tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post8995009663488946893..comments2023-08-16T18:56:13.685+10:00Comments on diary of a suburban gardener: Banksias, real and imaginedSue Catminthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-63787287226508783902012-08-27T22:58:48.116+10:002012-08-27T22:58:48.116+10:00The book's in print - I recommend it. Best rea...The book's in print - I recommend it. Best read aloud with an Australian accent, but if you can't manage that, still worth reading! I think even now people who are hungry will eat anything that might be OK - I guess it is a matter of trial and error, but the mistake can be deadly.Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-57574560447331770502012-08-27T22:53:57.570+10:002012-08-27T22:53:57.570+10:00I once took a guided tour on Aboriginal land with ...I once took a guided tour on Aboriginal land with an Aboriginal guide and was shown how to suck the nectar from the flower. I haven't thought to do it since, but next time I seen a Banksia flower I will take a sip ... (there's none flowering in my garden at the moment).Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-55498205528225192252012-08-27T22:51:30.357+10:002012-08-27T22:51:30.357+10:00hi Faisal, welcome back, I missed you. I can see h...hi Faisal, welcome back, I missed you. I can see how scary the Banksia men are. I found them terrifying, and don't think I realized for a long time that they grew on trees.Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-75137483418051220382012-08-27T22:49:28.818+10:002012-08-27T22:49:28.818+10:00thanks Bernie, it's all so familiar to us, yet...thanks Bernie, it's all so familiar to us, yet so exotic to our overseas cyberfriends.Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-30139671694920356092012-08-27T22:48:28.710+10:002012-08-27T22:48:28.710+10:00thanks Holley, it is very interesting, but then I ...thanks Holley, it is very interesting, but then I guess all plants are interesting, they are all so different. I considered including it in your book review meme but wasn't sure it was enough of a book review.Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-73464763868701386312012-08-27T22:46:51.552+10:002012-08-27T22:46:51.552+10:00sounds very interesting ... must be a very small c...sounds very interesting ... must be a very small carved toadstool???????Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-77254422998983610022012-08-27T22:46:11.393+10:002012-08-27T22:46:11.393+10:00in a way this blogging business is a bit like desk...in a way this blogging business is a bit like deskchair travel, isn't it?Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-20559533494618242462012-08-27T22:43:27.036+10:002012-08-27T22:43:27.036+10:00I have learned something new from this comment - t...I have learned something new from this comment - thanks Diana. Both grew on Gondwanaland, but when the continent split up, proteas stayed in your place, banksias in mine. But all on the same family tree. Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-83315740282710596012012-08-27T22:30:30.869+10:002012-08-27T22:30:30.869+10:00I imagine banksias are to us what fir trees are to...I imagine banksias are to us what fir trees are to you?Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-84014127468162758062012-08-27T22:29:48.584+10:002012-08-27T22:29:48.584+10:00the banksia men are very scary, could give littlie...the banksia men are very scary, could give littlies nightmares.Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-90521120488706163552012-08-26T21:30:34.024+10:002012-08-26T21:30:34.024+10:00You have to admire a tree species that has been ar...You have to admire a tree species that has been around for 40 million years! I always think the moment of discovery that a plant or fruit is good to eat is an interesting mystery. What made to aboriginals decide that the flower nectar could be consumed I wonder? Did they watch other animals or insects and decide to try it for themselves? We will never know, but there has to have been a leap of faith involved, because consuming unknown things can prove harmful or even lethal. I also wonder how they came upon a method to harvest the nectar. Surely, it was a matter of trial and error with some determination involved. One can't help but appreciate such ingenuity.<br />P.S. I love the name of the children's book! It sounds like a great bedtime story.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-22334024694071712862012-08-25T11:01:16.833+10:002012-08-25T11:01:16.833+10:00I love this tree and its fascinating fruit...what ...I love this tree and its fascinating fruit...what a great bedtime story...I agree with Alistair....my goodness what an interesting fruit...have you ever tried it?Donna@Gardens Eye Viewhttp://gardenseyeview.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-57331838791618606582012-08-24T20:25:55.694+10:002012-08-24T20:25:55.694+10:00Hi, Catmint! Banksias are my favourite flowers. I ...Hi, Catmint! Banksias are my favourite flowers. I only wish I had a Celia Rosser print! <br />My sister used to be terrified of the Banksia men - you can well see how those hairy figures could become nightmare. Nothing's further from the truth, of course - banksias love the light!Gardener in the Distancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14478393904059307841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-54795047314946588722012-08-24T13:09:16.616+10:002012-08-24T13:09:16.616+10:00I remember reading the Adventures of Snugglepot an...I remember reading the Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie to my boys when they were little ones, and reading the stories to my Year 1's over the years. I've always loved those stories and they've always gone down well with young children. Great information in your post today. Banksias are just fantastic plants.BernieHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04435004798656616711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-31608805785448973292012-08-23T00:08:04.094+10:002012-08-23T00:08:04.094+10:00Thanks for introducing me to a plant I've neve...Thanks for introducing me to a plant I've never heard of. Very interesting information. And an interesting looking plant!HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-90515003089419613092012-08-22T16:01:31.775+10:002012-08-22T16:01:31.775+10:00Fascinating to see the flower of the Banksia, I ha...Fascinating to see the flower of the Banksia, I have a toadstool which has been carved out of the Banksia nut, must go and have another look at it!Paulinehttp://leadupthegardenpath.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-80718822604326415692012-08-22T15:53:18.565+10:002012-08-22T15:53:18.565+10:00Love your story and fun. New plants for me here. ...Love your story and fun. New plants for me here. Rohrerbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02136631378931478644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-1815588348517187472012-08-22T06:18:55.614+10:002012-08-22T06:18:55.614+10:00Banksias are the Australian part of the protea fam...Banksias are the Australian part of the protea family? The suikerbossie protea was used by the early settlers as a source of syrup - now just the birds enjoy the nectar.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-71949200349149924892012-08-22T03:37:13.112+10:002012-08-22T03:37:13.112+10:00Such a fanciful story and tree!Such a fanciful story and tree!Kukkaiselämäähttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05290634140893043265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174929999542605112.post-52929021414277118392012-08-22T02:43:24.130+10:002012-08-22T02:43:24.130+10:00Fascinating shrubs and trees catmint. Banksia men...Fascinating shrubs and trees catmint. Banksia men! aw weel, 'String and ring 'im!' very nice bedtime stories for the little ones. Alistairhttp://www.aberdeengardening.co.uknoreply@blogger.com