February flora notes
Walking along the clifftops in January, I despaired of seeing anything in flower. Many plants are looking burnt by the heat, especially the sturdy bushes of Coast Beard-heath, Leucopogon parviflorus.
Melbourne Treatment Plant bird walk
Our February bird walk group visited the Melbourne Treatment Plant at Werribee. It was very windy and the birds were staying down in sheltered spots.
Orchids in February
It has been a very quiet start to the orchid year. The Rosy Hyacinth Orchids, Dipodium roseum, that are usually so spectacular at this time of the year, were coming into bud nicely in December, but very few survived the high temperatures and lack of rain in this year’s Victorian summer.
Fauna report February
Over the last month one could not help but notice how the local fauna were battling with the heat and furnace-like winds, and more recently the smoke from the fires around the State.
Nature Ramble – The Gravel Pits off Gum Flats Rd
Regardless of the very warm forecast, 9 enthusiastic ANGAIR members took on the challenge of locating the two orchid species which can often be seen in this remnant gravel pit site during the months of October, November and December.
Interesting newsletter articles
Ellinor Campbell has suggested some interesting snippets from the Land for Wildlife and the Wombat Forestcare newsletters.
A look at local frogs
You may have heard people say, ‘If you hear frogs, it’s a healthy environment.’
Events Calendar
Weed of the month
Freesia
Freesia refracta and Freesia alba X F. leichtlinii are declared weeds in the Surf Coast Shire because they spread easily and threaten to invade bushland. Freesias are perennial herbs that die back in summer and produce new foliage in winter. The highly fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers appearing in spring are white to cream and pink with yellow markings, shaded purple on outer surface. Each plant has at least two corms, one below the other, thus requiring deep digging to remove them.
More details about how to control this weed can be found in the archive of Weeds of the Month.
Sign up for membership
ANGAIR membership gives you access to a range of great activities and benefits. Learn more about all these benefits as well as how to sign up and renew.
Get to know your local Friends groups
There are a number of wonderful local Friends Groups that provide ANGAIR members and the community with opportunities for involvement.