GOOD TREES – BAD TREES? 2

Weeping Willow - Stanthorpe

It is winter now on the Granite Belt and most of the Weeping Willows have dropped their leaves.

This is a tree much favoured around the world for its lush green foliage. It is frequently planted in parks. But, in Australia it is  classified in some areas as a noxious weed.  Read what I have say about these trees and please add your comments.

The Willow tree originated in China and spread via the Silk Road to Egypt and through Europe to reach England.

The Weeping Willow is a beautiful tree to use for large yards and has a number of interesting aspects. You might be surprised to learn it is a medicinal tree as well.

The Weeping Willow tree is a member of a family of trees and scrubs that contains over three hundred and fifty different varieties. The varieties of willows have many widely different characteristics, but they are all remarkably alike in many ways. Most of them occur in moist soil in cooler climates and mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. Willows are remarkably fertile trees and easily cross fertilize between species. These occur naturally or as the result of deliberate cultivation. Read the rest of this entry »

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EUCALYPTUS TREES 2

I have the ability to recognize and name the origin of many of the mature trees that I see in my travels. This talent became obvious when undertaking a day tour with Eberhard through Los Angeles in 1990. Streets were frequently planted with just one species like Camphor Laurels or Liquidambars. In the garden of a house, formerly owned by Jane Mansefield, I spotted a beautiful specimen of the Bunya Pine Araucaria bidwillii. The tour guide must have overheard my quiet comments to Eberhard, because as the bus was driving down a boulevard, he asked me the name of the trees lining the road. I instantly responded, much to his surprise, “Canary Island Palms.” It didn’t surprise me that I could name the trees as the climate of Los Angeles and southern Queensland are similar and I was familiar with all the trees I saw that day.

I tell my friends that I retreat to my garden to recharge my batteries. In the same way I like to travel once a year overseas to allow my mind to relax from the pressures of life. My brain can then absorb and evaluate what I am seeing.

I particularly like to observe trees and their relationship with the environment around them. It was only when I began to travel overseas that I realized how silent were the forests of China, north America and Europe. Not only Australian forests, but the whole of Australia, including our cities are filled with the calls of a vast number of different bird species. We don’t just have the sparrows and pigeons of the northern hemisphere in our cities and towns – many Australian birds have adapted to city life, partly because  Australian trees and shrubs have been planted in suburban gardens.

Hong Kong eucalyptus

When I saw this eucalyptus tree in the  Kowloon Walled City Park - once a lawless, Hong Kong high-rise slum which was transformed into an award winning park in 1995, I recognized it as a relatively young specimen of a tree that I know by its local name as a Chinchilla White Gum. Carol, my eldest daughter, who accompanied me on this trip to Hong Kong lives in the town of Chinchilla, Queensland. This tree, like most Australian eucalyptus, has the ability to drop off lower limbs each year and concentrate its growth ever higher. Read the rest of this entry »

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HONG KONG 6

It will be no surprise to you that I spent a day in Hong Kong walking through two gardens. I’m going to write two separate posts to describe these gardens to allow me to use sufficient photographs to adequately illustrate their differences.

The first garden we walked through was the Kowloon Walled City Park. This was once a lawless, high-rise slum which was transformed into an award winning park in 1995. It features a Qing dynasty almshouse, the Old South Gate, pavilions, sculptures, flower gardens and a playground for children.

Old stone walls

Drs. Jean Stone Willans and Rick Willans brought the message of Charismatic renewal to Hong Kong in 1968 and started the Society of Stephen. This movement of the Holy Spirit united many – Chinese and Westerners, Catholics and Protestants, from all walks of life – in the fullness of the New Testament faith. In 1973, Miss Pullinger brought a heroin-addicted Triad leader to the Willianses; he withdrew in their home without sickness or pain (with no medication) through repenting from his crimes, believing in Jesus and praying in tongues given by the Holy Spirit. The news spread – even to the Walled City drug dens – and soon the Willanses were pastoring several “House of Stephen”, where scores of addicts likewise began new lives with the help of volunteer workers.

This paved the way for the law to enter into this once dangerous area and by 1995 the slum was cleared and the area established as an inner city park. Read the rest of this entry »

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HONG KONG 3

I had chosen to take this holiday to Hong Kong to have a rest and Carol told me it was only on the third day that I started to pick up pace. I wondered if perhaps she had started to slow down to match my steps. We were staying in central Kowloon near the Mong Kok subway which made travel for us convenient to many destinations. Our hotel had provided us with a booklet about the attractions of this region.

Hong Kong map and attractions.

We had remained at Mong Kok at Kowloon on Wednesday, visited the Stanley Market and Murray House on Hong Kong Island on Thursday. On Friday we decided to visit Lantau Island to view the Giant Buddha. Read the rest of this entry »

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HONG KONG 2

One of my readers has begged that I quickly put up more of this series, so I’ll try to get a couple up this week. I’m not normally a person who spends much time shopping for clothes, but I could not resist the bargains available in Hong Kong. Having visited the Ladies Market on Wednesday Carol and I decided to spend the next day at the Stanley Market.

Ladies clothing at the Stanley Market.

I had last visited this market in 1997 and found it little changed. It has a variety of products on display and they are better quality and more expensive than the street markets. Because it is a popular tourism destination the proprietors of the stalls are not interested in bartering, which spoils the fun. In this sense, it is like walking into a series of shops and paying the marked price

As I’ve found on previous visits to China there is a strong desire to preserve old buildings, not only for their history but to create earning capacity and to serve the needs of the tourists. In Hong Kong many Chinese tourists are coming from the mainland.

This notice board tells of how the pier and Murray House were moved to Stanley.

Carol and I discovered this beautiful old house by accident. After purchasing a few things at the market we had walked around the bay as it was another glorious day with a blue sky. We spotted Murray House and moved on to investigate. Read the rest of this entry »

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HONG KONG 1

This is the first of a series about my days in Hong Kong in May 2009. The business part of this trip was quickly finalized when I signed the contract with a Chinese firm to have copies of my book Wildflowers, wilderness and wine printed and shipped to Brisbane for Australian distribution. It now appears that these books will be available for me to autograph by July. During my absence  our business Das Helwig Haus B&B was closed. My eldest daughter, Carol, accompanied me. Both of us had been to Hong Kong on previous trips and knew how to travel around the islands of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories using the efficient underground trains, ferries and buses, all of which are inexpensive forms of transport. Our hotel was centrally located in Kowloon near the Mong Kok entrance to the subway station and from our window on the 36th floor we were able to look across the buildings to the island of Hong Kong. Our window gave us a view towards the west with the morning light shining bright on the tall buildings over which we looked towards the island. Although the whole region is commonly known as Hong Kong and there are several islands within the area, this one hilly section ringed by sea is called either Hong Kong Island, or The Island.

Western view across to Hong Kong Island.

It was interesting on my first early morning start -  I was still functioning on Australian time which is two hours ahead of this region, to look out this window and see almost no movement in the streets below, but people practicing exercises in the park. Like all Asian countries Hong Kong is slow to swing into action in the mornings, but residents party or shop well into the night. Read the rest of this entry »

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PAUSE BESIDE THE ROSE BOWL

FAY SHARES SOME HISTORY

On every garden tour I will always be asked, “What are those pink and red things?”

“Do you mean these?” I’ll break off a few different blooms. “These are a form of dianthus. They have the perfume of cloves, like carnations. This form is commonly called Sweet William, but the Scottish people didn’t like William of Orange, so they called them Stinking Billy.” My answer will bring a laugh. “See the variation? Although they are various shades of pinks, reds and white, each flower has a different pattern. The Dutch have another name for these – they call them ‘A Thousand Beautifuls’, and from what I’ve been told their particular word for beautiful is the same word they would use to describe a beautiful young woman.

Sweet William

Next, I’ll brush my hand over the gray foliage plant with the yellow button like flowers. “And this is Santalina, a Mediterranean herb that supposedly is a stimulant for roses. I grow it right around the rose bowl over the rocks. As you walk past, give it a brush – release the aromatic oils.”

It was an Italian born neighbour, Orris Romeo, who helped me construct the rose bowl. He brought over an old tractor fitted with a small dozer blade mounted on the
back, which swiveled in any direction. Orris used this to cut into the sloping ground at the north-western corner of the house, leaving a sharp earthen bank, and spread the soil evenly towards the house. It was in this semi-circular basin I later planted the rose bushes. Once more Orris had returned to his farm, swapping the blade for a carry-all tray. Together we surveyed the rocky outcrops around the farm gathering up boulders as large as he could roll or lever onto the carry-all. Orris dropped these into the excavation and then sat on his bottom, using the strength of his legs and back to push the rocks hard against the cut bank. Less attractive rocks were dropped down under the edge of the veranda, the tops just showing between the earth and floor boards. This barrier prevents dirt washing under the house during storms. Thus we created a terraced, rock-fringed bowl. I have so many memories associated with the Romeo family and the establishment of our garden.

Rose Bowl

Santalina herb

Early one warm morning of our first summer on the Granite Belt, when Eberhard was without a shirt, the sound of a motor bike brought him to the front veranda. The rider took off his helmet and requested directions. Eberhard couldn’t clearly hear his inquiry.

“What’s he saying?” Eberhard asked. “I think the cheeky bugger wants to know if I’m Mr. Australia?”

I was amused. “You might have a bare chest, but you would never pass for a muscle builder.”

Calling to the man, I asked, “Are you looking for Mr. Orris Romeo? ” He nodded and I instructed, “Go back out our entrance road, turn left and you will find that Romeo’s Lane is the next road on the left. Go to the end of the lane.”

After answering several more questions, I tell my visitors, “I’m going to cross over the walkway now between these rosa lavigata roses and lead you down through the vegetable garden.” This is one time when I have chosen to use the Latin name, as it was the first name by which I came to know this superb early blooming white rose.

Rosa Lavigata or Cherokee Rose

Rosa Lavagata or Cherokee Rose

“Have any of you read the book by Gavin Menzies – 1421 The Year China Discovered the World?”

A few amongst my audience will nod their heads, while others may say they saw a TV documentary on the subject.

“This is a very old Chinese rose, but its common name is the Cherokee Rose. It was given that name when discovered growing in the USA by the early settlers. How do you suppose it reached California? According to Gavin Menzies it was grown there by Chinese left behind to colonize the region when their ship was wrecked.”

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