With spring just around the corner I have been on the lookout for one of the first signs … Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha bursting into flower. While I have noticed some flowering further north around Maldon, today was my first glimpse of flowering closer to Newstead. I stopped briefly to capture the photograph below, just east of Green Gully. Maldon has a milder climate than Newstead, with its greater elevation and fewer frosts possibly contributing to slightly earlier flowering of species such as the Golden Wattle.
Golden Wattle, Green Gully, 23rd July 2010
Natural Newstead 
G’day Geoff,
Another sign of spring, I heard a Pallid Cuckoo calling on Monday,also the Grey Shrike Thrush are calling around home.I have also found some Golden Wattle in flower on Bells Lane near Telecom Track.
John Alexander.
P.S.The Ballarat BOCA will be here on Sunday,we leave the Post Office about 9.30.You would be welcome to come along.