It's Bolly season! By which I mean that the White Bolly Gum (Neolitsea dealbata) is doing its amazing colourful thing in the rainforests on the northern side of Mount Keira (Djeera). I always smile when I see this small, shade- and moisture-loving tree, with its large, soft felty leaves and fruits that range from yellows through to oranges, reds and purple-blacks.
Right now the fruit are only just starting to develop, but recent wet conditions have prompted a flush of pinkish new growth, which is often conveniently located at eye height. (And yes, this is one local tree that is not a natural forest giant, one of dozens in fact.)
If you take a trip to the Illawarra Rhododendron and Rainforest Gardens in Mount Pleasant you can see White Bolly Gums growing naturally in a rainforest setting, looking outstandingly happy along the edges of the meandering rainforest tracks.
Blue Triangle butterflies can often be seen hovering nearby, as it's a food plant for their larvae, and a wide range of birds enjoy munching the fruit (which are pretty but not palatable for humans). Its preference for moist and shady conditions means it's suited to sheltered gardens on the escarpment slopes, out of the way of intense sun or westerly winds; a cool damp spot in an atrium would also suit it well.
