Inspired by Tasmania
Ever since delving into the world of permaculture, there’s been one principle that’s really held true to me and that is “Use and value diversity”. Observing the comings and goings in my own world of native and introduced flora and fauna has become something of second nature to me now. So naturally, when I’m travelling far from home it’s like opening a door full of new possibilities and connections to observe.
Tasmania has been on my list for yonks and it blew my mind. We travelled there last spring, and I have to say, it was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. As soon as we arrived, I was struck by the abundance of flowers everywhere we looked.
I’ve never seen so many different types of blooms in my life. There were wildflowers of all colours and sizes, and lawn daisies everywhere! Even the trees seemed to be bursting with new growth. As someone who loves photography, I couldn’t resist taking my camera out and capturing all the stunning flora and foraging wild asparagus along the bushland neighbouring the shore when we arrived at Seven Mile Beach.
The true stars of the show, in my opinion, were the ancient tree ferns at Russel Falls. They were absolutely enchanting, and it was easy to imagine that we were walking in some kind of fairy tale forest. I could have spent days wandering through those parks, marvelling at the towering giants all around us. Really soaking in the untouched beauty of these pockets of valuable history.
Another thing that struck me about Tasmania was how much the landscape could change so suddenly. As we travelled from Hobart to Devonport, we saw the scenery shift from rolling hills to rugged almost alien-scape mountains to coastal cliffs. It was a reminder of just how varied and beautiful our planet can be.
One thing that saddened me, though, was how many tree giants we’ve lost here on the mainland. Seeing so many of them in Tasmania made me realize just how much we take for granted and how much we’ve already lost. It was a sobering reminder to fight for, regenerate and appreciate the natural world while we still have it.
All in all, our trip to Tasmania was an unforgettable experience. I’m so grateful for the opportunity given to me. It’s a place that’s truly a floral paradise and has formed the inspiration for our latest collection – Virid dream.
Jacky