Down by the Dam

Weeping Bottlebrush, Melaleuca viminalis,
on the island

The dam, or lake if you prefer, is a lovely feature at Peacehaven. The 
Weeping Bottlebrush, Melaleuca viminalis (or Callistmon viminalis as we've 
always known it), is flowering at the moment so attracting the honeyeaters. 
Also flowering is the unusual Woolly Frogmouth, Philydrum lanuginosum. If you go close you can see the wide open "frog mouth" that the petals form. If you are lucky enough to have a pond in your garden this pretty plant will enhance it.

 

Woolly Frogmouth, 
Philydrum lanuginosum

Woolly Frogmouth
at the water's edge

How is the lovely water fern, Common Nardoo, Marsilea drummondi, so important to our early explorers? 

See http://victoria.slv.vic.gov.au/burkeandwills/expedition/lastdays.html 

to discover how this innocent plant killed the famous Burke and Wills! Floating like large four-leaved clovers on the dam no one would imagine their dark history.

Common Nardoo, Marsilea drummondii

Other animal life is plentiful too, and you can easily see the turtles pushing their snouts above the water, and making ripples amongst the Nardoo. They are probably the Common Snake-necked Turtle. Calling from the sedges and other water plants at the edge of the dam are Spotted Marsh Frogs, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis. They're easy to hear, but not to see. More about this frog at  http://frogs.org.au/frogs/species/Limnodynastes/tasmaniensis/. 

Australasian Grebes, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

The pair of Australasian Grebes are constantly foraging for food. At the moment their lovely chestnut-coloured facial stripe which is from just behind the eye through to the neck glows in the sunshine. Welcome Swallows and Blue Skimmer Dragonflies flit over the water. The swallows rest on the bottlebrush on the island, whereas the dragonflies fleetingly perch on foliage on or near the water.

Blue Skimmer Dragonfly, Orthetrum caledonicum

So when you are at Peacehaven next, it's worth a wander down to the water!  

Pretty as a picture

Female Joseph's Coat Moth, Agarista Agricol, possibly laying eggs. 
(Photo P.Gardner)

Have you seen these flying around at the moment? Although seen during the day and are brightly coloured they are not butterflies, but moths. The Joseph's Coat Moth, Agarista Agricol, male and female are very similar though the female has a larger creamy-white bar across the thorax and running into the forewings as illustrated here. 

These links give more information on the Joseph’s Coat Moth,  http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/agar/agricol.html,   http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_noctuidae/JosephsCoatMoth.htm. The caterpillar is amazingly attractive too, with black, white and orange stripes.

The moth larva or caterpillar feeds on Australian Native Grape, Clematicissus opaca, (also known as Small-leaved Water Vine, Forest Grape, Wappo Wappo, and Pepper Vine), and Slender Grape, Cayratia clematidea, (aka Native Grape, Bushy Water Vine, Slender Water Vine, Mor-bir). Both have inconspicuous creamy-white flowers, but dark blue-black fruit which also attract birds. 

Both vines would be an added attraction to a wildlife garden. The Clematicissus opaca is a dry rainforest vine and grows at Gowrie Junction so is most likely suitable for gardens west of Highfields. It is moderately frost hardy, drought hardy and likes full or part sun. Whereas the Cayratia clematidea is found in moist and dry rainforest, and vine thickets and probably more suitable for gardens closer to the range. It resists light frosts, is drought hardy and thrives in full or part sun.

Both are supposedly bush tucker plants and more can be read about them here, http://tasteaustralia.biz/bushfood/bush-tucker-garden/, but be very cautious eating anything you find in the bush. Also this link has more about ‘native grapes’ and bush tucker, http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/round-leaf-vine.html.