What a beautiful day, sun sun sun and rising temperatures.
Predicting the weather for November?
On another note Geraldine sent through a piece of interesting, but sadly common, agricultural politics:
“[…]this morning with a report on radio national about farmers planting a south african grass which grows up to 4m tall, plenty of fodder for their cattle, but there are claims pockets of the grass are being planted near to sections of trees/bush they are keen to clear but can’t touch legally … so that when/if fires come the bush will be destroyed by the resulting unusually hot fire.
More weed politics!”
Also about radio, and from the ABC as well, in the program “By Design” Christophe Girot, professor of landscape architecture at ETH, Zurig, speaking of the role of exotic nature in designing city landscapes. National identity through landscape design:considering local ecology how can one respect legacy of ornamental landscape/gardening.
Acknowledging the cultural role of many exotic plants wich became integral part of various cities signature character, as example he used the Chinese Cedar, without wich the Champes Elisee of Paris wouldn’t be the same, the speaker warn of the need of not be so stringent in the use of plants, as exotic species can provide great results, without shy away from ecological orthodoxy. When confronted with the question about the risk of exotic plants turning into aggressive weeds, strangling natural ecosystems, the professor remind the listener that the problem of nowadays environment is not solely plant related, on the contrary.
Christophe talks also of a precious piece of knowledge which this blog cherish, Lebanese Cedar, which was imported in Europe as a results of the crusades, more then a thousands year ago, and regarded through the centuries as noble trees, highly aristocratic tree, symbol of wealth and power, taking the place in popular culture of the Oak tree, almost embracing a spiritual dimension.
Understanding trees and plants in cultural terms is a key component in designing today’s cityscapes and is extremely vary from culture to culture.
Thanks to Ilaria for letting the blog know about the interview.
While Lizzie draws attention to yet another ABC program, Background Briefing, which will be aired on Sunday June 1, Weeds: Enemy or ally.
There’s an invasion of noxious weeds on the way as the planet heats up and dries out. Invasive plants could flatten Australia’s native vegetation, blowing out current costs of about $8 billion a year. Warnings abound that we don’t understand these plants – including from people who say that some weeds can do a good job. Reporter Diane Martin.
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