Category Archives: Nature Observations

Pollution monitors

Posted on 29 July, 2011 by fobif

Spring is around the corner, with spectacular flowering of Hardenbergia, and emergence of many other flowering plants like Hovea, Daviesia and Hakea. But by far the most prolific forms of life in the bush at the moment are the mosses … Continue reading →

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More than wildflowers

Posted on 22 July, 2011 by fobif

Two FOBIF members recently visited the south end of the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park to see what was in flower. Common Heath Epacris impressa in its pink and white forms was everywhere. Downy Grevillea Grevillea alpina, Bushy Needlewood Hakia … Continue reading →

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Nuggetty Walk

Posted on 22 July, 2011 by fobif

Thirteen people braved the cold, foggy and wet conditions on the July FOBIF walk to the Rock of Ages. This magical site is situated on top of Mount Moorul which is a couple kilometres north of Maldon. It is part of … Continue reading →

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Nature Conservation Reserves

Posted on 13 July, 2011 by fobif

Over a dozen Field Naturalists braved the cold last Saturday during a 2 hour visit to the Walmer South Nature Conservation Reserve. This was the first of a series of excursions to collect information on the ecological values and environmental condition … Continue reading →

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Lichens galore

Posted on 4 July, 2011 by fobif

One feature of the relatively good rains we’ve had in the last year or so has been the great shows of lichens. Lichens are partnerships between a fungus and an alga. The algal partner enables the organism to use photosynthesis … Continue reading →

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Touch base with the changing world

Posted on 29 June, 2011 by fobif

The blogroll on the right of this page is an indicator of the intense local interest in happenings in the natural world. We would be the first to admit that you can spend too much time in front of a … Continue reading →

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It’s winter in Mount Alexander

Posted on 8 June, 2011 by fobif

It looks like we’re going to get another real winter: cold, and a sense of moisture in the air, whether as mist, drizzle or proper rain. There’s still plenty to see in the bush, however, even as we approach the … Continue reading →

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Autumn ends

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by fobif

One sign of autumn is the prolific seeding of the local coffee bush [Cassinia arcuata]. Cassinia is one of the good soldiers of ruined land, which is why you see it recolonising mining sites. This is what the Cassinia flower … Continue reading →

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Advance of the micro kingdoms

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by fobif

Alison Pouliot delivered a lively and informative Connecting Country presentation last Thursday to an audience of about 75 people on ‘Fungi: the mysterious kingdom’. No one leaving the Campbell’s Creek Community Centre that night could be in any doubt about … Continue reading →

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Uncommon beauty conceals a deadly trap

Posted on 23 May, 2011 by fobif

Carnivorous plants can trap prey in a various ways: pitfall traps, flypaper traps, snap traps and lobster-pot traps. The well-known local carnivorous Scented Sundew Drosera whittakeri uses the flypaper trap method. Insects are captured in the sticky dew exuding from … Continue reading →

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