Fur, Feathers, Flowers And More #12

The wattles are starting to come out, and are spectacular in full bloom. Take the time to search out the less dramatic plants too.

The slower you walk the more you see.

Plant of the Week

Prosantheras

Prostanthera are commonly referred to as the ‘Mint Bush’ due to the aroma given off by the foliage and indeed it is related to mint, thyme, oregano and sage. A number of species are available varying from from small shrubs to small trees such as Prostanthera lasianthos the Victorian Christmas Bush

With foliage that releases a pleasant ‘mint like’ aroma when brushed as you walk past, this is a good plant for a sensory garden.

One of the more popular species is Prostanthera incisa, The Cut Leaf Mint Bush, with attractive mauve to purple flowers it seems easy to grow in a well drained soil.

Beast of the Week

Eltham Copper Butterfly

Not quite as "Eltham" as we have been led to believe!

It was first discovered around Eltham in 1938 and was thought to have become extinct around the 1950’s.

Following the rediscovery of the butterfly in the Eltham area in 1987, the ECB was listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988) in May 1991.

The Eltham Copper Butterfly is known only to occur in Victoria and only recorded at a few geographically separate locations including:

• Ten sites in the Eltham-Greensborough area

• Three separate small populations in the Kiata-Salisbury area in the Wimmera.

• Three sites in the Bendigo region in rural Victoria.

• Small populations at two sites at Castlemaine in rural Victoria

Bird of the Week

Swift Parrot

A visitor to Banyule from Tasmania - a long way to fly for a little bird.

Swifties are seen through the Banyule parklands, along with the Musk and Little Lorikeets of similar size and colouring.

(Do not be distracted by ill-informed media references to "Swifties" as devotees of an American pop star, referred to in an altogether too familiar manner as Tay Tay.)

Why are they called Swift Parrots? Because they are such energetic flyers - a fast wing beat makes them very quick through the air.