Autumn is always the most spectacular time at Davidson Arboretum. As these photos taken this blustery, grey morning plainly show.
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| Deciduous trees behind the Rotary shelter |
The leaves have turned to their autumn colour but there are also other changes afoot. Parks and Gardens staff of the Toowoomba Regional Council have been working hard in the Arboretum.
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| Camellias along the fence. |
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| Replacement planting |
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| Clivias |
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| Annuals |
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| Chinese Celtis |
A Chinese Celtis, Celtis sinensis, will grow into a magnificent tree, but it becomes an invasive weed in Toowoomba. It is possible this one in Davidson grew from a seed dropped by a bird. The King Parrots and Pale-headed Rosellas love the fruit of this species.
Just see this young Celtis outstripping the delicate maple, and many more seedlings are springing up.
Below, three giant pines were removed from here to open up a space too heavily shaded. Other trees around them were already straining to grow away from them. Specimens underneath were becoming weak and misshapen.
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| The Pinetum at Davidson Arboretum |
The remaining pines include some really interesting ones and it is planned that young of these will be grown and planted in Frenau Pines Pinetum on Hursley Road. Here they will have more room to develop than the tiny hectare of the Arboretum.
Ken Davidson planted rare, interesting and/or exotic trees, especially deciduous
temperate trees that colour in the autumn, and this vision will live on.
Lastly, two little nature notes which occurred while I was at Davidson this morning.
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| This White Migrant butterfly looks just like the leaves it is resting on. |
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| An immature Golden Whistler. This is very similar to a female Golden Whistler but has the rufous margins to its wing feathers. Note the yellow under the tail. |
