Australian Bush Life

Cut-leaf Daisy – Brachyscome multifida. Flowers.

The Cut-leaf Daisy “ Brachyscome multifida is a great garden feature plant. It has loads of pretty mauve-pink colored flowers which are present for a long time throughout spring and summer. This plant forms a dense mat and covers the ground thickly. It is perfect for use under trees, in rockeries (it can trail/overhang raised areas),  along path or step edgings and binds and holds well on embankments.

Being a local indigenous plant it is a fantastic ground cover plant that can support local biodiversity too. It’s abundant flowers provide nectar for a variety of insects and the plant itself is a great hiding place for small frogs and reptiles like garden skinks.

If you are interested in buying it for your garden try to source a local variety from a nursery that specialises in local indigenous and/or native plants.  This is a commonly sold garden plant and there are many nurseries that sell modifed versions of this plant. It is also the perfect plant to replace the weedy Seaside Daisy - Erigeron karvinskianus which is often found in many gardens.

Cut-leaf Daisy “ Brachyscome multifida. Ground cover plant.

Nurseries have readily cultivated the Cut-leaf Daisy using techniques such as hybridisation to select for features such as flower abundance, duration etc that will sell well. These modifed specimens particularly if planted near local bushland can reproduce and mix with the local varieties and potentially alter the local/indigenous varieties ability to survive in the local area. The local features are really best suited to the area as they have evolved over many years to cope with the local environment.

An example of a Fire Prevention Notice.

On Christmas Eve past our surprise present was a Bush Fire Prevention Notice in the mailbox. This is a strongly worded legal letter which outlines fuel reduction works that you must undertake on your property. It can be a little overwhelming as works must be completed within the specified time frame or they can be undertaken on your behalf and you can be left with the bill.

The Bush Fire Prevention notice really rattled us as we recieved the letter during the holiday period (Christmas Eve) and the works were required to be completed before January 2nd. What if we had been away and come home to our bush block slashed to less that 100mm? We would have been devastated – our indigenous plants are just recovering after the bushfire! Let alone been left with the bill to pay for the devastation.

While we understand the need to manage fuel loads to reduce the risk of bushfire for community safety, we did not move to our bushblock to turn it into a parkland. We can see the need to slash and maintain areas of weedy/pasture grasses or thickets of weeds such as blackberries as they do contain a high fuel load. But we only have indigenous bushland, maintain a cleared area and well watered vegetable gardens around our home, have a home with low risk of flammability and do not have any vegetation touching our home. Our home has actually just lived through the bushfire in 2009.

Some information that we have found out about Fire Prevention Notices since being served with one. As it is a legal document it is imperative that you act immediately before the deadline for completion of works specified in your letter.

• You have the right to oppose the Fire Prevention Notice if you have bushland that you want to protect
• Write an initial opposition letter in writing asking to work together with the fire prevention officer to come to an agreed management strategy, ask for more time if you need it and send it by certified mail
• Clearly outline how you already manage your property and bush to minimise the fire and fuel load risk
• Arm yourself with knowledge about your land such as knowing your local plants, animals and habitat that you want to protect
• Work with your local fire prevention officer to develop a mangement plan for your property if required
• You have the right to ask how and why the notice has been served to you
• You have the right to seek clarity on what specifically the letter requires you to do as we were very unsure with the ambiguous wording regarding what vegetation exactly was required for removal
• Try to contact someone in your local council who works in “environment” or with “indigenous vegetation” to gain advice as they may have a different angle to the fire prevention officer
• Contact your local Councillor or environment groups to ask for advice/support as required

By asking questions it appeared our notice was served on us without a fire prevention officer visiting our property and was purely on the request of a neighbour, which is allowed under the CFA Act 1958 – section 41. Our neighbour is looking to build and is hoping to build a home to a low Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating, which is cheaper.

This is obviously easier if we clear all the vegetation from our block as the fire threat is reduced to their block, but in no way are we stopping their building altogether. In fact we believe that if you live in a fire prone area then you need to build a house to a high BAL using quality materials and design so that the home has a higher level of surviving the bushfire event. Asking a neighbour to clear and maintain their vegetation is not a long term sustainable solution for building to a lower BAL rating and is really just a disaster waiting to happen.

An example of the legal wording in a Fire Prevention Notice.

We felt particularly that this letter did not take into account the fact that all our indigenous plants are currently recovering from a recent bushfire and that currently all plants are between 1 – 2 metres tall (whether grasses, shrubs or trees). Also the coucil have just recently installed a roadside conservation sign protecting indigenous vegetation right near where we were being asked to clear/reduce fuel to. Here is some of the ambiguous wording that we sought clarity over – in fact we still don’t really understand what these words mean and what exactly we were required to do.

• Cut all “grasses” to less than 100mm. We only have indigenous grasses and they are mixed in amongst all other types of native vegetation (forming a habitat) so difficult to single each grass out and cut them.
• Cut all “blackberries” and “weeds” to less than 100mm. We don’t have any weeds including blackberries.
• Cut all “undergrowth” to less than 100mm. We still do not understand what this means. This is a classic case of an ambiguous word and can be taken in so many different ways. All of which tend to lean to cut everything. Apparently undergrowth does not mean trees or shrubs, in which case we weren’t sure how we could single out indigenous grasses from the regenerating trees and shrubs that have sprung up since the bushfire.

Anyway in the long term our fire prevention notice was anulled, without even so much as a site visit – all sorted out over the phone. But the process was stressful so we hope that we have made this journey easier for others out there hoping to protect their indigenous bushland from being cut to extreme levels. We believe that the strong and legally worded letter scares many people into clearing their bushland unneccessarily and in an undesired manner. If you feel like us then this would be very upsetting clearing away your wildlife homes too.

Here are some councils who have online statements indicating that native grasses and low indigenous vegetation are not the fuel load and major bushfire threat they have been demonised to be. Weeds are far more risky!

www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Fire_Prevention_Notice_FAQs.pdf

Why don’t you make the greenie with all the native grasses cut their block?
Native grasses generate about 1/10th the fuel load of introduced pasture grasses such as Phalaris and Wild Oats. This is why we encourage the retention and regeneration of native grasses. This can only be achieved if we allow them time to re-seed. Not doing so encourages introduced grasses which create a much greater fire risk.

www.melton.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=170&h=1

Sparse low growing native vegetation is less of a fire hazard than dense, tall growing pasture grass and weeds.

Roadside Conservation Sign - No Mowing.

Since the bushfire in February 2009 we have worked with our local council to get a street roadside conservation sign installed. This sign says “Roadside Conservation Area. No Disturbance. No mowing.”

The sign is placed on council owned land on roadsides. This strip of land is contentious as neighbouring private land owners often tend to look after them by “tidying up”. In our area this usually means mowing with little regard for the quality of indigenous vegetation remaining on these strips of land. Tidying up of habitat logs and leaf litter is also very common.

Mowing tends to occur through the bushfire preparation season - spring and into summer. It amazes us to see mowing on these areas often all that is mowed are ground cover plants such as indigenous grasses and wildflowers. Which at this time of year are actually astonishingly beautiful whilst flowering and their low fuel load is a minimal fire risk. We just don’t understand this behaviour which additionally stops the wildflowers from seeding and setting up the next generation.

Roadside reserves are some of the best quality remaining vegetation which hosts a great number of different indigenous plant species – local biodiversity. These exact roadside reserves are often used by Landcare and other volunteer type groups who undertake revegetation works. As they can use them to collect seed to bring back the diversity lost in nearby areas where indigenous vegetation is lacking or completely lost.

Roadside Conservation Sign on Street.

We have tended our roadside reserve for over 4 years. Mostly all that is required is a couple of days a year hand weeding to keep it healthy. It is an important route for local wildlife. Mainly echidnas hike up this protected stretch as often it is difficult for them to access or cross nearby properties as they would have to negotiate fences and pets particularly dogs.

Since the bushfires these roadside reserves were put under increasingly threatening levels of activity. From many levels of government there was a massive clean up process of removing dead trees, habitat logs, slashing  etc. Many local landowners also took the liberty to clear these areas after such a major disaster as who was going to question their clearing behaviour when they had just lived through the bushfire.

In addition there are many new people moving onto blocks that were sold by residents who lost housing and often these new residents are unaware of local indigenous plants and wildlife. So hopefully our new Roadside Conservation street sign will help this little strip of nature hold it’s ground for at least a few more years, actually we hope that with a little weeding maintenance it might now be there for those who come after us to appreciate it’s natural beauty.

Do you live in an area where there is quality indigenous vegetation on a road reserve that is not protected? Why not call your local council and see if you can get a sign installed on your street?

Hardenbergia violacia or Purple Coral-pea. Natural wildlife food.

We have never seen so much Purple Coral-pea – Hardenbergia violacea as has been abounding on our bush block in the last 2 years with excessive re-growth triggered by the bushfire in 2009. This is one fire loving indigenous plant.

During spring we had masses of purple flowers trailing along the ground and creeping up small trees and shrubs. Since December these flowers have produced numerous pea pods which have been bursting with ripe seed to provide a bounty of food for local wildlife.

Hardenbergia violacia - Crimson Rosella eating seeds.

Although there are many smaller animals like ants which undoubtably harvest the seeds from the ground we most commonly see parrots feeding on the seed pods. Our most common parrots, King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas will come right down onto the ground to spend time opening the pods gorging on the hardy seeds within.

Hardenbergia violacea seeds eaten by King Parrots.

Any excess seeds that are not harvested for food by our local wildlife will remain hidden amongst the leaf litter and soil on our bush block. The tough seed coat protecting this seed bank until the next round of germination. This plant is a hardy native survivor, the tough seeds can even be protected through droughts or bushfire.

More natural wildlife foods…

More information and pictures of Purple Coral-pea – Hardenbergia violacea…

Tall Sundew - Drosera peltata in bushland garden.

The sundews are such a beautiful and delicate little wildflower that we regularly see on our bush block. These indigenous plants grow to a maximum of 80cm they are generally visible through winter, spring and into summer and mostly disappear through the autumn as part of their annual lifecycle. They really thrived and were found in abundance after the bushfire, flowering the first spring, less than 6 months after the fire event.

They are so interesting as the sundews are carnivorous plants. They can catch small insects using their sticky leaves. The leaves are known as “lamina” due their different appearance looking like sticky tentacles which secrete a tempting sweet, but adhesive nectar to attract the insects. Once the lamina catch an insect the struggle triggers the lamina to wrap up and secrete enzymes to digest the prey.

Tall Sundew lamina. LHS trapping insect. RHS digesting insect.

When we first arrived on our bushblock and had some really threatening weeds particularly the weedy grasses these sundews were in the process of being squashed out of existence. Our heavy weed removal allowed these plants some clear space to return to their natural glory by removing the competition for light and space from the weedy grasses. They have sinced thrived and provide us with much joy when they return each year.

Tall Sundew - Drosera peltata flower.

The sundews are quite delicate and the beautiful flowers and shining lamina are really tempting for macro photography. But these plants can’t take heavy trampling so need to have some free undisturbed space to allow them to thrive. We generally only walk on set tracks through our bushland area only walking out to clear weeds, take photographs or look for new and exciting plant species that we haven’t found before.

Common Heath - Epacris impressa. Dark pink flowers.

The Common Heath – Epacris impressa is the state floral emblem of Victoria. This beautiful wildflower has flowers that span over months during spring and range in color from white, light pink through to dark pink.

The Common Heath returned in abundance on our bush block after the bushfire. The first spring after the bushfire these indigenous plants were too small to flower, but this spring, 18 months after the bushfire the flowers have come out in abundance. Although the plants are still small and do not have as many flowers per plant. When fully mature each some plants have between 50 – 100 flowers each.

It’s shrubby form generally does not grow larger than a metre and is commonly seen throughout many bushland habitats. It is also really clearly seen along roadsides especially when flowering it is hard to miss the beautiful display of colors.

Common Heath is a great wildlife food particularly when in flower. It attracts a great range of nectar eating insects and birds. Watching Eastern Spinebills hang off these delicate stems and feed on the flowers is a magic experience.

Common Heath - Epacris impressa. Light pink flowers.

A plant that can generally also be bought in nurseries for planting, we have also had success in transplanting it. After the bushfire we had some coming up on our paths and driveways so decided to move them to bushland and garden areas. Transplanting is best done when young, but generally is successful in the cooler months if you can really take a bit of soil out with the roots.

It is great to substitute to for Spanish Heath, this plant is a weed locally which we see regularly growing in gardens and bushland in our area. Why grow a weed when our locally indigenous Common Heath is so beautiful!

Small-leaved Clematis. Clematis microphylla. Flowers.

Since the bushfires in 2009 there has been a huge recovery of a quite rare climber the Small-leaved Clematis – Clematis microphylla. We had visually noted this plant prior to the bushfires but in the 18 months since the bushfire this plant has come back in abundance.

It was a welcome plant that quickly climbed up over dead limbs of burnt shrubs and bare slopes covering the ground. It is so vigourous that it completely shaded out areas that would have been open to weed invasion. The Small-leaved Clematis has delicate flowers in large numbers over winter and spring that cover the bush for many months – which is really beautiful.

Small-leaved Clematis. Clematis microphylla. Bird friendly climbing plant.

The Small-leaved Clematis was a critical plant for providing thick vegetation cover and shelter for our small bird life to return. We readily noticed the small birds returning about 10 months after the bushfire (Christmas 2009) when plants such as this one were thick enough to provide hiding places for the small birds that visit us like Superb Fairy-wrens. There are many other small birds such as pardalotes, spinebills & thornbills that also are regularly seen diving in and out of this plant.

Small-leaved Clematis is also a Bush Tucker plant with an edible root that can be roasted like a Yam Daisy (Murnong). We haven’t tried eating it though as we need to establish a population for eating purposes in our garden area. At the moment it is in the bush and we are leaving it to the wildlife. But we plan to grow and try harvesting this valuable plant as a food source…stay tuned for this experiment to come.

Common Hovea - Hovea heterophylla flower.

The Common Hovea – Hovea heterophylla is a recent find on our bush block. Although it is a reasonably common plant in our area we hadn’t seen it on our block until this year. It has just been flowering in the last half of August.

Obviously this plant must have been around before the bushfire to drop seed onto the ground but we hadn’t seen it and now all of a sudden we have found a single plant.

Common Hovea - Hovea heterophylla.

This plant is really pretty. Similar to Purple Coral-pea – Hardebergia violacia it is a small shrub but it’s difference is that it is more of a ground cover plant and not a climbing plant. Common Hovea flowers are a slightly lighter purple and the leaves are longer and thinner. This plant is very hardy and drought tolerant. Also like the Purple Coral-pea would attract wildlife.

Common Hovea is also known to be a Bush Tucker plant in that the young pods are edible. We haven’t sampled any yet or really learnt if there is any processsing required prior to eating or if they are just eaten fresh and raw. We still have this to learn.

Purple Cora-pea - Hardenbergia violacea. Flowers.

Well spring appears to be just around the corner again! The shortest day has passed and the next round of wildflowers are coming on now that it is late winter. One of the first to emerge in a full display of purple glory is the Purple Coral-pea – Hardenbergia violacea.

This indigenous plant is a climber, extremely hardy and will flourish in dry and sunny conditions. As with many of the pea family of plants Hardenbergia violacia responded well to the recent bushfire, it’s hard seeds survived the fire and the plants were one of the first to flower in the first winter after the bushfire event. Each plant can sprawl out metres across the ground, it readily droops over garden beds or will also willingly climb anything to reach metres off the ground. The purple flowers are truely striking most especially when the are climbing and flowering simultaneously with a wattle. How nature can provide the contrast of yellow and purple is amazing!

The Purple Cora-pea – Hardenbergia violacea is readily cultivated and sold in nurseries. Warning though if you live on a bush block which has a natural population of this species it is important to not plant out cultivated varieties as they can interbreed with the wild population. Mixing the genetic stock may cause the wild plants to loose their natural charateristics that have made them so tough in their local environment.

Purple Coral-pea – Hardenbergia violacea. Climber.

Often the nusery varieties have been cultivated for features such as size, colour or excessive flowering so can actually be quite different from the orginal wild species. Some nurseries specialising in indigenous plants will maintain the natural genetic qualities from local regions so it is always worthwhile trying to source plants from local indigenous nurseries this way for garden use. Although this is an easy plant to collect seed from and germinate, so their really is no need to buy from nurseries if you already have this plant in the wild.

The purple flowers have a variety of bush tucker uses. The flowers can be eaten raw, they make a great color addition to salads. Additionally the flowers were used to make a purple dye. The leaves can also be boiled to make a sweet tea.

Hardenbergia violacia is also an important plant for our wildlife. On our bush block we have readily seen ants carrying seeds underground and parrots such as King Parrots or Crimson Rosellas landing on the ground to eat the seeds. So if you do harvest seeds or flowers from the wild don’t forget to leave some for the wildlife too!

Crimson Rosella eating Cotton Fireweed.

The indigenous plants called “fireweeds” or scientifically known as ”senecio spp.” live up to their namesake as they do love fire! We have had huge numbers of fireweeds sprout up since the bushfire over a year ago as they love disturbance and are a typical plant to colonise newly opened areas of soil. Unfortunately for their namesake and appearance they do look and sound weedy. Many people have unfortunately removed this plant from their gardens but they are an indigenous plant and a very important food plant for our wildlife particularly rosella’s.

The most common species on our block is called Cotton Fireweed or Senecio quadridentatus. Cotton Fireweed’s on our bushblock have been continually flowering from spring until autumn. They have been a staple food supply for our local rosella’s who visit and eat the flowers and seeds from these plants daily.

Eastern Rosella eating Cotton Fireweed.

We are glad that we have had the chance to notice the importance of this plant as a food supply for wildlife. We will ensure that we have an abundance of fireweeds in the future to entice our native parrots to visit us on our bush block. We don’t need to provide them with bought seeds or other types of bought food, just observe the indigenous plants they love to eat and ensure we have these around our home where we can enjoy the birds as they visit.