What if you lived in Australia? - Page 702

**trailmaster** · February 19th, 2018, 11:55 AM

Kevin here. I have just been reading, that unlike in America, Australia has no native cactus plants. They do have two species of "succulents", shrubs that resemble cacti, but they are not cacti. The land in many parts of Australia is actually ideal for growing cacti (cacti require arid land like many of the desert areas in the U.S.). There is however a fantastic cactus garden called :Cactus Country a 10 acre area that has over 3,000 species of cactus three hours north of Melbourne in a small country town called Strathmerton.

Cactus Country is owned by an American by the name of Jim Hall and he has been operating the garden for the last 25 years. Just about 10,000 visitors come to Cactus Country each year. I can't upload any photos because the website is protected. I was just wondering if any of the Australian members of VEF have ever visited Cactus Country and what do you think of it?

Estreeter · February 19th, 2018, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailmaster

Kevin here.

You are

I thought you're over there

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailmaster

I have just been reading, that unlike in America, Australia has no native cactus plants.

I wouldn't have a fucking clue

but come to think of it the few times I've been to our deserts I don't think I recall seeing them

either way if they're not native here you wouldn't go noticing stuff that ain't there

**effCup** · February 19th, 2018, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailmaster

Cactus Country

They probably have lots of little pricks. Bar the likes of BJ, TA, KR &, um... a select few others,

how un-Australian that would be.

**trailmaster** · February 19th, 2018, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by effCup

They probably have lots of little pricks. Bar the likes of BJ, TA, KR &, um... a select few others,

how un-Australian that would be.

Many of the cactus plants in Cactus Country are almost 25 feet high. The park has a representative number of real cactus plants that an American wandering the deserts of the U.S would see. Here are some photos of the park I got from the internet. As you can see there are small trails that take visitors to the various plots of different kinds of cacti:

**blondifan** · February 19th, 2018, 01:56 PM

I don't know but I was told Queensland had a big problem with 'Prickly Pear', some time ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prickl...s_in_Australia

I just noticed on another link that it's another introduced pest.

**Dr Pepper** · February 19th, 2018, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondifan

I don't know but I was told Queensland had a big problem with 'Prickly Pear', some time ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prickl...s_in_Australia

I just noticed on another link that it's another introduced pest.

They eat the damn stuff in Israel! during the first 6 months of my UNTSO posting I lived in Tiberias and the local market would have several stalls selling prickly pear fruit...and even the bloody fruit has spines on it!

**Tmee2020** · February 19th, 2018, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondifan

I don't know but I was told Queensland had a big problem with 'Prickly Pear', some time ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prickl...s_in_Australia

I just noticed on another link that it's another introduced pest.

That's right. My father remembered in the early 1930s when the infestation was near its peak, about 60 million acres in Qld and NSW.

The Cactoblastis moth was brought in almost as a last desperate measure, and they were introduced to the pear on the property his father was managing. The pear was devastated, almost overnight.

On our farm there are small pockets of the stuff, and that is encouraged to support the Cactoblastis population. If you cut the pear open you will invariably find the larvae inside.

**trailmaster** · February 27th, 2018, 11:31 AM

Kevin here. What do aussies think of global warming? Do they think it is a real thing or just some fantasy coooked up by the media. In America everyone is going nuts over this. Many people think this is why our winters are so much colder and snowier than in past years and why our summers are getting cooler.

I myself think it is nonsense. I have read many articles about this and have seen that in the past there have been decades where certain parts of the U.S. have had very cold and snowy winters and cooler summers. The earth itself has alternating periods of cooling and warming that lasts for about 100,000 years at a time. The last cooling period is what was known as "The Ice Age"

Any comments, opinions? Inquiring minds want to know!

Estreeter · February 27th, 2018, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailmaster

What do aussies think of global warming?

No different to the rest of the world.
Differing opinions across the board.

It's real,
It's not real,
It's exaggerated,
It's a Communist Conspiracy,
It's a natural cycle,
It's blah blah blah

**Arturo2nd** · February 27th, 2018, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estreeter

No different to the rest of the world.
Differing opinions across the board.

It's real,
It's not real,
It's exaggerated,
It's a Communist Conspiracy,
It's a natural cycle,
It's blah blah blah

Did you leave out "Blimey, it's hot today?"

February 19th, 2018, 01:56 PM	#7015
blondifan Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 4,406 Thanks: 54,999 Thanked 60,209 Times in 4,401 Posts	Probably through an ancient episode of Landliine' or the equivelant. I don't know but I was told Queensland had a big problem with 'Prickly Pear', some time ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prickl...s_in_Australia I just noticed on another link that it's another introduced pest.

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February 19th, 2018, 11:55 AM	#7011
trailmaster Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 59,888 Thanks: 1,328,972 Thanked 707,162 Times in 60,062 Posts	Kevin here. I have just been reading, that unlike in America, Australia has no native cactus plants. They do have two species of "succulents", shrubs that resemble cacti, but they are not cacti. The land in many parts of Australia is actually ideal for growing cacti (cacti require arid land like many of the desert areas in the U.S.). There is however a fantastic cactus garden called :Cactus Country a 10 acre area that has over 3,000 species of cactus three hours north of Melbourne in a small country town called Strathmerton. Cactus Country is owned by an American by the name of Jim Hall and he has been operating the garden for the last 25 years. Just about 10,000 visitors come to Cactus Country each year. I can't upload any photos because the website is protected. I was just wondering if any of the Australian members of VEF have ever visited Cactus Country and what do you think of it?

February 27th, 2018, 11:31 AM	#7018
trailmaster Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 59,888 Thanks: 1,328,972 Thanked 707,162 Times in 60,062 Posts	Kevin here. What do aussies think of global warming? Do they think it is a real thing or just some fantasy coooked up by the media. In America everyone is going nuts over this. Many people think this is why our winters are so much colder and snowier than in past years and why our summers are getting cooler. I myself think it is nonsense. I have read many articles about this and have seen that in the past there have been decades where certain parts of the U.S. have had very cold and snowy winters and cooler summers. The earth itself has alternating periods of cooling and warming that lasts for about 100,000 years at a time. The last cooling period is what was known as "The Ice Age" Any comments, opinions? Inquiring minds want to know!