Video: D. Frenkiel
By: Michael Fox
Hearing loud grunting at night?
Koala breeding season is here, August to February, so males are loudly announcing their availability and we have our first report of a new joey (baby) Koala.
Mountain neighbour Dominic, shared video of a Koala mum with joey clinging to her back while she climbed a Tallowwood Eucalyptus microcorys in Fox Gully Bushcare.
Look for Bottle Brush Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea macronema in flower along Acacia Way and Eastern Outlook Track. Very popular with our native Stingless Bees Tetragonula sp. and Blue Banded Bees Amegilla cingulata these uncommon Grass Trees are found in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve but not in Toohey Forest just one kilometre away across the Motorway.
Along Acacia Way you will also find Bitter Pea Daviesia villifera with it’s bright yellow flowers and distinctively shaped leaves.
The Bitter Pea is caterpillar food plant for the Fringed Heath-blue butterfly Neolucia agricola.
Look for native raspberries in flower along Acacia Way. We have ten native raspberry species in Queensland. Broad-leaf bramble Rubus moluccanus occurs naturally in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve.
However, if you want to grow your own native raspberries I recommend Large-fruited Raspberry Rubus probus, fast growing and the biggest raspberries I have ever eaten. Just make sure you restrain it by planting in a large pot as these plants sucker aggressively.

Acacia fimbriata seed Male King Parrot
Brisbane Fringed Wattle Acacia fimbriata has finished its beautiful bright yellow winter flowering. However, if you are lucky you will see a King Parrot Alisterus scapularis feeding on the seeds. Listen for the King Parrot call as you walk.
November 4, 2017 at 10:55 pm
Another great post, Michael. Keep up the good work.
Regarding Xanthorrhoea macronema, you will find it on the Toohey Forest side and on Toohey Mountain but only in the shallow soil areas of the metamorphic rocks, whereas Xanthorrhoea johnsonii is confined to the sandstone areas.
Rob Simson
November 5, 2017 at 7:35 am
Thanks Rob … i will have to explore those areas.
It is a real education for me in the relationship between geology/soil and plant species.
Mike