Ancient...

This shot was taken at Victoria Pass this morning,on my way to the supermarket...beats sitting in traffic,which I did for years.
I had a great time,the mist was rising out of the valley,colours were beautiful,but in the end I went with this shot....
1. I can see the profile of a head in the rock on the left...My thought is of an aboriginal,smiling down on the landscape....and
2. The young grass tree,which isn't so young.
Xanthorrhoea Johnonii...that has a lifespan of 600 years.
The trunk takes a decade to form initially,then a further 20 years or more before the thin leaves rise above it.
From then on it grows 1-2 cm in height per year.
It's growth rate is about 1 metre every 100 years...amazing.
The flowering spear however grows at a rate of 2-3 cm per day,growing to 3 metres,attracting honey eating birds,bees,butterflies etc.

So im thinking this little guy must be 30-40 years old already.Its picked a pretty nice spot for itself.