The calendar flipped across to June this morning and the rain began to fall. This was the perfect way to acknowledge that it is time to start planting trees and shrubs for re vegetation projects in southern Australia.
Tree and shrub seedlings ready to be planted for supporting our local wildlife.
Apart from gardening I also get to work on a project for a local critter called the Squirrel Glider. We have them in our back yard and they are very special. The project I work (The Squirrel Glider LAMP Project) is very focused on just this one vulnerable species. Of course any planting that is done to support Squirrel Gliders inevitably benefits other critters as well. We about to plant nearly 10,oo0 trees and shrubs for the project, an exciting time.
All gardeners have their own individual skills, loves, passions and strengths – this is what makes gardening rock!
For our family and our garden the focus really is on food for us and gardening for our local wildlife. Given the horrible summer and large losses of wildlife and plants I personally feel even more compelled to create a garden and landscape that offers opportunities for wildlife to flourish, rest, breed and bounce back in.
I loved that my dearest Mum shared her delight to finally have Superb Fairy wrens in her garden. This has been such a long term wish and at last all her hard work has resulted in a new family of wrens living in the garden. There is so much joy to have a garden that is also loved by visiting critters.
Yellow Box seedlings – a favorite tree of the Squirrel Gliders
So I will be focused on planting this month. I will plant trees, shrubs, grasses, ground covers and more. Diversity is the absolute key here and I will not take for granted the critters that do come to our garden. As plants grow I will be keen to learn and watch what is liked and used by various birds and animals. So far we know that the finches love our thick wisteria to opportunistically nest in each summer. The White Browed Babblers love the chook feathers to line their nests and of course Willy Wag Tails love ALL those spider webs! The Scrub Wrens love the dried summer grass and the garden shed to nest in – such a huge nest for a little bird and the newer visitors – Grey Fantails I haven’t yet decided what it is in the garden they most like. I know the gorgeous Blue Banded Bees love a good salvia and the spring flowers of the Thrytomenes are very busy with Flower Wasps and Butterflies. So much to learn. So very exciting.