After Dark

IN about 1973 to 1975 there was a show on Australian Television called "The Aunty Jack Show". We (Don and I) were very young and this show was like "our" show. For a time (3 months) we lived at Don's mother's house and used to get our old black and white TV and watch this in the spare bedroom, while she made loud comments outside the door as to why didn't we come and watch "Temptation" or something.

http://members.pcug.org.au/~stmcdona/auntyjac.html

http://home.aanet.com.au/dag_fest/Sounds/

http://www.auntyjack.org/

We loved this show...and being young a few episodes were watched whilst smoking Don's own (purely organic) crop of the dreaded weed, wrapped expertly by me in a cigarette rolling machine Don had. We only smoked once or twice a week and this was the one. We would go outside and have a smoke and then come inside and watch our favourite. And you know that show is even better straight. The Aunty Jack Theme became our theme...and has bought tears to our eyes many times.

But there was an episode of that show which delighted Don for ages...it was the one where John Mellion played a constable circa 1880 and he had a sidekick caled "After Dark" who was a blue eyed aboriginal black tracker...soooo poiltically incorrect these days. The kids and I played a repeat of this show days after his funeral.

Today I went to the local nursery (as per Mirk's siggestion) to but a memorial tree...and guess what I saw as soon as I went inside...

a tree called "After Dark"....

Don's Trees (two incase one karks it) are called Agomis " After Dark"
Jim & Jackie Koppman, who have been in the horticultural industry for over 30 years, are the breeders of this new exciting variety of Agonis.
Jim & Jackie found this plant as a lone specimen growing in a propagation tray with other Agonis cuttings, it appeared to have darker foliage than the other green leaved plants. They knew that this plant had special qualities and planted it into a pot and placed it to one side in the nursery. When placed in the full sun the magnificent burgundy colorings of the foliage were clearly seen, this lone plant had the most stunning dark burgundy foliage with brilliant claret new growth.
As the plant grew it was observed that the leaves were thinner and it had a semi weeping habit as the plant matured. In bloom the flowers are white with a deep burgundy center compared with the normal Agonis variety that has green broader leaves with fragrant white flowers with dark green centers. As a mature specimen the ‘After Dark’ grow to 6m high X 3-5m wide, smaller than the normal variety of Agonis.
Agonis ‘After Darks’ for sale took 7-8 years of hard work
Jim & Jackie found that this new plant was very hard to propagate and the only way to produce large numbers was to tissue culture it. From the day that they found this lone plant in the propagation tray to releasing the Agonis ‘After Darks’ for sale took 7-8 years of hard work. Jackie informs that the Agonis ‘After Darks’ love to be grown in well-drained soils but love plenty of water, and they will grow best in full sun. They can be pruned back hard which will encourage the colorful juvenile growth. For good color Jackie recommends to fertilise well with a fertiliser that is high in phosphorous, Devotion™ Time Release Fertiliser & well-rotted horse manure are good to use.