Author: admin

  • Native Plant Identification Resources

    Native Plant Identification Resources

    Your Guide to Naming Local Flora

    Guest post by Tim Doolan.
    Edited, updated, proofread – Admin.
    Image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay

    With COVID-19 restrictions keeping us close to home, I hope you’re savoring some quiet time. What better moment to explore resources for identifying native plants?

    Beyond asking a pro or hitting Google, where does the everyday person turn for species info? As a newbie years ago, I struggled to find answers. This post is a nod to my past self—a guide for anyone starting out.

    I keep returning to a few trusty resources, so here are my top three. This isn’t exhaustive—plenty of Landcare folks at JCU or with botanical brains outshine any book. But for the rest of us, these tools help decode what’s growing around you:

    Field Guide to Plants of the Dry Tropics – Keith Townsend (sold at Mary Who Bookshop)

    The cover of the book "Field Guide to Plants of the Dry Tropics," featuring a cluster of yellow flowers with red centers.

    Book cover image. Courtesy: Native Plants Queensland – Townsville Branch.

    Best Bits: Stunning visuals make identification a breeze.

    It’s compact, so it skips deep details—like natural habitats, which I love for context. Still, each species gets a tight, spot-on paragraph—perfect for a pocket guide.

    Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the Tropics – Keith Townsend (sold at Mary Who Bookshop)

    Book cover image. Courtesy: Native Plants Queensland – Townsville Branch.

    Best Bits: Massive species list, plus a rare 50-page rundown of Townsville gardening challenges.

    It’s light on details and visuals, so it’s not the friendliest field guide for beginners.

    The book cover for the "Revised Edition" of "Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the Tropics," featuring a large pink flower and leaves.

    Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (website)

    Tropical rainforest. Arial shot. Cairns N.QLD. Australia.

    Image: CSIRO, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Best Bits: Deep dive into tropical rainforest plants with scientific and layman info, great visuals, and fun trivia.

    It focuses on rainforests, missing many dryland “Brownsville” species.

    Honourable Mention – Even Bigger Plant Nerds Than Me.

    At CDTLI, James Cook University, and the Society for Growing Australian Plants, you’ll meet folks with plant knowledge that’s not written anywhere. There’s simply too much to catalogue, so we all cherish our unique gems of wisdom. That’s why we love the adventure of discovery so much.

    Best Bits: A wealth of insights, often locked in their minds, not books.

  • Worms

    Worms

    Squirming Into Sustainable Gardening

    Guest post by Tim Doolan.
    Edited, updated, proofread – Admin.
    Feature Image by Natfot from Pixabay

    Worm farms are popping up everywhere, and I scored one for my birthday—a real treat.

    For newcomers, a worm farm is a container where you toss food scraps and create a cozy home for special worms. In return, they churn out worm juice and castings that boost soil health and help plants thrive. It sounds promising, but I’m still testing the waters.

    A black, multi-tiered worm farm on a tiled patio, with a scoop of material being added to the top tray and a blue bucket nearby.
    Back yard / garden worm farm setup.

    The Worm Café seems to be the crowd favorite—mine’s set up in my downstairs laundry. A hessian sack covers the inside to keep things snug.

    Some folks craft their own farms from old bathtubs or wheelie bins—pretty clever.

    These aren’t your average earthworms. They’re speedy eaters—like Blue Worms (Perionyx excavatus), Red Wrigglers, or African Nightcrawlers—built to break down waste fast. Blue Worms suit our warm climate, though opinions vary.

    A hand holding a cluster of reddish-brown worms and dark, rich soil, representing worm castings.
    Compost worms. Shanegenziuk, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    The worms munch scraps and produce worm juice and castings. It’s less “fertilizer” and more about microbes turning organic matter into plant-friendly nutrients and rich soil structure. Castings, the solid stuff, add bulk—think of them as worm juice’s chunky cousin.

    I’ve run my worm farm for 10 months—not an expert yet, but here’s what I’ve learned in our tropics:

    • Land Planarians: These worm-slug hybrids prey on your worms and love the tropics. I found some munching mine, picked them out by hand, and haven’t seen them since. Likely hitched a ride with contaminated worms.
    • Ants: Ants invaded when things got too dry, eyeing food or nesting. A splash of water and a hessian sack on top sent them packing.
    • Acidity: Early on, my farm smelled like a bad seafood rerun—too many oranges, lemons, and onions. Cutting those and adding alkaline crusher dust fixed it. A happy worm farm smells like damp soil, barely noticeable.
    • Temperature: Heat was trouble until I parked the farm in a dark, sheltered spot. Worms fled to cool corners or tried escaping when it got too toasty.
    • Other Critters: Tiny crustaceans and crawlies share the space, but they coexist with the worms just fine.
  • Birdwings and Butterfly Vines

    Birdwings and Butterfly Vines

    Growing the Right Vines for Swallowtail Butterflies

    Guest post by Malcolm Tattersall.
    Edited, updated, proofread – Admin.
    Feature Image: Nosferattus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Many gardeners know a special vine can draw Birdwing butterflies, but its name and which butterflies need it spark frequent questions.

    In short, one group of Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars feeds only on a specific plant family. These butterflies, called Troidini—a scientific “tribe” between family and genus—belong to the Swallowtail family (Papilionidae). Their plants are Birthworts (Aristolochiaceae).

    A close-up of a Clearwing Swallowtail butterfly with translucent, veined wings, perched on a thin branch.
    Clearwing Swallowtail butterfly. Richard Fuller, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Our local Troidini include the Clearwing Swallowtail (Cressida cressida), Red-bodied Swallowtail (Pachliopta polydorus), and all Birdwing species (Ornithoptera). The Birthworts we care about fall in the genus Aristolochia—or once did. Many go by the common name Dutchman’s Pipe vines.

    A close-up of a Red-bodied Swallowtail butterfly with black wings and prominent red and white markings, feeding on a green vine with a purple flower.
    Red-bodied Swallowtail. Summerdrought, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    The details get tricky, but here’s what you need to attract butterflies to your garden:

    Aristolochia acuminata (also called Aristolochia tagala)

    A close-up of a native Aristolochia acuminata vine with glossy green leaves and round, green seed pods hanging from the stems.
    Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Aristolochia acuminata / Aristolochia tagala feeds all Birdwing species, plus Red-bodied and Clearwing Swallowtails. It’s the go-to vine in Townsville gardens, sold as Aristolochia acuminata at the Bush Garden Nursery.

    Richmond Butterfly Vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa)

    A close-up of the Richmond Butterfly Vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa), showing its large, glossy green leaves on a woody stem.
    Poyt448 Peter Woodard, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Dutchman’s Pipe Vine

    A close-up of the Dutchman's Pipe Vine (Aristolochia elegans), showing its dark, patterned flower and a pale, pipe-shaped flower on a vine with heart-shaped leaves.
    Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Dutchman’s Pipe Vine (Aristolochia elegans, also Aristolochia littoralis) is one to avoid. This South American exotic lures adult butterflies to lay eggs, but its leaves often poison their caterpillars.

    Scientific / botanical Vs. common names? Why do these questions linger?

    Scientific names for vines and butterflies shift over time. Common names muddle things by lumping similar species together. Plus, other native vines feed different Swallowtails, adding to the mix. For the full scoop, check the original article on my blog, Green Path.

  • Leucaena leucocephala: Friend and Foe

    Leucaena leucocephala: Friend and Foe

    A Tale of Weeds and Redemption

    Guest post by Dave Pratchett.
    Edited, updated, proofread – Admin
    Feature Image: John Tann from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    In 2019, I joined the Goondaloo Creek Landcare site as a volunteer, soon after moving to Townsville. While tackling weeds and watering new plants opposite Tech NQ, I’d glance upstream at a rejuvenated stretch—years of hard work in bloom. Downstream, though, leucaena trees loomed, heavy with seed pods. For local Landcare, these trees spell trouble—a major foe.

    A group of volunteers and staff from Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc. posing for a photo under a green tent at a tree-planting event at Goondaloo Creek.
    CDTLI native tree planting event at Goondaloo Creek.

    Oddly, I feel a twinge of guilt for their spread. Early in my Australian career, I helped grow leucaena.

    Dr. Ray Jones pioneered leucaena as cattle fodder in Australia—a gripping tale. The plant’s toxic mimosine harms ruminants unless they host a specific gut bacterium, Synergistes jonesii. Ray identified it and doggedly brought samples here. CSIROpedia: Leucaena Toxicity Solution

    In the 1980s, I teamed up with Ray on trials in the Ord River Irrigation area, testing stocking rates and plant density for finishing Kimberley cattle. Despite hurdles, leucaena’s fodder value shone—we hit 1500 kg (5 head) per hectare. Research Library: Agriculture WA

    I wrote then: “Leucaena seedlings struggle in dryland or irrigated settings. Hot water treatment sparks germination, but once seedlings reach two to three centimeters, growth slows, and weeds can choke them.”

    No one’s boiling the seeds of leucaena now invading Northern Australia. They thrive along riverbanks and cleared land. Yet, in Queensland—including our area—cattle producers prize it as fodder. In its native South America, plus places like Indonesia and India, leucaena shines as a dryland feed, even aiding human nutrition with diverse uses. UNU Press: Leucaena Uses

    Like all weeds, leucaena only vexes where it’s unwanted. It’s certainly unwelcome on our Landcare sites. I look forward to my later years here, joining Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare volunteers to curb its damage.

  • When Will My Native Plants Flower?

    When Will My Native Plants Flower?

    Photo Credit: Franko, © Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc.

    Unpacking the Blooming Secrets of Local Species

    Guest post by Julia Hazel.
    Edited, updated, proofread – Admin.

    Short answer: Hard to predict. Long answer: Keep reading…

    Expect Natural Variation

    At CDTLI’s nursery, we grow native plants from locally collected seeds to preserve each species’ natural traits—including the quirks between individual plants. This variation helps native species thrive in the wild, aids revegetation efforts, and adds charm to gardens.

    Unlike commercially bred plants—tweaked over generations for predictable growth—our natives don’t follow a strict schedule.

    A close-up of a vibrant red Native Rosella flower (Hibiscus heterophyllus) with a yellow center and a water droplet on one petal.

    The Planting Guide Said…

    Books and websites list “typical” or “average” flowering times for a species based on the authors’ known regions. Even in the same area, your plants react to tiny local shifts in soil, climate, and weather—sometimes in surprising ways.

    Photo Credit: Franko, © Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc.

    Give Them Time

    Small, short-lived species often bloom in their first year. Slower shrubs and trees need a few years to mature before flowering, starting sparse and building to full glory over time.

    Can We Help Them Flower Sooner?

    Yes, to a point. Research first—pick plants that match your spot. Some prefer part shade, but many natives dazzle best in full sun. At planting, shield tiny ones with temporary shade.

    Get new plants off to a strong start with regular water and a dash of native plant fertilizer. Ease off watering as they settle, letting them adapt to natural rhythms. For some, rain after a dry spell sparks blooms.

    A close-up of a Pavetta australiensis plant in full bloom, showing clusters of small, spiky white flowers and glossy green leaves.

    Another tip: Skip unnecessary pruning. More branches and leaves boost energy for growth and flowers. Check where blooms form—trimming branch-tip flowerers delays their show until new growth emerges.

    A close-up of a creamy-white flower spike of Grevillea parallela, also known as Beefwood, with long, curled petals.

    Flowering often ties to day length, temperature, and wet/dry seasons, but these factors mix in tricky ways. Some gardeners tweak conditions—like extra water—and enjoy the trial and error. Still, letting established plants roll with nature often yields delightful surprises over time.

  • Discover the Bush Garden Interpretive Trail

    Discover the Bush Garden Interpretive Trail

    A Shady Stroll Through Native Wonders

    We’ve poured effort into reviving the Bush Garden Interpretive Trail in Mundingburra, just upstream from Aplins Weir. This spot offers a cool, shady nature walk—perfect for scanning our new QR codes with your phone to uncover details about native plants.

    Bush Garden – more info

    Bush Garden Flyer & Map – Download

  • Aquatic Weeds in the Ross River

    Aquatic Weeds in the Ross River

    Edited, updated, proofread – Admin.
    Featured Image: TheDinosaurMan08, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

    Sagittaria/Delta Arrowhead (Sagittaria platyphylla)

    Delta Arrowhead, Arrowhead, Slender Arrowhead. A close-up of the invasive aquatic weed Sagittaria, showing its large green leaves and clusters of small white flowers.
    Show_ryu, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Sagittaria first appeared in the Ross River in 2012. A containment program now targets this highly invasive aquatic weed to eradicate it before it spreads across the region. It chokes shallow waterways—including irrigation channels—blocking water flow, fish movement, and recreation. Farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin spend over $2 million annually to control Sagittaria and restore irrigation channels, highlighting its immense economic toll.

    Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

    Water Hyacinth, Water Orchid, Nile Lily. A close-up of the invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) with its light purple flowers and glossy green leaves floating on the water's surface.
    Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Water hyacinth, a floating weed, forms dense mats atop water bodies. It boasts light purple flowers and round, dark green leaves. Originally introduced from Brazil as an ornamental pond plant, this weed now restricts wildlife migration, depletes oxygen levels, and hampers recreation with its thick cover.

    Cabomba/Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)

    A view of the invasive aquatic weed Cabomba caroliniana growing densely underwater, with some small fish and lily pads on the surface.
    Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Cabomba grows fully underwater—except for its flowers—in slow-moving or still water, creating a thick canopy below the surface. Its stems stretch up to 10 meters long, posing risks to swimmers who may tangle in them.

    Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

    An overhead view of a body of water completely covered by a dense mat of the invasive floating weed water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and duckweed.
    W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Water lettuce, a floating weed, features spongy, fan-shaped leaves. It forms dense mats that shade out other plants. It reproduces via seeds or runners that spawn daughter plants. With a rapid growth rate, water lettuce spreads quickly under favorable conditions, covering entire water bodies. Water movement, natural or via boats and gear, typically spreads its seeds.

    Hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis)

    A dense stand of the invasive grass Hymenachne amplexicaulis growing in a shallow, wet area with green leaves and tall stalks.
    Photo © Chris Gardiner, James Cook University — US Forest Service, Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Hymenachne, a grass with long, wide leaf blades, thrives in shallow water or along riverbanks, reaching up to 2.5 meters high. It forms dense stands that boost flood risk by slowing drainage channels. These stands also limit animal migration and shrink available habitat.

    Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)

    An overhead view of a body of water completely covered by a thick mat of the invasive floating fern salvinia (Salvinia molesta).
    Vengolis, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Salvinia, a free-floating, spongy weed, flourishes in slow-moving, nutrient-rich, warm water bodies. It removes habitat, shades the water column, and cuts oxygen levels, degrading water quality. Its small, folded leaves sport tiny hairs, and its roots dangle freely. Without flowers, salvinia spreads solely through live material carried between water bodies.

  • Water chestnuts at Wongaloo

    Water chestnuts at Wongaloo

    Guest post by Carolyn Osterhaus.
    Edited, updated, proofread – Admin.
    Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.

    Birdlife Townsville folks tipped me off about the Wongaloo wetlands. I learned, to my dismay, that tours offer the only access. Luckily, National Landcare Week in September featured a bus trip to this very spot.

    The Wongaloo visit followed a walk through Mundingburra’s Bush Garden, where nursery manager Christine Dalliston dazzled us with her vast plant knowledge. Folks lingered, reluctant to board a bus that arrived late after a no-show scare. The day wrapped up at Morratt’s Pit, a site Lower Burdekin Landcare Association has revitalized.

    Many locals, even those nearby, miss out on Wongaloo. The bus driver raved about his first visit, awed by thousands of birds thriving on water in a dry region. He claimed it outshone Town Common, calling that an “airport” by comparison.

    Wongaloo Regional Park neighbors the Bowling Green Bay Ramsar site. The Wetlands and Grasslands Foundation—a nonprofit, public charity—teams up with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to manage it. A grant funds weed removal—lantana, pink bauhinia, candle bush—across the 50-hectare site. Fences stretch several kilometers to manage cattle and curb weeds.

    Wongaloo hosts Australia’s largest recorded brolga gathering: around 12,000. Brolgas and magpie geese breed here, drawn by bulkurru (Eleocharis dulcis), or Chinese water chestnut. This plant forms thick beds in the wet season, then retreats to tubers as waters dry. Birds nest in the wet, then dig for tubers in the dry. Waterbirds and seasonal fish also rely on this habitat—freshwater fish spawn here during wet-season stream surges.

    Three water sources feed the site. Runoff flows from the Mt Elliott Range. A massive sand ridge, built over millennia by the Burdekin River, traps rainwater and releases it slowly into the swamps. Occasional Haughton River floods add more.

    Cattle graze to control weeds, monitored closely. Fences shield lakes, keeping cattle from damaging shorelines. Feral pigs pose a challenge. Conservation Volunteers tackled weeds in the past. Christine stressed, “Managing salt intrusions to restore the freshwater wetland matters most to me.”

    At Morratt’s Pit in Ayr, green tree guards signal big restoration efforts. Lower Burdekin Landcare Association planted over 2,500 trees in the first half of 2017.

    A sausage sizzle capped the day. Vegetarian sausages promised flavor but delivered dirt with a sage twist. Next time, I’ll join the birds and sample water chestnuts.

  • National​ ​Bird​ ​Week​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Bush​ ​Garden

    National​ ​Bird​ ​Week​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Bush​ ​Garden

    Image by David Clode from Pixabay
    Edited, updated, proofread by Admin.

    CDTLI celebrated National Bird Week (23–29 October 2017) with a birdwatching walk through the Bush Garden, guided by Michael McMaster from BirdLife Townsville.

    Seventeen volunteers, including Cub Scouts and parents from Pimlico-Mundingburra, Loam Island, and Bluewater Scout troops, joined the fun.

    The Bush Garden’s tranquil paths were ideal for listening to birds. Volunteer Sue sparked excitement by sharing a discarded honeyeater nest, its sturdy weave amazing kids and adults alike. We explored a recently installed owl box, now home to possums. These boxes offer vital habitat for hollow-dwelling birds, replacing scarce old trees in Townsville’s urban areas.

    Kids loved spotting jacanas, marveling through binoculars at their long toes that let them walk on lily pads. The day’s highlight came at Aplin’s Weir: a family of tawny frogmouths—two adults and two juveniles—perched on a branch. Nearby, we found their nest in a paperbark tree overhanging the river.

    Thank you to Michael McMaster, BirdLife Townsville, and all our volunteers for celebrating our wildlife. We hope you’ll join us in the bush again soon.