Tuesday 27 February 2007
Lonicera fragrantissima 郁香忍冬
年三十在Wisley看到的郁香忍冬。忍冬，又称金银花，原产中国，花和叶入中药，英文俗称honeysuckle。全世界有一百八十多种种类，中国有超过一百种。郁香忍冬，冬天开花，花香浓郁，英文俗称winter honeysuckle, breath of spring。
在北美，一些种类的忍冬由于生长快速难以控制，被划为有入侵性的植物。在英国似乎没有这样的问题。
Lonicera fragrantissima, 郁香忍冬 or winter honeysuckle, belongs to the honey suckle family (Caprifoliaceae). This picture was taken in RHSwisley last week. It was in flower and giving wonderful scent. The honeysuckles 忍冬 originated in China and there are more than 180 species worldwide and more than 100 in China. The leaves, stems and later on flowers of the plant have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than one thousand years and are still been used now. Some species of the honeysuckles have been a problem as invasive weeds in some parts of northen America but similar problem have not been reported in the UK.
复习一下小时候学过的分类学：
A revision of plant classification learned in school:
Classification of Lonicera fragrantissima
郁香忍冬的分类
界 Kingdon : Plants 植物界
亚界 Subkingdon: Vascular plants 维管植物亚界
上门 Superdivision: Seed plants 种子植物上门
门 Division: Flowering plants开花植物门
纲 Class : Dicotyledons 双子叶植物纲
目 Order: Asteridae 菊目
科 Family: Dipsacales 川续断科
属 Genus : Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) 金银花属
种 Species : Lonicera fragrantissima 郁香忍冬
参考 Reference：
USDA Plant Profile
植物学
Wiki
Monday 26 February 2007
White Heather
I heard that white heather brings good luck. Hope the many white heather in the garden bring us good lucks for the new year.
院子里有很多石楠，白色的紫色的都有。白色的石楠花，听说能带来好运。
院子里有很多石楠，白色的紫色的都有。白色的石楠花，听说能带来好运。
Half empty feeder 吃食机器
The goldfinches in our garden took only three days from discovering this feeder packed full with thristle seeds to half empty, and another two days to completely empty it! They have got a new name: pecking machine.
We are getting another one of these to feeders to satisfy these peckers..
我给金翅雀们起了新的名字：吃食机器 。它们自初一那天发现它们的喂食器后，只用了三天时间就吃成了这样，只用了五天时间就把整个喂食器吃了个精光光。按最新统计，经常来光顾这个喂食器的金翅雀就有五只，时不常为了抢位而打起来。看来只有弄个新的喂食器才能满足这些吃食机器的胃口了。
Friday 23 February 2007
初一吃饺子，初四吃馄饨 Wonton for Wonderful Festival
俗话说得好： 初一吃饺子，初四吃馄饨。
没听说过？无喱头编的。
反正今年初一没有吃饺子，初四吃了馄饨。
馄饨皮买的。
绞肉，大白菜，香菇，马蹄，葱，姜，剁碎了，加油，香油，酱油。绞啊绞啊绞。
包好下锅。酱油辣椒碟。
好吃。。。
Had wonton for the 4th day of the festival
Delicious ravioli-like parcel, could be boiled, steamed, deep fried.
Bought the wonton pastry from a Chinese market
Stuffing:
Lean beef mince
Chinese leaf; Chinese dry mushroom (shiitake); water chestnut; root ginger, a little piece; salad onion, a few
finally chopped or blend in blender
add olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce
mix well with mince beef
Boil for about 3min in plenty of water
Sauce:
Soy sauce, chilli sauce, finely chopped spring orion and coriander
没听说过？无喱头编的。
反正今年初一没有吃饺子，初四吃了馄饨。
馄饨皮买的。
绞肉，大白菜，香菇，马蹄，葱，姜，剁碎了，加油，香油，酱油。绞啊绞啊绞。
包好下锅。酱油辣椒碟。
好吃。。。
Had wonton for the 4th day of the festival
Delicious ravioli-like parcel, could be boiled, steamed, deep fried.
Bought the wonton pastry from a Chinese market
Stuffing:
Lean beef mince
Chinese leaf; Chinese dry mushroom (shiitake); water chestnut; root ginger, a little piece; salad onion, a few
finally chopped or blend in blender
add olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce
mix well with mince beef
Boil for about 3min in plenty of water
Sauce:
Soy sauce, chilli sauce, finely chopped spring orion and coriander
Wednesday 21 February 2007
Gold Finch & The First Day of the Spring Festival
猪年大年初一和金翅雀的故事
从前邻居的花园里经常聚居着一群金翅雀，它们个头不大，性格温顺，红颊白颈，黑色尾羽上配着金黄色的一圈，实在惹人喜爱。尽管我们的花园里也鸟语不断，蓝冠山雀，知更鸟，黑山鸟和松鸦等等络绎不绝, 还有热带的长尾小鹦鹉光临，更不用说随处可见的喜鹊和斑尾林鸽了，但从来没有得到过金翅雀的垂青。我问邻居奶奶有什么秘诀，她很爽快地告诉我：蓟花籽啊！金翅雀最喜欢蓟花籽。然后还很热心地告诉我在哪里能买到：附近的某某花木中心就有卖的。于是我便兴冲冲地去买了蓟花籽,放在新的鸟食筒里挂在树上,然后心满意足地等着做姜太公，愿者来食。可是，几个星期过去了，没有等到金翅雀的光临，却等到了让我们搬离的通知。一通忙乱，最后搬走之前，我没有忘记从树上摘下蓟花籽筒，带到了新家。把雀食带过来，也不知道能不能吸引到附近的金翅雀，不过总是要尝试一下罗。
I used to envy an old neighbour's garden: it always has them colourful gold finches in it. They have red cheeks, white collar, and a golden yellow band on their tail wings, guaranteed to provide colour for the winter garden. They have a mild temper too and don't normally fly away when she takes pictures quite close. We didn't use to have any gold finch in our garden, although there were enough shelter and food around and plenty of blue tit, great tit, robin, black bird, parakeet etc., around, occasionally a pair of Jay too. So I asked her one day, what's the secret of attracting gold finches. Oh, thistle seeds, she said, they definitely love thistle seeds! You can get them in the garden centre nearby you know, she helpfully added. Always in hope, we went along to the garden centre in the soonest opportunity, bought some magic seeds and feeders, started the experiment.
However, a few weeks had passed and no gold finch but a notice to leave letter had arrived at our door. It was sad to leave, especially without the gold finches, but I made sure I took the seeds with me to the new house.
关于金翅雀，邻居奶奶还和我讲了个古：她家附近的金翅雀的故事。原来20年前，在邻居奶奶还没有当奶奶的时候，住在她家河对面的，是个古怪的老奶奶，也有人云，她是个巫婆。她家的院子里人头高的野草丛生，一尺宽的大树从房子中间长出来，房子里没水没电，没有任何现代设备，可老奶奶不肯做任何变动。院子里倒是野生动物的天堂，各种生物在内作巢，其中也包括金翅雀。直到有一天老奶奶去世了，树倒猕狲散，金翅雀才散落在周围各家。一开始它们也没有飞过河这边来光临邻居的花园，是后来问来了秘诀之后照计而行才引到贵客。邻居奶奶说：一开始我也有点灰心，蓟花籽都挂出去好久了它们也没来过，它们一定不会过来我这里了。不过耐心的等了几个星期之后，它们还是来了，而且从此就在这里安家了！
接下来搬家，中间许多事不表。新家花园挂出去的四五个鸟食具迅速引来了知更鸟和山雀，不过蓟花籽筒还是门前冷落。
House hunting followed by packing followed by moving followed by unpacking, etc. I hanged out a few feeders on the trees in the new garden and these have soon attracted robins and tits around (the robins are especially fond of the fat balls) but the thistle seeds were still left un-touched.
狗年摇摇尾巴结束了，金猪来啦。大年初一，一个懒觉起来，习惯性地看看外面的鸟食情况：两只肥嘟嘟的知更鸟，已经把两个全脂鸟食划为它们的领地；蓝冠山雀们则还是小心谨慎地，左右顾盼，忽悠俯冲，初尝既弃，不过好像比一开始的时候已经好多了。再看看这边蓝色的蓟花籽筒：咦，一只小鸟在上面！肥肥的。。头上有红色。。颈上好像有白色围领。。尾翼上有金黄色。。再翻出鸟类手册，就是我们盼望的金翅雀啦！它独自在那厢啄得很香，对周围世界完全不关心的样子，憨厚可爱。更让我喜出望外的是，转眼出现了第二只金翅雀，在第一只的对面吃食，也是一副老饕的样子。它们还啄得很有节奏，样子很象小时候玩的跷跷板两边各是一只搪瓷公鸡的一种玩具，你啄一下，我啄一下，你啄一下，我啄一下。好像五分钟的样子，这两只才心满意足，飞走了。歇五分钟，又重新开始！
Soon the year of the dog was saying goodbye and celebration for the golden pig was in order. The first day of the Spring Festival and the Pig, I was doing the usual 2 minutes gazing at the feeders and thinking of the things to do: fireworks, Chunlian, etc. There were the usual two chubby Robins and tits around. But what was that little red dot doing there? It's a chubby one, some red on it's head, white strip on neck, yellow in the tail... Grab the binocular and the AA field book -- it's "unmistakably" the gold finch! Aha, we've made the grade! Thanks neighbour, thanks golden pig! Look! there's another one coming, pecking away with the chubby one, like two toy chicken on a seesaw. They are much more relaxed than the blue tits, pecking up to 5 minutes at the feeder at one time, without even much of a look-out gesture. We soon saw a third gold finch and there's sometimes a friction brewing because there are only two "seats" on the feeder. Maybe we just need to get another feeder. And a bird house too, maybe? Oh a long lense too while we are at it, for taking pictures of our birds?
Tuesday 20 February 2007
狗年大年卅，补记 Chinese New Year's Eve
RHS Wisley
Angela's Kitchen
大年三十是周六，兴奋。可是找不到人一起吃年饭，郁闷！决定去RHS Wisley植物园，就当作是看花街。
Chinese New Year's eve is Saturday, great! Couldn't even find someone to have the big banquet with though, depressing! That's how I started the last day of the year of the dog. Finally, I decided to go to RHS Wisley with aniu, maybe we can pretend its the festival flower street in guangzhou (dream on baby).
虽然就住在不远，可这是第一次去著名的薇斯丽花园。没想到阴冷低霾的一个二月天，这里也有这么多人，真可见英人对园艺的热情，也可想象盛夏时节的热闹景象。随即加入成为成员，还送了本最近热播的《自己动手种蔬果》电视节目的配书。
First time in Wisley also we live nearby, it's busy even this time of year! I joined as a member, got £5 voucher and Grow Your Own Veg thrown in, bargain.
三九天气，盛放的只有雪滴子，番红花，黄水仙。熟悉的香气时常袭来，是原产中国的腊梅, 是家的味道。很多紫藤，虽然只剩下光枝，但枝藤舒展，修剪设计得很美，暮春时节应该是胜景。
The weather's so cold and miserable, thankfully we have snowdrops, crocus and early daffodils to cheer us up. This one, with green heart on the white petals, is particularly pretty, no wonder the RHS magazine The Garden used it as cover for Februrary. There's also a popular Paper Brush tree from China (some kind of Chimonanthus) giving a most wonderful scent, reminds me of home... Didn't know bare branches of wisteria could be so beautiful. So many wisteria too, I could imaging the colour and scent in April already.
这就是冬天的乐趣：想象春天的美丽！
Maybe that's the best thing about Winter, you could always imagine Spring.
我们去到已经两点多，花园四点半关门，走了一小半还不到的地方，约好了，下次再来。
The place is vast and we only covered a quarter of the land in 2 hours before the garden is closed. We'll be back, that's the plan.
打电话回家拜年，爸爸妈妈想我了，朋友们在去逛花街的路上，在放烟花，在家里看电视，很开心。
Rang home to say new year's wishes, mum and dad said they miss me and wish I was there, friends are on their way to the Flower St, the fireworks, or watching telly at home, enjoying the atmosphere. First time in then years the ban for fireworks has been lifted, should be a lot of fun.
想来想去，既然找不到蹭饭的地方，决定年饭两人去安瑞丝吃。这是在伦敦能找到的最像在国内吃一顿的地方。第一次去的时候，还以为掉进了时光隧道，去到了深圳食街。有这样想法的同道一定很多，想想啊，伦敦的中餐馆都是西化了的港式馆子，间间雷同，有如麦当劳般值得信赖，向这样的川菜馆子少之又少。高档的不错的中菜馆也有几个，如丘家茶馆，可今天这种需要热闹的场合就不适合了。
We've decided to go to Angela's Kitchen as my usual new year's eve banquet is losing its hostess this year and Angela's is just about the best SiChuan restaurant in London. I could be in any of the many SiChuan restaurants in Shenzhen, I thought when I first come across this place. Anyway, most of the Chinese joints in London are just not worth going as they are all the same, the same menu, the same dish, as reliable and boring as McDonalds although they are not all owned by one giant.
It seems lots of people are feeling the same way about picking the place for their festival gathering tonight, we were almost instantly turned away at the door as we didn't have a booking, being disorganised ourselves, but luckily had a table to share in the end. Two Chinese girls sat at the other end of the same table, so it's not only me who could't find more people to spend tonight with then, I was thinging to myself, feeling a bit better already.
说对了，去就是借热闹去啦。一推门，人声鼎沸，热气腾腾，带位小姐拿这个大板子上面长长的定座单子，准备找我们的名字。不好意思，我们没有定位呢。。啊？那我们没有位了，都订满了！小姐准备送客，转念一想，说，如果你们愿意拼台，桌子倒还有一张。。本来就是借热闹吗，上！我们才坐下，来了两位mm也拼台的，寂寞的人不止我一个啊。
吃的肚滚肠圆，还有打包的，决定去附近宜家逛逛，消消油。
充实的一天，从早上的悒郁开始，到晚上的开心结束。还有烟花，明天放。春联，记得写。
A great meal, bags to take away for tomorrow, a postprandial stroll through IKEA. Perfect way to end the last day of the year of the dog. There's also fireworks to look forward to tomorrow in the garden, and ChunLian to be practised.
Happy Piggy Year
Angela's Kitchen
大年三十是周六，兴奋。可是找不到人一起吃年饭，郁闷！决定去RHS Wisley植物园，就当作是看花街。
Chinese New Year's eve is Saturday, great! Couldn't even find someone to have the big banquet with though, depressing! That's how I started the last day of the year of the dog. Finally, I decided to go to RHS Wisley with aniu, maybe we can pretend its the festival flower street in guangzhou (dream on baby).
虽然就住在不远，可这是第一次去著名的薇斯丽花园。没想到阴冷低霾的一个二月天，这里也有这么多人，真可见英人对园艺的热情，也可想象盛夏时节的热闹景象。随即加入成为成员，还送了本最近热播的《自己动手种蔬果》电视节目的配书。
First time in Wisley also we live nearby, it's busy even this time of year! I joined as a member, got £5 voucher and Grow Your Own Veg thrown in, bargain.
三九天气，盛放的只有雪滴子，番红花，黄水仙。熟悉的香气时常袭来，是原产中国的腊梅, 是家的味道。很多紫藤，虽然只剩下光枝，但枝藤舒展，修剪设计得很美，暮春时节应该是胜景。
The weather's so cold and miserable, thankfully we have snowdrops, crocus and early daffodils to cheer us up. This one, with green heart on the white petals, is particularly pretty, no wonder the RHS magazine The Garden used it as cover for Februrary. There's also a popular Paper Brush tree from China (some kind of Chimonanthus) giving a most wonderful scent, reminds me of home... Didn't know bare branches of wisteria could be so beautiful. So many wisteria too, I could imaging the colour and scent in April already.
这就是冬天的乐趣：想象春天的美丽！
Maybe that's the best thing about Winter, you could always imagine Spring.
我们去到已经两点多，花园四点半关门，走了一小半还不到的地方，约好了，下次再来。
The place is vast and we only covered a quarter of the land in 2 hours before the garden is closed. We'll be back, that's the plan.
打电话回家拜年，爸爸妈妈想我了，朋友们在去逛花街的路上，在放烟花，在家里看电视，很开心。
Rang home to say new year's wishes, mum and dad said they miss me and wish I was there, friends are on their way to the Flower St, the fireworks, or watching telly at home, enjoying the atmosphere. First time in then years the ban for fireworks has been lifted, should be a lot of fun.
想来想去，既然找不到蹭饭的地方，决定年饭两人去安瑞丝吃。这是在伦敦能找到的最像在国内吃一顿的地方。第一次去的时候，还以为掉进了时光隧道，去到了深圳食街。有这样想法的同道一定很多，想想啊，伦敦的中餐馆都是西化了的港式馆子，间间雷同，有如麦当劳般值得信赖，向这样的川菜馆子少之又少。高档的不错的中菜馆也有几个，如丘家茶馆，可今天这种需要热闹的场合就不适合了。
We've decided to go to Angela's Kitchen as my usual new year's eve banquet is losing its hostess this year and Angela's is just about the best SiChuan restaurant in London. I could be in any of the many SiChuan restaurants in Shenzhen, I thought when I first come across this place. Anyway, most of the Chinese joints in London are just not worth going as they are all the same, the same menu, the same dish, as reliable and boring as McDonalds although they are not all owned by one giant.
It seems lots of people are feeling the same way about picking the place for their festival gathering tonight, we were almost instantly turned away at the door as we didn't have a booking, being disorganised ourselves, but luckily had a table to share in the end. Two Chinese girls sat at the other end of the same table, so it's not only me who could't find more people to spend tonight with then, I was thinging to myself, feeling a bit better already.
说对了，去就是借热闹去啦。一推门，人声鼎沸，热气腾腾，带位小姐拿这个大板子上面长长的定座单子，准备找我们的名字。不好意思，我们没有定位呢。。啊？那我们没有位了，都订满了！小姐准备送客，转念一想，说，如果你们愿意拼台，桌子倒还有一张。。本来就是借热闹吗，上！我们才坐下，来了两位mm也拼台的，寂寞的人不止我一个啊。
吃的肚滚肠圆，还有打包的，决定去附近宜家逛逛，消消油。
充实的一天，从早上的悒郁开始，到晚上的开心结束。还有烟花，明天放。春联，记得写。
A great meal, bags to take away for tomorrow, a postprandial stroll through IKEA. Perfect way to end the last day of the year of the dog. There's also fireworks to look forward to tomorrow in the garden, and ChunLian to be practised.
Happy Piggy Year
新年，新家，新一页
New Year, New Home, New Blog
刚才算一下，原来搬到新家今天是刚刚一个月，那说明没动笔也有一个月了！既然离开了小岛，进入了新年，那博客也该重开一页了。
It's been a month since the last entry to my little diary about the little island and also a month since the house move. A New Year has started, a new house moved in, a new diary is in order.
想起来很好玩，去年一次去按摩的时候，按摩小姐推荐了尤加利油，当时还问呢，这是个什么东西呢？长得什么模样？自那之后，却时常碰到这个家乡在万里之外的来客。第一次看见，是到处去看房子的时候，进到一家人家，老太太有一个非常有中国意味的小庭院，并不是放了些仿东方格调的八角亭或钓鱼翁，而是房子中间有天井，天井里舒展地长着一棵树干光滑姿势优美的，就是尤加利。那时候已经是深秋，记得树干上有一圈一圈剥而未落的树皮，院子里充满着异香。老太太说，她冬天便经常将剥落下来的尤加利树皮放入壁炉里烧着，整个屋子便有了尤加利的香。虽然由于各种原因我们没有足下这间屋子，但这个小庭院和这颗尤加利给我留下了很深的印象。
A Story about Eucalyptus
It was about a year ago in a massage house in China I first notice the plant Eucalyptus as the ladies were recommending a Eucalyptus massage oil. No one could tell me what the plant was or what does it look like. So I was curious and made a mental note. Soon enough, I had the first encounter with this visitor from thousands of miles away. We were out house-hunting at the time. The first house we visited had some complicated layout and a big garden that's backing to a greenbelt. It also had a good-sized inner courtyard. It didn't have any oriental object like a pagoda or anything but reminded me of traditional Chinese SiHeYuan courtyards, maybe because they way it was surrounded by other parts of the building but at the same time was spacious. A handsome, medium height and not very wide tree with dark green leaves, smooth silver grey and peeling bark grew in the courtyard. The old lady of the house told me it was Eucalyptus. She also told me that she used to put the peels of the bark in the fire in winter and the the whole house would then be filled with the wonderful Eucalyptus scent. We didn't go for the house in the end for some reason or another but the Eucalyptus and the Chinese courtyard had engraved in my memory.
后来又偶然看到David Attenborough的《行星地球》，原来尤加利是地球上最高的树木之一，只有加州红杉能预知移交高低。最让人惊叹的却是它们丢车保帅的魄力，为了下一代树种的树种得以存活，竟然能利用树油高温干燥环境下易燃的特性，成年树木集体自焚，当然也烧掉周边一切，而早播下的树种发挥快速成长的特性，迅速占领所有地盘，就此独领风骚又五百年！。。。听起来很有些自杀炸弹的恐怖意思。。。
The next time I heard about it was on the Planet Earth programme. It says Eucalyptus is the tallest tree on Earth, with only the California Red Wood to compete with. The
most extraordinary thing is, however, that the way the Eucalyptus deal with survival competition: by self-starting a forest fire, using their own oil, to eliminate all the competitors, burning themselves along the way. The Eucalyptus seeds, which won't germinate without sunlight, then grow with incomparable speed, soon colonise the new forest. What a tree!
和中介约好来看新家的那天天很冷，草地全是湿的，我又感冒得头重脚轻，匆匆看了看船泊的长度便进屋了，根本没有留意花园里究竟有些什么生物。所以当蚂蚁搬家的一天过去，第二天早上巡视新的领地的时候发现花园西南角这颗高大的尤加利，有点像拍到脑门的惊喜。马上想象到红你小火炉，劈劈啪啪的烧着树皮。。。可惜这里却没有老式的壁炉！
I was having a bad cold when we came and view the house and didn't going the garden properly. So it was a nice suprise when I saw the Eucalyptus in the new garden the morning after the move. It is handsome with dark leaves even in this weather, reaching for the sky. I collected some of its peels, emagining what it will be like to put them in bonefires.
想为新博起个头，越扯越远了。可能是因为对原产地远在南半球的澳洲的尤加利却跑到这个北温带国家来生养安息，感觉有点自作多情的惺惺相惜吧, 也许我们应该养只考拉！原来想说的是，猪年大吉，猪事顺利！拜年啰！
It's a story of the new garden, new blog and the new year. Happy Piggy Year.
刚才算一下，原来搬到新家今天是刚刚一个月，那说明没动笔也有一个月了！既然离开了小岛，进入了新年，那博客也该重开一页了。
It's been a month since the last entry to my little diary about the little island and also a month since the house move. A New Year has started, a new house moved in, a new diary is in order.
想起来很好玩，去年一次去按摩的时候，按摩小姐推荐了尤加利油，当时还问呢，这是个什么东西呢？长得什么模样？自那之后，却时常碰到这个家乡在万里之外的来客。第一次看见，是到处去看房子的时候，进到一家人家，老太太有一个非常有中国意味的小庭院，并不是放了些仿东方格调的八角亭或钓鱼翁，而是房子中间有天井，天井里舒展地长着一棵树干光滑姿势优美的，就是尤加利。那时候已经是深秋，记得树干上有一圈一圈剥而未落的树皮，院子里充满着异香。老太太说，她冬天便经常将剥落下来的尤加利树皮放入壁炉里烧着，整个屋子便有了尤加利的香。虽然由于各种原因我们没有足下这间屋子，但这个小庭院和这颗尤加利给我留下了很深的印象。
A Story about Eucalyptus
It was about a year ago in a massage house in China I first notice the plant Eucalyptus as the ladies were recommending a Eucalyptus massage oil. No one could tell me what the plant was or what does it look like. So I was curious and made a mental note. Soon enough, I had the first encounter with this visitor from thousands of miles away. We were out house-hunting at the time. The first house we visited had some complicated layout and a big garden that's backing to a greenbelt. It also had a good-sized inner courtyard. It didn't have any oriental object like a pagoda or anything but reminded me of traditional Chinese SiHeYuan courtyards, maybe because they way it was surrounded by other parts of the building but at the same time was spacious. A handsome, medium height and not very wide tree with dark green leaves, smooth silver grey and peeling bark grew in the courtyard. The old lady of the house told me it was Eucalyptus. She also told me that she used to put the peels of the bark in the fire in winter and the the whole house would then be filled with the wonderful Eucalyptus scent. We didn't go for the house in the end for some reason or another but the Eucalyptus and the Chinese courtyard had engraved in my memory.
后来又偶然看到David Attenborough的《行星地球》，原来尤加利是地球上最高的树木之一，只有加州红杉能预知移交高低。最让人惊叹的却是它们丢车保帅的魄力，为了下一代树种的树种得以存活，竟然能利用树油高温干燥环境下易燃的特性，成年树木集体自焚，当然也烧掉周边一切，而早播下的树种发挥快速成长的特性，迅速占领所有地盘，就此独领风骚又五百年！。。。听起来很有些自杀炸弹的恐怖意思。。。
The next time I heard about it was on the Planet Earth programme. It says Eucalyptus is the tallest tree on Earth, with only the California Red Wood to compete with. The
most extraordinary thing is, however, that the way the Eucalyptus deal with survival competition: by self-starting a forest fire, using their own oil, to eliminate all the competitors, burning themselves along the way. The Eucalyptus seeds, which won't germinate without sunlight, then grow with incomparable speed, soon colonise the new forest. What a tree!
和中介约好来看新家的那天天很冷，草地全是湿的，我又感冒得头重脚轻，匆匆看了看船泊的长度便进屋了，根本没有留意花园里究竟有些什么生物。所以当蚂蚁搬家的一天过去，第二天早上巡视新的领地的时候发现花园西南角这颗高大的尤加利，有点像拍到脑门的惊喜。马上想象到红你小火炉，劈劈啪啪的烧着树皮。。。可惜这里却没有老式的壁炉！
I was having a bad cold when we came and view the house and didn't going the garden properly. So it was a nice suprise when I saw the Eucalyptus in the new garden the morning after the move. It is handsome with dark leaves even in this weather, reaching for the sky. I collected some of its peels, emagining what it will be like to put them in bonefires.
想为新博起个头，越扯越远了。可能是因为对原产地远在南半球的澳洲的尤加利却跑到这个北温带国家来生养安息，感觉有点自作多情的惺惺相惜吧, 也许我们应该养只考拉！原来想说的是，猪年大吉，猪事顺利！拜年啰！
It's a story of the new garden, new blog and the new year. Happy Piggy Year.
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