The Australian native Bunya Pine is one of Australia’s most interesting plans. It grows into a huge tree around 35 metres tall and sets soccer-ball sized cones at the top that weigh 6kg or more. In late summer of autumn the Bunya pine drops these very heavy cones...
Plants can be downright weird! For instance, gum trees turn their leaves side-on to the sun. Normally plants from overseas have leaves that face the sun like solar panels, but due to the vicious Aussie sun, gum trees turn their leaves side on to avoid loss of water....
For dog owners, the last 20 years has seen a remarkable turnaround in preferences. About 20 years ago the first so-called designer dogs appeared. The purebred dog world were horrified and they totally opposed this trend. 20 years later, there are more designer dogs...
Nothing can beat the sheer pleasure of sitting out the back of your house under a pergola while enjoying a meal with friends. A wooden pergola with a grape vine over it is the most romantic of all options. Nonetheless, grape vines provide shade but do not protect you...
The trendiest edible plant at the moment is a plant called kale. You probably have heard rave reviews of its health-giving properties. Is it true? Well, it’s pretty much a load of nonsense. Kale is just a variety of cabbage, grown mostly for its edible or ornamental...
Gardenias are one of the best of all groups of plants. They are dense smallish shrubs with dark green, shiny leaves and purest white, richly perfumed flowers. It really doesn’t get much better than that. They are easy to grow, but you need to know what they like: they...
Many people have trouble with water around their homes: flooding in the garage, flooding in the garden or just damp spots. What do you do? Well here goes: Step one: wait for rain & go out with your umbrella to see where the water comes from & why it gathers in...
Chainsaws are fabulous machines for cutting up large boughs on trees. But these are dangerous machines to operate. If you decide to get a chainsaw, insist on getting a chainsaw operator’s course. These only go for a couple of hours and they could save your limbs or...
How is your hearing?…I SAY HOW IS YOUR HEARING?!! Many people damage their hearing by exposing themselves to constant loud noises. Kids play loud music in their headphones or go to loud music concerts. Both of these can cause permanent noise-induced hearing...
Birds in Australia are fascinating. Rainbow lorikeets now roost at night in trees in shopping centres. Presumably it’s safe there. White ibises with their looooong beaks eat our garbage and roost in nearby trees. Everything under the trees is peppered with white ibis...