Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

It’s been a sad winter and spring so far for lovers of wildflowers in our local forest. The drought that gave us a dry winter last year continued into summer, then autumn and the winter just gone. It’s been a very harsh time, as gardeners and local bushwalkers know. 

The map below shows how serious the lack of rain has been across a swathe of southwestern Victoria and across southern South Australia. The dark areas show to what extent there’s been less rain than average during the last eighteen months, to July. Just to our west the amount of rainfall compared to normal has been the lowest on record. We’re in the severe deficiency range, which is almost as serious.

The situation in the forest is dire. The usual glorious spread of our local hillsides and valleys during late July/early August has been completely absent. Rough wattle (Acacia aspera) and Woolly wattle (Acacia lanigera) can be found as dead skeletons, not just in the blackened areas close to the water channel, burnt by Forest Fire Management, but also in the untouched areas. These short-lived species will have viable seeds in the ground and no doubt we’ll see a return to late winter gold among the trees in years to come, when wet times return. But in forty years this is the first time I’ve seen a total absence of Woolly wattle, bar a few struggling specimens. The photo shows Woolly wattle in spring 2021.

The Rough wattle, so-named because of the rough feel of its leaves, is faring slightly better but has only just begun to flower, at least a month later than usual. Over the hill towards Castlemaine the larger Golden wattle with glossy large leaves is flowering well, as are the various garden escapees: Cootamundra, Ovens and other large showy wattles. It’s our delicate locals that are doing it toughest. Another factor compounding the tough times for forest plants is a mixture of hungry wallabies and the newest feral arrivals in the district, fallow deer. I suspect they could be stripping the leaves of the Woolly wattle, as well as the beautiful winter-flowering Correa. I’ve searched in vain for this winter treat, finding only one specimen out of the burn area (which had been a local stronghold). It had only one leaf and a single flower. The photo shows how it looks in better conditions.

One observation I’ve made is that every plant species will do its utmost to flower and set seed. In good conditions there will be a glorious abundance of flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants lighting up the forest floor. In dry conditions flowers will be few and far between, and each plant that flowers will do so for as short a time as possible. So it’s worth exploring the forest during Spring, whatever the weather. If you’re interested in what might be found, the Taradale Community website has a section showing the common flower species and when they appear. Go to www.taradale.vic.au/wildflowers/

If you want to know where to go walking in our local Fryers Ridge forest, the website gives directions for a number of walks from different starting points. See taradale.vic.au/explore However, the link to the map is out of date. You can buy a hard copy for $1 at the Castlemaine Visitors Centre in Mostyn St. 

If you’d like to see some wildflowers but walking isn’t your thing, you can drive to the top of the main ridge of the Fryers Ridge Forest on the Taradale-Fryerstown Road. It’s a gravel road which may have a few potholes if there’s been good rain, but it’s suitable for 2WD vehicles of any size. At the top of the road where you meet the Main Ridge Road there’s a cutting. It’s worthwhile parking and getting out to look for flowers in this area. If you’re feeling adventurous you can turn left after the cutting onto the Main Ridge Road and follow it as far as Dearden Creek Track, where you turn left and descend, eventually reaching Old Drummond Road. Another left turn will take you back to the Taradale CBD. There are bends and narrow parts – watch out for oncoming vehicles who aren’t expecting traffic! 

A trip along the Ridge Road in October can be a great wildflower treat, with massed bushes of flowering peas, grevilleas and other delights.

Christine Henderson