Week 2 March 2001: 14 mm of rain this week. Spent some time weeding a large garden bed we planted last year. Although heavily mulched, some persistent weed seeds have germinated. Eventually the weed seed bank will run out of steam and also the density of planting will help to stifle weed growth.
As seedlings and struck cuttings are potted on they are now being watered with Seasol, a seaweed concentrate. We are using 20ml in 10 litres. Hopefully this treatment will improve plant survival in that delicate stage when they are transplanted.
A few paper wasp nests are appearing in some of our shrubs. These social native insects build a complicated nest similar in appearance to a honeycomb. Their sociability is relative. Disturb their nest and they will attack. Their stings are rather painful and tend to make the eyes water. More about these insects in our Wildlife segment in the future.
We are finding a number of Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus) seedlings germinating under some of our mature eucalypts. Birds void the seed when they perch in the trees. Kurrajongs develop into handsome trees with glossy foliage, cream bellflowers and attractive trunks. On grazing properties the foliage is cut for stock feed during drought.
This week we picked half a case of peaches from our seedling peach tree. This tree produces the tastiest peaches we have eaten. See edible exotics at a later date. The fruit matures at the end of the season when most stone fruit has finished. We are propagating cuttings from this peach to plant in other parts of the garden. Perhaps we should call it “Yallaroo Beauty”.
Trying out some lawn fertiliser on some grevilleas and other Proteaceae. In theory this high nitrogen low phosphorous fertiliser will improve flower colour and perhaps increase flowering. Most Proteaceae are not keen on medium to high levels of phosphorous. Results of this experiment will be posted on our Research page.