Thanks to Ann, Colin, Ivan and Ted some tricky invasives were taken out from hiding places under other shrubs and trees. Privets and cotoneasters were cut & daubed. A large Briar Rose with shrivelled but no doubt still viable rosehips was cut back and the hips were bagged. We were working in the area accessed by the track to the twin reservoirs.
Also in this area are healthy St John’s Wort rosettes at the bases of last years’ browned-off flower shoots.
Steve D. and I are conferring on the weeds scenario at the moment and he will be able to treat the St John’s Wort in the reserve with that appropriate herbicide: Starane in this case. It affects the SJW but not nearby grasses.
Steve has continued his walking through the reserve spot-spraying Serrated Tussock and any African Lovegrass he comes across. Until spring stimulates more germination of grass seeds the main occurrences of these introduced grasses and Chilean Needle Grass are in the mown areas between residents’ fences and the gravel path around the ‘hill’.
I’m also ensuring the Catchment Group has infestations of Blackberry, Honeysuckle and Ivy recorded as there’s another round of funding available to tackle Blackberry as a Weed of National Significance (WONS) in Ginninderra Creek’s catchment.
You’ve probably noticed germinating Capeweed plants on the edges of the gravel track. They’ll flower pale yellow … pretty and useful for daisy chains but easily spread by brown, hairy seeds sticking to laces and fabrics.
In our gardens people are complaining about Flickweed Cardamine hirsuta. Seeds dry out in long, thin capsules and then explode away to begin next season’s crop. Chickweed is at least edible though it does taste a bit like grass.
The Weed Foragers Handbook is a handy guide to plants that are edible, their lookalikes and how these useful weeds have been used in previous centuries. Cleavers, or Sticky Weed, Galium aparine, is another edible weed - though unless it’s used well blended or in Smoothies it’s a bit like eating Velcro due to stems, leaves and fruits being covered with the hairs that hook onto things …including fur & feathers. Hence it's being spread.
Whilst we were working we were rewarded by Wrens and Double-Barred Finches passing through. They reminded us that birds are nesting and needing the dense shrubbery around Mt Rogers as safe sites for breeding. The "Double-bars” are an especially welcome sighting as are the Speckled Warblers Steve’s seen reasonably recently.
If you come across troublesome Magpies ring Access Canberra 13 22 81 for action by the City Rangers.
After our weeding and lunch I went out to Strathnairn, driving through hail. Later it snowed out there too, bringing a very light dusting of snowflakes momentarily. Later again I drove along Stockdill Drive delighted to see and photograph snow on the ranges’ foothills. In the distance to the SE there was a big dump of whiteness on a hill beyond Queanbeyan as seen through the Molonglo Valley and binoculars.
It’s now the turn of other wattle species to flower after the Cootamundra Wattle trees are a bit past it. Keep your eyes peeled for Early Nancy’s white flowers. I found one or two behind Woodger Place the other day.
Thank you Working-bee volunteers and to the many others who make Mt Rogers special.
There’s some wonderful Art of Nature at the Belconnen Art Centre for a few weeks. Animals and plants from all continents. It’s free. Parking at the Mall is the best option as there are few spaces in the official carpark on the lakeside. Steve D has a couple of paintings entered. Josie, a neighbour in Flynn, has a Highly Commended portrait of a Galah chick near its nest hollow.
Rosemary
Mt Rogers Landcare convenor
Mt Rogers Landcare is part of Ginninderra Catchment Group
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