Alison Pouliot’s new book on fungi

Posted on 1 October, 2018 by fobif

The Allure of Fungi by Alison Pouliot has recently been published by the CSIRO.  

Alison’s press release:

“Although relatively little known, fungi provide the links between the terrestrial organisms and ecosystems that underpin our functioning planet.

The Allure of Fungi presents fungi through multiple perspectives – those of mycologists and ecologists, foragers and forayers, naturalists and farmers, aesthetes and artists, philosophers and Traditional Owners. It explores how a history of entrenched fears and misconceptions about fungi has led to their near absence in Australian ecological consciousness and biodiversity conservation.

Through a combination of text and visual essays, the author reflects on how aesthetic, sensate experience deepened by scientific knowledge offers the best chance for understanding fungi, the forest and human interactions with them.

Although relatively little known, fungi provide the links between the terrestrial organisms and ecosystems that underpin our functioning planet.

Features:

  • An interdisciplinary exploration of fungi, their role in nature and relationships with different cultures
  • Engaging personal anecdotes take readers on a journey of discovery into the world of fungi and fungus enthusiasts
  • Combines text and evocative visual essays in an amalgam of history, science and art.”

The Allure of Fungi has 280 pages, 82 colour photographs and costs $49.99. Purchasing details can be found here.

Alison has been a speaker at Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests and Connecting Country events and has run local workshops on fungi and photography in central Victoria for many years. She is a worldwide expert on fungi, an excellent photographer and an inspiring teacher.

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Extension of closing date for VEAC report submissions

Posted on 27 September, 2018 by fobif

A few weeks ago we included a post on The Victorian Environment Assessment Council draft report on its Central West Investigation.

The report recommended that a significant part of the Wombat forest be included in a new Wombat-Lerderderg National Park. A further recommendation was that the western part of the Wellsford State Forest be absorbed into the Bendigo Regional Park, and the eastern and northern section of the forest be created as a nature reserve. The main impact of these latter changes would be the protection of the Wellsford from logging. Readers will remember that Vicforests was proposing renewed logging in this magnificent box ironbark area.

Although the report does not directly cover the Mount Alexander shire we think that it is important for as many people as possible to forward written submissions supporting the positive features of the report.

The closing date for submissions has been extended from 31 October to Monday 10 December.

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Fryers Ranges walk: 15 September

Posted on 19 September, 2018 by fobif

Sunday saw a modestly sized group of 14 walk a circuit in the Fryers Ranges behind Taradale led by Christine Henderson.

The walk was conducted at a relaxed pace with plenty of stops for plant and wild-flower photography and identification. We were fortunate to have two experts in David Elliot and Richard Piesse among the group.

Lots of wattle were in flower especially Rough Wattle (Acacia aspera) which was especially prolific.

Highlights included Hill Flat Pea which was just emerging, lots of White and Pink Heath, a patch of Slender Dodder Laurel found by Richard and numerous clumps of the rare Elphinstone Grevillea right beside the track. Let’s hope it isn’t eliminated in the next round of track widening.

Noel Young sent us this list of bird calls he heard along the way: Choughs, White-throated Treecreeper, Yellow Robin, Grey Shrike-thrush, Spotted Pardalote, Crimson Rosella, Thornbills, Scrubwrens, Pallid Cuckoo, Fantail Cuckoo and Horsefield’s Bronze-cuckoo.

Thanks to Christine for a most enjoyable walk. Continuing with the floral theme next months walk is in the Muckleford forest led by Geoff Nevill and focusing on orchids.

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‘Creatures’ photos

Posted on 17 September, 2018 by fobif

The closing date for entries to the FOBIF ‘Creatures’ project is 1 October so there is still time to send us your photos. The exhibition at TOGS cafe will open on 12 October and finish at the end of November. You can find all the project details here.

To have a look at the 90 photos in our Flickr ‘Creatures’ album, click here.

Swift Parrot. Photo by Debbie Worland

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Spring [1] a sobering forecast

Posted on 9 September, 2018 by fobif

It’s spring! Wildflowers are a bit slow to emerge this year, but there are signs–plenty of orchids, for example. And we can always hope, though it’s been dry, and doesn’t look like it’s going to improve. Here’s the Bureau of Meteorology predictions on the chances of above average rainfall to November:

The recent VEAC Central West report puts it this way: ‘As with most of Victoria, the Central West Investigation area has already experienced some effects of climate change. For example, since the 1950s average annual rainfall in the investigation area has declined by 100 to 200 millimetres and average temperatures have increased by approximately 1.2 to 1.4 degrees. These trends are projected to continue with more hot days, increased fire weather and more frequent extreme weather events.’

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