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July – December 2012

the BushBeating ’round

What’s in this issue:IndigiKids Club update ........................................ 1

Message from the editor ..................................... 2

Garden Warfare ................................................... 2

Gardening tips from Dig-It Dave – trimming ..... 3

Kids’ Activity – Lost Button! ................................ 3

RIFA ....................................................................... 4

Wildlife abounds at new VCA property .............. 4

Garden waste ....................................................... 5

Events and activities calendar .......................... 6-7

Plant families – Malvaceae .................................. 8

IndigiScapes update ............................................. 9

Threatened Species – Christmas Bells ................ 10

IndigiScapes resident wildlife ............................ 11

To reduce your eco-footprint, email jeanette.adams@redland.qld.gov.au or phone 3824 8611 and ask to receive our newsletter by email.

All previous editions of this newsletter are also available on the IndigiScapes website: www.indigiscapes.com.au.

Receive our newsletter via email

The first meeting of the IndigiKids Club took place in February with

seven awesome kids coming along and sharing with us their ideas for learning and caring for our local environment. Since then the group has grown to around 25 kids who amaze us with their enthusiasm and their ideas about how to get other people (particularly adults!) to care about the environment.

In March, the group had a visit from the Ocean Life Education team, when we not only learnt a lot about our ocean friends, we also got some hands on experience touching some of the creatures. The following month (April) we got our hands a bit dirty and pulled out some weedy vines from a patch of bush between the rainforest garden and the bushwalk track at IndigiScapes. We then planted around 80 native plants in the area amongst the ferns. Next time you are going for a walk past that area, have a look and see if you can see the new plants hidden amongst the ferns.

The May meeting was a bit of an arty session with artist Nancy Brown coming in to do some screen printing on t-shirts and bags. This means all IndigiKids now have their own IndigiKids t-shirt and bag to wear and show off – you might have even seen them around!

The scheduled June meeting fell on the weekend of the Indigi Day Out festival, where we had a stall – the kids loved talking to all the visitors about what makes IndigiKids so much fun and showing off all they have learned so far.

The IndigiKids have also been invited to speak at the launch of the Child and Family Friendly Network launch in June. They will be able to share their ideas on what makes the Redlands a great place for kids to live and how to improve things. What a busy little group we are becoming!!

If you are aged between 8 and 12 years old and are interested in joining IndigiKids, call me on 3824 6111 or email me at ruth.vickery@redland.qld.gov.au.

IndigiKids Club UpdateRuth Vickery, Extension Officer – Community Environmental Education

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Message from the editorAimee Wilson – Natural Resources Education Officer

Wow, can you believe the year is half over already?

As we ease into winter, there is still plenty going on at IndigiScapes and in the local bushland, so don’t let the chilly weather chase you inside!

Winter is still a great time to get out and explore some of the seasonal changes in your garden. You might discover some new resident wildlife, as our new VCA participants did (meet them on page 4), or if you look more closely, you might even spot some of your garden’s smaller inhabitants locked in a deadly battle (find out who’s engaging in ‘garden warfare’ on this page).

The cooler weather also presents a perfect opportunity to give your garden a complete makeover – plant some new plants (consider some of the beautiful members of the Family Malvaceae, page 8), get rid of those weeds (especially the nasty ones like Dutchman’s Pipe, on the back page) ...or why not create some topiary art with Dave’s handy trimming tips (page 3)?

And of course if you need garden inspiration, a bushland walking track to stroll as you soak up the winter sun, or simply a hot cuppa and some comfort food to warm you up, just pop down to IndigiScapes for a visit!

Aimee Wilson

Garden WarfareTravis Green, Bushcare Team Leader

Nothing quite raises the ire of a gardener as much as the sight of greedy insects devouring their beautiful flowers or luscious lettuces… but what

should you do?

Well before reaching for the pesticide, you should take a closer look, as an army of beneficial critters could already be winning the battle for you! In our gardens live thousands of insects who all play an essential role in maintaining a balanced garden ecosystem. Some are responsible for recycling nutrients in the soil, while others are busy feeding on plants, flowers… or even each other!

It’s the predatory insects that are of particular interest to the home gardener, as they are responsible for devouring the herbivorous insects that can be so damaging in your garden. The problem with using most pesticide treatments to kill these herbivores is the indiscriminate way they kill all insects, leaving a ‘black-hole’ in your beneficial insect population and making it more vulnerable to attack in the future.

In my own small backyard I can find a range of insects that help look after my garden. Assassin bugs and praying mantises hide stealthily amongst the foliage, waiting for an unsuspecting grasshopper or moth to move within easy reach. Hover flies and ladybeetles patrol, seeking out unsuspecting aphids for a quick meal; and wasps move through in search of fat caterpillars to paralyse and stuff into their nests to raise their young. But my all-time favourites are the iridescent Blue-banded Bees that visit on sunny days and noisily pollinate my vegetables and flowers.

They all play their part in keeping the pests away and spending some time in your garden discovering its hidden army will mean a healthier garden for you and them.

Attracting beneficial insects into your garden is often as easy as planting the right plants. Small nectar-rich flowers provide food for some insects, and don’t forget about shelter. Dense foliage, flaking bark and deep leaf litter all make great hiding spots for insects.

And if you find yourself in a rush to get some help in your garden, some insects can even be shipped to your doorstep by companies that specialise in integrated pest management. But the best solution is a permanent one, so ensure that you create the right habitat for your beneficial buddies as you go. There are some great references available on the web and at your local library to help you make the right choices along the way!

Gardening tips with Dig-it DaveDavid Stone, IndigiScapes groundskeeper

Hello again,

As most visitors to IndigiScapes would have noticed, the plants in the formal garden are trimmed into various

shapes and sizes.

We have to trim bushes, shrubs and sometimes trees to fit plants into their surroundings, to give the garden the desired look, and also to thicken the foliage. Without a trim, plants tend to get ‘leggy’. So here are some tips:

• Never trim off more than 1/3 of the plant’s total height. It’s not a good look, and too much can kill the plant.

• Never trim a plant that is in flower. This will stress the plant.

• If you need seeds, wait until after you’ve harvested them to trim the plant.

• Trim the plant to the required shape or height, cutting just above any nodes which allows for a little die back.

• For best results, trim a small amount more often.

Trimmings can be put into the compost. Compost…well that’s another story!

Happy gardening,

Dave

Kids’ corner – lost Button!Button decided to climb the

tree to get a bird’s eye view of IndigiScapes but he got himself a bit lost amongst the branches! Can you help him find his way back down the tree?

“Trees have so many branches – I get so confused, I just never know which one will take me back down the tree!”

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The Habitat Protection Team is happy to announce the recently completed registration of a Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) between

Council and property owners John & Nelly Hilton for their property located at 135-163 Kingfisher Rd, Victoria Point.

The Hiltons have a passion to conserve the environment. Knowing their property held significant environmental values, they decided to place a VCA over their property to ensure it would be conserved for future generations.

During recent property visits, the Hiltons and I have identified a Southern Boobook Owl and two koalas – one female and one male – without conducting any official fauna surveys. We are keen to see what fauna can be identified once an official fauna survey is conducted on the property.

The Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) Program is a formal arrangement between a landholder and Council to conserve and manage natural bushland on private land. It is voluntary and free to join.

There are a number of benefits to landholders who join the program, including but not limited to: advice on funding opportunities, assistance in developing a management plan for the property, advice on best practice bushland management, plant and animal surveys, and a VCA sign.

To qualify for a VCA you must be committed to protect, enhance and manage biodiversity on your property, have good quality vegetation, have compatible zoning and be at least one hectare in size. Should you wish to discuss the possibility of a VCA on your property please contact Council’s Senior Extension Officer, Maree Manby, on 3820 1102.

Wildlife abounds at new Voluntary Conservation Agreement property at Victoria PointMaree Manby, Senior Extension Officer – Habitat Protection

Garden waste: killing the bush with kindness

Garden waste might make useful mulch in your yard and around the house, but in the bush it is a different story.

In truth, dumped garden waste such as old palm fronds, tree trimmings and even grass clippings can do far more harm than good...

• Piles of lawn clippings retain heat and moisture that can smother regenerating bush plants and seedlings, as well as affect drainage and block waterways.

• Native plants are well adapted to low levels of nutrients in the soil. Garden waste increases the nutrient levels in the soil, making it more favourable for weeds.

• Garden waste can contain seeds, cuttings, bulbs, tubers and roots of weeds, which can propagate and grow rampantly, taking over the bush.

• Garden waste piled around the base of trees can encourage diseases and fungal growth as it retains moisture.

• Excess dead plant matter in the bush increases the amount of fuel for fires, which can be much more intense and damaging as a result.

So after a garden tidy-up, pile all the green waste into your car, trailer or ute, tie it down and take it on down to your nearest waste transfer station for recycling. Visit www.redland.qld.gov.au and follow the Waste links to find a transfer station near you.

If you have lots of garden waste to get rid of, consider ordering a Council green waste service. There are also a number of local garden bag operators in the Redlands, some of whom will even tidy your garden for you!

Council’s green waste service:

• costs less than a $1 a week

• is collected from your home fortnightly (on the alternate week to your recycling)

• is a great alternative for residents who may not have the time or ability to compost at home

• can collect prunings, grass clippings, shrubs, leaves and even weeds.

To order your green waste service or to find out more about waste and recycling in the Redlands, contact RedWaste on 1300 362 036 or visit www.redland.qld.gov.au.

RIFACraig Doolan, Service Manager

The Redlands IndigiScapes Friends Association (RIFA) has been an

important part of IndigiScapes life since not long after its inception in 2000. They have raised awareness of the centre, been advocates in the community and raised funds. Most importantly, it has been a way for people to keep a regular involvement with the centre and its staff and volunteers.

At their March general meeting it was agreed to formally dissolve RIFA as an incorporated body, as it was felt that some of the roles of RIFA were no longer required and the benefits of incorporation were not there. I would like to acknowledge the enormous contribution made by RIFA over this time, and especially by those who have sat on the committee and the current president John Bissett.

That’s not the end of the story however. The Friends of IndigiScapes will continue with monthly talks, activities and the ability to keep an involvement with the centre – just no committee with minutes to keep! We have continued to have a monthly talk on the last Friday of the month and other regular activities throughout the year. There are no membership fees, just regular activities that will interest you and keep you involved with the centre. Keep an eye on the local paper, the IndigiScapes website and our noticeboards for upcoming events.

Littering and illegal dumping – see it, report it, stop it!The dumping of waste, including garden waste, is illegal. On 1 February 2012 the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection launched an online service for reporting illegal dumping or littering activities involving a vehicle. Residents who witness such activities can log on to the website and record the details of the activity and the vehicle involved. Based on the information you provide, the perpetrator may be issued with an infringement notice and ordered to pay a fine up to $6400.

For more information visit: www.eph.qld.gov.au/waste.

Events and activities calendar

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IndigiScapes Nursery monthly plant sale

First Saturday of each month (excluding January), 9am – 12pm

Come along to our fully stocked nursery where staff and volunteers will be available to give you a hand. Prices are great and koala food trees are still free! To receive our monthly email update on what’s happening with plant sales, including featured plants for each month, email indigiscapes@redland.qld.gov.au.

Christmas in July

Friday 20 July, 7pm

Cost: $35pp

Enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner and some festive fun...in the middle of winter! There will be plenty of Christmassy delights courtesy of the Tea Garden Cafe, and a Danish Garland, so bring along a wrapped gift to the value of $5 – the quirkier the better! Bookings essential.

National Tree Day

Sunday 29 July, 9am – 11am

Doug Tiller Reserve, Montgomery Drive, Wellington Point. (UBD 185 C10)

This nation-wide event aims to plant over one million trees throughout Australia, so come along to our largest community planting of the year and help us get 4000 local native plants in the ground! The day includes a free sausage sizzle, displays and lucky door prizes.

Individual Property Fire Management Planning Workshop

Saturday 4 August, 9am – 2pm

Come along to IndigiScapes and find out how to make an Individual Property Fire Management Plan for your property. You will be provided with expert knowledge from QFRS, SEQ Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, and RCC to help you with this process.

Spring Wildflower walksDiscover the beauty of the Redlands’ most beautiful reserves in a series of guided walks. Each walk will have an experienced guide to introduce you to some of our wildflowers and whatever wildlife we can find on the day. Check our website or call IndigiScapes closer to the date to book and to find out meeting details.

• Sunday 19 August, 8am-10am

Eastern Escarpment, Mount Cotton – dry woodland with a hint of rainforest along the creeks.

• Sunday 26 August, 8am-10am

Kidd Street reserve, Redland Bay – see what your environmental levee has provided in this beautiful reserve, dominated by grass trees and banksias.

• Saturday 1 September, 8am-10am

Squirrel Glider Reserve, Alexandra Hills – a little gem right in the middle of the suburbs.

Wattle Day

Saturday 1 September

Celebrate all things Australian on this day dedicated to our national floral emblem – the wattle! Check out some of our local wattles, pick up your free local wattle plant and enjoy some of our tasty wattle inspired foods.

Glossy Black Cockatoo Planting

Saturday 8 September, 9:30am – 11:30am

Location TBA

Plant a patch of new habitat for the Redlands’ Glossy Black Cockatoos and learn more about these beautiful birds. Help us plant some of their favourite food trees, and then enjoy a free sausage sizzle!

Magnificent Mammals Day

Friday 28 September, 10am – 1pm

Bring the whole family to celebrate Australia’s magnificent mammals, including our favourite – the koala! Learn more about the Redlands’ mammal life, meet some of them up close, and enjoy craft activities and a sausage sizzle.

Trees for Weeds Day and Weaving with Weeds

Saturday 6 October, 10am – 4pm

Swap your weeds for native plants! Receive a free native plant with every shopping bag of weeds you bring (up to five plants per person), while stocks last. Also join in a free weed weaving workshop using some of the Redlands’ most damaging weed vines from 10am – 1pm.

Glossy Black Cockatoo Surveys

Sunday 14 October, dawn until dusk

Join an army of wildlife surveyors and scour local bushland for one of the Redlands’ most vulnerable birds – the Glossy Black Cockatoo. Training days will be held in the lead-up to the survey, so keep an eye on the website for updates. Bookings essential.

Koala Action Group Phone-in Survey

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October, 8am – 5pm

This annual survey has been conducted for over 20 years and is aimed at identifying numbers, distribution and trends of Redlands koalas. Residents are encouraged to get out this weekend (even if it’s just your backyard) and report any koalas that they see to the hotline on 3820 1103.

Halloween – Bats in the Black Swamp

Saturday 27 October, time TBA

Black Swamp, Cleveland

Join Bat Conservation and Rescue and our batty friends for an evening of fun and fascination to celebrate Halloween. There will be wildlife displays, a sausage sizzle, trinkets to buy, baby bats to see and in true Halloween tradition, masks and wings for you to make and wear! Call IndigiScapes for meeting point and bookings.

Digital Photography Competition

Entries open Thursday 1 November; close Sunday 25 November

Get snapping for your chance to win! Photos of Redlands plants and animals can be submitted in a range of categories including juniors (14 and under). Keep an eye on our website for categories and details on how to enter.

All workshops and events are held at IndigiScapes unless otherwise noted.

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Bookings are essential where noted.

Contact IndigiScapes on 3824 8611 for more information and to book your place.

Watch the website www.indigiscapes.com.au for updates!

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The family Malvaceae includes well known plants such as Cotton, Okra and Rosella. This large family also

contains some of the most beautiful and recognisable plants in the horticultural world. The 6 species which occur in the Redlands are no exceptions. The Chinese Hibiscus (often mistakenly known as the Hawaiian Hibiscus) is probably the best known member of the family but we are also lucky enough to have 3 locally native Hibiscus species to choose from.

The second part of the name Hibiscus heterophyllus is a combination of two Latin words, heteros meaning 'different' and phyllus for 'leaf', a reference to its variable leaves. Another component that can be quite variable is the flower, in shape, size and colour. The blooms may be pink, yellow or white with a deep red centre. Most of the plants found in this region have the latter combination. The common name, Native Rosella, suggests its similarity to the exotic Hibiscus sabdariffa or Rosella. During the Colonial Period, the buds were cooked and made into jam. Buds can also be eaten fresh or boiled as a vegetable. The flavour of the flowers is very mild and perhaps the best use for them is as a colourful, edible ornament in a salad. It should be noted that kidney damage can be suffered from drinking tea derived from this plant.

Hibiscus diversifolius or Swamp Hibiscus is a small, spreading, prickly shrub to 2m. The species name diversifolius reminds us that the leaf shape can be quite variable in this species too. The 8cm yellow flowers are on display throughout the year, but especially in Spring and Autumn.

Hibiscus tiliaceus or Cottonwood is a spreading shade tree with large heart-shaped leaves. It also has a long flowering season; the 10cm yellow flowers are present from early Spring to the end of Autumn. This plant was particularly useful to the Aboriginal people from the area for making spears out of the straight new saplings and string or rope from the bark.

These plants support a range of animals, especially insects and birds. The conspicuous, nectar-filled flowers attract many nectar feeding birds such as lorikeets which also seek out the seeds for a snack. The large luscious leaves also attract a variety of insects such as the sap-sucking harlequin beetles and other chewing insects. The damage can look quite severe but these fast growing plants don’t take very long to grow a fresh new set of leaves. The greedy bugs also make an easy meal for a wide range of insectivorous birds.

Most of these plants are currently available from the IndigiScapes Nursery but the one that has attracted the most attention recently would have to be Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. tuberosus due to its beautiful red flowers which, probably due to the extended wet season, have been flowering profusely over the last few months. This hardy plant can be grown in a variety of soils and has edible tuberous roots that, during dry seasons, the plant can die back to and regrow when triggered by moisture. The leaves and shoots can be eaten raw or cooked and are considered as valuable traditional medicine due to their high levels of antioxidants.

All the plants listed here prefer a moist open spot but will also adapt to dry conditions and partial shade. They can be trained into a compact bush with regular tip pruning from an early stage and can be pruned by one-third after a heavy flowering. These fast growing plants can be quite useful as a screen, a pioneer species in a mixed planting, a floriferous feature or contained as a pot plant.

Autumn is a great time for planting. It gives the plants the opportunity to establish a healthy set of roots in the cooler months before the stress of the heat that comes with spring. And with plenty of moisture still in the ground there’s no better time to get your plants in. If you have any further questions about our native plants, please don’t hesitate to come down to the nursery and ask.

Plant Families : MalvaceaeBen Webb, IndigiScapes Nursery Coordinator

We usually eat Anzac biscuits in April to honour the spirit of the Anzacs. But we think this twist on a traditional

favourite tastes delicious all year round!

Preparation Time: 20 – 35 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Makes: About 30

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain flour • 1 cup rolled oats • 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed • 2/3 cup desiccated coconut • 1/2 cup dried cranberries • 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 125g butter • 2 tbsp honey • 2 tbsp water • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 200g white chocolate melts

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper.

2. Combine the flour, oats, sugar, coconut, cranberries, macadamias and cinnamon in a large bowl.

3. Stir the butter, honey and water in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda. Add to the oat mixture and stir until well combined.

4. Roll level tablespoonfuls of the mixture into balls, flatten to about 1cm thick and place on the prepared trays about 5cm apart to allow for spreading.

5. Bake for 15 minutes or until light golden. Leave on trays to cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

6. Place the white chocolate in a small heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the water doesn't touch the bowl) and stir with a metal spoon until melted.

7. Use a flat-bladed knife to spread the chocolate over the base of each biscuit. Set aside for 5 minutes or until set. Alternatively, use a metal spoon to drizzle the chocolate over cooled biscuits in a decorative pattern.

Cook’s Tip: You can also melt chocolate in the microwave. Break up chocolate and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High in 30-second bursts, stirring with a metal spoon after each, until the chocolate is smoothly melted. Don’t try to do it all in one burst though, as the chocolate will burn rather than melting.

Cranberry & white chocolate Anzac biscuits

Did you know...?The Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) is the only Australian native plant so far to have been turned into a commercial crop. It is in the Proteaceae family along with Banksias, Hakeas and Grevilleas.

The first half of 2012 has seen the introduction of our IndigiKids program. This is a monthly event for 8-12

year olds to come along to IndigiScapes and stake their own claim in the place. All the activities are a bit of fun with an environmental theme to hopefully develop that enjoyment and wonder of the natural world that many of us took until we were adults to develop ourselves.

The gardens have seen quite a bit of work so far in 2012 with a new project at the end of the gardens being well under way. It’s still a bit of a mess at the moment but the work is happening and we’ve also added significant plantings to the Bird and Butterfly gardens. Keep an eye on the changes over the rest of the year as we continue with the facelift.

Our myrtle rust is now well under control. We have been treating it in our nursery since just before Christmas and have had no further outbreaks in the gardens. It’s an issue that looks like it’s here to stay for everyone, so it’s likely our management regime in the nursery will be a permanent feature and we’ll just have deal with outbreaks in the gardens as they come along.

IndigiScapes updateCraig Doolan, Service Manager

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IndigiScapes’ resident wildlifeLisa Bailey – Extension Officer: Wildlife

ButtonButton, an Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii), has been in and around the IndigiScapes centre for a couple of years. He was first seen near the fish pond and was so tiny (around 12-15cm) he got his name as a result of everyone saying, “oh my... you’re as cute as a button!” He started to visit us in the staff lunch area and one day he turned up with half of his tail missing – we can only guess what happened. As with most lizards, we found out that he likes strawberries... after he tried to eat Alice’s red toenails!

DidgeDidge is a Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) and he turned up at the IndigiScapes cafe about two years ago. He has excelled in scaring the living daylights out of the cafe staff as he tries to sneak into the kitchen for a snack – or sometimes he just flies through the café, eating on the wing, so to speak! Didge has perfected his “...but I’m so hungry...” chirp, but don’t be fooled – he is quite plump for a wild bird!

This beautiful but rare heathland plant was once found on several sites throughout the Redlands, although classified

as ‘Rare’ under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act. Studies in recent years have indicated a decline in their numbers throughout Queensland so on 19 November 2009 their classification was upgraded to Endangered.

Extensive development in coastal areas has meant a reduction in the available habitat for Christmas Bells. It is considered locally extinct on North Stradbroke Island, and this is thought to be due to changed fire regimes in swamps.

There is now only one known location for Christmas Bells in the Redlands – Turtle Swamp Wetlands on Russell Island.

What does it look like?

Christmas Bells are most noted for the pretty tubular flowers that start to appear around Christmas time, giving rise to the common name. They are most often bright red with yellow tips, but may be completely golden yellow, or sometimes a shade of orange in between. They can form singly or in clusters of up to 20, but around six flowers is average.

After flowering, the papery seed pods form; these can remain on the plant for several months.

The grass-like leaves can be up to 70cm long and form a tuft around the plant’s base – when not in flower, the plant is inconspicuous and easily overlooked.

Conservation Action

Christmas Bells is a protected plant, which means that removing any part of it from the wild is prohibited. This includes the seeds – a special permit must be obtained to collect seeds from this species.

Ongoing weed management around the Redlands reduces the impact on many native plants, including Christmas Bells, which can be outcompeted by invasive plants.

The IndigiScapes nursery is propagating seedlings of Christmas Bells, and these will be planted around the gardens to increase awareness of this beautiful plant.

You can help endangered native plants by managing environmental weeds on your property – see IndigiScapes’ brochure titled Environmental Weeds of the Redlands or visit the centre for help identifying weeds and tips on how to remove them and stop them from spreading.

If you have seen or suspect Christmas Bells at any location in the Redlands, please report this to IndigiScapes on 3824 8611.

Threatened Species of the Redlands – Christmas BellsBlandfordia grandiflora

Weeds: Friend or Foe?Lisa Malone, Extension Officer – Community Bushcare

Before you fire up the brushcutter or whip out the spray pack to tackle that wall of weeds, spare a thought for the critters that may be hiding away in there. Weeds

may seem like nothing but a nuisance, but can in fact provide a safe haven from predators for vulnerable wildlife.

Suitable habitat for some wildlife is all about the structure of the vegetation rather than what the vegetation actually is. Now I’m not suggesting that we should go out and plant weeds for the resident wildlife; we just need to take this into consideration when planning our weed blitz.

Land clearing in the Redlands has created ‘islands’ of bushland. Animals living in these ‘islands’ have limited space to go about finding food, nesting sites and new territories, and dispersal across roads and backyards is fraught with danger.

So when clearing weeds, you need to consider how large the patch of bush is that you are working on and clear small sections at a time. Work from the best, least infested areas of bush to the worst areas. Aim to re-establish native vegetation in the cleared section through planting or natural regeneration before moving on to the next section.

If you want to preserve a habitat for a particular species, you can replicate the weedy habitat by carefully choosing and planting natives that will form a similar structure to the weeds. For example, if you want to replicate a lantana thicket you can replace it with dense, prickly natives such as Native Raspberry (Rubus moluccanus or R. rosifolius).

Wildlife that you are most likely to come across in thickets of weeds in the Redlands are:

• Birds such as buff banded rails, wrens, quails and finches

• Small mammals such as antechinus, bandicoots and planigales

• Reptiles such as skinks, blue tongue lizards and snakes

• Butterflies and other insects.

So to improve the diversity of both flora and fauna on your property or local patch of bush, it’s best to take a slow and steady approach. Get to know what is living there and make a long term plan.

17 Runnymede Rd Capalaba Ph: 3824 8611www.indigiscapes.com.au 81

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Weed to watch: Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia elegans)Alys Shilo – Bushcare Extension Officer

This mysteriously beautiful plant has been the conversation piece of many gardens in the past;

however, we now need to talk about its darker side rather then its interesting flower. Dutchman’s Pipe has escaped from the safety of our gardens and is now rapidly creeping throughout Redlands bushland areas, with recent sightings as far as Stradbroke Island.

This fast growing vine can be seen in the shade, strangling our precious native plant species, but this is not the worst aspect of this invasion. The real problem is a family issue! It is closely related to the native Richmond Birdwing vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa), the only host species for the rare and threatened Richmond Birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia). Dutchman’s Pipe also attracts the female butterfly to lay her eggs on it, but rather than feeding the caterpillars, the toxic leaves poison them, and they die soon after they take their first bite. This is having a tragic effect on the diminishing population of this beautiful insect, once found from the top of the Sunshine Coast all the way down to northern NSW.

Description: If it is not in flower, Dutchman’s Pipe is recognised by its broad heart-shaped leaf, distinctly curved at the base. The underside of the leaf is a pale grey-green with a waxy lustre. Stems of young vines are slightly corky whilst larger vines are covered with a fissured corky or spongy brown bark with a strong acetone smell. The distinctive pipe-shaped flowers hang down on long stalks, and are cream and dark red with a yellowish centre.

Origin: Brazil, South America

Habitat: This vine typically grows in protected situations with high humidity and medium light. You will most commonly notice this plant growing around the shady disturbed edges along creeks or in moist gullies.

Dispersal: Each seed capsule contains around 350 papery, teardrop-shaped seeds which are spread by wind or water

Status: Class 3 Land Protection Act 2002. Supply or sale is prohibited and it must be removed from sensitive natural areas

Replace with: Richmond Birdwing vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa), available from the IndigiScapes nursery. This is a slow-growing vine which won’t smother other plants in your garden. It will also provide habitat for the Richmond Birdwing butterfly and could help to bring back this endangered species.

If you think you have seen this plant in the Redlands, please contact IndigiScapes on 07 3824 8611.