ARTICLES
Climate Change confuses Flowering Trees (continued)
18th July:
The main tree of this study is
at its peak, its blossoms fully
blown, with their stamens out
for the bees to fertilise.
Those gorgeous blossoms from
much closer up.
Viewed from the north, all three
wattles are now fully blooming,
however, the main tree is still
resplendent.
This was surely the loveliest day of all, at least for that main tree. Wattles on both sides of the lake were alive with blossoms, their
perfume strong everywhere! Hordes of bees were having a joyous time with so many flowers to choose from, not merely the wattle
and banksias; springtime had arrived in the middle of winter! In the lake the waterbirds were abundant, ducks of numerous sizes
and colours were swimming, wandering through the bush looking for scraps, or squawking from dozens of nests in the trees of those
protective islands. I spent over an hour walking around.
23rd July:
A marked change! The yellow has
faded on all three trees, whilst purple
blossoms have appeared on a tree
behind.
The beauty of the main tree
is quickly fading, no longer
releasing its perfume.
The banksia’s yellow
‘brushes’ now have
stamens, giving them a
pink tinge.
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 68 NO 3
A view of the full banksia
tree.