Fur, Feathers, Flowers and More #19

A early Spring often means a dry summer. El Ninò is expected to dominate our summer in south-eastern Australia.

More mulch is being spread to conserve soil moisture. In a few months we will install more tubes to allow deep watering of more advanced plants from our "milk bottles" community watering system.

The Spring wildflowers of the Banyule region are now starting to bloom - hoary sunrays, tall brachyscome daisies, running postman, bulbine lilies, trigger plants  clustered everlastings and more.

They are out there in our FofEV bushland wildflower walks - check them out.

Well done to all those wildlife carers who dedicate themselves to rehabilitating sick and injured wildlife.

A success story for you - a carer has managed to cure the depression and misery of a "widowed" barn owl!

Plant of the Week

Chorizema cordatum

An unusual combination of orange and pink on the flowers but it makes a quite pretty plant in the garden.

Common name is Heart-leaved Flame Pea.

Beast of the Week

Wombat

There is a big variation in the colour of wombats. They are always a solid colour.

Cyclists regularly see the solid, muscular marsupials along the Yarra River bike tracks - despite the wombats being essentially nocturnal.

Bird of the Week

Bellbirds

Often difficult to see as they are well-camouflaged among eucalyptus leaves - but it's easy to hear their distinctive "pinging" call.

They are plentiful down at Chelsworth Park and Wilsons Reserve.

Walkers will sometimes have a flock of bellbirds move along a path with them, flitting from tree to tree low in the foliage. A noisy procession of heralds.