Banksia

As you walk towards the washing line you'll pass this oldish Banksia with its corn cob-like husks. It's an Australian toughie.

I haven't yet got the knack of trimming this shrub-tree - there always seems to be a lot of dead wood showing. It grows right by a small but important right-of-way, so I am often attacking it with my secateurs - probably at the wrong time of year.