Another day at the bushland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.