Along Demo Track

The next few weeks look promising for some lovely displays of wildflowers.

This set is from a jaunt along Demo Track last evening … that extra half an hour at the end of the day is a blessing at this time of year!

Gorse Bitter-pea, Demo Track, 4th September 2018

Golden Moths

Leopard Orchid

Early Nancy

Waxlip Orchids almost ready to flower

Downy (Cat’s Claw) Grevillea

Not to be missed!

Ian Higgins, well-known local landcarer and co-founder of Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare, will be the speaker at the upcoming Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests (FOBIF) AGM on Monday 27 August 2018.

‘Higgo’ and friend!

In an article about Ian after he received the Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award in 2017, the Victorian Landcare Magazine wrote:

Ian Higgins’ early interest in native plants has continued through his life. He developed a remarkable knowledge of indigenous flora species, their propagation and revegetation, leading to a 30-year professional career during which he has contributed significantly to revegetation and environmental planning in Victoria, in both professional and voluntary capacities.

You can find out about Ian’s history of involvement in environmental projects here.

Topics he will cover in his FOBIF speech will include:

• Changes in our landscape and vegetation since colonisation, including the profound local impacts of gold mining and the consequences of a European mindset.
• A short history of rehabilitation efforts, including the contribution of Landcare groups.
• Is aiming for something more like the pre-European condition viable?  Given that we’ve already lost many components of the ecosystem, together with massive invasions of exotic species and climate change, what should our local landscape and vegetation management goals be?

The meeting will start at 7.30 pm in the Ray Bradfield Room, Castlemaine VIC (next to Mostyn Street IGA supermarket). Information on how to nominate for the FOBIF Committee can be found here. All welcome and supper will be served.

Footnote: Over the years I’ve frequently consulted with ‘Higgo’ on the correct identification of a confounding (to me) local plant … with good humour and patience he has never let me down. Hopefully I’ve correctly identified those pictured below, spotted on a walk late this afternoon!

Scented Sundews, Fence Track, 23rd August 2018

Blue Caladenia

Early Nancy

Wild plants galore

Wild plants of the Castlemaine district is a wonderful new resource on the flora of the local area that has been made available by the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club CFNC.

The website is based on the plant identification and reference guide produced by the late Ern Perkins, a founding and very active member of the CFNC. Ern was a peerless field naturalist who studied and photographed the flowering plants of the Castlemaine District, covering the Mt Alexander Shire, plus Porcupine Ridge and Fryers Ridge. Over his forty year membership of CFNC, Ern produced many plant lists for specific areas – all of this information has now been incorporated into the one resource – a wonderful achievement.

It has already come in handy checking the botanical names of some of the early spring wildflowers spotted yesterday on a ramble near Fence Track in the Muckleford bush.

Blue Caladenia Cyanicula caerulea, Fence Track, 26th August 2017

Pink Bells Tetratheca ciliata

Yam Daisy Microseris walteri

Golden Moths Diuris chryseopsis

All of this under a glorious display of Golden Wattle

Golden Wattle flowers

Nature’s infinite variety

We were fortunate to enjoy a burst of autumn sunshine this morning. This was soon followed by a wintry blast to remind us that some bleak days are just around the corner. I headed out to the Spring Hill area in search of orchids and managed to find a few, including some dainty Tiny Greenhoods (pictured below), a few Parsons Bands and a single badly munched Autumn Greenhood.

Birds were few and far between but there is still the odd dragonfly and damselfly about to remind us of summer.

Tiny Greenhood Pterostylis parviflora, Spring Hill area, 6th May 2017

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Willie Wagtail along Mia Mia Track

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Wandering Ringtail Austrolestes leda

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Rise and Shine orchids on display

The Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve is just one of a host of places where you can enjoy a spectacular display of Spring orchids.

Scented Sun-orchid Thelymitra megcalyptra, Rise and Shine 15th October 2016

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Rabbit-ears Orchid Thelymitra antennifera

Brown-clubbed Spider-orchid Caladenia phaeoclavia

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Salmon Sun-orchid Thelymitra rubra

A grand display

Below is a selection of what was on display on Saturday afternoon along Bruces Track in the Muckleford State Forest. The colour and variety in the local bush is just grand at the minute.

Yam Daisies, Bruce’s Track, 1st October 2016

Yam Daisy and Hoverfly

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Scarlet Robins nest (partially built)

The nest site in a sapling Long-leaved Box

Female Scarlet Robin with nesting material

Musky Caladenia

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Waxlip Orchids

Keeping the birds in the shade for now!

We are witnessing an extraordinary display of wildflowers in the local bush this Spring – the birds will get their place in the sun soon, but for now enjoy the delights on offer.

Bulbine Lily Bulbine bulbosa, Bell’s Lane Track, 23rd September 2016

Cat’s-claw Grevillea Grevillea alpina

Spiky Guinea-flower Hibbertia exutiacies

Musky Caladenia Caladenia gracilis

Pink Bells Tetratheca ciliata

Rough Wattle Acacia aspera

Tall Sundew Drosera auriculata

The bush rebounds

The local bush is a riot of colour after recent rain. Last weekend I didn’t find a single flowering waxlip – now the colour purple is dominating the ground layer and will for the next month with chocolate lilies to follow. I’m encouraged by the way many of the smaller shrubs – rice flowers, peas and wattles, have rebounded. This is wonderful for small shrub-dependent birds such as Brown Thornbills whose numbers fluctuate according to annual breeding success. This season is a chance to rebuild flagging populations.

Waxlip Orchid, Fence Track, 23rd September 2016

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Slender Rice-flower

Gold-dust Wattle

Brown Thornbill

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A riot in the forest

The Muckleford bush is a riot of colour and form at the moment.

Enjoy!

Blue Caladenia Cyanicula caerulea, Demo Track, 4th September 2016

Golden Moths Diuris chryseopsis

Cat’s claw Grevillea Grevillea alpina

Common Hovea Hovea heterophylla

Leopard Orchid Diuris pardina

Nodding Greenwood Pterostylis nutanscolony

Pink Fingers Caladenia carnea

Slender Rice-flower Pimelea linifolia

Tall Errienellam Drosera peltata

Dwarf Greenhoods Pterostylis nana… I think!

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Yam Daisy Microseris walteri leaves

Pink Bells Tetratheca ciliata

Yam Daisy Microseris walteri flower

Stretching the fifteen kilometre rule

I maintain a ‘strict’ fifteen kilometre rule for this blog – all observations and photographs are essentially made with this in mind … sometimes to the chagrin of potential contributors!

The following set of flora photographs is from the Muckleford Bushland Reserve, near Walmer. This small remnant is 15.48km from Newstead, so rounding off means that it just sneaks in!

Blue Caladenia Caladenia caerulea Muckleford Bushland Reserve, 30th August 2016

Leopard Orchid Diuris pardina

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Cat’s-claw Grevillea (yellow form) Grevillea alpina

Tall Errienellam Drosera peltata

Fairy Wax-flower Eriostemon verrucosus

White Marianth Rytidosporum procumbens

Common Beard-heath Leucopogon virgatus