Bushcare Hewitts Creek

Cool, cloudy, no rain We might try a couple of variations to routine: dig out the cactus that appears to be growing at the back of the beach transplant some baby Tuckeroos from  Woodland Crk  into the area where Coastal Wattles have died from excess salt water Plant a few of my own nursery items in protected places  pull out the crop of Moth Vines that is getting started beyond our western edge Not sure how many of us will be required for the above so "choppers" will find plenty to do in  Manifest Destiny  to prepare for some planting in the weeks to come.  2025 New Management  Lt McLeod will have the clipboard next 2 or 3 Mondays. Weed  Privet , Cassia ,  Crofton  weed and Cape ivy at Lisas site and  Manifest Destiny Choppers could attack  Cassia  and Asparagus along the north side of the ditch.   Repair 2 of our fences, one at the cycleway bend and the other at the triangle up the dirt track (protecting the San...

Expedition to the west and Manifest Destiny Crofton  weed is flowering so we'll target that and continue working on the western edge where there's asparagus weed ,   Cassia ,  Japanese Honeysuckle  and even some lilies. After a largely dry fortnight any watering of recent plantings would be good. 2025 Once More Unto the Beach We have only 20 tubestock to plant towards the creek end so much of our time will be devoted to ASPARAGUS ! Flanagans creek has turned south for 80 m on reaching the beach, leaving a 2m sand cliff just east of the vegetation. WCC had roped off the access paths last Friday.  The Bower has been re-sited by Mr Satin, now a bit further east & only visible to bending bottle collectors. I also saw a basking Eastern  Water Dragon & 2 beautiful male Variegated Wrens with their extended family.   2024 You'll never weed alone Crofton and Fireweed will flower, Montbretia will shoot. 2023 Watering, snakes & Heat Warning The prior...

Leaderless Monday    2025 Day of the Silent  Lilies under the Casuarinas cover,   Polygalas &  Crofton and Scotch Thistles .  Also snip off emergent Honeysuckle along the Cycleway. Woodlands creek  offers employment against the usual suspects, as does McKellar Glade for the visually astute. Too many Tuckeroos are prospering at both sites, & behind the Blady Grass , so some thinning out should begin. If numbers suffice Lisa's site needs more work around the Crinum Lilies & along the ditch Asparagus is away & running. Madeira fiends can indulge themselves over by the creek in  Manifest Destiny. Warm & windy tomorrow so make sure you have water.  2024 Saws & Buckets Some sizable Casuarina branches are down at Woodlands Ck and others at Hewitts Ck around from Maccas Bend and just south of the Dirt Track.   There is hope of rain on Thursday but our recent plantings could do with a drink just in case. Again, ...

Fifth year of this website Turkey Rhubarb, Asparagus & Passionfruit growth along creek edge and up the Dirt track. The full weed range is on offer in Manifest Destiny   Lilies are popping up and are becoming recognisable (but they flower later). Try for these around the  Stony Road & Woodlands Ck   2025 Springing back  We have inserted an experimental Swamp Banksia into Manifest Destiny and there are still 4 or 5 other sapling trees needing protection so if anyone has some spare garden stakes/posts, we still have enough wire to fence them.  On offer: Velcro plant has reappeared beside cycleway, up near the bend creek edge & back of beach have junk deposits from our throw-away society some minor Turkey Rhubarb, Asparagus & Passionfruit growth along creek edge The full weed range on offer in Manifest Destiny with conditions ideal for extraction & some fallen timber cutting up for the sawyers a check along Stony Road & Woodlands Ck...

An eye out for Deer damage  The full weed range on offer in Manifest Destiny and the soil may be wet enough for easy extraction. Any fallen timber to be cut up by sawyers. Check your favourite spot for Turkey Rhubarb, Asparagus & Passionfruit growth 2022 Springing back  We have inserted an experimental Swamp Banksia into Manifest Destiny and there are still 4 or 5 other sapling trees needing protection so if anyone has some spare garden stakes/posts, we still have enough wire to fence them.  On offer: Velcro plant has reappeared beside cycleway, up near the bend creek edge & back of beach have junk deposits from our throw-away society some minor Turkey Rhubarb, Asparagus & Passionfruit growth along creek edge The full weed range on offer in Manifest Destiny with conditions ideal for extraction & some fallen timber cutting up for the sawyers a check along Stony Road & Woodlands Ck    There has been further Deer damage, done this time to t...

Challenges & Changes in Directorships Still at Hewitts Ck & we are hoping for some WARC Zone activity, the start of Chopping Action over by the creek in  Manifest Destiny  and some rescuing of Valued Natives from vines of all types along the north edge of the  Blady Grass.   2025 Back To Flanagans The low areas at Hewitts Crk are still under water & there is mud elsewhere. Flanagans will be considerably drier with its sand base. Choppers & Morning Glory gleaners can proceed to cleanse more of Coupe 2 while Asparagites continue their slow push south. Judging by McCauleys Beach there may also be some beach cleaning required. We'll bring extra bags.  Weed of the week Ehrharta erecta The species has been used for birdseed, and in ecological restoration such as dune stabilization. However, it has become an invasive weed in many parts of the world. It flowers and seeds throughout the year, and its seeds germinate rapidly, forming new plants in only a ...

Your 12th Birthday Blady Grass area & around its edges with vines, blackberry , Tuckeroo , Cassia among other usual suspects. The Stony Rd & McKellar Glade also need attention.  I'm hoping to lead you all on A Long March into & around our new Estate from about 10.30 if the weather is march-friendly. 2025 Flanagans Creek In the absence of leadership we will share some self-directed weeding at Flanagans Creek. 2024 Success with Bushcare required Lisa's site needs considerable work tomorrow. Gary's "seawall held up well against the big seas. There are a series of 1.9m tides from tonight. There's more to do at Andrew's Amnesia, a small Lantana chop up the dirt track, protection for our Treefern to be installed & some Lilies to be hunted down. 2023 The monarch of weeds, Madeira Vine .  Now we can be a real Bushcare Group engaged in a never-ending battle with Anredera cordifolia. Its on Lisa's site, probably floated in when the lagoon was at...

Work first for an hour, tour our future estate for 45-60 mins Tasks waiting for your energy & expertise include: Andrew's Amnesia ....cutting, untangling, weeding, bagging the Observers Book of weeds Asparagus City is up the Dirt Track, past our sign & on the left.....some digging, cutting & hanging up to die North edge of the Blady Grass area there's Blackberry, Lilies Passionfruit , Morning Glory, Cassia, Crofton . East side of C'way first 40m from our meeting place has lantana in flower & climbimg  Morning Glory. Watering (if it doesn't rain tonight) 2025 Deterrence Day We will have a go at putting in temporary "cages" for our most valuable shrubs & saplings, many of which have already been damaged. There are about 25-30 candidates for our 40m of wire & 11 Star pickets so there will have to be some chainsaw & axe shaping of suitable fallen timber and/or some volunteered stakes. Cable ties & tie wire with pliers should al...

Fine Morning With Much To Do  There's likely not enough to do at Flanagans until Sept/Oct  planting time, except for watering, so we're at Hewitts again tomorrow. I'm expecting Alycia to visit and 1 or 2 new members to check us out so it could be a busy morning. And be ready for the media storm as you are displayed on the cover of the August "Flame" Here's what is on offer: Mandy the Fig Wizard has offered 4 more of her "babies" for planting, desperate to avoid a Triffid incident in her own home. I'm thinking  Woodlands Ck .  Cassia & Coolatai also await your attention....and then there's the Stony Rd   Cassia  with pods. Watering is needed at our newest plantings so a trolley & containers would be great. there are still more Tuckeroo with red tape, often indicating a group.  Please cut them off at ground level before "painting" to avoid creating Trip Hazards. Andrew's Amnesia is due a visit. At least 8 of our usual su...

 100% Bradley There is a cunning plan to have all of us doing the Bradley thing without us even noticing, so come prepared to embrace this radical regime.  2025 Moving South at Flanagans Back to Flanagans . Roadwork is not quite complete. Forecast says cool with wind chill & wind increasing so tog up accordingly. After some checks of our plantings & the two Acacia saligna , the main focus will be moving south in Coupe 1 , with those born to chop moving into Coupe 2 . Asparagus experts still have a lot to do in Coupe 1 & Morning Glory over/through Lomandra is never ending. Bring your bags & I'll bring extras to leave for WCC  to pick up. The following Monday (4th August) we'll be at Hewitts Ck with the usual shift followed by our Annual Foundation Picnic (11th). If you're relatively new to the group its a great chance to meet the delightful reprobates who make up this Outdoor Womens & Mens Shed. 2024 Things Fall Apart: Wind & Deer A tough few day...

 Wander into WARC Zone Time to push back the weed tide along the eastern edge of the WARC Zone forest. Turkey Rhubarb  & Morning Glory at the Condon's Corner end of the Lantana (don't attack it), baby Moth Vine towards the Cycleway, and about 50 red taped Tuckeroos to be dispatched with saw/secateurs & blue goo. Bin the red tape. Another outbreak of  Morning Glory  along Cycleway east side, just south of the bridge Another 30-40 red taped Tuckeroos waiting at the south end of the Old Forest before you get to the dirt track. Keep working along the west edge (where we were last week), heading towards the Ditch;  Cassia ,  Privet , Passionfruit Manifest Destiny  & Andrew's Amnesia are always there; weed-rich & waiting 2025 Bushie Change of Routine We will swap sites, with next week being at Flanagans & tomorrow at Hewitts. This may also give our Flanagans Bowerbird time to repair his bower which was a bit crushed by a fa...

Photo op  The east edge of the forest has lots of weeds if you run through the 50+ Tuckeroos .  A general sweep across and just beyond our current west edge (ie both sides of the dirt track beyond our Bushcare sign ) where there's Passionfruit ,  Morning Glory , some Coolatai and Cassia pods to be removed, but NOT  Lantana  at this stage. If there's time & ingenuity we might also attempt more solid protection for the Banksia deer victims on the Stony Road .  To anyone who's been involved in the green corridor campaign; be at the bridge in your finest Bushie gear for a Photo op.  2025 More to do More tree damage requiring Saws & Choppers, more deer damage repair (or at least a check of last week's victims), further weed work in  Manifest Destiny .  2024 Mustn't Grizzle about Drizzle There are a couple of above water sites in mind where gumboots will only be optional. there's a big fallen over Banksia at the back of Steve's Beac...

Meek Shall Inherit The Earth  So fellow meek ones, 6.85 hectares will come into our "possession" (more) .  This week it is back to the Flanagans site where there should be enough to do; if its not too wet.  Here's what's on offer: South Bay : bury dead Cockatoo & headless Rabbit if they're still visible. Lantana & Asparagus in NW corner. Middle Bay : move big log off Saltbush & cut dying Asparagus off Saltbush .  Lantana at south end Little  Lantana +  Morning Glory  NW corner Rebuild "defences" of our surviving plantings. North Bay :  Turkey Rhubarb in SW corner. Small  Morning Glory  &  Lantana East side centre. Fix defences some plantings at north end & water if rain has stayed away. North Shore : Its looking very good apart from a few weeds at the south end, but there is some rubbish to collect, including along the creek edge. Bird Flu : Working the back of 2 beaches means its a real possibility that we w...