Notes from the Library

Stacks of new books are being added to The Library,  all funded by having quit smoking.  What a win-win this is!  The new purchases fall into four main categories covering photography, garden/landscape design, food and art.  Recent highlights include

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  "The Wirtz Gardens".  A sumptuous two volume edition featuring all the gardens created by the legendary landscape designer Jacques Wirtz over the last fifty years.   Inspired by these masterpieces we  have commenced the mass production of Box hedging and soon the hill behind the house will begin a transformation influenced by Wirtz. The goal is to plant one thousand new Box plants each year from now on.

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  "The American Wilderness"  Published in 1990 this is the final large format volume of works by the photographer who did more than perhaps any other individual to help the world understand the importance of preserving wilderness areas in National Parks. He was one of the original greenies and a true hero.

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  "The Big Fat Duck Cookbook".  Terry Durack wrote that  "This is not just a cookbook.  It is not just an art book.  It is not just a record of the most innovative and exhilarating self-taught cook ever to have come out of the UK.  The Big Fat Duck Cookbook transcends all others because Heston Blumenthal transcends all others."   Yep!!!

Wollemi Pine Christmas Trees

Its Christmas morning. And it's beginning to rain here at The Drip, serious rain after one of the driest and hottest years on record. Today a new Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis, joins the others we have planted here. We aim to plant another Wollemi Pine in the grove every Christmas.

The Wollemi Pine is one of the oldest and rarest trees on the planet. With less than 100 adult trees known to exist in the wild, the Wollemi Pine is now the focus of extensive research to safeguard its survival. It was discovered in the nearby Wollemi National Park in 1994 and was one of the reasons the Park was recently granted World Heritage status. Wollemi Pine seems to thrive here at The Drip, no doubt feeling right at home.

The photo shows the first Wollemi Pines that we planted here in 2006. These were part of the first worldwide release of Wollemi Pines. Royalties from sales of the Wollemi Pine go to support the conservation of the Wollemi Pine and other rare and endangered plant species.