Learning at Landcare - from Pam

It’s winter, which on the Awabakal seasonal calendar is Takarir, the cold time when the tall spikes of the Gymea lily (minmai) flower red and the wattle blossoms, reminding us that the humpback whales are heading north. It was the shortest day of the year (winter solstice) on 21 June, so the days are getting longer, and Spring is on its way.

At Landcare we have our eyes peeled for seasonal weeds, aiming to remove weeds before they flower and produce seeds that are spread by birds, wind and water run-off. Landholders can help by removing these weeds, or at least the seeds, before they spread into the bush.

Common weeds which keep us busy each Thursday include Asparagus Fern, Mother of Millions, Lantana, Madeira Vine, Morning Glory, Privet, and Thunbergia.

If you would like to replace your weeds the “Grow me instead’ guides are helpful and Lake Mac Landcare at Teralba has local native plants for sale.

Asparagus Fern – A Pretty Plant Turned Problem Weed

Once popular as a decorative indoor pot plant, Asparagus fern (Asparagus aethiopicus) is now listed as a Weed of National Significance. While it might look attractive, this aggressive invader poses a serious threat to native bushland, growing in a range of soil types, from full sun to shade, and across a range of environments. It has adapted remarkably well to the conditions on the Coal Point peninsula, from the woodlands on the ridge tops to rainforest gullies and wetlands, it can be found everywhere.

Asparagus fern forms dense, smothering mats that outcompete native groundcovers and understorey plants, preventing their germination and growth. This alters the natural landscape and reduces biodiversity. A new climbing variety has even been detected in the Lake Macquarie LGA.

How It Spreads

The plant flowers from spring onwards, producing green to red berries from spring to summer, though berries can be found year-round. These are spread by birds, foxes, reptiles, and even flowing water or dumped garden waste. Significant infestations are found along the west ridge of Coal Point, Stansfield Reserve, and in local gardens, which can serve as sources for further spread into bushland.

Plants can shoot from the central rhizome, a specialsed stem that grows horizontaly underground. The watery tubers don’t regrow, they are just an energy and water store for the plant.

What You Can Do

Seedlings and small plants: Hand-pull or dig up, ensuring the entire rhizome is removed.

Larger plants: Cut around the central rhizome, like doring an apple, this is called crowning.use a sturdy garden knife or mini mattock and remove the ‘cored out crown’ from the site.

Wear gloves: The plant has sharp, prickly stems.

Always remove the berries! Seed dispersal is the main way asparagus fern spreads, with each plant producing up to 600 seeds per year! Cut off any berries and place them in your red-lid bin. Also collect any fallen berries—green ones can ripen and produce viable seeds even after being removed from the plant.

More info on Asparagus Fern 

Watch this short, informative video: Remove Asparagus Fern – Pittwater Ecowarriors  1b

Wattle I grow instead?

There are over 1,000 species of Acacia in Australia, and several beautiful varieties are local to our area. One of the standouts is Acacia longifolia (Sydney Golden Wattle), a fast-growing shrub reaching 3–4 metres. It produces bright golden cylindrical flower spikes and offers a range of benefits—stabilising erosion-prone soils, providing protective shade for young seedlings, and acting as a natural screen.

Wattle seeds grow in pods and have even been traditionally eaten after roasting. Their value in regeneration, habitat creation, and aesthetics makes them a top choice for local gardens.

However, not all wattles are welcome. The Queensland Silver Wattle (Acacia podalyriifolia) is considered a weed in our area. Although it is an Australian native, it doesn’t belong here and aggressively outcompetes local species.

If you’re looking to plant local wattles, consider these suitable options:

Golden/Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis) – flowers early to mid-autumn.

Sickle Wattle (Acacia falcata) – a tall open shrub (4–5m), flowering in early winter.

Hickory Wattle (Acacia implexa) – a small to medium tree with creamy ball-shaped flowers in summer.

Prickly Moses (Acacia ulicifolia) – a hardy, early-flowering shrub.

Heath Wattle (Acacia brownii) – a compact shrub (up to 1m) with bright yellow spring flowers.

Want to get started? Lake Macquarie residents can join the Backyard Habitat for Wildlife program and receive two free native plants, a planting guide, and discounted tubestock from the Landcare Nursery at Booragul.

Fun fact: Wattles don’t attract nectar-feeding birds—but they do attract insects, which in turn support insect-eating birds. It’s biodiversity in action!

The Fern & the Burn...The Movie

On April 6th 2016 a patch of bushland off Stansfield Close went up in smoke. The Hazard Reduction Burn was conducted to protect property and generate environmental outcomes, particularly trying to reduce the Asparagus Fern, Privets and Olives that had escaped from gardens and been running rampant over the local natives for some time.

A six minute movie has been made to share the transformation of the reserve since The Burn. If you haven’t been for a walk through Stansfield Reserve in the past year the movie shows what you’ve missed out on. 

The video was made possible with funding from Hunter Local Land Services from the Australian Government's National Landcare program

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A pyric epic …Come on baby light my fire

The Doors mightn’t have been thinking about asset protection when they wrote their very famous song but somehow it seems very relevant to the Hazard Reduction Burn planned for the reserve off Stansfield Close.

The time to hesitate is through…

The long awaited burn may happen in the next month, possibly even next week depending on the rain.

No time to wallow in the mire….
We’ve been trying to dry out the moist weed infested gullies so that optimum burn temperatures can be reached for ignition. The large woody weeds have been treated and felled.

Try now we can only lose…
Additional hands from LMCC’s Landcare Bush Regenerators & the Fire Mitigation team as well as Trees In Newcastle’s bush regenerators and volunteers have been helping Coal Point landcarers prepare the burn area by cutting a containment line, refreshing the Asset Protection Zone and treating weeds to make sure we do all we can for a good environmental burn.

And our love become a funeral pyre…
Our much loved bushland will arise from a seedbank that needs heat to geminate whilst the asparagus fern will burn and hopefully be pyrically thwarted.

Come on baby light my fire…

The RFS and Fire & Rescue advise there are a few things that you might want to do if you start smelling smoke in the air.

As the prescribed burn will generate smoke, hot embers and heat, it is important that you consider undertaking the following actions:

• Keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke entering buildings
• Cover outdoor furniture to prevent ember damage
• Retract plastic or synthetic pool covers to prevent ember damage
• Remove washing from clothes lines
• Ensure any outdoor pets have a sheltered area
• If you have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities
• If smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops, take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice
• If you are driving a vehicle, slow down, keep windows up and turn headlights on

It is normal for smoke to be visible up to 24 hours after the prescribed burn

For your safety, neighbours adjoining the area are requested to remain away from, and not enter the burnt ground to aid post-fire restoration.

Garden Escapes almost Gone at Progress Hall

The fiendish fern removal and slope stabilisation demonstration at Progress Hall highlighted the impact of garden escapes. Once a stronghold has been established by the Fishbone and Asparagus ferns very few natives can outcompete the water hungry and soil surface sealing ferns. 

The Grow Me Instead guide suggests native ferns such as the Rasp fern, Rough Maidenhair and Gristle Fern as hardy frond friendly replacements…and they are locally found as well. 

A selection of fire retardant and bird friendly plants was selected to replace the fiendish ferns at the Hall. Thanks go out to Robyn, John, Jacob and Andrew for the slope stabilisation landscaping of the grounds around the Hall. 

The blog has links to Fishbone fern removal and Asparagus fern removal technique

Robyn Gill demonstrated Fishbone and Asparagus Fern removal,
solarisation and slope stabilisation techniques

 

Congratulations Mikali

Congratulations to Mikali Anagnostis who has accepted the Asparagus Fern challenge. Equipped with his own gyprock knife and trained in the Asparagus fern crowning removal technique, he’s aiming to join up his efforts with that of the landcarers in the adjacent Burnage Reserve.

Landcare can provide support for students who want to undertake Duke of Edinburgh Awards contact Robyn Gill for more information.

Asparagus fern update- By Robyn Gill

The Asparagus plant we struggle with doesn’t produce delicious, edible spikes but seems to attract birds, which enjoy their red berries and spread the seeds everywhere (including constantly in our garden). In its several weed forms Asparagus covers the ground, climbs trees and sometimes takes shrubby form, even sometimes looking quite different (as Bridal Veil Creeper) which has recently been declared a Class 1 Noxious weed in NSW and in all these forms since 2012 has been listed as a Weed of National Significance.

We have most of the Asparagus weed forms in our reserves and often in the gardens which surround them which makes control very difficult and the work, especially on slopes, hard on legs and hands especially when they are bigger and have a firm hold on the ground. Any assistance with control of these prickly plants in gardens helps and is much appreciated.

Here is a removal technique on the blog.

Asset Protection Burn possibly this Winter

And thinking about things that burn… The Asset Protection Burn for Stansfield Reserve is being proposed for August this year. This will be an exciting opportunity to see 1st hand the impacts of fire on the local bushland and the recovery of native species. It will also provide an opportunity to attempt to gain the ascendency on the Asparagus Fern.

Landcare Report - Robyn Gill

Our Landcare hours in August and September have been taken up with our usual spring game of “hunt the planting” among the weeds where the white tipped stakes are a great help. The growth of the plantings has been very encouraging and we’re now hurrying to make room for some more replacing of weeds before it is too hot and dry. 

Our other major blitz is on the Formosa Lily that is spreading like wildfire in the whole lake area carrying a formidable amount of seed per head (there can be 14 of these heads on one stalk) that fly off in the breeze. We have set up test areas to try to find the best ways of dealing with the plant as they are a fairly recent challenge. We are following up on our last year’s approach, which seems promising but not yet proven. http://sydneyweeds.org.au/weed/formosa-lily/
 
Ecosystem Site Monitoring was carried out for the second time at Stansfield Reserve as part of a council programme with a professional leader and a group of experienced and knowledgeable volunteers. It is a careful way of checking on the state of our natural areas by returning at regular intervals to a measured and recorded small area to count the number and variety of trees and plants, both native and exotic, fallen logs, tree hollows and any evidence of insects, birds, fauna etc. 

We saw a tiny possum in the same tree hollow where it was photographed last year but this year it had more sense than to be inquisitive and show itself in the opening. Perhaps it had had a big night and was too sleepy.

We also watched a Kookaburra moving in and out of its nest inside a large termite’s nest high up in tree.

Asparagus Fern is marching on at a frightening pace but native plants continue to resist its advance until it is too thick. It has this year been declared a Weed Of National Significance that will hopefully result in some more assistance with its control.
 

Landcaring often brings up surprises. Last year kangaroo poo at Stansfield Close reserves, more recently a nest of eggs at Burnage Reserve. They look like hen’s eggs, they seem fresh.  Investigations are underway to see if a local native bird may be involved. Have you lost a chook or heard the happy cackling?

Landcare Update

This month apart from some planting and weeding at Burnage we have spent many hours at Gurranba tackling OUR GREATEST FOE, Asparagus Fern.
Fortunately our quote comes in considerably lower than the other 2 we received ($1200 and $1500) and the satisfaction is enormous when we tip a bag of Asparagus “crowns” in the bin as that represents a huge amount of long, very green, seed bearing fronds.
The Green Team Day which was good still left us with a long way to go before we can replant in April. The plants will be supplied by Hunter Water as part of a special program to assist reserves which “house” a sewerage facility. We are getting close to the result we need.
The amazing thing is that apart from some Mother of Millions, a colony of large African Olive and an occasional Broadleaf Privet, some natives keep struggling through the junk – especially Wombat Berry, some Native Olive and many little Rapanea.
On Thursday April 5th REPLANTING BEGINS with assistance from the Lake Macquarie Landcare Green Team and any other welcome volunteers.

Controlled burn on the horizon

Many moons ago mention was made about how to manage The Asparagus Fern carpet in the reserves off Stansfield Close. One thought that was touted was to burn it all. Many moons on and permissions are being acquired by LMCC to undertake a controlled burn with Fire and Rescue NSW.
The issue was discussed at the last Progress meeting and LMCC’s Craig Holland who is facilitating the process provided the following response to concerns raised about the impacts on the wildlife and smoke.
There are only positive effects on animals as the hazard reduction burn creates regeneration, which creates more food sources and reduces the monoculture that weeds create. With more food sources (particularly with isolated patches of bushland like Coal Point) more animals are attracted to the area and the food chain is then reinforced. This is very positive. As we are intentionally only burning half of the bushland area, the half not being burnt provides a refuge for the animals. The fire authority don't just throw a match in to the area and walk away. The usual prescribed low intensity burn is usually done in segments. The ones I have seen, they burn a 10m x 5 segment usually downhill (‘cause it burns slower and is more controlled) and wait for that to burn until they move on to the next segment. Very controlled and slow. This gives the animals an opportunity to move.
In terms of smoke, Fire and Rescue NSW will conduct a burn plan for Coal Point, which addresses such issues as wind direction and smoke mainly because of vehicular traffic. Fire and Rescue NSW will give residents notice (at least 7 days) of when the burn is likely, warning residents to close windows, don't wash their clothes and put them out on the line, retract pool covers and move out of the area for the day if someone suffers asthma or a lung condition.
If you’d like more information contact Craig Holland 

| Natural Areas Officer (Bush Fire Mitigation)
Lake Macquarie City Council | P: (02) 49 210 288 | M: 0419483349 | F: (02) 49210351

Weed of the Month

Asparagus fern is everywhere around Coal Point and Carey Bay, including the wetlands, reserves and people’s yards. This weed is still being sold and cultivated, as it can look very attractive with its bright red berries and ferny leaves.

This prolific seeder is transported far and wide by birds, the red berries are a real treat and with the local abundance it is probably a very valuable local food source for the local wildlife.

Unfortunately this weed is such a hardy survivor that it can out compete most natives, forming a carpet of green, like in the Stansfield Close reserves.

Asparagus fern is easy to remove, for large plants you just need to crown out the top like coring an apple, the watery bulbs on the roots are only water storage and they don’t grow into new plants, the seeds take care of that. The young seedlings, once you get your eye in, are very easy to remove by hand pulling.