Melaleucas
- To: b*@mindbomb.net, m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Melaleucas
- From: S* G*
- Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 15:18:39 PST
>Susan - re melaleuca, from a pom point of view, I think they are wonderful.
> Took several photos when I was last in Oz, I thought the shapes and
>colours of them were wonderful - loved the bark - and it seemed they were
>fragrant? Had thoughts about a bush style garden if I was lucky enough to
>live there.
>
Yes - I agree - the bark and the branch shapes are some of the most
interesting things about them.
When I see the contorted shapes of some species I am reminded of the
photographs that Gertrude Jekyll took of odd shaped trees in the woods near
her home - I always think it is a bit of a shame that this kind of
quirkiness is not always appreciated.
My view is that the pervasive culture which seems to make a virtue of being
'neat and tidy' is at least partially the cause - we even have a "Tidy Town"
competition in Australia!!! Needless to say natural environments seem to
score low and nineteenth century style rigid municipal bedding schemes seem
to score hands down - where is William Robinson's spirit when you need him!
(my husband and I call those that seem to suffer from this malady the
'Neatness Police'). The sufferers around my area have a bit of a job coping
with my garden - I'm a big fan of Mirabel Osler's 'A gentle plea for chaos'
and garden accordingly!
(How was that for a soap box effort - I'm just feeling a bit sensitive
because the local council has just cut down three 80 year old banksias at
the end of my street because they want to neaten and widen the road!!!)
PS - there is a great book on the Myrtaceae called "Bottlebrushes,
Paperbarks and Tea Trees" by John Wrigley and Murray Fagg
Susan George
McCrae Victoria Australia
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