Shenton Bushland Activities

Summer pattern

2011-12-20T06:17:00.000+08:00

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).

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.

Spiders Everywhere

2011-12-18T07:28:00.003+08:00

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).

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.

Another cubby

2011-12-07T06:20:00.003+08:00

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.

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.

A visit to the other side

2011-12-07T06:14:00.000+08:00

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

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.

Life and death in the bushland

2011-11-14T06:43:00.002+08:00

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.

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.

Hopping around

2011-11-10T06:07:00.000+08:00

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

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

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.

Still with the GCWs - a never-ending story!

2011-11-03T06:25:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

Continuing with Geraldton Carnation Weed

2011-10-23T19:55:00.000+08:00

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

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.

Nasty infestation!

2011-10-05T06:40:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

Fountain grass!

2011-09-26T06:55:00.001+08:00

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.

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.

Back to the GCWs

2011-09-21T06:45:00.001+08:00

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).

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.

Bulbous weeds to spray

2011-08-30T06:33:00.000+08:00

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

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.

Ixiaitis continued

2011-08-29T06:24:00.000+08:00

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 ...

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.

Ixiaitis

2011-08-22T06:36:00.001+08:00

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.

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.

Freesias to spray

2011-08-15T06:39:00.000+08:00

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

2011-08-08T06:14:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

Orchids coming up ...

2011-07-25T06:46:00.001+08:00

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.

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.

Mapping areas to spray

2011-07-12T06:17:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

Fungii

2011-07-03T13:25:00.001+08:00

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).

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.

Great rain!

2011-06-28T06:22:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

Black flag - what should we do?

2011-06-26T06:45:00.001+08:00

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!

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.

Back to the bulbs

2011-06-19T06:59:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

Yet more dumping

2011-06-08T20:29:00.001+08:00

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.

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.

Still more dumping!

2011-05-31T06:05:00.000+08:00

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 ...

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.

More dumps

2011-05-25T06:41:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

Dumping ground for the school?

2011-05-18T07:24:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

Looking for Jarrahs

2011-05-14T07:07:00.000+08:00

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).

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.

Planting in 'The Barrens'

2011-05-09T07:25:00.000+08:00

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.

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.

SAD time of year

2011-04-18T06:43:00.000+08:00

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!

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.

End of summer committee meeting

2011-04-12T05:36:00.000+08:00

This was (fingers crossed) the last of our summer weeding sessions - so we continued with removing veldgrass that has survived the spraying (and is just waiting for rain to spring back to life).

At 9am we stopped weeding to have our committee meeting - present John, Dorothy, Vicki, Roz, and myself. Kerri brought around some muffins at 10.

The main issues discussed were weed control strategies and what to do with 'The Barrens' - a degraded area that used to be a rubbish dump (see map below):

The problem with the barrens that it has a lot of asbestos particles in the soil from the time it was a rubbish dump - so we should not really be doing anything that disturbs the soil - or spend many thousands of dollars removing the asbestos.

We came up with the idea of spreading Dryandra Sessilis seeds - to form a dense prickly thicket that will keep people out and provide food for Carnaby's (and other birds).

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.

More pit traps

2011-03-14T05:27:00.000+08:00

We keep coming across pit traps that ECU students have installed as part of their research projects in Shenton Bushland. Whilst it is good to contribute to the education of future ecologists, we do worry about the disturbance the traps may cause. We will need to monitor the sites and check that they recover once the students have finished.

John and I continued with our veldgrass removal process - working systematically through the bushland to take out any veldgrass that has survived the spraying from last winter. It is also a great way to visit parts of the bushland that we would not usually visit at other times of the year.
Despite the long dry summer, the bushland is not looking too bad at present - the damage from last year's hailstorm is no longer evident, and there does appear to be quite a bit of recruitment of sedgy plants such as alexgeorgia and desmocladus.

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.

Thanks to anonymous Cleanup Australia volunteers!

2011-03-13T05:29:00.000+08:00

It was nice to see that some community-minded volunteers had come along Lemnos street to clean up along the street verge last weekend - thanks!

The week before, it was very hot, so I didn't stay in the bushland long - just pulled out some Veldgrass along the path.

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.

We came across a bee hive that may need to be removed. Rainbow lorrikeets were inspecting the hollow as well as a nesting site.

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.

Giant lomandra clump?

2011-02-10T19:04:00.001+08:00

Not sure whether this really is a lomandra - i have never seen one as large as this!

John and I are continuing with our veldgrass removal - the spraying has brought it down to levels that we can cope with removing the remnants by hand.

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.

Cyclone Fizzle

2011-01-31T06:33:00.001+08:00

Working in the bushland this morning was quite unpleasant - very hot and humid - anticipating arrival of Cycline Fizzle (nothing happened except a bit of drizzle).
Despite feeling very languid we did manage to remove two quite large Victorian Ti Trees, and I also came across some Watsonias that had very large bulbs - had obviously been there for some time - but fortunately hadn't spread far. I dug them out.
Otherwise we just focussed on removing remnants of veldgrass that had survived the spraying during winter. There wasn't a lot of it.

Came across this bobtail basking in the humid warmth ...

I have no idea who put these pit traps in ...

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.

How could we have missed it?

2011-01-25T06:45:00.000+08:00

It amazes me that we can walk past a weedy Victorian Ti Tree many times and never see it until it is so big we can't miss it!

John inspecting the offending ti tree
We also came across a patch of Geraldton Carnation Weed, and also removed the Fountain Grass that I had been unable to get out last Sunday.
There is lots of Pelargonium, Fountain Grass, and Geraldton Carnation Weed in the adjoining Defence Department land.

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.

Fountains of Work

2011-01-17T06:16:00.002+08:00

This is my first Sunday back after the XMas holidays. John has been working here all through XMas. Thanks John!
We worked in the Southern end of the bushland, mainly removing veldgrass that has survived the winter spraying. We also came across some Victorian Ti Tree and Fountain Grass (lots of it!). I didn't have the tools required to remove the bigger Fountain Grass clumps, so will need to return better equiped next week.

There is also lots of Pelargonium in the Defence Department land that is moving into the bushland - we will need to contact the Defence Department to remove it.

Click here to view live mapClick 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.

Getting hot

2010-12-13T21:22:00.000+08:00

I cruised around the bushland on Sunday in search of veldgrass, also to mark the location of the fire lit in the bushland in November.

Fortunately the fire was lit in the 'barrens' area so it didn't burn a large area.

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.

End of year summary of activities

2010-12-11T07:05:00.005+08:00

This is a compilation of our activities for the past 12 months.
FREESIA - hand weeding during winter (Friends of Shenton Bushland)

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.

LACHENALIA - hand weeding during winter (Friends of Shenton Bushland)

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.

MISCELLANEOUS
Hand weeded lupins, painted lady, and ixia during winter and spring (Friends of Shenton Bushland)

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.

Spraying organised by the City of Nedlands

Broadleaf weed spraying (Glyphosate) organised by the City of Nedlands

Black flag spraying (???) organised by the City of Nedlands

FLINDERS RANGES WATTLE
Hand removal by the Friends of Shenton Bushland

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.

Hand removal organised by the City of Nedlands

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.

GERALDTON CARNATION WEED
Hand weeding by the Friends of Shenton Bushland

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.

Hand weeding organised by the City of Nedlands

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.

VELDGRASS - hand weeded during summer

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.

Veldgrass spraying (Fusilade Forte) organised by the City of Nedlands

WATSONIA - hand weeded during spring (Friends of Shenton Bushland)

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.

Vetch - hand weeding organised by the City of Nedlands

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.

Bee hive removal organised by the City of Nedlands

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.

Recruitment following 'The Storm'

2010-12-06T06:36:00.000+08:00

Shenton bushland has looked distinctly bare this year following the storm; the ground cover plants got shredded, and so, much of the ground cover disappeared leaving the soil bare and exposed to weed invasion.
Having been away for the past few weeks, it was most exciting to walk through the bushland on Sunday and discover millions of sedges (Alexgeorgea nitens, Desmocladus flexuosa) and other shrubs coming up despite the very dry winter. Hopefully they will survive the summer.
John and I went around the western section removing veldgrass that survived the spraying.
I also mapped any lomandra that looked like either maratima or hermaphrodites (hard to tell without the flowering spikes) since these are possible hosts for the endangered sun-moth (symenon gratiosa) that we will be looking for again in March.

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.

Summer Pattern

2010-11-12T18:41:00.001+08:00

It felt very familiar returning to our summer weeding pattern - mainly veldgrass, looking out for the occasional Geraldton Carnation weed that has escaped our attention.

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.

Annual Photo Monitoring

2010-11-01T18:45:00.001+08:00

Janice Marshall began photo monitoring the bushland in 1994, taking photos in 18 sites around the bushland. We have continued with the monitoring - not every year - but as often as I remember to do so. I did remember to do it this year, and am hoping to find a way to view each of the previous monitoring photos for each site ...

One thing I did notice this year were the unusually prolific grass tree flowering spikes - and the large number of distorted ones. It isn't unusual to find the odd distorted one - but I did find it surprising that there were so many ...

This pair of spikes appear to be dancing with each other ...

This one appears to have tied itself into a knot!

The flowering spikes are the most dominant visual element in the landscape at present. The strange thing is that they don't appear in monitoring photos we have taken in previous years ... strange.

The photo monitoring sites are shown on the map below.

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.

Unexpected encounters with a painted lady

2010-10-30T06:18:00.000+08:00

John and I visited the Agave patch, expecting it to be in flower - instead we found painted ladies (Gladiolus angustus) which we embraced with vigour, using our weeding implements to dig them out of the ground (taking care to collect the prolific bulbules they produce). Continuing on with bulbule collection we moved on to the Ixia patch - and found lots there. Our bags became very heavy with soil, so we staggered back to dump our bounty at the bushland entrance.

Long Tubed Painted Lady (Gladiolus angustus) amid an Agave plant

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.

Summer in Spring

2010-10-17T13:10:00.000+08:00

It feels more like late January than early October - hot, dry, humid - this is going to be a really tough summer for the bushland - after a really tough winter that began with a devastating hail storm, and continued with half of our usual rainfall ...

Nice rain

2010-10-10T17:16:00.001+08:00

It was good to get some rain overnight - the bushland looked a bit fresher this morning than last Sunday when it was quite hot - things are very dry, and it isn't even summer yet! The last of the spring flowers are out - swan river myrtle, and summer flowers are coming - ptilotus, fringe lilies.

Swan River Myrtle (Hypocalymma robustum)

John and I worked in the Geraldton Carnation Weed patch(es) along the western fence bordering the Defence Dept land. We found lots .... and there were lots of young GCWs coming up, so we will have to come back here before summer sends them all to seed.

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.

Blue ladies in flower

2010-10-03T20:55:00.001+08:00

Most of the orchids have finished - but the Blue Lady and the Scented Sun Orchid are just flowering now.
John and I worked on a few remaining patches of Geraldton Carnation Weed - one in the Health Department area, the other near the western boundary with the Defence Department.
Dorothy was monitoring Lemandra and the regeneration sites where mounds were removed.

This is a patch of Corynotheca micrantha (sand lily) that used to go right up to the path - died back after spraying by the contractors - it is a bit of a concern that the practice of spraying along the path appears to be creating a 'dead zone' beside the paths - I think we may need to review this practice.

The scented sun orchid is almost at its peak - I was a bit early for it to be open this morning.

The blue lechanaultia are also at peak flowering - very pretty with their intense blue.

The grass tree spikes are coming up - some amazing sculptural shapes!

The patch of Agave is almost about to flower - will come back next week to check it.

The Blue Lady Orchid is also fully in flower now.

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.

A productive morning

2010-09-27T06:38:00.000+08:00

It felt quite productive pulling out Geraldton Carnation Weeds in Health Department land. This is a place where we have been working for several years now, and still the plants keep coming up ... hopefully we will exhaust the seed bank one day soon...

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.

Speak of the devil!

2010-09-20T06:45:00.000+08:00

Blue Devils (Eryngium rostratum) are coming out - I love their bizarre flowers.

John and I did the grand tour of the bushland, searching out Geraldton Carnation Weeds, Freesias, Watsonias and African Corn Flags - all of which we found and removed. Job satisfaction guaranteed when you find what you are looking for! One patch of African Corn Flag was too big to deal with - will need to return. Also, didn't finish off the Geraldton Carnation Weeds in the Health Department land.
Also came across spots sprayed by the 'Biodiversity' spraying contractor - I couldn't work out what he was targetting. Seemed to be anything that didn't look native along the path side.

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.

Donkeys everywhere

2010-09-06T06:39:00.000+08:00

Lots of donkey orchids are out at present - other orchids are also coming. They don't appear to have suffered from the March hail storm.

John and I tackled the Freesias and Geraldton Carnation Weeds along the western path.

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.

Full bloom (in a difficult year)

2010-08-30T06:45:00.002+08:00

Continued removing Geraldton Carnation weed and Freesia. Some of the freesia appears to have been sprayed, but a lot hasn't, so we are trying to remove it before it goes into flower.
Went for a walk around the bushland looking at what is going to be in flower for the Bush to Beach walk on the 12th Sept.

The hardenbergia is still out - though will finish soon if we don't get more rain.

The Sowerbia laxiflora (Vanilla Lilly) is not as prolific as most years, but still quite abundant.

I believe this is a greenhood orchid - but no idea which one.

This Thelymitra macrocarpa (Scented Sun Orchid) has been coming up in the same spot beside the path for years. I have never seen another one anywhere else in the bushland. It is just putting up its flowering spike now - not sure whether it will be in flower in time for the walk.

We usually have lots of these cowslip orchids ... only a few around this year. They are always a welcome sight.

Joe Tonga has been installing bat boxes in the bushland. Go to his website for some interesting video clips about how successful they are!

We don't see many of the cat's paws. There is only one Kangaroo Paw in the bushland that I know of. Not sure why.

There are lots of conostylis - of various varieties.

This year the number of donkey orchids seems much lower than usual.

These Running Postmen are relatively inconspicuous, but seem well represented this year.

Last year we had carpets of these everlastings (Podolepis gracilis). This year there are relatively few of them. This patch is occupying a patch where we removed a mound of rubble from the bushland, so it is nice to see it being colonised by local plants.

This shrub is a wattle that was brought into the bushland with gravel from the hills to make the road that this path follows. We are watching it to make sure it doesn't become a weed.

These blue lechanaultia are not flowering yet, and well worth a visit when they do flower. They are another import to the bushland - probably brought in when the Army built a Prisoner of War Camp here during the second world war and used gravel from the hills to make their parade ground. There are few remains left of the POW Camp, but these plants remain.

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.

August activities as usual

2010-08-16T06:30:00.000+08:00

August is always a time of keeping up with the weeds - this weekend I was mainly following up on Geraldton Carnation Weed and a few freesias.

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.

This is the best time of the year!

2010-08-02T05:48:00.000+08:00

The bushland is stirring back to life after a long dry autumn and brief wet winter ... suddenly wave after wave of plants comes into flower to greet us as we arrive in the bushland. This week hoveas and hardenbergia were in flower. Also a few weeds such as Lachenalia ...
John, Vicki, and I did an hour or so of weeding Geraldton Carnation Weed before our committee meeting.
The main substantive issues addressed in the committee meeting were:
* recommencing negotiations with the Health Department on managing their bushland
* doing separate spraying for Freesias and Lachenalias
* getting a botanist to help us do a monitoring survey
* removing mounds

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.

Another day at the bushland

2010-07-25T19:03:00.000+08:00

John and I continued working on the Geraldton Carnation Weeds - as usual for winter. Hard to tell whether we are having an effect - maybe it is just a bad year for them - but we will need to monitor this and maybe change the way we work - the number and distribution of plants does not seem to change much.

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.

Cold Start

2010-07-19T20:23:00.000+08:00

I had to wear gloves just riding to the bushland this morning - it was quite chilly - as it often is with sunny winter mornings in Perth.
John and I worked in the Geraldton Carnation Weeds near the defence department boundary. There were depressingly large numbers of plants coming up ... are we having any effect?

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.

Working in the rain

2010-07-11T11:04:00.000+08:00

I didn't do a post last week because there was a problem in my GPS settings - it collected hardly any data.

I mainly worked along the path and then down towards the Defence Department land near the POW camp site.

This is the data I did collect. Found a cluster of Fountain Grass plants that I removed.

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.

There were occasional showers to day as John and I continued removing Geraldton Carnation Weeds. There are lots of weeds - not sure whether we are having much impact on the Geraldton Carnation Weed - may need to reconsider our strategy.

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.

Great weather for mosses

2010-06-27T20:22:00.002+08:00

Rain and sunshine have brought the mosses to life - the bushland is thriving with the current weather.

The weeds are also thriving - pulled Lachenalias, Freesias, and Geraldton Carnation Weeds.

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.

Getting a bit of exercise

2010-06-20T21:21:00.001+08:00

I felt in need of exercise today, so rather than pulling Freesias I went searching for Flinders Ranges Wattles which are highly visible at present with their bright yellow flowers. There was a whole bunch of them near the Grace Vaughan House entrance, and more near Selby Lodge. Most were less than a year old, and easy to pull out of the ground. The older ones were over 2m high - so I took advantage of the soft wet soil and pushed them over onto their side and cut off the roots.

I heard a strange bird call whilst working, and noticed a duck high up on a branch of a dead tree, inspecting nesting hollows. The Rainbow Lorrikeets were not impressed, and were screeching at it. It decided to move elsewhere.

The orchids are already beginning to appear. This one is the scented sun orchid.

The weed sprayers also appear to be out. I have no idea what they are spraying. Looks like they are mistaking lomandras as weeds and spraying them - and they don't look happy.

On the way back to the shed I bumped into Dorothy and we went in search of flowering lomandras. Lomandra nigricans, which has white flowers appears to be out at present.

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.

Enjoying the winter sunshine

2010-06-14T06:23:00.000+08:00

John and I cruised around the bushland enjoying the winter sunshine. John went after African Love Grass along Lemnos St and the Health Department boundary. I continued on my search and destroy mission for Freesia and Geraldton Carnation Weeds.

Came across this Bobtail also enjoying the winter sunshine - while it lasts (rain is on its way - fingers crossed!).

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.

Morning meditation

2010-06-06T12:18:00.000+08:00

Working in the bushland on these beautiful sunny winter days is more of a meditation than hard work. I just cruised along pulling out Freesias and Geraldton Carnation Weeds with my mind just coasting along - very relaxing. John is still not able to come in due to his broken collar bone, so it was just me today.
I notice that Council weed sprayers have been in during the week - looks like they were spraying mainly along the path - no idea what they were targeting - too early for Veldgrass and bulbs - maybe some of the weeds that like to come up along the path.

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.

Two at once

2010-06-03T20:31:00.000+08:00

I forgot to upload the data for the previous week, so this contains both sets.

John broke his curfew momentarily to do a bit of gentle weeding - we spent an hour or so pulling Freesias. Then decided to move some heavy bits of fallen wattle off the stone wall ...

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.

The following weekend I worked on Freesias close to where we stopped last week. Also removed some Geraldton Carnation Weed that is starting to come up.

Came across this camping site on my way back to the shed.

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.

Chasing the dog!

2010-05-18T06:21:00.000+08:00

I came across a dog in the bushland on Sunday - looked like a Jack Russell - white with brown patches - ran off before I could take a photo. Not sure whether it was with a person - will need to keep a look out.
Continued on with weeding freesias - which are very easy to find at present. Did a walk around the path and found more freesias along the southern path - will concentrate on that area next week.

The bushland appears to be continuing regnerating 2 months after the hail storm.

The Zamias have an actively growing core to replace the damaged outer fronds.

The alocasuarinas which were very badly hit in the storm (lost virtually all of their leaves) are now producing epicormic growth. You can see the damaged bark on the stems.

The banksias are likewise producing epicormic buds to replace the damaged foliage. Note the damaged stems.

The Jarrahs have been most prolific in regnerating and rebuilding their canopy.

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.

Visible weeds

2010-05-13T06:20:00.000+08:00

One side effect of the storm is that weeds are very visible at present - they are virtually the only green to be seen at ground level. We are taking advantage of this to remove as much Freesia as possible before it is hidden by veldgrass.

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.

A merry band of banders

2010-05-02T20:58:00.000+08:00

Rob Davis and his team of bird banders were in the bushland this morning. I wondered whether there would be anything for them to band after all the birds disappeared following the hail storm in March.

However, they caught a few silver-eyes (Zosterops lateralis), a rather sick Yellow Rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoea), and a Western Warbler (Gerygone fusca). They also saw, but didn't catch a Mistletoe Bird (Dicaeyn hirundinaceum).

I went off looking for weeds emerging from the rain following the storm. Lots of Black Flag and Freesia are already up.

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.

After the storm - monitoring signs of life

2010-04-13T20:59:00.003+08:00

I spent a couple of hours walking around the path, taking photos at our monitoring sites. We usually take the photos in October, so the bushland is much dryer now than usual, but even so, it looks dramatically different.

Signs of life are returning to the bushland - this Banksia is putting out new shoots. Notice the damage to the bark from the hail stones! Most Jarrah trees are shooting as well.

The Rainbow Lorikeets are back as noisily as ever. I heard a few wattle birds and some honey eaters, but the bushland is still very quiet.

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.

After the storm

2010-03-28T21:13:00.007+08:00

We came to the bushland today to look for the endangered Graceful Sun Moth. However, the storm on Monday evening has had a tremendous impact on the bushland. The upper canopy of the bushland has been stripped off the trees. Most Banksias and Casuarinas have very few leaves left. The Jarrahs have a few more leaves, but many of those leaves are damaged, so the canopy looks a little like it might after a fire. The middle storey shrubs have partly disappeared, giving the bushland a very open look. The ground covers, grasses, and sedges have been pulverised. Many of the Jacksonia serecia look dead. The sedges and lomandras are not too bad. The only green in the bushland comes from the somewhat shortened leaves of the grass trees.

The banksias have been hit really hard. Most of their leaves have gone.

The bark of the Banksias bears the marks of the hail stones which left orange scars on the grey bark.

The bushland is almost silent. Few birds can be heard, or seen. Even the Rainbow Lorrikeets have gone. I heard a few Robins in amongst the canopy of one of the Eucalypts that seemed to have escaped much of the damage.

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.

Will we find it again?

2010-03-24T06:42:00.000+08:00

John, Dorothy, and I continued our survey of Graceful Sun Moths in the bushland. It was a bit windy, and quite hot. Despite walking very carefully and vigilantly, we did not spot any moths. We did come across a Flinders Ranges wattle to remove before it comes into flower (not long !)

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.

Sun Moth search successful - at last

2010-03-16T06:31:00.000+08:00

We have been searching for this elusive creature for the past five years! Last Sunday Vicki's sharp eyes saw one flitter from one sedge to another. We got a net over it, but it got away before I could take a photo. We will look again next weekend. At least we know where to look now.

Also last weekend I borrowed Dorothy's Garmin Etrex GPS unit to see if I can connect it to my Macintosh (OSX Snow Leopard). Whilst Garmin has now introduced support for USB connections to Macintosh computers, I have not been able to connect to the older serial cable models. I had bought a cable via eBay, connected it to my Keyspan serial to USB converter, and finally found software (LoadMyTracks) that will download from the Etrex. It worked perfectly!

x	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.

Week 1 of sun-moth search

2010-03-08T06:52:00.002+08:00

Dorothy and I spent two hours looking for lomandra and associated sun moths on Sunday - found lots of Lomandra. No sun moths.
Went to the Cottesloe Sculpture by the Sea afterwards - found a couple of sculptures that I liked.

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.

Cleaning up

2010-03-03T06:50:00.000+08:00

John and I did some cleaning up along the front verge - there is so much rubbish dumped by people parking there, and blowing off vehicles going to the rubbish transfer station. Then we went to Dorothy's area to remove remnants of veldgrass.

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.

Rainbows everywhere!

2010-02-22T11:28:00.002+08:00

The bushland was alive with the distinctive sound of Rainbow Bee Eaters - a throaty excited chatter as they whizzed through the air chasing various flying insects. They were everywhere!

Whilst weeding veldgrass in the bushland I visited an area we planted out in 2006. It was nice to see so much surviving despite the fact that we never water our plantings - about 10% survive long-term, but they are the best ones that do survive - which is what we need for this bushland to be resilient to climate change.

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.

The long dry continues

2010-02-07T20:27:00.003+08:00

As the long dry spell continues the plants are beginning to look quite stressed - leaves curled and hanging limply. All of this makes the grassy flowering spikes of veldgrass easy to spot, so we continue searching for it ...
We also picked up some weeds left in bags near the front fence - added them to our pile of weeds and rubbish near the front fence.
Had a pleasant surprise last weekend - Vicki had organised to have the front door and flooring of 'the shed' fixed (the floor had been partly eaten by termites).
Thanks Vicki!
I didn't publish a post last week because my GPS stopped working - I don't think it is water proof enough for kayaking ... Have borrowed one from Vicki (thanks again!).

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.

On spiders, fox holes, and mulla mulla

2010-01-17T20:51:00.003+08:00

Whilst John and I went on a veldgrass hunt I came across this spot where someone has been getting stuck into a whole lot of beer - filled the bag up with bottles instead of veldgrass.

There were lots of spider webs about (which I tried to avoid). Mostly they were Jewel Spiders, but there were a few golden orb web spiders - including this big one - its legs were as long as my fingers. The spider is female - there is a tiny male spider on the back of the web - near the female's abdomen.

Also came across this bunch of Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus drummondii)which seemed to be flowering unusually late in the year ...

This fox hole seems to be currently used - there was a dead bird nearby, and fresh paw-prints.

Later in the day we had our committee meeting down by the river at Matilda bay. It was very hot. John went for a swim. We discussed strategies to raise our profile in the community and attract more volunteers - thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

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.

On the way home

2010-01-12T07:00:00.005+08:00

John and I continued with our veldgrass removal this morning. On the way home I stopped at Lake Jualbup and observed a number of visitors to the drying lake: Pacific Heron, Sacred Ibis, Yellow-billed spoonbill, and Black-winged stilt. My apologies for the poor quality of the photos - they were a bit too far away for hand-held photography.
Pacific heron, Sacred Ibis, and Yellow-billed spoonbill.

Pacific heron.

Black-winged stilt.

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.

Summer colours

2009-12-22T09:01:00.005+08:00

With the arrival of summer most of the colours that enchanted us during spring have faded, and left us with subtle gold and green. However, a few brave flowers continue, especially the intense mauve of the fringe lilies (Thysanotus sparteus) and the pale Prince of Wales Feathers (Ptilotus polystachyus) and gold of the local grasses (Stipa compressa (or variant)).

Prince of Wales Feathers (Ptilotus polystachyus)

Local grasses (Stipa compressa (or variant))

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.

City of Nedlands - summary of weed control

2009-12-01T20:35:00.003+08:00

Vicki has sent me summary information of weed control activities the City of Nedlands has engaged in during 2009.

	This map shows a miscellany of weeds noted - fountain grass, flinders ranges wattle (to remove), lachenalia, and vetch. 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.
	There is quite a bit of African Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula) in the Health Department land. This was sprayed this year to stop it spreading into the bushland. 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.
	This is the lachenalia sprayed by City of Nedlands contractors this year.
	Black flag is a major concern for us - not least because there does not appear to be any herbicide to control it. Vicki had it sprayed with Dalapon this year 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.
	This shows areas of black flag identified.

Searching for those elusive watsonias

2009-12-01T06:10:00.002+08:00

It is one of those facts of life all bush regenerators face - the more successful we are in reducing the population of a particular weed, the more difficult it becomes to find those last few plants that we really need to find in order to eradicate an infestation.
Fortunately,Watsonia plants are pretty easy to spot from a distance, especially when they are big enough to flower. We found a few plants on sunday, and in between searching for Watsonia we removed any perennial veldgrass we came across.

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.

City of Nedlands - Geraldton Carnation Weed(ing)

2009-11-27T05:57:00.003+08:00

Vicki has organised a contractor to remove Geraldton Carnation Weed from the bushland - from the 3rd of September up to the 12th of November 2009. Thanks Vicki! The map of locations worked is shown below.

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.

Christmas (spiders) just around the corner!

2009-11-26T06:03:00.005+08:00

When walking through some areas of the bushland the Jewel (or Christmas) Spiders (Astracantha minax)seemed to be out in force. These spiders appear to rely on their bright colours and hard spiny bodies to enable them to remain active in their webs all day.

This clump of Agave has been here for many years and isn't spreading fast. It would take a bob-cat and lots of disturbance to get rid of it, so we just keep a watch on it.

I had been watching the Agave to see if we could catch it in flower so that we can identify it more precisely. Looks like I just missed the flowering this year ...

I spent most of this morning weeding Watsonia remnants and veldgrass (perennial).I will need to come back next Sunday because there is still quite a bit in the Watsonia patch area.

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.

Continuing with fountain grass removal

2009-11-16T06:12:00.004+08:00

John and I spent most of today removing the fountain grass we discovered along the southern boundary with the defence department - will need to contact the defence department to get them to remove the fountain grass in their land.
John took a photo of me pushing the wheelbarrow with the results of our labours back to the front gate.

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.

Newsletter #74 November 2009

2009-11-14T20:17:00.007+08:00

Thanks to our volunteers
We couldn't deal with all of the weeds that constantly threaten the bushland without the help of volunteers – so thanks to all those who have come along to help this year.

John removing fountain grass flowers

Weed control activities for 2009
We still have a month or so of weeding to do this year, so the maps below may still change before the end of the year.
Freesia – area hand weeded (still to add areas sprayed by City of Nedlands contractors)

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.

Flinders ranges wattles removed

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.

Geraldton carnation weeds removed (and also marked for future attention)

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.

Lachenalia – we only removed isolated plants – will add maps of areas sprayed by City of Nedlands contractors.

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.

Miscellaneous weeds – lots of them!

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.

Pelargonium are scattered throughout the bushland, and we remove isolated plants as we come across them. This map shows large infestations we dealt with (pelargonium pull) and markers show future areas where we intend to work.

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.

We hand removed perennial veldgrass over summer and helped spray in winter. Contractors sprayed the rest of the area this year.

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.

Watsonia – hand weeded remnants. Also marked a couple of fresh outbreaks along eastern boundary.

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.

AGM
We are planning to hold our AGM early next year – probably a picnic at Matilda Bay – any suggestions for where to hold our meeting are welcome!

Getting back to the summer pattern

2009-11-11T06:17:00.003+08:00

After the frenetic winter weeding period we are now settling back into a more relaxed summer weeding pattern, cruising around the bushland looking for the odd plant we missed during winter. On Sunday we explored the southern area of the bushland near the Karrakatta Army Barracks, and area that has been quite weedy in the past. We found the usual assortment of ti trees and fountain grass, and also removed a patch of Watsonia that we had discovered earlier in the year.

This is a plant that I was not familiar with - Stenanthum notiale (sub sp chamelum) a small shrub that at first we thought might have been an olive tree!

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.

Potential pelargonium pull

2009-10-26T20:34:00.003+08:00

John and I were pulling Geraldton Carnation Weeds near Selby Lodge and came across this big patch of pelargonium that would be ideal for a 'pelargonium pull' day.

We also came across this spot where school kids have been doing drugs etc. Loads of rubbish everywhere. Evan a couple of chairs.

We also pulled GCW near the POW camp site. The blue lechanaultia are at their peak at present.

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.

Time for a walk

2009-09-26T18:58:00.003+08:00

I took June for a stroll through the bushland this afternoon - the bushland flowers are at their peak - there were so many flowers to look at it took hours for us to get around the 1.5km route.
The local everlastings (Podolepis gracilis) are particularly abundant this year, and visible almost everywhere in the bushland.

The scented sun orchid (Thalymitra macrophylla) has eventually emerged after weeks of cloudy weather.

Swan River Myrtle (Hypocalymma robustum) is a delight to the eye.

Prickly customers

2009-09-20T13:01:00.004+08:00

Years ago we removed a prickly pear from the eastern boundary of the bushland - looked like it had been dumped. We haven't seen a prickly pear since ... then, today we came across two of them!

Vicki joined us today - told us about some potential problems - vetch growing near the noticeboard, fox holes to deal with, and a few bulb species.

The spring showers have been great for orchids this year. This is one of the spider orchids currently out - looks like a 'Rusty Spider Orchid' Caladenia sp..

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.

Peak flower period

2009-09-15T06:11:00.006+08:00

Last weekend was just fabulous in the bushland - it is at its peak in spring flowers. Came across a new one to me - Pimelea sulphurea (yellow banjine) - which isn't in flower yet - so something to watch out for. John and I continued pulling out freesias.
Blue lechanaultia

Fringe lily

Bristly conostylis

Pimelea sulphurea

Morning iris

Cats paw

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.

Aboriginal sites in Perth's Western Suburbs

2009-09-13T06:59:00.004+08:00

We occasionally need information about Aboriginal Heritage sites when going for grants, so I have put the data from the Dept of Indigenous Affairs website here. Note, this is current for 2008, and is likely to change over time. Definitive data can be found at the Inquiry System site.

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.

Fire history of Shenton Bushland

2009-09-12T16:44:00.005+08:00

This is map of the area burnt by the fire of October 1997

This is a map of areas burnt by fires between 1997 and 2009.
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.

A pink fairy emerges

2009-09-12T16:24:00.002+08:00

I found this pink fairy orchid at the spot where I was puzzling over some emerging orchids a couple of weeks ago - so now I know what the pink fairy's look like when the emerge.

Came across this callitris while working on a patch of freesias. It is an obvious invader from the army land just 100 m to the west - and there are quite a few callitris planted there.

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.

Flinders Ranges Wattles removed

2009-09-02T07:07:00.003+08:00

This is provided to enable discussion with Health Department of WA about management of the bushland. It shows all of the Flinders Ranges Wattles removed from the bushland in the past few years (by the Friends of Shenton Bushland Inc).

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.

A stitch in time ...

2009-08-30T11:36:00.002+08:00

Today was a lesson (if one was needed) on the value of doing things properly the first time - a few years ago this infestation of Albuca canadensis was minor and easy to control. But we didn't. John and I spent all morning on this one, and still haven't finished it! The wheelbarrow full of bulbs we removed weighed more than I do, and was hell to push back up the sandy path.

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.

An old foe returns

2009-08-23T21:29:00.003+08:00

I was just congratulating myself on how we had eradicated Albuca canadensis from the bushland when I came across a patch. When pulling the bulbs out of the soil it tends to drop hundreds of tiny white bulbules so it is hard to get rid of by hand weeding. I didn't finish pulling out the infestation I found - will go back next week.
Also came across some little burrows that might be native marsupial burrows.

	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.
	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.

Orchids galore!

2009-08-16T16:01:00.002+08:00

The recent rain has produced heaps of orchids! I think I came across some blue scented sun orchids - although the leaf was not channelled - so I will have to keep a watch on them. Also came across a small meadow packed with some other kinds of orchids - no idea what they are ...
John and I pulled freesias mainly, but did come across a few geraldton carnation weeds and a fountain grass.

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.

Beat of a different drum

2009-08-09T20:59:00.002+08:00

Being next door to Irwin Barracks we often hear people marching, today our weeding activities were accompanied by the sound of drumming. I am not sure that it made much difference to our weeding. We pulled freesias. John and I found lots of small dense infestations - looking like a single plant had gone to seed at each spot and spawned hundreds. They came out easily in the moist soil.

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.

More red

2009-08-02T18:08:00.002+08:00

Perfect weather continues - sunny days, no wind, no rain, weeds growing vigorously - so we continued spraying. The cold morning brought a bit of dew, so John and I pulled out Trachyandra along the defence department fence till about 9am - then put on the backpacks that Vicki had filled for us and sprayed veldgrass along the defence department (western) boundary of the bushland.

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.

Painting the bush red!

2009-07-27T06:14:00.003+08:00

It was a perfect day for painting the bush red - fine, no wind, no dew and not too warm or us to wear our protective suits. Vicki had organised for the contractors to mix up the chemical for us to use (I hate doing that part). John and I spent an hour or so spraying fusilade onto veldgrass patches in the bushland. We have done about one third of the area we need to do for this year - the contractors will do other parts of the bushland.

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.

Rain rain rain!

2009-07-19T19:27:00.002+08:00

Getting onto my bike this morning just as the rain came ... I almost decided to stay at home ... but thought I better go because John will be there ... John was thinking the same thing about me! Anyway, the rain stopped (for a while) and we got a lot done.
Came across an onion weed (Trachyandra divaricata.

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.

They're off and running!

2009-07-14T06:24:00.003+08:00

With the good rains and warm sunny weather in-between, the weeds are racing along - especially Freesia and Black Flag. Lachenalia are also starting to appear. John and I worked on Freesia today - we were planning to work at the southern end of the bushland, but never got there - too many Freesias along the way!
Came across this termite mound. I associate termite mounds with Australia's remote areas, and don't expect to see them in the Perth metropolitan area for some reason, even though termites are very commmon in the Perth metro area - and are a considerable problem when they start eating the wooden structure of people's houses. Here in the bushland termites play an important role in breaking down cellulose for re-use.

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.

Fungii gold!

2009-07-08T18:45:00.006+08:00

We began the morning with a committee meeting - the weather was perfect for our outdoor venue. Present were Roz, Dorothy, Vicki, John, Phil, and myself. We discussed plans for looking after the bushland over winter.

Then we headed off (a little way) to look for fungi. It didn't take Roz long to find a nice lot of mycorrhizal fungi (these are fungi that form collaborative partnerships with bushland plants).

Roz is showing John and Vicki one of the fungi lurking under leaf litter just off the path.

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.

GPS Project with Shenton College

2009-07-08T06:20:00.003+08:00

I have been approached by students at shenton college wanting to do a GPS related project in the bushland.

As part of this project I have agreed to provide information we have collected in the past. Below is a map of habitat trees in Shenton Bushland.

Habitat trees are those that are large enough to provide food and shelter for birds and animals. These are trees with a girth of more than a metre at waist height. There are lots of smaller trees coming up which we have not identified on this map.

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.

Last of the veldgrass

2009-06-08T06:27:00.002+08:00

The veldgrass has taken off with the rain we had recently. So have the freesias and other weeds. John and I finished off the area of veldgrass weeding for this summer - I expect we will begin on the bulbs now.

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.

Towards a collaboration with the Health Department

2009-06-01T07:01:00.002+08:00

Vicki and I spent most of this morning walking through the Health Department owned sector of the bushland identifying weeds to be removed/sprayed and thinking about how we might get a collaborative approach to managing this area so that it isn't a constant source of weeds - currently we have deal with a constant invasion of Flinders Ranges Wattles and other woody weeds coming from this area.
We are thinking that it might be worth forming a working party involving the various branches of the Health Department (North Metro Mental Health Services, Grace Vaughan House), Education Department (and Shenton College), City of Nedlands, and the Friends of Shenton Bushland to develop a plan for managing this area.

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.