Phil on the job clearing Creeping Lantana

By: Michael Fox

Benno, Phil and I returned our 2017 planting site to clear Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidenses, slow work but very effective in promoting natural regeneration. The weed smothers native grasses and the chemicals in Creeping Lantana suppress regrowth. Chase the creeper along to find the main root, pull the root and discard on the ground: the weed will not reshoot.

Building Habitat Tripod July 2017

We have been focused on maintaining the 2021 National Tree Day site so I took the opportunity check how the 2017 planting is going.

Preparing the planting site required clearing the weeds to leave the ground bare for planting and included building Habitat Tripods to create safe habitat for small forest birds.

2023 Restored habitat thick with Blady Grass

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Six and half years later the site is transformed with Blady Grass Imperata cylindrica flowering, fruit on Tape Vine Stephania japonica: eaten by Olive-backed Orioles Oriolus sagittatus

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Tape Vine – Stephania japonica

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Small Dusky Blue Candalides erinus

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I found a Small Dusky Blue Candalides erinus butterfly …

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Brush-turkey mound

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… and a Brush-turkey Alectura lathami has chosen the site to build its nest mound.