Significance of the growth of the blood red geraniums

Sal fills her garden with plants and flowers that remind her of England. She even plants an entire alley of poplar trees leading up to Cobham Hall. None of the English plants thrive in the Australian climate. The poplar trees become little more than twigs. The only plants that flourish are the blood-red geraniums that Mrs. Herring gave to Sal. The failure of the English plants to take root symbolizes the need for the settlers to adapt to a new life in Australia. They cannot just try and rebuild England. They will have to learn to adapt to the nature and climate of their new land. The blood-red geraniums symbolize the vibrant and flourishing native environment of Australia.