February 19, 2021

Not just red, but pink, peach – and orange!

Red flowering eucalypts are renowned for their colour range, and our garden can almost boast the full palette, especially now John has successfully nurtured a stunning orange-flowering variety from seed collected from Bruny Island.


We spotted the tree in full flower while on our way back to the car after an exhilarating Pennicott tour experience about three years ago spotting seals, whales, seabirds and the ancient dolorite rock formation that is characteristic of so much of Tasmania’s south-west. The voucher for this trip had been won on a silent auction fundraiser to support the victims of an earthquake in Nepal some months previously, and we had only weeks to use it before it expired.


The tree was in someone’s garden, and close to the fence but as nobody seemed to be around, and the gate was open, it was a matter of moments to briefly trespass in order to quickly search for some seed pods that hadn’t already split and spilt their seed. I took several photos – but all were lost unfortunately when the phone died before I had transferred them all to the computer. A sharp reminder that a regular regime for back-ups and downloads really does need to be maintained and adhered to.

We had no idea if the seed would be viable, but John studied the books, checked what germination method was needed and worked his green-fingered magic, and in due course tiny green shoots were visible in three or four pots. Sadly, some later died during that winter. We were away for several weeks and our house-sitter failed to water them, or forgot to water them, leaving us with just two fragile seedlings one of which looked seriously unwell.

Both survived though and were re-potted until they eventually grew to the point where they could be transferred from pots to ground. Despite flowering for the first time this year, the least healthy tree really shouldn’t be in flower at all as it’s still too young. An indication it’s struggling perhaps, but at least we know that the flowers will be the same colour as its parent – that rich and vibrant orange we were so stunned by on Bruny. The bees absolutely love them!

As for the other tree, it’s taller and looks much healthier, but there’s no sign of a flower. Next year though the story is likely to be quite different.

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Magni

Fiona's gift

By Anne Layton-Bennett • June 14, 2026
It’s taken far too many months for this marvellous model to grace the dedicated desk space in my office. When Fiona comes to visit next she will be very surprised, and hopefully gratified, that her amazing creative talent is finally on display. We’ve known each other for a very long time, and during the insanely busy time when I was helping to run the flower farm, working part-time in a school library, doing a spot of journalism on the side, and fighting the proposed pulp mill that is the subject of the manuscript I’m hoping to get published, Fiona cleaned my house each week. There’s only so much a person can do after all, and it has to be said cleaning our house during those manic years was fairly low down on the list of my priorities. But Fiona is a woman of many talents and she certainly possesses one that I so don’t have: sewing and dressmaking. So over the years she’s also made a few garments based on the pattern of a favourite garment that I was particularly fond of, and she’s also done some clothing alterations for both of us. My skills with needles and thread are limited to sewing on buttons, and taking up hems on John’s too-long pairs of jeans. Anything else is beyond me. But this fabulous model is the pièce de résistance – along with the beautiful crocheted knee warmer she gave me last year. This was when winter was approaching and so determined was I to finish writing the book, I decided to get out of bed at the insane hour of 5am and get in a solid hour’s writing in before dog walking and the demands of the day took over. Fiona was also one of many Tasmanians who needed to be circumspect about her opinion of the pulp mill. It was a project that polarised people, including families and friendships. She was one of several who passed on snippets of useful information, but on the basis of anonymity so it couldn’t be sheeted home to her.  Needless to say Fiona will be one of those whose contribution will be acknowledged – when this book is finally accepted by a publisher.

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