PASSING through Ipswich the other day I was reminded of the beautiful trees that we have in this city.
Going up towards the hospital a beautiful specimen of a tabebuia stood out with its vibrant lilac/pink coloured flowers.
Only the fourth tree I know of in Ipswich of this type, one near the town bridge, one in Glebe Road and one at Basin Pocket.
They are also available in a golden colour and are sometimes called the trumpet tree.
Tabebuia is a Townsville street tree and we are fortunate to have many beautiful flowering trees in Ipswich, some planted years ago by the council and some by residents keen on brightening up the neighbourhood.
If there was one medium-sized tree to give colour to your property it would be this tree that I would plant. It is absolutely stunning in full bloom.
Other trees that stand out in season are the jacaranda, buckinghamia (ivory curl), parrot, leopard and poinciana and many of the gums with their masses of small flowers that attract the insects and birds.
Looking from a hilltop position in Ipswich, a magic array of colour on the landscape can be viewed in their season. Take a moment the next time you drive around.
At times we tend to be so intent on our journey that we don’t see the ‘forest for the trees’.
With Spring not all that far away, many of the plants and trees that were grown years ago are not so much in favour as they used to be.
Think of the lovely lilac tree, its bright lilac flowers massed on the plant, unfortunately not seen so much in the city anymore.
A deciduous shrub 2-4 metre round as it is high, bare through the winter, then in spring, flowering profusely, before greening up for the year ahead.
Unfortunately, its flowers disappear quickly so use them as cut flowers in your home while still admiring the plant. If you are lucky enough to have a lilac tree, remember that too much shade reduces the flowering of the plant and can lead to flowering mildew.
The lilac tree not only comes with lilac or mauve flowers, but other plants have white flowers, with a variety from France having dark violet flowers.
It is a native to Europe and part of the olive family of plants.
‘Congo’ is a heritage variety from France, ‘Madame Lemoine’, ‘Rouen lilac’ (a hybrid), ‘Cut leaf lilac’, ‘Sensation’ and many other hybrids may be available at times from your local grower. According to Gardening Australia Lilac’s have a hollow stem which gives them their genus name, ‘syringa’, and is named after the Greek nymph Syrinx, who turned herself into a hollow reed to avoid the amorous advances of Pan.
Other plants not making the grade today, but still around are dahlias, gladioli and hydrangeas.
Remember the old hydrangeas, where you could change the colours by adding nails to the ground or by planting in alkaline soils where hydrangeas are pink and not blue.
Sadly, like so many other things, time takes its toll.
Some flowers and trees from previous years have gone out of fashion.
