After the burn off

Posted on 14 February, 2011 by fobif

FOBIF members have made several visits to the south end of the Diggings Park to monitor the effects of a very severe management burn conducted near the Wewak track in Autumn last year. On our latest visit, on February 7, we came to the following tentative conclusions:

1. Recovery of species has been good. Good rain has provided excellent recovery conditions, and we will report on the detailed monitoring of the area by Castlemaine Field Naturalists in due course, as well as DSE monitoring, if any. There has been an outbreak of thistles, a lot of which we’ve pulled out and taken away, and dandelions, possibly because of the large areas of bare earth created. Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management | Comments Off on After the burn off

It’s pretty, but it’s a weed

Posted on 11 February, 2011 by fobif

Ian Higgins identified this flower as a Gladiolus specie, probably G.undulatus. It is a weed that several FOBIF members found growing in great numbers beside a roadside in Sutton Grange. Unfortunately, as in the case of Gazanias, Gladiolus undulatus, it is still sold in nurseries.

Gladiolus. Photo by Bronwyn Silver, 29 December, 2010

Apart from their effect on bushland, weeds cost Australian agriculture $4 billion a year in decreased productivity and management costs. 65% are escapes from gardens and parks (Ref: www.weeds.gov.au). For more information and discussion about the impact of weeds on our bushlands see the Natural Newstead site.

Posted in Nature Observations, Weeds | Comments Off on It’s pretty, but it’s a weed