John & Lauras’ house set in gardens & eucalyptus trees
At the end of April this year 2019 I visited my brother John and his family in Camden, Sydney. The last time I visited them (they’ve been here many times) they were in Oakdale, so I hadn’t been to this home on a semi-rural property. The house is nestled in among tall gum trees in a large landscaped garden with many ornamental shrubs, all heavily mulched to retain moisture in this drought prone area.
Egret on the back of Diamond the cow
Everywhere I heard birds. I felt like I was in an aviary. From kookaburras at dawn to noisy minors to grass parrots, wrens, pied currawongs, king parrots and crows the bird life was loud and amazing. John has four cows and I was thrilled to see white egrets hanging around them and willy wagtails use the cows to attract flies and sit on them. The shy white egrets also like to sit on the cows’ backs.
John in the wild land between his property and the university
Purple top
John’s property backs onto University land and there’s a wide strip of wild land between with a gully and shrubs and trees for example Boxthorn Lycium species, Casuarina or she-oak Casuarina equisetifoli, also known as Australia pine tree native to Australia and South East Asia, Hawthorn Crataegus species and heaps of privets Ligustrum species and thorny Honey locusts Gleditsia triacanthos both of which John says are not native. The cows eat the gleditsia seedpods and the seeds germinate in the cow pats.
Gotu kola growing wild
Amongst the tall grass I was very amazed that gotu kola Centella asiatica was growing with stems that stretched up through the grass. There were patches of a small leafed Chenopodium Amaranthus species and signs that the wild deer had been grazing on it. There were also patches of purple top Verbena bonariensis. Purple top is common in NZ in dry, waste places.
Freshly used wombat hole in a bank by the river
We saw two large active wombat holes and at the edge of the slow moving river we heard reptile water dragons, plop into the dark, deep looking water. I found the shed skin of a red belly black snake which is poisonous causing illness but not
Red belly black snake skin
death. I’m so glad we didn’t stumble on any live snakes hiding in the grass. I confess I walked in trepidation stepping exactly where John had put his feet silently sending out positive vibes wishing them no harm. But the instinct of fear made me very alert.
At the Saturday morning Camden farmers market I discovered dragon fruit Hylocereus undatus. Also known as Pitahava, night blooming cereus, strawberry pear, Belle of the Night or Cinderella plant. It is in the Cactus family and I was enchanted by the red/pink easy peel outer
Dragon fruit
skin and the white insides with black dots (seeds). And it tasted so soft and delicious, I was scheming how to take a plant home. I have since learned it does grow in NZ but needs warmth.
Camden Community garden sign board
Next to the Farmers market is the Camden Community Gardens on land donated by a farmer. The gardens were divided into a herb garden and raised plots that people could tend. I met Marilyn who’d come to work in her garden. I was amazed to see the familiar ‘weeds’ of annual Nettle Urtica urens and mallow Malvaceae species, amaranth Amaranthus species all at the same stage in their lushness which became smoothie ingredients. Marilyn was enchanted with my weed knowledge and suggested I organise a workshop there – July 2020 fingers crossed. Saturday 27th July 2019 workshop in my garden, https://www.juliasedibleweeds.com/workshops
Marilyn who has two plots in the community garden
Wild weeds in the community garden. Mallow, plantain and nettle among others
