Week 1 July 2001: Sorry to be so far behind with the Diary. We will now remedy the situation. We spent some time digging holes and planting in the new Lawn Garden. Putting two plants in the one hole so that we will have dense growth.
There have been some savage frosts at Yallaroo. Some young plants have had their tips burnt. They should recover in spring.
A flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos paid a visit this week. Firstly they visited one of our Stringybarks (Eucalyptus laevopinea). They chewed through many small and medium branches to extract grubs living in the centre of the branches. The Cockatoos prune the trees and biologically control insects. Then they moved to a grove of Hakea eriantha. These Hakeas are covered with woody fruits. The Cockatoos crack open the fruits and eat the two seeds in each fruit. These are the only Yallaroo Hakeas they visit. The Cockatoos make a mess of the plants but we would rather have a mess and Cockatoos than pristine plants and no Cockatoos.
Checked our parrot nesting boxes. No activity yet but we have high hopes for the spring. There are plenty of Crimson and Eastern Rosellas around at the moment.
Some Eucalyptus laevopinea and Eucalyptus albens are flowering. Large and small birds are visiting the flowers. Rainbow Lorikeets and Wattle Birds are making plenty of noise.
Acacia flexifolia is another plant in full flower. This beautiful small wattle is covered in lemon-yellow flowers.