March 2009. Amaryllis growing on the bank from causeway to dam. Not much else growing here but clumps of long grasses, now died back at end of summer. After initial efforts to kill them off, I've decided that the plucky little things deserve to live and be embraced. Perhaps they can even be made useful somehow ...June 2010.
Magnificent cherry ballart is growing just over back boundary, but most of the ones on our block are gnawed back to the trunk by kangaroos. However, one growing near dam is in a thicket of swamp wattles (wirilda) and has made great progress, illustrating the value of protecting the young plant. So have constructed barriers around a number of cherry ballarts around back of block and are seeing the results, as this photo of the one near the top dam shows. September 2010
Wonderful impact of water, with September's massive rains filling the back dam.
January 2011
More big dumps of rain. Flooding nationwide. Here's another view of the large dam. Cassinia and wirilda in gully now died off, leaving dams more open. No idea what will happen if/when water recedes. For now, a lighter fuel load might be a good thing. Slowly getting used to the presence of water. Almost blase even. But the changes are everywhere. More light. More birds. More frogs. Dragonflies. The sight of puffs and wisps of evaporation rising from the dam ascending beyond the tips of the surrounding trees in the early morning. Here, the sun brightens the water midmorning.
2011/2012 Maintenance
Not much ongoing maintenance in this area but needs clearing before fire season. Remove dead trees/shrubs and any dead lower branches of gums. Thicker pieces can be cut and stored as fuel for BBQ and/or pizza oven. Twiggier pieces can go through shredder and be added to compost. Areas closest to house should also be raked before fire season to stop buildup of leaflitter. Depending on growth, grass will need mowing periodically.
Unused wood or leaf litter can be burned on a bonfire or taken to tip as green manure.
