Friday, June 11, 2021

Back to the Huntington and a brief Australian immersion

It turns out that unintentionally hanging on to photos for a year and a half has some benefit, you've got material for when your broken ankle keeps you from venturing about! Speaking of that ankle, today is surgery day. A thin plate and a few screws will secure the break and the healing will begin. I'm looking at at least 6 weeks of non weightbearing time and then lots of physical therapy to get the muscles back in shape. In the words of my surgeon, "you'll have August..."

Today we take a quick trip around the Australian Garden at the Huntington, photos from my December 2019 visit. One of the grass trees, Xanthorrhoea...

I've never known the origins of the Australian Garden at the Huntington (or if I did I'd forgotten), so it was interesting to read: "Directly below and parallel to the Subtropical Garden, this five-acre open expanse of trees and shrubs offers a pleasant contrast to the paths and manicured lawns located on the hilltop. Early photos of this area show a grove of young Washington Navel orange trees. By the 1940s the orange trees were past their prime and 1,000 eucalyptus trees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were planted to test their viability as timber. By the 1960s this dense planting had become an overgrown fire hazard and the trees were drastically thinned, leaving only the most interesting and attractive specimens. Informal groups of other plants native to Australia were interspersed among the trees, and the area was opened to the public in 1964." (source)

I believe this is Grevillea 'Peaches and Cream'...

It's a beauty.

Doryanthes excelsa, commonly known as the gymea lily.

I was a bit early for the blooms...

...and unfortunately I didn't get the name of the sculptural cycads keeping Dory company.

Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna 'Silver Princess' 

Oh so photogenic!



And another eucalyptus, this one Eucalyptus macrocarpa, commonly known as mottlecah.





Since I came across this beautiful image in the "public domain" I thought I would end this short post with a drawing by Walter Hood Fitch done in 1847: "This is a plate from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Volume 73. Title: Eucalyptus macrocarpa. Large-fruited Eucalyptus, or Gum-Tree. It depicts the species Eucalyptus macrocarpa."

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

16 comments:

  1. Have never seen eucalyptus blooms. Stunning and unusual. Kind of look like ballet crinolines. Hope surgery goes well. Bummer about the non-weight bearing part. You will need a project to fill your time. How about another book? Sending positive thoughts your way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Gardening On Crutches" perhaps? I love those eucalyptus blooms!

      Delete
  2. I've always want to put Euc. macrocarpa somewhere in the garden! I remember our quick visit that month -- seems much longer ago. Best foot forward today! You're going to do great postsurgery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does seem so long ago, but everything Pre-COVID has that feel.

      Delete
  3. If the Eucalyptus that came with our house had had flowers like that I'd have had a harder time letting it go, even in the face of the neighbor's complaints and the tree's unfortunate placement uncomfortably close to the house. I hope the surgical procedure is smooth and painless. Let the healing begin!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you had it to do all over again would you get rid of the eucalyptus? I mean... do like having it gone now that you've had time to adjust, or do you wish it was still there?

      Delete
  4. I remember how many plants just seemed almost fake compared to what I was used to. I did not realize Grevillea was such a large plant. I try to save my garden tour pix for winter posts. I really feel for you having to do anything but garden in the summer. Your mishap has me being more careful, so consider that your public service.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am missing out on one of the best times to be out in the garden, that's for sure.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousJune 11, 2021

    I sure wish some of these would grow where I live. Hoping for the Very Best outcome on your surgery today.

    ReplyDelete
  6. For a long time there were only the Eucs. The past few years they started adding Grevilleas, etc, and then some of the more common Cycads from the Whitelock collection. More interesting now. Still most visitors stick to the Asian and rose gardens, so it's usually almost deserted.

    Best wishes for successful healing of your ankle!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I still have never visited the Asian or rose gardens...(and thanks!)

      Delete
  7. I love the tassel-like blooms of Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna 'Silver Princess' They are gorgeous!
    Hope your surgery goes well, and it mends super quickly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Someone mentioned earrings, that would be fun!

      Delete
  8. I'm so glad you saw the eucalyptus in bloom. Spectacular!

    The cycads keeping Dory company look like Macrozamia communis.

    The first time I visited the Australian Garden, I was surprised by open and "undesigned" it was.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The same for me, the first time and every time.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!