Local Jarrahdale resident, Clive Glands is a giant of Horticulture in the district, having spent many years as head gardener at Whitby hospital. Pictured below standing in front of one of many 35m plus Karri trees on his property – possibly the furthest north a Karri tree has been noted growing to such a height – and still young in terms of the trees expected lifespan and height to tower above the canopy.
Clive has been planting a very special arboretum on his property over the last 45 years, which include:
Melaleuca quinquinerva Bay tree
Macadamia E rudis, rhaphiophylla, marri
Willow E grandis
Red tingle Araucarias (multiple spp)
Kurrajongs (multiple spp) Moreton bay fig
Tuart Pittosporum undulatum and mock orange
Stringybark Edible fig
Karri Illawarra flame tree
American and European plane trees Swedish plane tree
Horse chestnut Cork oak
Claret ash Asian bell tree
Manchurian pear Red cedar
Indian coral tree Carob
Grevillea robusta European elm
Red flowering gum Wattles inc Cootamundra and podalyriifolia
Sydney bluegum Blackbutt
South American pepper tree, male and female Pines – several spp
Canadian sugar maple Mulberry
Red maple British ash
Queensland firewheel tree Fiddle-leaved fig
Clive Glands standing in front of Karri tree in Whitby , Serpentine Jarradale
oldest olive tree in western australia
Clive loves nature, and planting unusual trees on his property. According to Clive many of the species planted are to provide a “food chain for anything that wants to live down there”.
Some of the wildlife spotted on his property include long-necked tortoise, marron, herons, spotted pardalote, dugite and tiger snakes, racehorse goanna, geckos, King’s skink, fresh water mussels, microbats, and a red Phascogale.
Landcare SJ and Shire Environmental and Biodiversity Officer, botanist Dr. Penny Hollick, recently visited Clive, to register the 83 year olds arboretum for the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale’s Significant Tree Register.
What was truly amazing though, were the oldest olive trees planted in Western Australia – around the time the property was developed in 1844.
Mr Glands said, “In those days there was no lighting, and the olive oil produced from the trees fruit was used in lamps to light the homestead”. The trees with a girth of 5 metres stand over 20 metres tall.
It was truly a horticulturist’s paradise and an absolute pleasure to share Clive’s passion – he is still planting trees!
