Sunday, February 15, 2009

I HAVE A TREE








which is malicious,


sneaky, prickly



a killer and makes me fat.....




The tree has killed the giant coral tree beside it, drops these heavy pineapples on my head, tries to, as if hit me would not be able to tell the tale, drops these malicious prickles, and then has the temerity to have delicious nuts in the pineapple bombs, boiled in salty water I can not resist ... pure fat, and tends to make me shiny as well.

Because of all these traits I m considering the tree loppers and will plant giant boganvillas to decorate the stump of this huge Bunya Nut Tree, a native tree of the area. I can not hug this tree.

13 Comments:

Blogger Cliff Ape said...

I don't recall seeing any trees like that in or around Melbourne, Victoria. Do they only grow in Queensland?

February 15, 2009 at 6:11 PM  
Blogger yevisha said...

a majestic tree although the prickles look a bit unfriendly. nuts sound nice though

February 15, 2009 at 9:54 PM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

The tree is indigenous to Queensland high country, although trees are found in northern NSW and the tropics of Queensland. I do not understand why they are found in the tropics as where they grow in the high country is a lot cooler than the surrounding plains. The beautiful Bunya Mountains are named after the tree. The aboriginals used to have a big gathering in the Bunyas every three years, co inciding with a bumper crop. The trees grow to 50 metres or more and are shades of distinctive green, depending on the age of the spikes. the nuts can be boiled or roasted. The tree drops the nuts around February. Very heavy and if hit could do you in, the spikes will go through thongs, obligatory footwear in Queensland.

Trees are found in Brisbane and surrounds but would have been introduced by Europeans. I am debating and debating about having this huge tree removed but is in a spot accessed every day. I have had a couple of near misses from the football size nut cases hitting me on the head....

February 15, 2009 at 10:09 PM  
Blogger Cliff Ape said...

Great post, very informative. Must be a hard decision to get rid of a majestic tree like that, though bouganvillas are very beautiful as well.

February 15, 2009 at 10:27 PM  
Blogger Margaret D said...

Looks a nasty tree if I may say so.
Could do one a lot of damage if a spike fell on your head.

February 15, 2009 at 10:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interesting. I love your blog. You live on the other side of the world from me. As far as the tree, how old is it? If you feel it's in the way, then remove it. But, I think it's beautiful.

February 16, 2009 at 7:31 AM  
Blogger mandy said...

Can`t say i`ve heard of this tree myself Lizzie....I would recommend a hard hat...lol....
My neighbour has a bouganvilla growing and it has come over our fence...I love them....Just have to watch out for the spikes though...

February 16, 2009 at 10:48 AM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

I guess will just rake up the prickles until next February, when it hurls its bombs. The tree is 40 years old I believe.

I will plant the boganvillas anyway and they may strangle over time the bunya nut tree, then I can tell myself I am not responsible immediately.

The tree has a jurassic feel and look about it.

February 16, 2009 at 10:53 AM  
Blogger Oscar said...

Yummy bunya nut that makes you shiny! Difficult decision. I had a similar dilemma with a huge oil palm in my yard - beautiful big tree dropping great fronds with huge spikes over a lovely bit of sit down area. I chopped it! But then again it never gave me great fatty, shiny nuts.....

February 16, 2009 at 9:50 PM  
Blogger diane b said...

It is a dilemma, but your safety is more important than the tree's and what about little grandchildren visiting. What if one fell on them?

February 16, 2009 at 10:52 PM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

Yes you are right Diane, Joseph is my main concern, the trees towers over the alleyway accessing the stables. As soon as Joseph arrives for the three days a fortnight he is up here, the first thing is to see Milo Miranda, his pony. I usually rake and mow the spikes before he arrives but this month has been difficult with the huge nuts falling to the ground without so much as a by your leave.

I do not eat the nuts but do give them away as they would have to be the most fattening food I have experienced. I think I am so noble not eating them. Each nut has a significient amount of flesh, not like eating a macadamia nut, have a tree full of those also, delicious, try seven or eight macadamia's in one nut and twenty or so nuts in each cone. Fat and shiny......Also if the nuts are buried they can be used for 'ron....they shoot and can then dig up the tubers and eat them as well.

.

February 16, 2009 at 11:16 PM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

I am playing the devils advocate here.....sitting on the fence, not under the bunya nut tree though or may be my last sit....Tazar did it hurt to chop up the oil palm?

February 16, 2009 at 11:20 PM  
Blogger Artoholic said...

What a fantastic tree Elizabeth! It would be a shame to see it go. And all those calories, but what a delicious way to get plump!

Wonderful images!

February 18, 2009 at 7:43 PM  

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