Author: Admin2

What’s Flowering at Paluma: Spider Orchid

Wilfred and Suzanne at Mount Spec Road have a beautiful spider orchid in full bloom at present (Dendrobium tetragonum var. giganteum). The orchid is growing on the bark of a large tree and it is a rather small and inconspicuous plant – that is, until it is in flower. It currently has multiple delicate blooms which are spider-like in shape.

Spider orchids have distinctive four-angled stems. They generally grow in mountain rainforests, on tree trunks and often near watercourses. The flowers can be up to 10 cm long with attractive markings. The flowers are greenish to yellow in colour with prominent red to purple blotches. Spider orchids flower intermittently from April to November.

Further Reading: Lavarack, B. and Gray, B. (1992) Australian Tropical Orchids. Frith & Frith Books, Malanda.

Green-Eyed With (Frog) Envy

Substantial winter rainfall at Paluma over the past few weeks has meant that conditions are still rather wet and boggy round the village and in our gardens. While many of us are keen for things to dry out a bit so we can get into the garden and prepare for spring, the local frogs appear to be relishing the damp conditions.

In my garden there is a small, but apparently permanent population of very handsome brown/coppery coloured frogs that like to inhabit both the leafy garden and the back veranda. They especially love living inside the foliage of pot plants on the verandah where it is cool, shady and damp. I finally managed to capture a photograph of one of these frogs last weekend.

In consulting Clifford and Dawn Frith’s book on ‘Australian Tropical Reptiles and Frogs’, I have tentatively identified this frog as the ‘Green-eyed Frog’ (Litoria [serrata] genimaculata).

In describing the Green-eyed Frog, the Frith’s note that it is tropical species confined to rainforests in Australia and New Guinea. They note that this species has evolved to be a master of disguise as it can transform its colour and shape to closely match its microhabitat. It has developed rows of small pieces of skin (lappets) along the edge of its limbs – these can be seen in my photograph on the front and hind limbs. The lappets obscure the normal frog outline, or contours of the body, making the animal more difficult to see amongst its usual habitat of rainforest and vegetated creeks (and my garden).

The Green-eyed Frog is highly variable in colour, with the body usually a shade of brown, reddish-brown or copper, with irregular darker patches. There is usually a dark or russet larger colour patch between the eyes – this patch can be seen quite clearly in my photograph. These frogs grow to an average length of about 65 mm.

Another reference book, Tyler and Knight’s ‘Field Guide to the Frogs of Australia’ notes that the upper half of the frogs iris is green (hence the common name). This I cannot discern from my recent observations or my photograph – but next time I see a Green-eyed Frog in my garden I will be sure to look deeply into its eyes!

Text & Photo by Michele Bird

Another Flowering Camellia……

In response to last weeks post regarding flowering Camellia’s at Paluma (see Post from 3 July 2019), Glenda and Nick at Mount Spec Road have shared a photograph of their Camellia now flowering in their award-winning garden.

The deep pink ruffled flower is large for the size of the young plant. We originally featured this flower in a previous post in June 2018. The young Camellia shrub is still thriving and this winter has produced multiple blooms measuring some 15 cm x 15 cm. The large flowers appear incongruous with the size of this plant.

Do you have a flowering Camellia or other special plant in your Paluma garden that you would like to share with other gardeners? If so, please email a photograph to mbird09@bigpond.com

What’s Flowering at Paluma – Camellias

Many gardens at Paluma have a Camellia or two, and this time of the year they burst into flower with the blooms lasting for many weeks, often until spring. During a walk through the village you will notice a variety of Camellias amongst the village gardens, with blooms of many shades and flower shapes. Two gardens at 27 and 29 Lennox Crescent have many well-established Camellia trees with some remarkable blooms in all shades of pink, white and red. Some of the flowers are shown below.

Camellias are hardy, easy to grow plants which are native to eastern and southern Asia. There are several hundred species of Camellias and up to 3,000 hybrids. They are rewarding plants to grow, especially at Paluma where they thrive in the cool mountain air and the acidic soils.

Paluma Push – URGENT Call for Volunteers

This is an urgent call for volunteers for the upcoming Paluma Push on Sunday 21 July 2019.

Len Cook from the Paluma Rural Fire Brigade is calling for volunteers from the local Paluma community to assist with the event. Volunteers are especially required for manning the various Check Points.

Len has had very little response to his previous calls for volunteers and the timing for arranging the event is becoming critical.

If you can volunteer, please contact Len Cook as soon as possible to register your interest on email:-  anagama@activ8.net.au

Paluma Shines…….

It was a big weekend at Paluma on 29th and 30th June. The annual Bush Dance with the Wattle n Gum Band was held at the Community Hall on Saturday night with many locals and visitors dancing the night away.

On Sunday morning the weather was superb with clear blue skies and a cool breeze. A bumper crowd attended the Paluma Market and there were plenty of stalls to browse. The wares on sale included handmade gemstone jewellery, leadlight glass ornaments, original paintings, knitted and crocheted clothes, shawls, scarves, beanies and blankets, a variety of bric-a-brac, DVD’s, books, cards, plants and delicious homemade cakes, biscuits and condiments. There were bargains galore!!

Members of the Wattle n Gum Bush Band put on an impromptu performance at the playground, while members and volunteers of the PDCA sizzled sausages at the rotunda. A great morning was had by all with many people lingering to relax and enjoy the music, the sausage sizzle and the cool mountain air.

Just Walkin’ the Dog……..!

The winter weather at Paluma is beautiful and there is no better time to get out and go for a walk in the fresh mountain air with your best mate – that is, your canine companion.

Hence , this timely and friendly reminder to pet owners – Paluma residents and visitors – that dog owners are responsible for the behaviour and welfare of their animal/s at all times.

The PDCA would like to remind all dog owners that the village of Paluma is part of the Townsville City Council (TCC) Local Government Area and Local Laws regarding Animal Management  (Local Law No. 2 [Animal Management] 2011 and Subordinate Local Law No. 2 [Animal Management] 2011) are applicable to dog owners at Paluma.

The TCC website provides some important tips for Responsible Pet Ownership as outlined below:-

Responsible Pet Ownership Tips for Dogs

Barking – All dogs bark, but some barking dogs become a real neighbourhood nuisance – greatly reducing the quality of life for their neighbours and increasing neighbourhood tensions. Barking dogs is the most common animal behaviour problem Council is asked to deal with. Make sure your dog is not barking incessantly and causing your neighbours distress.

Fences and Confinement – A straying dog causes distress to neighbours and the community. Dogs that are not kept safely behind a fence can risk being injured or cause injury to others. As a responsible pet owner, it is important that your fence or dog enclosure is: 

– High enough so your dog can’t jump over it

– Low enough so your dog can’t dig under it

– Strong enough so your dog can’t push it over, and

– Hole proof so your dog can’t escape through it.

Pet litter – Leaving pet litter in a public place is not only unpleasant and unhealthy, it’s against the law. Council has provided dog litter bags in some public areas across Townsville. If walking in an area where bags are not provided, you are responsible to take your own bags with you and to pick up and dispose of your dog litter in an appropriate way.

Leashes and Exercise – Dogs must be leashed at all times in public places to help control them more easily and to increase the safety of other animals and people. Remember that many people are frightened or annoyed by dogs that are not leashed; you should always be considerate of other people.

Registration – All dogs, including puppies, must be registered within 14 days of acquisition or moving to the Townsville Local Government Area, and wear a registration tag. Annual dog registration costs differ depending on whether the dog is desexed or entire, and whether the owner is eligible for a pensioner concession. Annual registration and approvals need to be renewed by 31 August each year.

IMPORTANT: Remember that dogs are not permitted outside the residential area at Paluma and within any of the National Parks or World Heritage Areas. This includes the walking tracks. Most walking tracks are clearly signed to indicate that dogs are NOT permitted in these areas. Please – refrain from taking your dog to these prohibited areas in the interests of protecting our native wildlife and the environment.

For further information, the TCC Animal Management Laws can be reviewed on the TCC website. Just google ‘TCC Animal Management’.

Call for Volunteers – Paluma Push

The annual Paluma Push event is taking place on Sunday 21 July 2019.


The Paluma Rural Fire Brigade is calling for volunteers from the local Paluma community to assist with the event. Volunteers are required for manning the various Check Points, parking & traffic management and numerous other tasks. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Len Cook as soon as possible to register your interest on email:-  anagama@activ8.net.au


Please note that as a volunteer you will need to be available on Sunday 21 July, but also attend a pre-race briefing meeting at the Community Hall on Saturday 20 July (late afternoon). After the race, volunteers will be treated to a BBQ at the Community Hall on Sunday night and receive a free Paluma Push t-shirt.


Please contact Len Cook ASAP and get involved!