Believe it or not, these photos are from the same fig tree in Sydney’s botanic garden. This is Ficus macrophylla f. colunmnaris that is native to Lord Howe Island off the east coast of Australia. As much as there are many fine fig trees in this great garden, and I’ll always go and have a look at them, this has to be my favourite by far!

With this tree, it doesn’t have a main trunk, it has several that come from the aerial roots that grew from the branches. According to the little plaque on the tree, the largest of these trees was recorded as reaching around one hectare in size in 1882. How fascinating is that? It’s probably the most random and pointless fact you will read all day, but I think that random facts are often the best!

On walking around on Saturday, I think that my favourite colour of flowers was red. It was a very close call really, as there were purple, pink, yellow and white all looking great too but the reds have been the most vivid and bright.

Next is my favourite odd looking specimen, which is this Cereus uruguayanus, a cactus from Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. I love a good specimen of an odd looking plant, they have a certain character that great, showy flowers cannot have.

My favourite rose has to be this one. There are some great looking single colour roses here, but I like the pink speckles.

The final favourite for the day is that jacaranda season is upon us, with a delightful sprinkle of purple spreading across Sydney. It doesn’t last all that long but looks good doing so.