October 2022 rain makes a bog

Sadly, the rain that has come almost every day this previous month, has left the soil completely sodden and with several paddocks still keeping standing water. While the weeds seem to enjoy the wet, several of the trees and other natives have succumbed to their wet feet.

Those that have died include:

Grevillea barklyana:

Grevillea barklyana. Planted 2020. Image taken November 2022

Acacia leprosa “Scarlet Blaze”:

See earlier post for this tree in flower in Spring: Acacias in flower early Spring 2

Acacia aplanata:

See earlier post for this wattle in flower: Acacias in flower early Spring 2

Acacia verniciflua:


Acacia howittii x 2:

Acacia howittii. Planted 2020. Image taken November 2022: next to 2 other A. howittii. Lower Sth Paddock

Acacia howittii. Planted 2021. Image taken November 2022. Upper Sth Paddock

Acacia paradoxa x 3: [only one is shown]

Acacia paradoxa. Planted 2020. Image taken November 2022. New Back Patch

Grevillea “firecracker”: two plants, the one on the right is on the way out. And, both hard to see among all the weeds, especially Cape Weed…

Grevillea Firecracker. Planted 2018. Image taken November 2022

Some other natives are showing signs of stress and may not survive – since now, in November, we are getting further rain, with the soil still completely waterlogged – if not keeping water on the surface.

Eucalyptus forrestiana (link to earlier image)


Acacia mearnsii (!!). All of the other eight A. mearnsii seem to be surviving well, no issues with watering or frost, but the constant wet seems to have done for this one:

Acacia mearnsii. Planted 2020. Image taken November 2022

Banksia serrata: Despite having a stream flowing past it for the last month, I thought this one was doing well, but several of the branches seem to have died.

Banksia serrata. Planted 2020. Image taken November 2022


Acacias in flower early Spring 3: Acacia pycnantha

There are three Acacia pycnanthas on the property. All were planted as tubestock, donated by Bonnie Humphries from the local landcare group. One of the plants did not survive, but the three that did survive were planted at slightly different times, and at opposite ends of the property: one in the Stump Circle at the northern end, and two in the Upper South Paddock. The first images on the page are of the pycnantha in the Stump Circle, but according to my records, this one was planted later than the others, in April 2018. This location is more open than the place where the other two are planted, and there is no close competition from other trees and bushes as with the two in the Upper South Paddock.

A. pycnantha. Stump Circle. Planted April 2018. Image taken August 2022 looking south.
A. pycnantha. Stump Circle. Planted April 2018. Image taken August 2022 looking west.

The next image is of the pycnantha doing well in the Upper South paddock. The aspect is north facing, so lack of light is not an issue here, but there are several well established Grey Boxes behind it.

A. pycnantha. Upper South Paddock. Planted September 2017. Image taken August 2022

The final image in this post is of the pycnantha planted slightly further down in the South Paddock, one which has always struggled – several breakages and bitings from passing kangies or hares? and the close proximity to the Sloe Plums which are extremely weedy. This is the first year that it has flowered, and its form is rather leggy and very different from the other two.

A. pycnantha. Upper South Paddock. Planted September 2017. Image taken September 2022

Acacias in flower early Spring 1: Acacia boormanii

Starting with the four A. boormanii (Snowy River Wattle) planted in various places around the plot

Acacia boormanii. Mid South paddock. Image taken August 2022. Planted August 2018

This one was originally planted with a good space (so I thought) between it and the A. mearnsii next to to it, but it has since needed to grow at an angle to get out of under …

Acacia boormanii. Lower South paddock. Image taken August 2022. Planted November 2018

Acacia boormanii. Upper South paddock. Image taken August 2022. Planted September 2017

Acacia boormanii. Front ex-weed patch. Image taken August 2022. Planted November 2018

More wattles in flower to come in the following post…