As I sit at the computer tapping this out the forecast tells me the temperature is heading towards 26 Celsius today. For some the first day of spring is tomorrow so it looks like its arriving right on time.
I took these pics a couple of days ago on the delightfully named Yellow Rock Road in the beautiful Shellharbour hinterland in NSW, Australia. The red buds are just beginning to show on these historic Coral Trees (Erythrina) that line the road leading to a series of dairy farms.
According to a document prepared by Shellharbour Council, Coral Trees (aka Flame Trees) are historically part of the Illawarra and this Avenue of Coral Trees is an excellent yet now rare fragile example of the cultural planting fashionable from the 19th century. The Avenue is a culturally significant marker in the historic and wider landscape.
Coral trees were once prevalent around all farm areas of Shellharbour. Tree avenues were fashionable in the 19th century, especially around a homestead or along the drive leading to the homestead. They were generally sought as a shade tree, to make roads and entrances and to protect the farm from the southerly winds. Cultural plantings are evidence of settlement and the taming of the landscape for agricultural, industrial or aesthetic purposes.
A quote from papers dated 1839-1861 of Dr Robert & Mrs Menzies of ‘Minnamurra House’, Minnamurra Lane, Jamberoo by Arthur Cousins gives a clue to their planting:
"There was also a fence whose posts were beautiful coral trees, attractive to dollar birds and others and affording good shade in summer to the cattle."
Menzies is also attributed as being the first person to bring Coral tree cuttings from Capetown, South Africa sometime around 1839. Whilst some coral trees remain near homesteads and scattered in former paddocks, an extended avenue like the one along Yellow Rock Road is rare. This particular Avenue is attributed to being planted in c1895 by local farmers in the area of the Robb, Couch, Clarke, and Dunster farms.
Many species of 'Erythrina' have bright red flowers (cf. Greek erythrós meaning ‘red’) and growth of the branches can resemble the shape of sea coral. All species have bean-like seed pods. The resilient buoyant seeds are often carried by the sea for large distances and may be called ‘sea beans’. The seeds are eaten by many birds. The leaves are used as food plants by the larve of some species. Many birds visit the nectar-rich flowers, including some parrot species e.g. Lorikeets.
As this wonderful display of colour is only going to get better over the next few weeks it might be a good time to Visit Shellharbour.
As this wonderful display of colour is only going to get better over the next few weeks it might be a good time to Visit Shellharbour.
