Bushcare Hewitts Creek

Deer activity There are signs of Deer activity on the site so we should attempt protection for vulnerable saplings. One or two have already been damaged/destroyed. If the wind isn't too bad we should get on the Whiskey (Grass , that is) along the line of the SPATE fence. Secateurs & bags required.    Whiskey Grass - Andropogon_virginicus Also Andrew's Mistake awaits. Plant of the Week: Warrigal greens Native Spinach ( Tetragonia tetragonioides ) Much prized by early colonists (& hip restaurateurs) for protection vs Scurvy & even grown in Europe as a curiosity veg in C19th, but "Aboriginal people seldom used it, as the plant's nutritional qualities are negligible".  To prepare, soak in boiling water for 3-5 mins. (This will remove the oxates from the leaves). Pruning the most edible tender shoots promotes growth according to Diego Bonetto , so go ahead & take home a bag each week & it might overtake all the weeds. 2022 Weed of the Week - Cape

Weed War On the North-West Front ( Andrew's Mistake ) we encounter the Alliance of Evil, & the Southern Front ( Woodlands Ck ) the Honeysuckle Menace . One day, when Hewitts Ck lagoon has drained, we may even crest the mound, cross the ditch & advance into Lisa's site . The idea is to use this time of diminished growth to defeat/set back our enemy species before Spring encourages them to break out. Secateurs, bags & a few choppers will be required. Conditions forecast to be sunny, cool, breezy. There may be a nice job available cutting off millions of Privet seeds, 2022 Attacks Four weeding sites. And, for those who wish to forge a lasting track through Lisa's site, or attack fallen timber with their weapons of choice.  Weeders will need to bag Coolatai Grass seed heads & whole Mother of Millions plants. We have a couple of edges along the forested part of the Cycleway where a more forbidding border should help conserve the better areas of our site so I&

  Public Holiday Monday   The standard mantra applies: if you get a better offer, take it.  Chopping & bagging is on the agenda for some and Andrew's Mistake needs radical surgery. If the creek has dropped we might mount an expedition into Lisa's site or parts of Manifest Destiny .  Weed of the week - Corn sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis) see it in Eat Weeds - the book 2022 Worklist - looks familiar   A party into our Manifest Destiny zone ( privet ) and   to deploy another in Andrew's Lost World ( cassia ) - pods bagged; Should a third group be available, the Coolatai Grass down by Woodland Ck , needs have its seeds bagged and the plants pulled.

Have the deer returned? Our climbing weeds are on the up and some are set to flower so the targets tomorrow will be Morning Glory and Cape Ivy in the SE Corner , Moth Vine in the New Forest and Coolatai over near Woodlands Creek.  The religious roamer is spreading at the Hewitts Creek corner . Bags required for most of these. Some chopping and Morning Glory coiling work will be available in Manifest Destiny . 2022 Walk on the Grass The council has mowed the grass adjacent to the cyclepath. As a result the Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) may be easier to control. Time of year The usual weeds are slowing down this time of year, so a bit of effort will contain them when spring comes around.