blue eyed snake Posted April 12, 2017 this is my favorite tree in the neighbourhood, a red beech it is, very big and healthy, I remember playing under it when I was a small child To share with it is a mindblowing experience 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gendao Posted April 12, 2017 It is also important to remember that forest fires are a natural part of life and essential for preventing epidemics. I would agree - when dry heat weakens trees and boosts beetle populations - fires more frequently occur under those same conditions, which serves to cull the beetles back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted April 12, 2017 You're making the argument that trees can only be appreciated in one form. I disagree. Furthermore, your invalid mind-set is what is creating epidemics throughout North America and Canada. Well you haven't done much to convince me that the appreciation of forest fires is vital to the appreciation of trees.. there are a number of things I can think of that are more important, because they are true of all plants, not just certain types of forest (e.g. wind, rain, decay, pollinators, sunlight...). If you talked about a particular type of tree that thrives from fires (like giant sequoias) I think that would be more on-topic. But I guess whenever owner permissions return in here I'll just delete this conversation we've had, but leave your original post about forest fires. Also, I'm not sure I warrant being blamed for the ignorance of foresters in your country... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
silent thunder Posted April 12, 2017 small boys walking past a calm puddle and smash it with the foot see how powerful! to cause such ripples in the calm what strength it seems na? like pulling an oakling bud from the ground with naught but bare hands such power as this... I settled in and was hanging out in the presence of a grove of trees that were breathing in our atmosphere, long before the oldest tomes of man were yet to be written and it occured to me... what greater show of strength, power and endurance is there, than to simply outlast all that which comes and goes around you? All of them carried the charred remnant marks of the ligthning strikes, born of the regular passing of the Thunderheads across the range upon which they stood sentinel... breathing, swaying, undulating... days, moons, centuries... swaying, breathing. Simply abiding. Presence. Balance, sway, breath... cleansing, always cleansing. Just a year or two ago, I was working with one of my usual partner trees in the park. The energy exchange with the tree was such that the considerable wind blowing my shirt around, could not touch my open palms. All that could be felt in the palms was the magnetic resonance and the vibratory response with the tree and I realized... It sure seems like trees are perpetually playing Qi Gong, with each subtle sway in the wind. and there was this puddle as I was walking home... how I stomped on it and showed my power! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AussieTrees Posted April 12, 2017 The mere mention of bush fire sends a shiver down the spines of victims all across Australia. What of the plants which can neither run or hide from fire as it comes sweeping through the bush? Adaptation is one of the hallmarks of Australian native flora. Their ability to handle fire sets them apart from flora of other regions in the world. Not only have some of our plants adapted themselves, but some plants cannot exist without fire. Prof. John Pate from the Botany Department of University of Western Australia has studied the responses of plants to fire. There are two main strategies by plants to survive fire. The first is the ability to sprout new growth from protected parts of the plant, and the second is the use of chemicals from bush-fire smoke to initiate germination of seed. In a bush area of Wanneroo, north of Perth, recently burnt out by bush-fire, there are already examples of new growth sprouting from blackened branches such as Paperbark, Melaleuca rhaphiophylla. These plants are known as "sprouters", having the capacity to sprout new growth from groups of little buds under the bark. The dormancy of these buds is only broken by the heat of fire. The second feature of the "sprouters" is their very thick bark which not only protects the buds during fire, but also provides a store of starch. This stored energy is mobilised to start the buds sprouting and feed them until they have sufficient greenery to begin photosynthesis. Trees such as these tend to be deep rooted, up to 15 meters deep, and this gives access to ground water, the fire-scorched surface being bone dry. Another type of respouter are those plants with a swollen root, or lignotuber, in which sufficient energy is stored to support new sprouts just above ground level. Examples of these are Jacksonia sp. and the Southern River Gum, Eucalyptus rudis. The process of several years of natural regeneration can be seen in an a area of Kings Park, swept by fire three years ago. It is here that evidence can be seen of the second main survival strategy of seeding. Woolly bushes, Adenanthos sp., members of the cedar family, have not survived the fire, but under their burnt wood are three year old saplings. The species has preserved itself by having fire-resistant seeds. After the fire these have fallen into the nutrient rich ash below. Winter rains initiate their germination. Similarly, empty seed cones can be seen on a dead Banksia prionotes, Acorn Banksia. The seed cones are adapted to open their valves after having been baked, allowing the seed to fall to the ground. Since these plants take 5 to 8 years to be mature enough to flower and set their own seed, another fire now would eliminate the species. Research done at the U.W.A. Botany Dept has found that the chemicals contained in smoke are one of the most potent factors in breaking down the inhibitors to germination of bush seeds. Fire has shaped the bush in Australia in a way which has happened nowhere else in the world, and we are still improving on our understanding on these processes. For further information about smoke water, contact Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, Fraser Ave, West Perth, ph: 08 9480 3600. From:http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s73587.htm 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cold Posted April 14, 2017 Blue eyed snake your picture really resonates with me. As a city kid I lived across from a park but it was mostly off limits to preschoolers like me. But we had a honey locust (Gleditsia tricanthos) in our backyard and to say it had stout thorns seems an understatement to me today. The tree and I were constant companions and many a day was spent among its branches in a kind of bliss. The song up on the roof aptly described how I felt about my tree! "When this old world starts getting me down, And people are just to much for me to face - I climb way up ... in my case the tree, and I was free! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AussieTrees Posted April 15, 2017 (edited) Uncut version with new layout no need to chop pics. Edited May 20, 2017 by AussieTrees 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AussieTrees Posted May 20, 2017 This is our avocado tree grew out of the compost heap,we have had fruits mostly just one or two our was about 12 avocados. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apech Posted May 20, 2017 Pomegranate - very nice blossom right now. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) More "bush" than "tree" but... This is a mountain laurel: Each blossom in a cluster is about the size of my thumbnail. Here's a closer look: Edited May 20, 2017 by Brian 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted May 20, 2017 And this is the Catawba rhododendron, also indigenous: It's blossom is about 2.5 inches across. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted May 20, 2017 FWIW, the tree/bush distinction seems somewhat irrelevant for this thread, in my opinion. The rhododendron, for instance, is a highly energetic and long-lived evergreen which can be 20+ feet tall and develops into large clusters (called rhododendron hells because they are difficult to traverse) which live for a very long time. This is a sharp contrast to to fragile, diminutive and short-lived dogwood tree. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apech Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Brian said: FWIW, the tree/bush distinction seems somewhat irrelevant for this thread, in my opinion. The rhododendron, for instance, is a highly energetic and long-lived evergreen which can be 20+ feet tall and develops into large clusters (called rhododendron hells because they are difficult to traverse) which live for a very long time. This is a sharp contrast to to fragile, diminutive and short-lived dogwood tree. OK then: flowering acacia (?) ... I think Nice old apple tree Edited May 20, 2017 by Apech 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralis Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) 36 minutes ago, Brian said: FWIW, the tree/bush distinction seems somewhat irrelevant for this thread, in my opinion. The rhododendron, for instance, is a highly energetic and long-lived evergreen which can be 20+ feet tall and develops into large clusters (called rhododendron hells because they are difficult to traverse) which live for a very long time. This is a sharp contrast to to fragile, diminutive and short-lived dogwood tree. I refer you to Dr. Michael Dirr's 'Manual of Woody Landscape Plants' in which he describes the genus Rhododendron habit, as a shrub. Edited May 20, 2017 by ralis Edit 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted May 20, 2017 1 hour ago, ralis said: I refer you to Dr. Michael Dirr's 'Manual of Woody Landscape Plants' in which he describes the genus Rhododendron habit, as a shrub. Depends on whose definition you use for the distinction between shrubs and bushes. By some, the rhododendron is clearly a bush (particularly in the wild) while others make it unambiguously a shrub -- and yet others make clear that the distinction between shrubs and bushes in unclear. It is not, however, a tree... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralis Posted May 20, 2017 14 minutes ago, Brian said: Depends on whose definition you use for the distinction between shrubs and bushes. By some, the rhododendron is clearly a bush (particularly in the wild) while others make it unambiguously a shrub -- and yet others make clear that the distinction between shrubs and bushes in unclear. It is not, however, a tree... I was citing Dr. Dirr as a reference who was influenced by L.H. Bailey (Cornell University) who wrote 'Hortus III', as to why the term shrub is used by botanists. As you know, taxonomists classify botanical species according to morphology and other criteria. https://www.amazon.com/Hortus-Third-Concise-Dictionary-Cultivated/dp/0025054708 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted May 20, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, ralis said: I was citing Dr. Dirr as a reference who was influenced by L.H. Bailey (Cornell University) who wrote 'Hortus III', as to why the term shrub is used by botanists. As you know, taxonomists classify botanical species according to morphology and other criteria. https://www.amazon.com/Hortus-Third-Concise-Dictionary-Cultivated/dp/0025054708 Uh-huh, if you say so. So tell us. What is the precise distinction between a shrub and a bush? Be careful now... http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1796&context=extension_histall Edited May 20, 2017 by Brian 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daeluin Posted May 20, 2017 5 hours ago, Brian said: More "bush" than "tree" but... This is a mountain laurel: Each blossom in a cluster is about the size of my thumbnail. Here's a closer look: One of my favorite. Once, hiking with a group down an experimental path somewhere south of little switzerland, we came out upon a narrow ridge covered with blooming mountain laurels. There was a steep drop to either side with beautiful views, and the entire stretch was covered in white. It felt like walking through a cloud. Since then this has become one of my favorite friends. Just love the delicate and refined flowers, compassionate leaves and hardy, flakey stems and branches. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blue eyed snake Posted May 20, 2017 beautiful Daeluin! but about rodondendrons, i'm no specialist, but looking at this pictures in the right environment they are trees 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AussieTrees Posted May 24, 2017 On 21/05/2017 at 1:32 AM, Brian said: More "bush" than "tree" but... This is a mountain laurel: Each blossom in a cluster is about the size of my thumbnail. Here's a closer look: Hi Brian, my darling says,"aren't they the prettiest flowers" thanks 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C T Posted May 24, 2017 I just remembered that we had some white magnolia plants (trees?) in our garden and in flowering, they gave off the most divine scent, fills the air and penetrates into the house during breezy evenings. It was quite sublime just to catch wafts of the scent now and again. Anyone have this tree/shrub/plant around? There are a few varieties, but ours looked like this 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
