I recently collaborated with North Brisbane Catchments Network on a new project that celebrates a locally occurring small Eucalyptus tree, the Eucalyptus curtisii, commonly known as either Plunkett Mallee or Brisbane mallee. The projects aims to introduce this small growing endangered Eucalyptus species to provide a food source for local native animals and insects including the Koala.

Planning for Plantings: Our Process....

Image Credit: Jaclyn Crupi(Author and Artist) 

Concept sketch by Tanya featuring local native species,Melastoma affine,Poa labillardieri and Imperata cylindrica.

Today Tanya and i attended a workshop run through the Brisbane City Council Habitat  Brisbane Program. We both volunteer with Bush care groups to work on regenerating landscape sites in Brisbane .The focus was on learning to use the digital application called INaturalist. The application allows users to upload images and data on fauna and flora in a particular area or site and get help with species identification by other citizen scientists throughout Australia and from around the world.The information is organised and used in various ways including by Government agencies and is a great way to learn and share important environmental information. You can also use it to develop and organise your own projects and share and collaborate with others who are focused on environmentally based projects

This short article relates to soil health to support life below and above the ground and gives some basic tips on how to achieve this. If we are designing for new plantings in the earth, we will always include a strong focus on soil health. 

Hardenbergia violacea

The Tropical Dome within the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens was an initiative of the Brisbane City Council in the 1970s. Lord Mayor at the time, Clem Jones, was particularly interested in the development of the Geodesic Dome that was planned and developed in USA and Canada by Architect Buckminster Fuller to grow Giant Water Lilies (Victoria amazonica). Geodesic Domes are known for being lightweight, however, they are very strong and the clear plastic panels allow for the necessary light for photosynthesis to take place.

The aim of todays field trip was to view a natural occurrence of the small local Eucalyptus curtisii tree and discover what other plant species surround it and note the soil type. Top left is regrowth Eucalyptus curtisii after fire allowing it to continue to grow from its lignotuber. The other pictures show plant species of Lomandra, Dianella, Xanthorea, Spotted gum and Ironbark, Barbed wire Grass and the yellow flowering hairy bush pea, Pultenaea villosa.These are the friends to the Eucalyptus curtisii, its companion plants. Bottom right shows a shale based soil. Most of the soils found on these rocks are shallow, sub-fertile and drain freely, meaning they don't stay moist so Dry Sclerophyll forest is the dominant vegetation type in Toohey Forest. Toohey Forest is a watershed for three catchments which drain into the Brisbane River: Norman Creek, Oxley Creek and Bulimba Creek.

Walking in Mount Coot-tha with a friend today we noticed many native

Walking with a friend with an intention to notice nature. We spotted East Ithaca Creek fringed by Lomandra and some local species of red flowering Callistemon viminalis and nearby mauve Hovea acutifolia.Also a very old, large trunked Lophstemon suaveolens(Brushbox)near a set of lovely stone steps and feature stone wall.

I found a Eucalyptus curtisii on Brisbane's northside. A multi trunked, mallee, specimen with set seed capsules and new ones emerging on the same  branch. The shedding smooth bark was a standout.