Hunter Landscape

[MattA]

Welcome to the Hunter Valley.

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This mixed planting was put together in January this year but the elements have taken a couple of years to be prepared. The main tree is an as yet to be identified Eucalypt as the main tree. A busaria comes up over the rock in the right corner & a small unknown perenial peaks above the rock on the left side.

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Originally planted with a pair of small Leptospermum, neither survived transplant, the stump of the larger remains while a stone marks the spot of the other. I will put another small tree there at some stage.

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The main piece of stone was collected in Victoria about 10yrs ago, to begin with it lived indoors with many other pieces until about 2yrs ago when I decided to use it to continue an experiment with seeding lichens. It is starting to develop quite a few spots of differing varieties.

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The Bursaria's trunk lent it perfectly to its planting position, it is in need of pruning but I want it to get some strength up first. The rosette of leaves in the middle of the moss clump is a local Asteraceae (yet to be identified) It is the only one that has come up from seed scattered in january.

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The small piece of stone in the front of the tray was my first experiment with seeding lichens, it was done about 5yrs ago and has outgrown anything I would have expected in that time. A couple of battle lines are starting to develop so its shouldnt be too much longer before the fun really starts.

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This clump of moss & lichen is growing on a piece of cotton wadding, the kind used in early 20th century furniture. The armchair had been dumped in my local bushland many years ago, all that remained was a few small remnants like this one. The moss & lichen dont seem to change much in proportion to one another obviously having settled their landlines long ago.

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A close view of the dead lepto reveals moss already starting to make itself at home.

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From front on it blends well between the rocks.

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[MattA]

A nice little overhang is perfect for hiding from the rain.

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Another view of the lichen:D

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A close look around the base of the Euc shows lots of diversity.

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Bearing a white flower that is quite large for the plants size I am yet to identify this perenial but enjoy its flowers on the rare occasion I see one. It spreads by way of seed & small underground stems & grows to about 5cm high.

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This quartz crystal is the whole reason I stopped & payed more attention to this stone.

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Flying over...

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I hope you have enjoyed a little visit to my world.

Matt

[Dario]

Hi Matt, this will be really nice as it develops!
Love the lichen
I am asuming you are refering to the native Bursaria spinosa (sweet bursaria)?
I love these as small trees...is yours a shrub ot tree?
I haven't seen anyone using this species, but I have had my eye on the trees for a little over a year and the mature bark is awesome, the leaves are small and they flower too!
I am happy to see someone else using this species
I know that they back bud profusely when trunk chopped to bare wood and I will be collecting a couple very soon!
Sorry to get side tracked but I just had to comment re busaria!
Have you used this species much?...any pics?
Oh, by the way, it is a lovely landscape you have arranged!
Cheers, Dario

[Rintar]

Been talking to the wife trying to organise time to come out yours and visit this little beauty gives me more cause

[Andrew F]

Reminds me of west wallsend, great job mate. Really 'lichen' the moss

Look forward to it filling in and becoming its own little island.

[MattA]

Hey Dario,
Yes, its the native Bursaria spinosa, I collected this little guy due to an odd leaf formation but it turned out to be insect damage.. Its not a species I have done much with yet but think it should be used more often for bonsai. They shoot back from bare wood really well, can be bare rooted once a fibrous rootsystem has been developed and have really nice small leaves. The only downside is the little thorns all over but they arent as bad as hawthorn IMO.

Rin & VVS,
Thanks for your comments, your both welcome anytime, expect to be doing some digging for me

Matt

[Scott Roxburgh]

I don't see any vines

[MattA]

I don't see any vines

Neither do I

I do have a few 'interesting' subshrubs that I am considering incorperating

[Dario]

Hey Dario,
Yes, its the native Bursaria spinosa, I collected this little guy due to an odd leaf formation but it turned out to be insect damage.. Its not a species I have done much with yet but think it should be used more often for bonsai. They shoot back from bare wood really well, can be bare rooted once a fibrous rootsystem has been developed and have really nice small leaves. The only downside is the little thorns all over but they arent as bad as hawthorn IMO.
Matt

Totally agree Matt!
I will let you know how my Bursaria projects go.
Keep up the good work
Cheers, Dario.