Summer pattern

John and I began our summer pattern of work - removing veldgrass that survived the winter spraying program. Also collected some seeds (hardenbergia and gompholobium - but not much around).

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Spiders Everywhere

At this time of year we mainly clean up small patches of either geraldton carnation weed or veldgrass that have missed our attention during spring. I encountered lots of spiders whilst moving through the bushland, mostly small ones like this one, which was busy wrapping up a grass-hopper it had snared

We came across a flinders ranges wattle (unusual this far from Grace Vaughan House) and a crop of new fountain grasses coming up from where we had dug them up earlier this year.

This big spider gave me quite a fright when we met eye-ball to eye-ball. It didn't blink! It was about the size of my hand (with fingers stretched out).

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Another cubby

While weeding watsonias, Dorothy and I thought we might do a little seed collecting (hardenbergia) - without much success - then Dorothy checked out the sites where contractors had removed mounds of soil a few years ago - some are regenerating well, others are a bit weedy.

At one of these sites, just beside the path, we found that someone has constructed a cubby house by putting branches on top of 3 balgas.

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A visit to the other side

John and I worked on the Health Department area - mainly pulling out Geraldton Carnation Weeds near the Selby Lodge area.

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Life and death in the bushland

We came across a jewel spider (Austracantha minax) and a fly locked in mortal struggle during our search for Geraldton Carnation weed. Also removed some Fountain Grass and Flinders Ranges Wattle.

Later on we moved into the Watsonia patch - which still has remnants of Watsonia - need to keep a watch on it. Came across a Persoonia saccata in flower.

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Hopping around

We continued with our Geraldton Carnation Weed crusade ... will it ever end?

Came across this grass hopper (or whatever!) - very pretty.

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Still with the GCWs - a never-ending story!

Whilst on our 'search and destroy GCW's' mission we came across this patch of agave in flower ...

Took out some long-tubed painted ladies growing in and around the Agave, then continued on with our GCW hunt. It is depressing finding so much more of the stuff.

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Continuing with Geraldton Carnation Weed

It must have been a great year for Geraldton Carnation Weed - have found two new infestations so far ...

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Nasty infestation!

Just when John and I thought we were getting on top of the Geraldton Carnation Weeds we came across quite a nasty infestation ... will need to come back a few times to watch this one.

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Fountain grass!

I came across a whole heap of fountain grass - in the same area where I removed some last weekend ... otherwise just kept on with removing Geraldton Carnation Weeds.
There were lots of orchids out also - including the blue sun orchids.

The spraying contractors were in the western side of the bushland spraying veldgrass.

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Back to the GCWs

It feels familiar territory - pulling out geraldton carnation weeds in springtime ... also came across some fountain grass (some still to remove with a proper tool next weekend).

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Bulbous weeds to spray

I have produced this map showing bulbous weed infestations we have identified for spraying soon (they are about to go into flower).

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Ixiaitis continued

I continued to remove Ixias from the patch where they have become established. At first when I arrived I thought ... I can't see any ... but by the time I was ready to go home I could see them everywhere ... but there is a limit to how much I can transport in a wheelbarrow ... the bags become very heavy when you have to dig up soil with the bulbs because they have a whole cluster of small white bulbules attached to the main bulb that will drop off if you don't take enough soil ...

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Ixiaitis

The Ixia is getting out of hand. I am wondering if we need to get it sprayed with Metsulfuron. It seems to spread quite slowly,but the density of the infestation is increasing. John and I spent two hours in an area about 3x3 metres.

I think I called it Sparaxis on the map below. It isn't in flower yet, but I think it is Ixia paniculata (Long-tubed Ixia)

Later I went to check out the information sheet for the Shenton Bushland section of the bush to beach walk.

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Freesias to spray

There are lots of freesia to spray along the western boundary. John and I worked on removing the smaller patches likely to be missed by spraying.

Also came across the usual patch of Ixia - not sure how to remove this in the long-term - other than just persistence. The bulbs have lots of tiny bulbules - so care is needed when removing the main bulb from the ground.

Click here to view live map Click here to download the GPX data for this map. Note, this data is an XML file - change the name to .GPX to upload to your GPS./td>

Lots of Freesia

John and I worked mainly on Freesia this morning, also removing the occasional Lachenalia and Geraldton Carnation weed along the western boundary fence where we were working.

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Orchids coming up ...

I am looking forward to seeing all the orchids emerge this spring - greenhoods and blue fairy orchids are everywhere already!

I mainly worked on freesia, geraldton carnation weed, and lupins along the western section of the bushland.

There were lots of small honey eaters in the trees around me - a delightful time to be in the bushland.

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Mapping areas to spray

While working in the bushland we notice that some areas of freesia or lachenalia infestation are just too large to hand weed - and the weeding would cause a lot of disturbance (and make the weed problem worse), so I am just marking those for spraying - especially where they are not too intermingled with native species that may be affected by the spraying.

I have been working along the western boundary in the lachenalia and freesia infested areas. There are lots of small patches that are easily dealt with, and a few large bits that I am leaving.

Lots of Greenhood orchids are coming up - so it looks like it could be quite a good orchid season this year.

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Fungii

Fungii are flourishing after a week of rain!
Not sure what these two are, so any suggestions welcome.

Fungus 1 - could it be Golden Tuart Cortinarius?

Fungus 2 - could it be Smooth parasol?

When not looking for fungi I focussed on freesia and lachenalia (both also enjoyed the rain).

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Great rain!

Setting out on Sunday morning I wondered if we were going to get soaked - but the rain cleared and we had a good couple of hours pulling out Freesias, Lachenalias, and Geraldton Carnation Weeds that are sprouting like mad.

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Black flag - what should we do?

I feel like we are a bit stuck with the black flag infestations - it feels like we have an opportunity to do something about them while they are still small and not infesting good bushland areas - but what? Nothing kills them. Maybe we should just cover the ground with carpet or something for a few years.
We also went to have a look at the proposed site for the re-location of the Radiology Clinic from QEII Medical Centre - to enable Colin Barnett to shoehorn two more hospitals into the QEII site and flog off their existing sites to get some revenue - typical short-term thinking from Barnett ...

View Radiology Clinic Proposal in a larger map
The bushland is responding well to rain - lots of flowers on the way - hovea, greenhood orchids, acacia , daviesia ... it is all happening!

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Back to the bulbs

Good rains (200mm) over past few weeks have brought the bushland back to life - and brought up the bulbs as well.

I read recently in a scholarly article by Bill Scott and Alan Hill that Perth's rainfall patterns have long cycles, and that the dry period we have recently experienced is a normal part of Perth's climate - not necessarily a reflection of Climate Change. I guess our bushlands are adapted to this kind of dry spell - I just hope they are resilient enough to survive them...

John and I focused on Freesia and Lachenalia along the fire access track along the western boundary of the bushland.

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Yet more dumping

Yes, it is hard to believe ... or maybe not. John and I came across some rubble dumped just near where the branches were ... no idea how long it has been there, or where it came from.

Now that the rain has come the bushland is looking green again, and much healthier. But, there are some worrying patches of dead trees and shrubs.

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Still more dumping!

Vicki and I were setting out stakes in 'The Barrens' for planting out next year ... this photo shows an area planted about 15 years ago along Lemnos St. The Grevillea seems to survive quite well, but not regenerating. The Acacia saligna and Jacksonia furcellata don't live long, but there are some new plants coming up.

We came across fresh tyre marks and more dumped palm fronds - followed the tyre tracks back to the Health Department area ...

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More dumps

Eagle-eyed John found this pile of dumped woodchips and shavings just inside the wall - possibly from the same contractor who dumped cuttings further into the bushland.

While we are waiting for winter weeds to emerge we toured the bushland looking for Flinders Ranges Wattles flowering. Also removed fallen trees and branches from the path following last friday's storm.

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Dumping ground for the school?

A few weeks ago Shenton College had contractors removing dead acacia and banksia plants from the bushland area on the corner of Lemnos and Selby st.

In the bushland on Sunday I came across some piles of cuttings of acacia and banksia ... hmmm ... has someone decided to cut costs and dump the cuttings in the bushland???

I also distributed smoked seeds we had collected form Dryandra sessilis and Xanthorrhoea in the regeneration site on the barrens.

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Looking for Jarrahs

While removing veldgrass on top of the ridge I couldn't help noticing the lack of Jarrah coming up to replace the mature trees - this is not a good sign for the future. There are lots of banksia and casuarina, but very few jarrah to be found.
I went off in search of Jarrah seeds to spread around the bushland - very few trees had seeds on them - possibly due to timing, possibly due to the hailstorm last march which had a massive impact on the bushland.
I did find a few trees near Lemnos St where the storm was not as severe - and there were some seed pods close to the ground - so I have collected them and will smoke them to distribute next weekend (hopefully we will have rain soon).

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Planting in 'The Barrens'

At our latest committee meeting we decided to begin distributing seeds in areas of 'the barrens' - in particular a spot with lots of asbestos - to keep people out and to provide food and habitat for Carnaby's (and other birds).

We have pegged out a spot (where there was lots of asbestos visible), and have collected seed which we will soak in smoked water to help with germination. Will distribute as soon as rain appears on the horizon.

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SAD time of year

At this time of year we get lots of SAD (Sudden Autumn Death) amongst our banksias ...

Following on from last week's meeting we decided to collect some Dryandra sessilis seeds to distribute over the asbestos-laden barrens to keep people out of that area and provide food for Carnaby's.

We used the seed collecting technique taught to us by Tony Scalzo from Kings Park - spreading plastic onto the ground and shaking the tree.

Amongst the seeds we found a few beetles ... and other fauna!

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