Sat 2^nd and Sun 3^rd April – Next working bee

New visitors / helpers always welcome.

Training, tools and cakes provided.

Sat AM 10.00, tree guard collecting

On the erosion ditch between ferry terminal and trig point

• Meeting point A. Just south of the start of the Heysen Trail near picnic table (see map below). If you are late, walk south along the Heysen Trail for about 10 mins, until you see us.
• morning tea provided

   Lunch, approx  1.30, at Lot 3 Sorata St (Carolyn’s house),

• BYO lunch

Sat PM  (approx. 2.30) – Tidying the “lower loop”

Meeting point A

Removing a few tree guards (some plants are growing out over the top)

and hand weeding around plants, tip pruning

Sun AM,  9.00 AM – 12.00 Noon – Making Seed/Daisy bombs

Meeting point – Lot 3 Sorata St – Morning tea provided

This year we will be trialing seed/daisy bombs to see if

1) this low effort revegetation method works

2) we can get some of the pretty daisies/lilies to grow

To learn more – http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s4210404.htm

http://www.ecocitizenaustralia.com.au/seed-bombs/

email: carolyn.schultz165@gmail.com

LEAFLESS BLUEBUSH

(Maireana aphylla)

(Photo: E. Cousins, Cape Jervis; habit, spiky stems, papery fruit)

We found this rare plant recently on the cliffs overlooking the lighthouse at Cape Jervis. Not a plant you would want to fall into if walking on those cliffs… it has no leaves but hard spines, or spikes, instead. (In Latin, ‘a’ means ‘without’, and ‘phylla’ means ‘leaves’, explaining the ‘aphylla’ in its name.) In the tough conditions it is living in, any defences probably help! The dull green shrubs we found were small, no more than knee high, though some sources say they grow to 1.5m!  The fruit are actually those small, pale apricot-coloured wings that look like flowers in the last picture above. The stems are striated, or grooved. You might be able to make these out in the centre picture. Let us know if you find them anywhere else on the peninsula!<

HARE’S TAIL GRASS

(Lagurus ovatus)

(Photos: E. Cousins; plant and habitat, leaves with short hairs, feathery seed head. Fishery’s Beach)

You will often see this plant in dry, coastal areas, particularly in disturbed sites. Originally from northern Africa but now naturalized around much of SA, it has spread through many conservation areas. Look for a short-lived and short-statured grass, up to about 50cm tall. In the second photo, you can see the leaf sheath hugs the stem of the plant before the blades bend outward. The sheath parts are very hairy and occur on alternate sides up the stems; the leaf blades are flattish and have a finer hair covering. The really feathery seed-heads, containing many flower spikelets, are what you will spot first, though. These are whitish with an attractive elongated shape. Seed-heads are visible from September until well after the tiny flowers themselves have detached and blown away. Don’t confuse these with the native Echinopogon !