We  bang on a lot about weeds...[well I do...!].. .but why? Sure they can be a nuisance...like cobblers pegs getting stuck in your socks...but do they really cause a problem? We do know that weeds cost Australians lots of money in control and lost production...it is generally agreed that weeds cost the agricultural sector alone over 4 billion dollars per year. Certain species of weeds do not get a great deal of publicity, but have a serious effect on our nations biodiversity. Weeds can been loosely defined as "a plant growing where it is not wanted". This works, but I tend to think a weed is serious when it upsets the balance of an ecosystem. Weeds behave much like a school bully...they out-compete our native plants and can easily form mono-cultures. More >>

Some years ago Noosa & District Landcare Group (NDLG) did a project at the Pomona transfer station. The project involved planting trees on an old landfill site. We worked with local boy Richard Yeates from Phytolink and a youthful Doug Barnes from the then Noosa Council. It was called 'phytoremediation'. More >>

This butterfly is fairly common in our region. It is black & white on the upper surface, and yellow-orange, black & white underneath. It is around 50mm in width. It is particularly common west of the Great Dividing Range, but still comes to the coast on occasion  More >>

Walking down to my shed last night, I found this little fella. It was a hot night for this time of year, and it was about 6.30pm. I expect to see snakes at my place, and know most of them by name [well, almost all]. More >>

Terry Stokes, a volunteer at Noosa & District Landcare's Riparian Nursery has a keen eye for things natural. Particularly for new and interesting creatures. Terry found this little fella a few weeks ago, and brought him [her?] in for me to have a look at. I have seen plenty of these guys at the nursery during my time here. They tend to be under the bark of logs or under rocks. More >>

I live in the bush, and I love it. One of the things I see pretty regularly is snakes. All sorts. Probably the most common are Carpet pythons, Brown tree snakes, and this little fella.   More >>

At Noosa Landcare's office in Pomona we see a few different birds. Considering all the area around our office was bare ground 8 years ago, the habitat around our office is now pretty good. Recently we had a white headed pigeon [Columba leucomela] move in and set up residence in a Brisbane wattle [Acacia fimbriata].  More >>

At Noosa & District Landcare we have staff all over the biosphere reserve killing weeds and planting trees. One of these people is a trainee undertaking a Certificate 3 in Horticulture. His name is Brad Smith. Brad is a fantastic employee, one who is dedicated and wants to learn all the time. One of the best ways to learn is to observe. More >>

My partner, Kim was getting in to her car this morning and saw a magnificent animal. It was a Titan stick insect [Acrophylla titan]. This is Australia's largest insect, growing to 26 cm.  More >>

... is the scientific name for the Koala.
These little fellas have got a bit of press recently, so I thought I'd write a few things about them by way of background.  More >>