Sculptures of a different 'genus'.....

It struck me that after a week of showing 'man made' sculptures Mother Nature is pretty astounding in this department herself. Walking through Hepburn Heights bushlands yesterday it was fascinating to see the complete life-cycle of the Banksia (native to WA) happening in all it's various stages on the one tree. In the top shot you can see the flower spike covered in tightly packed flowers ready to burst forth, and at the back a very old hairy spike. Below left in a blaze of full bloom colour, an important source of food for nectivorous birds and small mammals who play a big part in pollinating the Banksia. To the right the fruit of the Banksia, a woody follicle imbedded in the axis of the spike which usually only open after stimulated by bushfire. Below, this particular tree is the  Banskia prionotes, they can look a little 'shabby chic' with all this activity going on at the same time, but it is a typically WA bush and kerbside tree that we enjoy every day. Hope your week has started well, still hot and humid here in Perth, but hopefully not for much longer, take care.....