A walk in any weather

No, the Mount Tarrengower walk on Sunday wasn’t cancelled!

Instead of huddling at home, FOBIF walkers had the pleasure of seeing the bush in its quiet, misty late-winter mood. In the soft light we saw the bright green resurrected mosses, the richly blue-grey lichens, and many tiny signs of spring coming soon. Early Nancies are flowering, many lilies are about to burst into flower, and several wattle species are covered in fattening buds: Golden, Varnish and Black Wattles amongst them.

Spring is coming, and Early Nancies are telling us so.

From the camp area, we walked off track on a contour around the north-western flank of the Mount.  Between the large granite slabs and tors, we saw several shrubs: the delicate green flowering tubes of the rock correa, Correa glabra, the white-flowered Pimelia linifolia and the Flat-leaf bush pea, Pultenaea platyphylla. Frances Cincotta added to our appreciation with succinct pointers for recognising the different shrubs and several Eucalypt species.

Further on we found several rock wells on the granite slopes: a great educational reminder from the First People of Mount Tarrengower about water and its necessity in our dry climate.

Frances Cincotta gestures hypnotically: it helps to have a guide, especially to the rare plants.

We didn’t need the big view from the Fire Tower. The lack of cars and the shifting misty light on a perfect Cherry Ballart were rewards enough for the climb to the summit.

Getting things into perspective: Aboriginal rock well on Tarrengower.

Thanks to Gen Blades and Lisa Hall for their leadership, Frances for her knowledge and several amateur geologist participants for sharing their interest in the granite and the hornfels.

Next month’s walk is a detailed look at Kalimna Park. Check the website for details.

Deirdre Slattery