The Friends of
Shenton Bushland
Inc.
How will we find our wild hearts inside this city;
How will we find the deep peace?
A. Stevens
Bushland Activities page (blog)
Bushland Management Strategies
Newsletter archive:
Newsletter #47 September 2003
Join us for our 10th birthday!
We are planning a picnic walk from Shenton
Bushland to Perry Lakes, on Saturday, 20 September, beginning at 10am,
Grace Vaughan House car park. Ring Dani on (08) 9381 3470 for more information.
Latest weed maps now available
We have produced six weed maps this year using a $1000 grant from the State Government's Community Conservation scheme.
Rob Davis (one of our members) mapped the weeds traversing the bushland many times, using a Global Positioning System (GPS) to record infestations of
veldgrass, freesia, black flag, geraldton carnation weed, lachenalia and watsonia.
Dani wrote the computer software to convert the GPS data into maps.
John Adeney is currently producing a seventh map - of Pelagonium infestations.
The weed maps suggest that veldgrass is being controlled, but other weeds (especially freesia and geraldton carnation weed) are taking advantage of the reduced competition and becoming more of a problem.
Steve McCabe has engaged GreenCorps volunteers to tackle the geraldton carnation weed invasion. We (Friends of Shenton Bushland) have focused mainly on bulbs such as watsonia and lachenalia. Money from previous grants was used to spray veldgrass, watsonia, freesias and lachenalia.
We would appreciate help to tackle the bulbs, which are now taking over from veldgrass as our biggest problem.
If you are interested in helping out in the bushland, contact Dani (9381 3470) to work out how you can help.
We realize that getting out of bed early on Sunday mornings is not attractive to everyone, and we are happy to organize other times that might suit groups of interested people to work in the bushland.
Why not get some friends together and arrange a time to go weeding in the bushland!
The bushland is particularly attractive at present, with lots of flowers out, birds singing, warm sunny days ÷ if only we didn't have to work we could spend all our time there, get fit, and get rid of the weeds in no time!
Would you believe it?
While searching the internet to find information to put into our monthly walks pamphlet I cam across the following information. Could it be true?
It seems that Zamias (those ancient relics from a time when Western Australia had a very different environment) have developed some quite clever survival tricks.
For example, they obtain the nitrogen they need by attracting
colonies of blue-green bacteria to their roots. Zamia's feed these blue-green
bacteria with starch produced by photosynthesis. In exchange, the blue-green
bacteria produce nitrogen for the Zamia. It is believed that the Zamia
'captures' blue-green algae by growing its young roots near the surface
of the soil, where blue-green algae are able to survive at certain times
of year.
Zamias have also developed a clever trick for fertilizing
their seeds. Zamia plants are either male or female. Male plants produce
up to 20 cones that contain spores. The cones ripen one after the other
during the flowering season. Weevils wake up from hibernation during this
time and are attracted to the ripe cones by their aroma. The weevils mate,
and dig holes into the cones, and lay their eggs inside. The cones of Zamia
contain toxic chemicals which the weevils avoid. The toxic chemicals also
serve to protect the young weevils from predators.
The lavae hatch quickly and begin to eat the inside of the cone, revealing the spores. After developing into adults with wings, the adult weevils emerge (covered in spores) and fly off to look for a mate at another Zamia plant. If they land on a female plant which is ripe (and producing an attractive aroma) they enter the space between the cones where the spores are transferred to the seeds, thus pollinating the seed. The female cones are poisonous and unattractive, so the weevils fly off to find a male plant.
If you have an amazing tale to tell about life in the bushland, please send it to me so that I can put it in the next newsletter.
Coming Events
Bush-to-Beach Birthday Walk
Saturday, September 20 - we celebrate our tenth birthday with a walk from Shenton Bushland to Perry Lakes (for a picnic). The walk begins at 10am at Grace Vaughan House. Bring your own picnic.
Walks in Brixton Street Wetlands
The Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands have invited us to join them in appreciating this fascinating wetland. First walk is Sunday, 12 October looking at birds, insects and flowers. The second is Sunday, 26 October, looking at the wetlands from a Noongar perspective. Both run from 9am-11am. Meet at the gate at Alton Street Kenwick. Bring your gum boots! (Gold coin donation).
Next committee meeting
This will be held on Thursday, 18 September at 7.30 pm at 117 Derby Road, Shenton Park. Contact Dani (9381 3470) for details.