A beachside garden

I spent a lovely weekend with friends at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast.

I couldn’t help being fascinated by the interesting plants and bushes growing in the sandy soil. It’s all so different from vegetation found just an hour away in Brisbane.

As well as their ability to grow in such poor sandy soil is the fact that they are salt resistant. Most plants would be burnt by the salt in the air, but these plants survive and thrive.

The plant below comes originally from the Hawaiian islands.

A lovely view looking south.

This yellow hibiscus flourishing along the side of the house.

The New Zealand Christmas Bush, below, can grow up to twelve metres high.  They make a terrific hedge when trimmed regularly. They are abundant with flowers throughout the summer which attracts many birds.   The last couple of years this particular bush has flowered most of the year thanks to the good rainfall.

An exotic parrot feeding on one of the blossoms

Here’s another exotic bird of the short blonde hair variety!   This pic shows just how big these beachside plants can grow in the right environment.

Back off to Brisbane later today, back to the humble cabbage and lettuce in the allotment!