NEW MEMBERS, NEW PLANTS, NEW FLOWERS AND 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

I enjoyed yet another lovely walk through the park this afternoon, lots more buds bursting forth/flowering and birds with nesting material in their beaks. Hope that is a sign of an early spring or at least warmer weather to come. Hello and welcome to our new members, not sure I can publish names so I will play safe. A very big welcome to our new member from MIDDLE RIDGE (outside of  Highfields area-Woohoo) they will know who they are. A very eventful POST follows with lots of information.

The NURSERY has a heap of new plants for sale, both different and colourful, some in bud and some flowering. BE QUICK they will be very popular. A range of new plants in 140mm pots is available now with a heap of tube stock arriving before Thursday 2nd July. Our full range of  local/indigenous rainforest trees and shrubs is always available.

Some of you may be aware of the upcoming PEACEHAVEN 10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, THE POSTER BELOW OUTLINES SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AND THE TIME LINE. More to follow.

 Assuming that most FRIENDS and READERS of the BLOG are interested in Native Plants I thought I might post some information about other related activities. The Native Plants Queensland (NPQ) Plant Show is being held on the 15/16 Aug 9am-3pm at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens (BBG) , it is a real eye opener. For me  it is akin to a 'kid in a lolly shop' scenario. Grab a few friends, jump in the car and drive down there, after you have been to the Peacehaven Bash first of course. The Native Plant Gardens section at the BBG Mt Coot-tha is a great destination by itself.


This beautiful yellow flower is from Hibbertia Scandens which is a fast growing vine that can be quite rampant but prunes readily. It is covered in flowers from end of Winter through to Summer, it can also SPOT flower throughout the year. It does well in shade or full sun and can take light frosts. Check out the one behind the Nursery on the fence line. The Callistemon below is Viminalis, check out the Scaley breasted Rosella in the left hand top branches. It will grow virtually anywhere, including Black Soil, has a weeping habit and is great for the birds. Prune off the spent flowers while they still have a little colour/before the seed pods form, for an even better flowering next time. The next photo shows just how well the Rainforest edged creek line is coming along, it looks very lush. I've decided to write some articles on all aspects of Native Gardening in SERIAL format starting next BLOG. Hopefully that will keep you hooked and the BLOG size and production time, manageable. Thought I had forgotten didn't you, nothing else has developed on the FRIENDS/LOVERS relationship yet, BUT! things are afoot. Watch this space.

ACACIAS BLOOMING

Tuesday 23rd June 11.35am

New plantings- Hedges??

Grasses at edge of Lake

Hi,I am going to endeavour to walk through the park 2 or 3 times a week and bring things of interest or significance to your attention. The TRC planted annuals are progressing nicely with colour showing through already. I think it will add a point of interest and a splash of colour to what at this time of year is a relatively drab pallet. You may say that it could be done with Native plants, and it could. Maybe that is something that could be looked at in the future. WHAT WILL BECOME OF THOSE GARDEN BEDS AFTER THE ANNUALS HAVE PASSED THEIR BEST ??? Could be an opportunity here.But, bang for your buck in a short time frame, annuals are hard to beat. Overall I think it will produce a great result and help lift visitors spirits during this rather drab time of year. GOOD ONYA TRC.

Acacia

Acacia at edge of new Frog Pond

Every time I visit the Park I think WOW, how lucky is HIGHFIELDS to have this fantastic facility. The best way to keep it progressing and developing is to support it HIGHFIELDS RESIDENTS. How do we show TRC how much we LOVE our Park. A visitors book/comments perhaps, supporting the NURSERY to increase funds that go towards the Garden development, or Posting comments/ideas on this site ???. THE BEST WAY IS TO USE IT !!! All ideas/comments are welcome.

Petrofile Canescens

Pittosporum berries

You may have noticed I used that LOVE word again in the text, our relationship (Friends of Peacehaven)  still hasn't progressed, we are still only Friends not Lovers  !! I STILL HAVEN'T DIVULGED MY SEX YET, SO HOPEFULLY THE BLOG WILL APPEAL TO BOTH SEXES. Hoping to get my PARTNER to contribute to the BLOG as well. Watch this space, it won't be long and Spring will be in the air. Change will be afoot. Talking of which I watched a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets enlarge a hole in one of the Eucalypts today, potential nesting site. Even the birds love building in Highfields.

DURING SUMMER I RECKON YOU WILL NEED TO BE DOWN AT THE NEW BBQ AREA BY 6am TO GET A LOOK IN, WOW !!! WHAT A GREAT AREA.

Thinking about putting in some articles about growing Natives, preparing soil, watering, feeding, pruning etc. Don't know if that is within the scope of the BLOG though. What do ya reckon  ???

TEST RUN-REACTIVATION OF BLOG

Here we go FRIENDS, I hear we will soon become LOVERS, watch this space. Bear with me while I find my way around the site. I will start by posting excerpts of an article I wrote recently about a visit to Peacehaven by SGAP TOOWOOMBA. This will bring you up to date with some of the developments that have occurred around the park. Since then the Council has planted out some Spring flowering colour plants which should add a little glam. A lot of the existing plants are in bud at the moment showing promises of things to come. Future articles will not be this long, I am just bringing you up to date and letting other bloggers in the Toowoomba Regional Council area THE WORLD really, know what a fantastic Park we have.

Acacia

                                         

Callicarpa Pedunculata

The Nursery was kindly opened and manned by Dorelle, it is normally open THU and SAT from 9AM until 12.30PM. There is a large selection of Native plants, dare I say it is the largest Native Nursery in the Toowoomba area. The majority of plants are propagated by cutting or grown from seed by the 'Friends' and supplemented by tubestock ordered from wholesale nurseries. Quite a few plants were bought which was a pleasant surprise considering most SGAP members have well established Native gardens. This means that the plants bought were different, interesting, the 'right price' or all three. For those that haven't been to the Nursery a quick rundown on activities/facilities there-it consists of a shade cloth covered Retail/plant display area, a Greenhouse and a Hothouse where many hundreds of seedlings grow on before being moved out to the shade cloth area to harden up. Everything is done Inhouse from washing/disinfecting pots, mixing up our own potting mix  and striking our own cuttings. The Nursery has a high success rate due to the expert supervision of Joy Sheath, the facility Manager and the very experienced/dedicated Volunteer staff. Most members of the 'friends' supply cuttings and seeds from their own gardens which generates a diverse supply of often hard to get plants. I highly recommend dropping into the 'Peacehaven' Nursery from time to time to find 'Gems' for your garden and if not, just to talk to the friendly/knowledgeable staff/volunteers. The setting of the Park has to be mentioned, the Park slopes gently downhill where the eye is immediately drawn to the magnificent vista of the distant Bunya Mountains. You need to explore the fabulous gardens/facilities that 'Peacehaven'  has become to fully appreciate it, and allow yourself a bit of time. The Park is child and Pet friendly, has nice clean modern toilets, plenty of parking, has  BBQ facilities and 3 New Pergola/Under cover areas with seating/tables in addition to a large Rotunda with seating. The Gardens have wide winding pathways that are suitable for all levels of personal mobility. Along the pathways you will find features such as ants carved into large sandstone blocks, large free standing ants that the kids will love and great Mosaic depictions of Native animals/birds set into the concrete paths. Most trees/plants have permanent nameplates set into the ground in front of them making identification/education easy. Some of the standout/flowering plants were a Sturts desert pea in full flower, a Callicarpa covered in red berries that hadn't quite turned their typical candy pink colour yet, an apricot flowering Hibiscus Splendens, Cats whiskers in purple and white, Syzgium Wilsonii with a vibrant new flush of colour, Cordyline Petiolaris in flower/fruit as well as Native Gingers and several Wattles. Further along in the dry creek bed there were Bangalow palms, Cyathea Cooperi and Dicksonia Antartica tree ferns, this area will be fantastic with a bit more growth, it is already starting to get that Rainforest feel. All in all it is not only a great Botanical Park but a great destination that one should allow a couple of hours to visit, and have a cuppa, especially on a Thursday or Saturday morning where yours truly will be labouring away in the Nursery looking for an excuse to take  a break and sell you a PLANT OR TWO. All of this is surrounded by magnificent Gums of different varieties backed up by a cacophony of Birdlife and their calls.  WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR  !!!



          cunjevoi in creek line 

Frog Pond Fills

Frog pond in the making

Cumulative rainfall of more than 140mm from March 25 to 28, 2014 produced enough runoff at Peacehaven Park to fill the recently built frogpond. TRC staff Wayne and Dan'l handpicked suitable stones and rocks from a rural site then painstakingly sorted and set them to create an attractive and frog-friendly lining. As you can see the pond is full. Subsequent heavy rain on Sunday March 30 should have tested the bywash design.     Now all we need are some                                                                                            plants and frogs for a raucous                                                                                           chorus.

Filled Frog Pond 27-3-14

Ants Abound

Ants exploring Peacehaven

Have you seen the army of massive ants along the new rainforest path? If not they're worth a visit. We're told by Robert Campbell, Toowoomba Regional Council Parks and Gardens, that these aren't anything compared to some expected a little later this year. Keep your eyes open.

What a whopper! 
Can you see the little honey bee on the ant's abdomen?
Click the image to enlarge in a separate window.

Stinking out the place

Adults and at least three instars of
Lychee Stink Bug, Lyramorpha rosea. 

These little beasties were found on the Small-leaved Tuckeroo Cupaniopsis parvifolia last week. They are all the same species, Lychee Stink Bug, Lyramorpha rosea. The adults are obviously the larger, less-colourful ones. However underneath they are a beautiful apple green as you can partially see on a couple of them. 
sp
The smaller ones are three different stages or instars of the bug. (An instar is a developmental stage between each molt until sexual maturity is reached.) These little fellows are quite attractive in their orange and blue uniform.
sp
It is found on trees, as shown by the photograph, but also on the ground. There are lots of them on the trunk, branches and leaves of our Tuckaroo. They are sap suckers and leafeaters. There didn't seem much damage to the Tuckeroo. We'll have to keep an eye on it. Another species they like, Red Ash or Soap Tree Alphitonia excelsa has been badly attacked by something. Perhaps it is the stink bugs. They also like Leopard Ash Flindersia collina, and as its name suggests, lychees. It seems they are not a real problem in commercial orchards.
sp
An interesting fact about Shield or Stink Bugs is that the adults take care of their young. In the case of Lychee Stink Bug older instars help as well. No wonder they are so plentiful.

Older instars guarding younger ones.

Such a darling

Queensland Darling Pea, Swainsona queenslandica flowering in September

Isn't this a stunning little darling? It was flowering beautifully in the Dry Rainforest Area of the Park in September. It was only planted in February so it is still quite small. Now its seed pods are decorating the little vine. This is the red flowering form. You may have seen the pink form in your garden. To find out more about this little plant go to Pretty Pink Darling Peas on member Trish Gardener's "Toowoomba Plants" blog.

Queensland Darling Pea, Swainsona queenslandica. Just a small plant in the mulch

The decorative seed pods

Community Tree Planting — 9 am, 5 October 2013

Members of the Friends at one of our earlier planting days.

Come along and plant a tree!

Members of the public will have the opportunity to actively contribute to the revival and improvement of Peacehaven in October. 

On Saturday, 5 October, Toowoomba Landcare Group, together with the Friends of Peacehaven Botanic Park and Toowoomba Regional Council will host a community tree planting day in Peacehaven Botanic Park.

In an area of existing, large eucalyptus trees, about 200 native shrubs and ground story plants will be established. This will result in a pocket of bush representing the layered vegetation of a native dry sclerophyll forest that once dominated our local landscape.

Everybody is welcome from 9am to help with planting. All tools and gloves will be supplied and volunteers can enjoy a free sausage sizzle after the activity.

Our community nursery will be open and it will also be an opportunity to take a walk through the park to see recent developments.

(For those who’ve always wondered sclerophyll is derived from the Greek sklēros hard  and phullon a leaf. Sclerophyllous plants are prominent throughout Australia, the Mediterranean Basin, Californian woodlands, Chilean Matorral, and the Cape Province of South Africa.)

200 Years of History

When Mayor Paul Antonio unveiled the ‘Stump in Time’, 200 years of history went on show. Despite the downpour right at the time of the occasion more than 50 Friends and members of the community made the morning a success.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio (right) and President of the Friends, George Smith,
with the 'Stump'. 

George, President of the Friends, made particular mention of Anna Smith “who had the original concept of the Stump in Time.  Anna is a former secretary and has been a tireless worker in many activities for the Friends.”
The "Stump" is a giant ancient Blackbutt and it demonstrates through its growth rings how Highfields has developed over the last two centuries. Information signs display landmark local and worldwide events in that time. Mosaics created by Anglicare volunteers illustrate some of Highfields history.

The Anglicare group who designed and created the mosaics.

The Friends have spent 2 years planning  this project. Preparing the stump, the design and installation of the signs and mosaics were possible with a grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Anglicare and the support of the Toowoomba Regional Council.

The growth rings in the Blackbutt stump.

The mature native trees at Peacehaven make it a special place. Stan Kuhl saw the value of these magnificent giants and donated the land to the community for centuries to come. 

Changes at Davidson

Autumn is always the most spectacular time at Davidson Arboretum. As these photos taken this blustery, grey morning plainly show.

Deciduous trees behind the Rotary shelter

The leaves have turned to their autumn colour but there are also other changes afoot. Parks and Gardens staff of the Toowoomba Regional Council have been working hard in the Arboretum.

Camellias along the fence.

First, there are new plantings including deciduous trees, camellias, clivias and annuals. 

Replacement planting

Clivias

Annuals

Chinese Celtis

A Chinese Celtis, Celtis sinensis, will grow into a magnificent tree, but it becomes an invasive weed in Toowoomba. It is possible this one in Davidson grew from a seed dropped by a bird. The King Parrots and Pale-headed Rosellas love the fruit of this species.

Just see this young Celtis outstripping the delicate maple, and many more seedlings are springing up.

The above stumps tell their own story. Trees that have grown just too close. 

Below, three giant pines were removed from here to open up a space too heavily shaded. Other trees around them were already straining to grow away from them. Specimens underneath were becoming weak and misshapen.

The Pinetum at Davidson Arboretum

The remaining pines include some really interesting ones and it is planned that young of these will be grown and planted in Frenau Pines Pinetum on Hursley Road. Here they will have more room to develop than the tiny hectare of the Arboretum. 

Ken Davidson planted rare, interesting and/or exotic trees, especially deciduous temperate trees that colour in the autumn, and this vision will live on.

Lastly, two little nature notes which occurred while I was at Davidson this morning.

This White Migrant butterfly looks just like the leaves it is resting on.

An immature Golden Whistler. This is very similar to a female Golden Whistler
but has the rufous margins to its wing feathers. Note the yellow under the tail.