Cockatoos feast merrily on American pine-cones and Italian cypress nuts. Of course, many birds are specially adapted to feed on native trees and shrubs, and that means some of the best bird-watching is to be found at the National Botanic Garden. Griffin included a botanic garden in his original plan but it didn't really get going until the '60s. Perhaps it is thanks to this late start that the garden is, remarkably, dedicated entirely to Australian plants. Conveniently located right next to ANU, it has provided me with a perfect introduction to the native flora.
Australian plants are definitely different.
There's one rhododendron, a few geraniums and hibiscus and many orchids. Beyond that, everything is strange. Outside the shrinking rain forests, the prevalent look is lean, dry, gray-green and russet, a reflection of scorching summers and sandy soils that hold little moisture. But that look encompasses an astonishing range of subtle colors and textures. Conifers are rare, but there are non-conifers that look just like pines.