If I started waxing lyrical about how much more there is to bees than honey, you might think I’m going to go on about pollination and food crops and so on. Well not today. Today I want to talk about a bee product that is just as amazing and potentially beneficial but no one seems… Continue reading Defender of the City: how stingless bees protect their hives
Tag: Australia
Photos for Lovers of Australian Poetry
Photo a day challenge — Week 20: April 1st to April 7th, 2022 I am cheating with my feature shot this week and one later in the piece. I am selling off my old camera and so I went and downloaded remaining photos from the memory card before formatting it. I decided to use those photos to cheat… Continue reading Photos for Lovers of Australian Poetry
How Trees can Help you Love what you see in the Mirror
Why society needs to reverse its perspective on beauty and aging If you see wrinkles and blemishes and lost youth when you look in the mirror, this story is for you, and for the society you live in. Think of all the inspiring trees that you’ve seen in your lifetime in person or in photographs. Now… Continue reading How Trees can Help you Love what you see in the Mirror
Queensland Nutmeg – Plant Profile
Our very own Nutmeg and Mace! Australian Bush Tucker Bites presents Queensland Nutmeg (Myristica globosa). Related to the “true” Nutmeg, this nutmeg is a little less pungent but can be used the same way. The red aril is a native Mace. This stunning rainforest tree is visited by Metallic Starlings (Aplonis metallica) in a gregarious,… Continue reading Queensland Nutmeg – Plant Profile
Strawberry Gum
The true Aussie Strawberry to enjoy with cream! Australian Bush Tucker Bites presents Strawberry Gum (Eucalyptus olida). This one is surprising as well as stunning. Strawberry Gums are majestic giants growing more than 30 metres (100 feet) tall. They are also rare, found in one small pocket of land in Northern New South Wales. After… Continue reading Strawberry Gum
Black Bean: Plant Profile
Nutritious seeds not recommended for consumption! Australian Bush Tucker Bites presents Black Bean Tree (Castanospermum australe). It’s a sad fact of Australia’s history that much of the culture of First Nations people has been lost due to government policies that separated people from their land and families. While it is known that many First Nations… Continue reading Black Bean: Plant Profile
Beer from the Bush: Wedge Leaf Hop Bush
Beer from the bush in Australia! Australian Bush Tucker Bites presents Wedge Leaf Hop Bush (Dodonaea viscosa). Before traditional brewing made its way to Australian shores, colonists brewed beer from the fruits of this bush. Of course, for thousands of years before that it had been used by First Nations people. Primarily a medicinal plant… Continue reading Beer from the Bush: Wedge Leaf Hop Bush
The Propagating Hack that Changed my Life
Water-wise and cheap to set up, propagating by cutting has become easier than it ever was before! As we prepared to move house, I found myself dismayed by the number of rare or difficult-to-get plants that were in the ground. I wanted to take them with me! The answer? Propagation by cuttings! This sounds like a… Continue reading The Propagating Hack that Changed my Life
An Introduction to Australian Bush Tucker
NEW eBook with 52 easy to read bush food profiles I’ve just published my first eBook! It’s a collection of profiles with information like alternative names, growing conditions, history, cultural uses and edible uses. You can find it on Etsy or by clicking here you will receive a 10% discount until January 22, 2023! Here’s… Continue reading An Introduction to Australian Bush Tucker
Native Ginger or Alpinia caerulea
Plant Profile Also known as: Growing Conditions: Propagation Uses This plant is a wonderful way to find buzz-pollinating bees in your garden. It delivered my first Teddy Bear Bee sighting and numerous Blue-banded Bee sightings. It is a classic understorey plant from subtropical and tropical rainforests and can therefore be used in shady places in… Continue reading Native Ginger or Alpinia caerulea
Jane Grows Garden Rooms 