National Tree Day at Peacehaven

We were lucky with the weather for our display at Peacehaven. It turned out to be a pleasant sunny morning with good crowds who found our display interesting, so we probably achieved our purpose of letting people in the Highfields area know more about their remnant vegetation and also of our existence.


It was nice to see young people interested in using local plants in their gardens.
Personally I am finding these plants, which I have obtained from the Crows Nest Council nursery and some friends, to be quite fascinating in my new garden. They are growing very well despite the difficult conditions in the past few years.

You name it!

Some people think the name SCRUB does not do justice to our remnant vegetation, but that is what is has been called for a long time. More correctly, it is a MICROPHYLL VINE FOREST, referring to the small leaves, as opposed to tropical rainforest with its larger leaf forms.
The sign tells us it is Dry Rainforest Remnant. A sheltered pocket of diverse species which nurtures plants which have become less common as the surrounding area has been cleared. And the birds love it, as we do.
Should we stick with the name FRANKE SCRUB? A name should encourage us to respect and protect it.
It certainly was a vine thicket when we started clearing the asparagus vine from the canopy in 2006. These days there are few asparagus vines making it up to the canopy although they continue to germinate and threaten to take over once more. Now we watch the native plants grow and make their way up to replace the weeds.
Please add your comments and thoughts.

National Tree Day

We will have an information stall at Peacehaven Botanic Park, Highfields on Sunday 1 August from 8.30 am. Come along and plant a tree, find out more about your local vegetation and how you can use it around your home and for recreation in your local area.
How to get there on Kuhls Road off Cawdor Road.

Updated Bird List

Birds in Franke Scrub November 2009 - July 2010 Total 34 birds.

observed by Lesley Beaton

Boobook, Southern (First recorded Nov 2009)

Butcherbird, Grey (First recorded Nov 2009)

Butcherbird, Pied (First recorded Feb 2010)

Crow, Torresian (First recorded Nov 2009)

Cuckoo-shrike, Black-faced (First recorded Nov 2009)

Cuckoo-shrike, Ground (First recorded Nov 2009)

Duck, Black - adjacent paddock (First recorded Feb 2010)

Fairy-wren, Superb (First recorded Feb 2010)

Fantail, Grey (First recorded May 2010)

Fantail, Rufous (First recorded Nov 2009)

Finch, Double-barred (First recorded Nov 2009)

Finch, Zebra - adjacent paddock (First recorded Feb 2010)

Friarbird, Noisy (First recorded Feb 2010)

Galah - adjacent paddock (First recorded Feb 2010)

Gerygone, white-throated (First recorded Feb 2010)

Honeyeater, Lewin’s (First recorded Nov 2009)

Ibis, Straw-necked - adjacent paddock (First recorded Nov 2009)

Kingfisher, Sacred (First recorded Nov 2009)

Lorikeet, Rainbow (First recorded Feb 2010)

Magpie, Australian (First recorded Nov 2009)

Magpie-lark (First recorded Feb 2010)

Mistletoebird (First recorded Feb 2010)

Robin, Rose (First recorded Apr 2010)

Rosella, Pale-headed (First recorded Feb 2010)

Scrubwren, White-throated (First recorded May 2010)

Scrubwren, White-browed (First recorded Nov 2009)

Silvereye (First recorded Nov 2009)

Sparrow, House (First recorded Nov 2009)

Thornbill, Brown (First recorded Nov 2009)

Thornbill, striated (First recorded Feb 2010)

Thornbill, Yellow-rumped (First recorded May 2010)

Weebill (First recorded Nov 2009)

Willie Wagtail (First recorded May 2010)

Figbird (First recorded Feb 2010)

Never mind the weather

Whatever the weather - and it wasn't bad this morning - it is always nice under the canopy in our scrub. Five of us were out working this morning.
We found a Parsonsia leichhardtii in flower.

[click on the photo to see the flower in detail.]
When you are visiting, have a look at the corky bark on the vine.
The Silver Croton is also in bud and, above us while we had smoko, we found the Scrub Wilga in flower.

Down in the creek the native plumbago is doing well.

Have you had a look at the Mistletoes on the Flindersia on the NW corner?

A winter visitor

A Rose Robin visited us recently. It is a winter visitor and on the edge of its range here.

June meeting

Once again we are meeting at Franke Scrub this coming Wednesday morning 9-11 am to see how the place is going. We must be approaching the stage of awarding prizes for the discovery of large asparagus vines in the canopy. They are becoming rare.
Bring the usual gear and smoko.