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16/02/2008


my photo

EUCALYPTUS

I must confess that I wasn't really prised to my garden bench for a whole month, I was on an unforgettable trip to Australia. The photo above was taken from a distance and you can just make out the little fellow sitting up high in the tree. We were very fortunate to have seen this lovely koala and more of his friends and family, in their wild habitat on Kangaroo Island, which lies south of Adelaide. A lifetime ambition has now been fulfilled.

Eucalyptus, or gum trees, are the most characteristic feature of the Australian flora. It grows to 115 metres (375 feet) and has a smooth blue-grey trunk, and long, narrow leathery leaves with a bluish-green hue and many oil glands. Flowering during late summer, it also produces fruit shaped like spinning tops and coated with powdery wax.

Yorkshireman and Australian emigrant, Joseph Bosito, first discovered the volatile oils in Eucalyptus in 1848, and began distilling them. Commercial production started in Victoria in 1860 and, since then, out of the 300 species discovered, 30 have found medicinal use.

The tree's amazing ability to dry out marshy soil also led to its use in eradicating the malaria mosquito in Africa, southern Europe, and India.

13 comments:

Threadspider said...

Welcome home from a fantastic trip! We missed you. Looking forward to seeing lots more pics. The koala is'nt loading on my machine : (

Anonymous said...

I thought you may have gotten off this bench once in awhile, but not like this! Sounds wonderful. I'm so glad you're back !!! Just for the record the koala picture works here.

Lynn said...

Good to have you back Louise! The eucalyptus leaves are very useful in relieving stuffy noses and bronchial congestion. I make a sachet blend with them that I make dream pillows with.

kate said...

I am glad that you are back Louise! It sounds as if you had a wonderful trip. I loved the picture with the Koala ...

Now I'll be looking forward to visiting your blog and seeing your spring flowers!

BumbleVee said...

Well, good for you... what a great place to go for a holiday.

One place I would like to go still....

Anonymous said...

Hello! It sounds like you had a wonderful trip.
It's also nice to read this interesting and informative entry, with its good photo. I look forward to lots more! Take care xx

Anonymous said...

Whoops I'm flightplot not lightplot!

Anonymous said...

Hope to hear more of your fantastic trip. welcome back. You have been missed in the blogging world but glad that you have fulfilled an ambition.
Sara from farmingfriends

VP said...

Oooh Louise - lovely. Australia's a brilliant place isn't it? I've been twice and loved every minute. I look forward to hearing about where you went on your travels...

Aren't Koalas funny in the way they snooze away for 18 hours totally relaxed in their tree?

Anonymous said...

lightplot! ROFL... I'll call him that from now on! :o)

Well now I realise why you were away so long, I'm surprised you came back! Louise I think your little freind may be stuck! I don't suppose you managed to smuggle a cuddly bear back in your handbag did you? :o) xx

Joanna said...

Welcome back lucky you seeing koalas, I would love to see them.

Crafty Green Poet said...

glad you had a good trip - lovely photo, wonderful to see a koala!

shadows and clouds said...

welcome back! nice to see that all is well. sounds like such an exciting trip!!! can't wait for more photos!