Nature's firework

This small explosive bundle of colour is a Grevillea banksii. There are about 360 species of Grevillea, an evergreen flowering plant.  It has a common name of spider flower (understandably) and particularly attracts honey eaters, which are a joy to watch. These flowers are referred to by the Aborigines as "bush lollies" because the sweet nectar can be easily squeezed onto the hand and consumed, or into a small amount of water in a coolamon as a drink. However, one must never drink the nectar directly from the flower, as in some species, the flower itself contains toxic cyanide! I love Grevilleas because they flower abundantly for most of the year and are an incredible splash of colour.