Tis the season...

azrael · 20th December 2007, 11:57 PM

Whilst supermarkets trade furiously and frantically...
and everyone is rushing getting jobs tidied and done before X'mas is upon...
I spent the day in horticultural pursuits...but away from the norm ...in floriculture in fact... readying for a furious and frantic local growers market tomorrow....trading Christams Bush or Festive Bush depending on where you live. $$$$$$ at this time of year.
Pic 1 is the plantation
Pic 3,4,5 is the view of the valley taken from where I worked.
Yes... Pic 5 ... it's hazy but you can still see the totem-pole palms These are relic Livistona australis...and there are many dotted all around this particular valley.
Pic 10 & 13 are both of the majestic Ficus obliqua under which I worked in the coolness, buching-up flowers...to the sounds of Bleeting Tree Frogs.
So how was your day!
Azrael
Oh .. PS... Its NOT my property...

azrael · 21st December 2007, 02:45 AM

AND it's not my REAL job either....I just like to keep a hand in on many and varied horticultural pursuits.

That house...and curtilage...is Heritage Listed by the way.

There is a beautiful, but old, Magnolia grandiflora at the front area of the house. See Pic in flower NOW. The trunk is a bit decrepit..but its holding up fine, and there is excellent treatment of the undercanopy area...it used to be in (greedy) lawn up till about 5 years ago..following the heed of good Arboricultural advice the owner (current caretaker I should say) has deep mulched and lightly underplanted instead.

There is a Camellia at the front corner of the house, purportedy a cutting from the first Camellia bought over by John Macarthur and planted at 'Camden Park' (John Macarthur's house) at Camden, N.S.W. I have no reason to doubt the truth of this ...the flower is identical.

TreeDimensional · 21st December 2007, 06:52 PM

Looks like beautiful country, was the drought bad there? The grass and foliage looks to be nice and lush. What type of soil is in the pasture(meadow) Areas?

One of these years my wife and I would like to get down to your part of the world. Neat vegatation, animals, and one part of the world that doesn't appear to be under political striff.

Ekka · 21st December 2007, 07:54 PM

That's great picks mate, beaut ole tree.

The NSW Christmas bushes were just fillers in the flower arrangements?

Doesn't look like drought down there.

azrael · 21st December 2007, 11:46 PM

This country (Jamberoo, N.S.W.) was formerly rainforested, but cleared heavily approx 1840-1860 initially for the Cedar Getters (Toona ciliata/ syn. T.australis - RED CEDAR) and later for dairying and beef cattle.
The soils are very deep red volcanic (Gerringong Latites) soils, but tend to be scarce of organic matter due to agriculture.
Pastures (it is mostly kikuyu) respond well to rain and we have had regular falls in the last 6 weeks......pastures are fertilised annually to kick it along.
Prior to that rain, like everywhere, there was no pasture and cattle were fed....it was terrible economic burden on farmers here too but fortunately there has been summer respite. We need the continual follow-ups of rain to keep a decent soil moisture level. Thankfully stock dams are now filled again, but down here these are quite samall dams, compared to inland areas because there was always reliable rain on the coast...but of course that trend has changed. (Seasonally, we have higher summer rainfall) Where I live it should av. 1200mm p.a. but Jamberoo average annual rainfall is higher at 1600mm pa.

This entire area was once covered with extraordinary rainforest but now there are only small pockets remaining, with very little in protected reserves. The most well known in this area are the Minnamurra Rainforest (N.P.W.S) and Macquarie Pass Nat. Park. I did not link the NPWS website ... mainly because there are no pics to view.

It is very beautiful land down here for sure....and the Jamberoo area is particularly scenic....and well worth including in a travel itinerary.

Ekka... a big bunch of X.mas Bush by itself is the traditional way to go.
By the way, the X'mas Bush went poorly this year...even though the material I had was very high quality (the best cultivar...'Alberts Red').

Unfortunately, there was a competitor with inferior material in BETTER location...so most of MY customers were repeat clients from last year...and were specifically looking for me....and the guaranteed quality.

Now, where IS that soapbox icon.....
Markets are for hacks...maybe next year I'll send it to Sydney Flower Markets instead...(I prepare florist quality material and packaging)...I predict that 'other' material will have ruined this particular market reputation for X'mas Bush...it was not "ready" and will not hold up for even a few days.....and people wont buy next year... (I know because every year we QC test our stuff for 2 weeks before we sell). We dismissed the X'mas market-time 2 years in a row because our material was was either too early of too late....takes just one yobbo idiot to ruin it.
Floriculture is fickle too.
Still enough earned for a shopping spree at a well known discount liquor store.....

shaggs · 22nd December 2007, 03:10 PM

Azrael, beaut pic mate and thanks for posting.

Don't let too many secrets about this wonderland out of the bag!!!

A great part of the world with beautiful beaches, great pub

and perfect for a ride on your motorbike...lots of cool winding country roads.

azrael · 22nd December 2007, 03:58 PM

Have a look around at....
Grand Pacific Drive, Visit NSW

21st December 2007, 06:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
TreeDimensional Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 381	Re: Tis the season... Looks like beautiful country, was the drought bad there? The grass and foliage looks to be nice and lush. What type of soil is in the pasture(meadow) Areas? One of these years my wife and I would like to get down to your part of the world. Neat vegatation, animals, and one part of the world that doesn't appear to be under political striff.

21st December 2007, 07:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	Re: Tis the season... That's great picks mate, beaut ole tree. The NSW Christmas bushes were just fillers in the flower arrangements? Doesn't look like drought down there. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

21st December 2007, 11:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
azrael Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 321	Re: Tis the season... This country (Jamberoo, N.S.W.) was formerly rainforested, but cleared heavily approx 1840-1860 initially for the Cedar Getters (Toona ciliata/ syn. T.australis - RED CEDAR) and later for dairying and beef cattle. The soils are very deep red volcanic (Gerringong Latites) soils, but tend to be scarce of organic matter due to agriculture. Pastures (it is mostly kikuyu) respond well to rain and we have had regular falls in the last 6 weeks......pastures are fertilised annually to kick it along. Prior to that rain, like everywhere, there was no pasture and cattle were fed....it was terrible economic burden on farmers here too but fortunately there has been summer respite. We need the continual follow-ups of rain to keep a decent soil moisture level. Thankfully stock dams are now filled again, but down here these are quite samall dams, compared to inland areas because there was always reliable rain on the coast...but of course that trend has changed. (Seasonally, we have higher summer rainfall) Where I live it should av. 1200mm p.a. but Jamberoo average annual rainfall is higher at 1600mm pa. This entire area was once covered with extraordinary rainforest but now there are only small pockets remaining, with very little in protected reserves. The most well known in this area are the Minnamurra Rainforest (N.P.W.S) and Macquarie Pass Nat. Park. I did not link the NPWS website ... mainly because there are no pics to view. It is very beautiful land down here for sure....and the Jamberoo area is particularly scenic....and well worth including in a travel itinerary. Ekka... a big bunch of X.mas Bush by itself is the traditional way to go. By the way, the X'mas Bush went poorly this year...even though the material I had was very high quality (the best cultivar...'Alberts Red'). Unfortunately, there was a competitor with inferior material in BETTER location...so most of MY customers were repeat clients from last year...and were specifically looking for me....and the guaranteed quality. Now, where IS that soapbox icon..... Markets are for hacks...maybe next year I'll send it to Sydney Flower Markets instead...(I prepare florist quality material and packaging)...I predict that 'other' material will have ruined this particular market reputation for X'mas Bush...it was not "ready" and will not hold up for even a few days.....and people wont buy next year... (I know because every year we QC test our stuff for 2 weeks before we sell). We dismissed the X'mas market-time 2 years in a row because our material was was either too early of too late....takes just one yobbo idiot to ruin it. Floriculture is fickle too. Still enough earned for a shopping spree at a well known discount liquor store.....

22nd December 2007, 03:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
shaggs Mature tree Join Date: May 2007 Location: sydney Posts: 462	Re: Tis the season... Azrael, beaut pic mate and thanks for posting. Don't let too many secrets about this wonderland out of the bag!!! A great part of the world with beautiful beaches, great pub and perfect for a ride on your motorbike...lots of cool winding country roads.

22nd December 2007, 03:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
azrael Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 321	Re: Tis the season... Have a look around at.... Grand Pacific Drive, Visit NSW

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