Today’s photos come from Marie Newport in Dianella, Western Australia.

My husband loves gardening. He loves the Western Australia natives and created this garden from scratch only two years ago. The kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos species and hybrids, Zones 10–11) are unlike any others I have seen. They are taller than our gutters on the unit and have made our place a very pleasant place to be. Birds visit the garden all the time, I suppose like meeting at a cafe!

A brilliant, colorful mass of kangaroo paws! These plants are native to Western Australia and have become increasingly popular around the world, especially in hot, dry climates similar to where they are native. It is easy to see why they are so well-loved.

Another view of the kangaroo paws in all their colorful glory.

Can you believe how tall these ones are?

Kangaroo paws are pollinated by native birds, mostly varieties of honey eaters and wattle birds. Red is very visible to birds but difficult for most insects to see, so just like hummingbird-pollinated flowers in the Americas, this group of Australian bird-pollinated flowers also boasts some intense red colors. Australia’s bird pollinators like to perch on the flower stems to sip the nectar rather than hovering in the air as hummingbirds do. Because of that, kangaroo paws and other bird-pollinated flowers from this part of the world have thick, sturdy stems that are capable of supporting the weight of their nectar-sipping visitors.

One last view of this brilliant garden! The area is small, but it is packed with color and is a perfect habitat for native birds. The native plants of Australia are very different from those our North American readers are used to, but wherever in the world you garden, one thing remains the same: no matter how small your space, you can create a beautiful garden, and if you include plants native to your area, that garden can be a sanctuary for you and the local wildlife.

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