Long Autumn

We have had a long autumn this year ... winter only arrived this week ... we have been having mainly sunny days and cool mornings with only occasional showers until now. Life goes on in the bushland despite the long autumn, with the winter weeds beginning to emerge and wildflowers such as hovea coming out in flower.

Part of the reason for the long delay in posting is that Google has done something to the Blogger Platform which makes it very difficult to make posts  ... when I try to edit the HTML the cursor disappears ... I discovered that I can get it back by reloading the page ... I wish Google would not keep making changes that make it harder to use their system ... I may need to change to another service...

8th Feb 2015 - removing veldgrass

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22nd Feb 2015 - removing veldgrass

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1st March 2015 - removing veldgrass

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8th March 2015 - removing rubbish left by a camper

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15th March 2015 - removing veldgrass

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29th March 2015 - removing veldgrass

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26th April 2015 - removing veldgrass

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3rd May 2015 - collecting seed - for rehabilitating 'The Barrens' by planting food plants for Carnaby's Cockatoos (project funded by Dept Environment, Parks, and Wildlife)

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10th May 2015 - collecting seed - and mapping marked trees (identifying trees potentially significant to Nyungah elders)

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17th May 2015 - removing flinders ranges wattles (currently in flower and easily found)

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24th May 2015 - collecting seeds for cockatoos project

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31st May 2015 - collecting seeds for cockatoos project

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7th June 2015 - weeding Freesia and Lachenalia

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14th June 2015 - weeding Freesia and Lachenalia

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21st June 2015 - weeding Freesia and Lachenalia - end of Autumn - we have been having quite a bit of rain for past couple of days - the long sunny autumn has come to an end (just as we reach the shortest day of the year!).

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Christmas and new year 2014/2015

Over Christmas and beginning the new year we have been focusing on removing veldgrass and doing a little seed collecting.

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December 21 2014

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Jan 25 2015

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Feb 1 2015

Camping spot within the bushland

Summary for 2014

This is a summary of our weeding activities for 2014

Barrens Project

 We have obtained funding from the State Gov't to rehabilitate 'The Barrens' area to provide habitat (food and shelter) for Cockatoos (Carnaby's and Forest Red Tails). This site used to be a rubbish tip. We have removed the large rubbish piles, City of Nedlands has removed most of the Asbestos (still some areas to avoid). We have collected seeds for planting suitable species in the area, and will conduct planting sessions in Winter 2015 and 2016.

Flinders Ranges Wattle

We try to remove any Flinders Ranges Wattles that we come across in the bushland because they are quite invasive. They are mostly found along our Eastern boundary with Health Department land where they were extensively planted. (Note - this map shows some Fountain Grass that is supposed to be shown in the miscellaneous weeds map)

Freesia

 We don't do much Freesia weeding because City of Nedlands sprays freesia. Did some in the Barrens project area this year, and will need to keep a watch on them here.

Geraldton Carnation Weed

 Geraldton Carnation Weed is our main weeding activity over winter. Two main patches are - South West corner (former Prisoner of War Camp) and North East Corner. Not sure whether we are reducing this infestation - problem is that the seeds stay dormant in the soil for several years, so have to keep watching and returning to the same spot several times each winter.

Lachenalia

 Lachenalia is also sprayed by the City of Nedlands. There are some along the Western track along the Defence Dept fence.

Miscellaneous Weeds

There are numerous weeds that we remove when we come across them. Removed Lupins from the Barrens Project Area. Came across some Pig Face which is quite a big patch - need to check that it is all gone. Tackled the Ixias and Corn Flags in the SouthWest corner - not sure whether we are on top of these weeds. Victorian Ti Tree keep coming in, and easy to remove.

Pelargonium

 This is an ideal plant for getting volunteers into the bushland to remove - has quite a good satisfaction component when a large area is cleared. Need to check regularly. We removed some patches from the Barrens Project Area.

Rubbish Collection

 Tom started a project collecting rubbish. This has lapsed recently ... need more volunteers!

Veldgrass

Most of my veldgrass removal is in the SouthWest corner. John has been doing it further north. This seems to supplement the City of Nedlands veldgrass spraying program by removing the few survivors, thus reducing re-infestation of sprayed areas.

Watsona

The Watsonia patch is gradually disappearing. Just need to visit once or twice a year in late spring to make sure that any plants that emerge are removed.

Leading up to summer

We are now heading into summer .... removing the last of the Geraldton Carnation Weed and starting to focus on Veldgrass and miscellaneous weeds as usual over summer.

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5th October - Removing Geraldton Carnation Weeds and Watsonia - looking for Marri saplings that Bronwyn told me about.

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19th October - Geraldton Carnation Weeds

Aloe plant in flower

Dianella in flower

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26th October - walked around bushland with Ian Fordyce to identify some unfamiliar species.

Lechanaultia

Pig face in flower

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2nd November - Continuing with Geraldton Carnation Weed and Veldgrass

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9th November - More Geraldton Carnation Weed remove - and finally found the Marri saplings that Bronwen told me about!

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16th November - checking the Geraldton Carnation Weed in Health Department land near Lemnos Hospital

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23rd November - Finishing off the Geraldton Carnation Weed, checking the Watsonia. Removed one fountain grass

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30th November - Didn't stay long - came across a snake eating a bobtail - went home early!

 

Snake eating a bobtail

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7 December - Final sweep through Watsonias - still found a few.

Springtime in the bushland

We have had a good winter this year, with good levels of regular rain that is still continuing well into spring.

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August 31 - mainly looking for Ixia

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September 7 - continued weeding Ixia, but also worked on Geraldton Carnation Weed

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September 14 - removing cape tulip and occasional weeds found along the path.

Winter in the bushland

Over winter we have been preparing for dealing with the weeds as they emerge.

During autumn we have been completing our work along the front nature strip. Accidently came across a Geocache hidden near our front entrance sign.

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25 May - finishing off front nature strip

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1st June - removing Flinders Ranges Wattles from Health Department land

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8th June - Inspecting barrens in preparation for applying for funding to restore cockatoo vegetation

 13th July - Planting day on front verge

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20th July - Begin working on Geraldton Carnation Weeds

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27th July - Begin removing bulbous (and other) weeds as they begin to emerge

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3rd August - weeding freesias

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10th August - weeding Geraldton Carnation Weed and Freesia, then mapping Black Flag on Barrens with Julia Cullity as part of the Barrens restoration project

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17th August - weeding Freesias on Barrens as part of the Barrens Restoration Project