at 04:57

    I visited Sydney and Melbourne last year but did not make it to your neck of the woods. But after seeing your posting I feel as though I've been to Brisbane as well!

    I loved your cheery blooms -- an escape from winter in the North Carolina mountains. Thank you for the tour. And come visit me at www.thedirtdiaries.com. Cheers!

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    1. Marisa17 March 2013 at 10:09

      Thanks for dropping by, Lynn. Hopefully it will start will warm up soon for you.

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