Re: Silk Floss tree in flower

Laura Cooper wrote:
> 
> Hi Sean and all!
> 
> This sounds so wonderful- I really must make a North trip to see this and
> other lovely Bay Area gardens! Today we were looking out at our young (but
> remarkably tall) Silk Floss tree. Planted out from a five gallon container
> five years ago it's at least 26' high. It's not yet flowering that much, and
> I may have found out why. A flock of screeching green parrots just came
> through and ate what few blossoms we had! Ahh Los Angeles. Mutant Ninja
> Parrots, escapees no doubt.

Hi Laura
We suffer this problem some years with out Kowhai (sophora tetraptera)
but in this case it is native pigeons not parrots. If the big golden
peaflowers of the kowhai survive they attract the nectar-feeding Tuis, 
for which they were evidently designed. The Tuis are a delight, quite
large rolliking birds who not only have a lovely bell-like call. but as
well do a lot of cheerful tooting and chugging (and even quite
noticeable throat-clearing). They a glossy dark blue and have a puff of
white feathers under their chin.

The pigeons are enormous, I should think the largest in the world now
the dodo is no more. They have a very noisy flight, but are otherwise
nearly silent, though I understand they are able to manage a soft coo
occasionally. Their idea of a gourmet spring meal is soft young buds and
though kowhai is a favourite I have seen them grazing on medick (the
bird almost as large as the plant) and one year they tried to have my
plumtree buds as well and I had to do some shooing off.

They are lovely birds and much rarer than the tuis, so it is hard to
deny them their spring greens, but I was glad this year that they left
us quite a good show of blossoms. 

Moira

-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
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