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Newsletter #66 September 2007

Farewell Steve!

Steve (right) on a 'Mound Moving Day' at Shenton Bushland (with John (left) and Rupert (centre).

City of Nedlands Bushcare Officer Steve McCabe is moving on. Steve has a 12 month job at the Swan Catchment Centre with the Dieback Working Party, and then plans to travel overseas.

We thank Steve for his contribution to managing Shenton Bushland. Being a Bushcare officer is a difficult role, especially since relations between bushcare groups and councils can be quite 'prickly' following the emotional effort of campaigning to save an area of bushland, often with little support from councils. Steve handled this challenge well, and made it possible for us to develop a positive collaborative working relationship with the City of Nedlands to look after the bushland.

We wish Steve all the best for his travels, and future career.

In the bushland

What a wet year we have had! It is probably a 'normal' year, but we have forgotten what normal years are like.

Podolepis gracilis (above) Thysanotus manglesianus (below)

The bushland is full of colour at present - lots of orchids are out - cowslip, and donkey, and, as well as the wildflowers such as podolepis (carpets of tiny white flowers), white milkmaids (Burchardia congesta), and mauve vanilla lilies (Sowerbea laxiflora), and pink fringe lilys (Thysanotus manglesianus). A scented sun (Thelymitra macrophylla) near the Grace Vaughan House noticeboard is putting up two flowering spikes this year - it is 3 years since it flowered last!

Regardless of the rain, we have been busy each Sunday afternoon (we now meet from 3-5pm each Sunday). Our first focus was on Lachenalias, which have now finished, so we are on 'search-and-destroy' missions for Geraldton carnation weeds and Watsonia.

The Geraldton carnation weed is troublesome because the plentiful rain keeps bringing out fresh germinations, so we have to re-visit areas that we thought we had cleared.

Likewise, we will also have to re-visit the Watsonia patch.

Coming Events

Bush to Beach Walk

The annual Bush to Beach walk is scheduled for Sunday 30th September. Put it in your diary!

The route of this year's walk is from Allen Park Swanbourne to the Swan River at Pt Resolution , Dalkeith.

If you are interested in coming along for the walk, or helping organise the day, please get in touch with Dani on 9381 3470 or bojel@it.net.au.

New Meeting Times in the Bushland

We now meet from 3 - 5pm on Sunday afternoons

Next Meeting

Our scheduled meetings for this year are Sunday mornings 10am in the bushland (or a nearby cafe if it is raining):

• Sunday 9th September
• Sunday 18th November

Our next scheduled meeting is Sunday 9th of September beginning at 4.30pm at the bushland. I will bring muffins, tea, coffee, a thermos of hot water and misk. BRING YOUR OWN CHAIRS! If it is raining we will adjourn to a café (any suggestions?)

Contact Dani (9381 3470 or bojel@it.net.au) for details.