Week 4 July 2001: Still at Mittagong early this week. Went on a trip to bushland near Hilltop, a village north of Mittagong. We were searching for the rare Starlight’s Banksia. Found a small population, which may be the only one. The name refers to the location of the species. It grows at the beginning of Starlight’s Track in Nattai National Park. See plants for an image and description of this interesting and threatened Banksia.
Later in the week we were off to Sydney to farewell our daughter and family. They are off to England. Sydney Airport covers an immense area. In the Departure Lounge there is a large mosaic sculpture representing a Green and Gold Bell Frog. We will be posting an image and information on this amphibian in our Wildlife section.
Paid a visit to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. The Gardens are on the site of the first European settlement. There are many mature native and exotic trees in the Gardens.
Drove home with a few nursery stops. Bought two female and one male Kiwi Fruit. “If it’s exotic and edible then will try to grow it”. Also bought Prostanthera lasianthos, P. denticulata and Westringia eremicola.