It is entirely possible that each time I go to WA I will come back with a new favourite Banksia. This August, Ali and I discovered the gaudy, eye-watering colours of Banksia coccinea, the aptly named scarlet Banksia.
Read MoreOdds and ends
Its been a while since my last blog post. Almost a month, in fact. I think I've been waiting for a theme or an idea to explore, but in the meantime I've been accumulating plenty of images that I want to share. So, a blog post with odds and ends from here (mostly Perth) and there (one from Canberra), all taken over the last month or so. Ming Thein calls these kinds of posts 'singles' on his thought-provoking blog.
Read MoreBanksia up close: a post-script
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 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 MoreMy PhD will be on...
In my last post I wrote about the first month of my PhD experience, about getting all the paperwork in order, about the enormity of planning for the next four years. So what am I actually studying?
In short, orchids and fungus gnats! Yep, fungus gnats. Let me explain.
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