New projects are always so much fun!

I set out on a project that seemed to get bigger and bigger, as the plan evolved from the small bonsai and ornamental tree collection and the fossil collection I had acquired over the years, to a major display of unusual plants.    I have a huge interest in botany, and the fossil record of Earth's plant life.

So, when I saw that a new and unusual species tree had been discovered in Australia, one that had not been seen ever before, whose fossil record showed it existing in the Jurassic period - then disappeared for millions of years - well I put in on my "life list" of plants that I just have to see.  Pictures are great, but to see the real thing would be much better.  The watch was on, and I kept track of news to see if this tree could be safely viewed by the general public.

I already have a pretty substantial life list for bird watching - including a California Condor I saw in the wild, just before they were collected to save them from sure extinction.  That was incredibly exciting.  The bird is enormous and looks like something out of the ancient past.   I digress....

If the research information is correct, (one cannot believer everything they see on the internet...)  then the last known fossil record of the Wollemia nobilis, the fossil form known as Agathis Jurassica, is from about 2 million years ago, and consists of pollen.  Before that, there are fossil records of compressed leaves that date back to a couple of hundred million years ago.

I purchased a fine fossil specimen of this amazing tree for my fossil collection.

Then the Australians decided to propagate the tree for botanical gardens so that people could see this tree around the world, while not disturbing the fragile wild population.  The search was on to find out where I can glimpse the lost and found living dinosaur.

Tune in for more, and the next installment of my adventures with the Wollemia nobilis...