THE NEXT WORKING-BEE IS ON SUNDAY 22ND MARCH
FROM 9am. We'll meet at the Wickens Place Car-park and walk
through the bush, SE towards the Notice box. Angharad and I found several woody
weeds needing our attention. They have been hidden by the Cootamundra wattle
thicket that spreads up almost from the gravel path. I'll supply gloves,
gaiters, tools and volunteers will need sturdy footwear, to be dressed for the expected
weather including long-sleeved top and long pants and sun-shading hat. Bring
water to drink & possibly a snack.
Ivan and I worked up and west of Magrath Crescent on 22nd February and
found quite a few bushes that had matured since we last weeded in that area...Viburnum
tinus, privet, Chinese pistachio, pyracantha and there are some briar
roses to return to in that general area. A pity we can't persuade someone to
come up and collect the rose hips as I believe they are rich in pectin for jam
making!
On 2nd March Angharad, Kathy and I walked east from the Wickens
car-park. On the way we pulled some St Johns Wort (SJW) that was in flower and
bagged any heads that had seed-capsules on. We moved towards the rocks where
the mosses look so soft and stroke-able when rain's fallen. This time they and
the Rock ferns looked sad & desiccated. We dribbled some water on one area
and within 10–15 minutes the moss looked green & lush where the water had
touched it. Some years ago Flemming & I planted 8 Dianella revoluta plants near the boulders and at least six seem to
be well established. Wally mentioned the Dianellas (Flax lilies) on
Saturday. We found one of the two original Mt Rogers clumps then.
We were watched by two very tall kangaroos and their small mob as we
added Skeleton weed into the bagged SJW. Skeleton weed, I recently found out,
was the subject of another successful biological control program beginning in
the 1960s. The weed had severely infested wheat growing areas in the eastern
states and Western Australia. Research was carried out from Montpellier in
France, as Skeleton weed came from the Mediterranean countries originally.
CSIRO scientists were the diligent investigators then, but the Montpellier
station has since closed as being too expensive to maintain ... a shame that
present day governments don't believe in the value of scientific research to
the extent needed.
Mowers have opened up some of the main tracks again.
There have been hunting Kookaburras in mid Flynn and also a calling Grey
Butcherbird. It's probably been through Mt Rogers recently too. Denise took
photos of one on her patch close to the creek at Giralang Ponds. Barbara
spotted and recorded Gang-Gang cockatoos not far from the Mildenhall–Spence
playground I believe. This is an exciting sighting for Mt Rogers even if it
happened a week before the official Gang-Gang Muster began. Anytime now we may
see groups of honeyeaters gathering prior to moving out of the ACT to avoid the
cooler weather.
If you're interested in Australian native plants the Society has
launched its magnificent new Australian plants for Canberra region
gardens and other cold climate areas. 934 species are illustrated and
described in detail. The photographs and the text have all been provided by the
Society's members. There's an excellent introduction to gardening in our area
preceding the plants' descriptions. 365 pages of value for $30 from the Botanic
Gardens Bookshop now and possibly nurseries & bookstores later in April.
The Society's WEED SWAP is on 11th & 12th April, so take the
murdered woody weeds from your gardens, plus Agapanthus heads, out to Canberra
Sand & gravel and claim a free native plant or 3.
If anyone needs help in their garden please contact me as I have names
of several recommended horticulturalists who can do a range of tasks for
reasonable cost. 6258 4724.
If any rain comes it might be easier to see some of the magnificent
spider webs when misty-dew's on the threads. There are quite a few Leaf-curl
spiders around also. Maybe we'll have toadstool displays again.
Try to track down European Wasps and have the nests treated. They are
seeking water now and sweet foods or, maybe, drinks around BBQs. The number to
phone is 6162 1914.
I have written in about getting the signs we suggested installed at the
main entry points. These would explain the dogs off-leash status of Mt Rogers
to newcomers. It would be good to think that bins for bags of dog-poo would be
provided, but I suspect more agitation for the bins will be needed. We may be
able to have NO DUMPING signs installed. I've asked Jasmine from Parks and
Conservation Service if we might have several of their WOOD IS GOOD signs also.
They explain that fallen timber and small branches are essential for
biodiversity and to healthy reserves and shouldn't be taken for firewood or
kindling.
Wood-smoke doesn't help suburban fresh air and is a hazard to the health
of some people ... as some of us have found out even with the recent official
Hazard Reduction Burns.
I was thinking we might have a Walk and Wonder on Tuesday 7th
April as we'll miss the ‘official’ working-bee date on the first Monday,
Easter Monday 6th.
Please let me know if you're interested & we'll see what's changed
in the reserve by then ... or go over the Indigenous walk route for those who
missed it, perhaps.
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