Week 4 October 2000: Frogs are now moving throughout the garden. Small Green Tree Frogs are appearing in large numbers in our propagating structure and they are being kept company by Peron’s Tree Frogs. We are also finding frogs resting in the foliage of various plants in the garden.
Found lots of spores under one of our indoor Maidenhair Ferns. Sowed them on sterile seed raising mixture about one month ago. A green scum is appearing on the surface, which may be the first stage in spore germination. We will document the process under our Research section.
Weeding and digging holes in a new section of one garden bed. Planted some seedling Grevilleas, which germinated, in another part of our garden. Some of these may turn out to be worthwhile hybrids. Also planted Brachycomes, sundry Correas, a Cockatoo daisy, an Agonis and Cassinia. We are now watering all new plants with seaweed extract, some liquid from our worm farm and water. Hopefully this mixture will help them on their way.
A Red-bellied Black Snake has been making an appearance in various parts of the garden. Although they are venomous, Black Snakes are not aggressive and we are prepared to live and let live. Although we must admit that the sight of metre and a half reptile does make the heart flutter.
Found an Adenanthos detmoldii with a few flowers. The genus is not exactly a household name but is starting to appear in a few gardens. It is a member of the Proteaceae family and produces solitary flowers similar in appearance to Grevillea blooms. The common name is Jug Flower because of the bud shape. This species comes from Western Australia.
A Whiptail or Pretty face Wallaby is spending time feeding near the house. This small macropod has white markings on the face and long slender tail. This makes four macropod species that call Yallaroo home. We are happy to welcome them all to the garden.
Spent a day at a property east of Guyra owned by the local Aboriginal Land Council. Most of the property is granite and covered by a mind-boggling array of native plants. We will be advising on plant identification and botanical interpretation. Grevillea scortechinii is one of many interesting plants occurring on the property and develops into a scrambling ground cover with unusual black toothbrush flowers.
More rain this week, which is always welcome. 94 mm is the total for October which gives us great pleasure.