“An open slender lightly foliaged shrub” – NPOS p. 120
This plant was hard to identify, as best as I can tell it’s a Scaly Phebalium.
Scaly Phebalium – flowing in winter, they’re meant to flower in spring.
The Scaly Phebalium is a small woody shrub growing to about 1.5m. It’s leaves are narrow, less that 10mm wide, deep green with lighter coloured dots on the top side. The undersides are lighter in colour and covered in small scales, which is where the common name comes from. It’s found in standsone landscapes and is common in the Sydney area.
NPOS describes it as aromatic, it does have a smell but it’s not nearly as strong as a tea tree, it could be that I have a bit of a blocked nose at the moment and am trouble smelling too.
Leaf underside showing the small scales. The leaf is about 8mm wide
“A prickly, much branched shrub 1-2m high” – NPOS p.95
This Juniper Grevillea is growing on the nature strip out the front, it’s self seeded which is interesting because although it’s a native plant it’s meant to be uncommon and mainly occurring in western Sydney.
Grevillea Juniperina flowering
The Juniper Grevillea is a hardy and adaptable species, which can be demonstrated by how well it’s doing without any care or cultivation. I’ve even recently cut it back as it’s been over growing onto the road. It’s in the form of a dense shrub which grows up to 2m tall, it has narrow stiff leaves that end with a sharp point. Flowers are red and take on the typical spidery Grevillea form. It’s meant to flower from September – November, our seems to flower year round, the picture was taken in July.
I’ve tried unsuccessfully a few times to collect seeds and grow them. Apparently you can achieve a greater chance of success by nicking the seeds to expose the embryo, or exposing the seeds to fire and smoke. They will also grow from cuttings. I’ll give these a go. It’s a beautiful plant that is extremely hardy and will not grow too tall, the rabbits and wallabies seem to leave it alone too, perfect for the garden.
Grevillea Juniperina – This one self seeded on the nature strip in front of our house
These medium sized black and white birds were hanging about in the trees out the back, it’s yet another species that I couldn’t identify! By the time I got the camera they were gone. Luckily they returned the next day, this time I was ready.
I’ve mentioned the method I use to identify birds and other plants and animals before but wanted to say it again as I find it really effective. First try to take a photo to closely study the features of the animal, then go to Google image search and type in a visual description with a location. When an image matches check it out, all you need is a name then you’re set. This is how I identified the Peewee. “black and white bird australia” brought up exactly what I’d seen.
The Peewee is also commonly known as the Magpie-lark, there were a few sites saying it’s called the Peewee in New South Wales ( where I am ) so I’ll call it that. I also think it’s a better sounding name.
The Peewee is a common bird found throughout Australia except Tasmania and central Western Australia. It’s black and white markings mimick that of a true Magpie, which it sometimes uses to advantage by infulrating magpie flocks for the protection of the larger birds.
Peewees build their nests out if mud and line them with feathers and grass. Peewees can be aggressive and territorial and are known to swoop and attack people that get to close to their nests.
Males have white markings on their cheeks and eyebrows, females have white on their forehead chin and throat.
The 2014 annular solar eclipse was meant to be a rare one, occurring once every 73 years. It was going to be about 50% in Sydney, not total but still impressive to watch. I left the arc welding helmet at home with instructions for the kids on how and when to use it to look at the sun. The goggles came with me to work.
It was clear all day, but the clouds gathered near the horizon just as the sun dipped and the eclipse was due to start.
Damn!
The 2014 Annular Solar eclipse as viewed from Sydney. Just clouds.Vikram and I climbed to the carpark roof to view the eclipse, but it was behind the clouds.
