Michelle's garden tip of the month is to move mulch around. In the storm season mulch is useful during the hot days to reduce soil moisture loss but it can also be a barrier in lighter rain reaching the soil. Moving mulch away from plants just before the rains hit will allow water to penetrate the soil. Moving it back when the rain stops reduces evaporation and keeps the moisture where its most useful, in the soil!
Feeding wildlife is a controversial issue. This article from Land for Wildlife looks at the negative effects of feeding wildlife, other ways to make a garden attractive to fauna and responsible feeding options. Rather than providing food directly, habitat can be created for wildlife by planting food supplies and providing shelters that will encourage wildlife to keep returning.
The weed of the month is a very pretty ground cover called Coral creeper (Barleria repens). With attractive pinkish red flowers that bloom year round, it’s easy to see why it has been used in coastal gardens. The problem with Coral creeper is that it is so well suited to the local conditions, it out competes most other plants, natives and exotics. Due to its ability to blanket big areas and suppress growth of other plants, Coral creeper sits in the Red zone – Remove from Gardens.
In this edition of Stephanie's Garden we hear how things are going with the new stingless bee hive and the latest addition to the garden - a homemade Frog Hotel. We also get to visit a beautiful garden in Pomona. Click through for more news and photos.
This week's big event in Stephanie's Garden was taking delivery of the bee box which seems to be going really well - click through to see photographs of the hive with and without its foam cover, it's quite incredible to see. This post also includes some photos of spiders and insects enjoying the garden delights.
Enjoy the first in a continuing blog about Stephanie's garden at Lake Cooroibah. Like many new Urban Wildlife Gardeners, she doesn't know much about the visiting fauna, so her 2021 challenge is to learn more about it and share it with us. In this first edition she finds koalas and native bees - click through for more photos and news from Stephanie's garden.
The Noosa Native Plants website at www.noosasnativeplants.com.au is regularly updated with the latest plants flowering in Noosa. Have a look and get to know the names of the beautiful flowers in our region!
November’s weed of the month Fishbone or Herringbone Fern is quite common in older style gardens. It can be seen in every suburb in Noosa and probably every street. Dumping of garden waste has helped this fern find its way into Bushland reserves. Click through to learn more about this plant and some good replacement species.
Stephanie keeps sharing gems on the Urban Wildlife Gardens Facebook page. Search UWGNoosa to follow us, or click through to this post to see some of the interesting articles posted during the month.
Michelle is often asked "Where can I buy a bird bath?” Well if you are after a clay one she's found a source! New UWG member Jan is a potter who lives in Tewantin. She can custom make water holding bowls and uses local clay if possible. Her latest batch was sourced from a pool excavation in a neighbour’s property. Phone Jan on 0415378583 and keep the birds cool and hydrated this summer!
