A month or two ago I wrote a blog post about how beautiful Banksias are. Last month I was in Perth doing fieldwork and saw some even more beautiful Banksias. I just had to write another blog post about my new favourite plant, Banksia menziesii.
Read MoreOrchid notebooks for orchid study
Or - The importance of surrounding oneself with beautiful things.
During the course of my undergrad degree, I discovered that notebooks were important to me. And not just important for storing information. I found that nice notebooks encouraged me to carry them everywhere, so that I always had a notebook on me. They encouraged me to write more notes, and keep all my notes from various courses all in the same place. I can't say for sure that they made me smarter or got me better grades, but I'm sure I enjoyed the experience more
Read MoreSexually frustrated gnats
I had the first mini breakthrough of my PhD last month! I've been working with flowers of Pterostylis longifolia, a common, multi-flowered greenhood which flowers during winter in the wetter forests of south-eastern Australia. I've been 'presenting' the flowers in various locations around the country-side, a method known as 'baiting', hoping to attract pollinators to the flowers...and it worked!
Take a look at the video below...can you guess what's happening?
Read MoreBanksia up close
Banksia flowers are actually hundreds of tiny flowers grouped together. As the Banksia 'candles' age, they form multiple hard, woody fruits known as follicles. These hard woody fruits act as a protection for the seeds inside. In many species, the follicles are so tough that they require fire to break them open, and release the seeds. Many Banksias flower during autumn and winter, often at a time when not much else is flowering.
Read MoreLord Howe Island: revisited
I've been thinking lately about that time I spent two weeks on Lord Howe Island. I don't know why the reminiscing is happening now, but it is. Perhaps I just really want to go back there.
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