news

Autumn 2009

March has arrived and on cue we are getting calm clear days with perfect blue skys. Nights are getting just slightly chilly and the blacksnakes are having to spend a little extra time sunning themselves in the morning. 

new native seed stock

We are still processing Acacia and other shrubby species collected late last year, but already have available good quantities of popular species including Hardenbergia violacea, Indigofera australis, Acacia decora and Acacia implexa.

upcoming stock

Over the next few months we will be targeting some of the winter and spring flowering Eucalypts which are now starting to mature. These include some of the key box and ironbark species such as Eucalyptus albens, E. melliodora, E. crebra and E. sideroxylon.

We will also be targeting Eucalyptus rossii and Eucalyptus dealbata over the next couple of months.

in flower now

Our local bloodwood species, Corymbia trachyphloia (Brown Bloodwood) is in full bloom right now. The scaly breasted lorikeets and beekeepers are both happy. Seed should be available for harvest later in the year. Eucalyptus bridgesiana (Apple Box) seems to be flowering quite well also. Along the water courses the Casuarina cunninghamiana (River Oak) are in flower giving the male trees a spectacular autumnal rusty hue. 

Also notable among the various Eucalypt species at this time of year are those with smooth trunks that have shed their bark during summer and are now at their most colourful. In our region the best examples are the wonderful Eucalyptus rossii (Inland Scribbly Gum) and Eucalyptus dealbata (Tumbledown Red Gum). 

Among the shrubby species the pure white flowers of Olearia elliptica (Sticky Daisy Bush), a common component of White Box Woodland understorey, are emerging.  Acacia irrorata is one of the few wattles flowering now, although its seeds still ripen during the typical late November/December period. 

There are quite a few native grasses that are flowering or in seed in Autumn, including many Aristida spp. (Wire Grasses), Bothriocloa macra (Red Grass) and Cymbopogon refractus (Barbed Wire Grass). An interesting and little-known but very beautiful grass species also flowering now is the annual Perotis rara (Comet Grass).

Autumn 2009 featured species

click on the photos for more information on each species

Eucalyptus rossii Inland Scribbly Gum	Eucalyptus dealbata Tumbledown Red Gum
Olearia elliptica Sticky Daisy Bush	Acacia irrorata Green Wattle
Bothriochloa macra Red Grass	Perotis rara Comet Grass