This is an addendum to a previous post on Clivia’s which featured the orange flowering variety (previous post dated 30 July 2018).
Since the beginning of spring, clivia plants at Paluma have been blooming and one garden in particular has some superb flowering plants.
Bill and Linda Venn’s impressive garden at the ‘Paluma Rainforest Cottage’ at no. 31 Mt Spec Road features some spectacular clivia’s. In addition to the orange form, there is a beautiful yellow variety with a multitude of blooms. Also keep an eye out for the variety of hippeastrums and other spring flowering plants in this special garden.
After having been absent from Paluma for a short while, I returned home to find a very scaly squatter had taken up residence on my back verandah. A common tree snake was resting comfortably, having wrapped itself around the wooden beam of the verandah above my back door!
This new resident was not particularly impressed with me and was perturbed by the movement and vibration associated with my homecoming. It soon moved off into the pot plants and then back to the rainforest, being harangued by several honeyeaters during its return to the forest.
Common tree snakes are regular visitors to Paluma gardens and homes. This specimen was grey-blue in colour and was probably a young snake, being about 70cm in length. Adult snakes can grow up to 1.8m in length. Common tree snakes are very agile climbers and are usually active during the day. They range in colour from black, grey, green and blue, usually with yellow or paler-coloured bellies. They have excellent vision, which is not surprising considering the large shiny black eyes on this individual. Common tree snakes are non-venomous and they feed mainly on frogs and small lizards. This might explain why the green frog that usually lives on my verandah has disappeared!
It is hard to ignore this attractive, graceful tree which is also known as Native Poplar. Its leaves are simple with a smooth, glossy upper surface and glaucous (pale bloom) underside. The stems exude a milky sap when broken. But the striking feature of this tree is the scattering of brilliant red and orange leaves among the heart-shaped green leaves. Leaves can be quite big, up to 14 cm long and 12 cm at their widest breadth and as they age, rather than a mass seasonal colouration change, a few at a time turn bright red before dropping.
The leaves actually do not turn red. As the leaf ages it ceases photosynthesizing, the green chlorophyll is taken back into the tree as stored energy. Gradually the green pigment is reduced, leaving the brilliant red and orange colouration seen in expended and dropped leaves.
The tiny flowers occur in clusters in leaf axils. They are white or cream, have no petals and are only 1 to 2 mm diameter so are often difficult to detect. Flowering can occur in any month. The fruits which follow are small green to purplish capsules about 8 to 10 mm in size which contain 2 brown seeds enclosed in yellow or orange arils. The fruit is eaten by many bird species, notably Rifle-birds, Bower-birds and Pigeons. Possums eat the leaves.
The Bleeding Heart is also the host tree for the Hercules Moth which is the largest moth in the World.
Bleeding Heart trees grow over a large area of rainforests, swamp forests and sclerophyll forests in North Queensland, NT, WA, Solomon Islands and New Guinea. They are fast growing and can grow to a height of 25 meters when buttresses may form. The tree is a forest pioneer, one of the first to re-establish after a disturbance or devastation such as a cyclone. Its presence provides shelter for other rainforest species to germinate and become established.
As you take a stroll through the village, you will see many of these trees, from seedlings only a few centimeters high to slender trees of 3 or 4 meters. After cyclone Yassi in 2011, a large number of seedlings sprung up in newly open areas around some village gardens. A good example of the tree can be seen along the McClelland’s Lookout path.
Closely related is Native Bleeding Heart, Homolanthus nutans, also known as Native Poplar. This remains usually as a shrub or small tree, growing to about 8 meters. In every other respect, including distribution, it is very similar to the Tropical Bleeding Heart.
For more information, see: Plants of Tropical North Queensland: John Beasley
Well, spring is here and there are many plants coming into bloom in Paluma gardens, despite the prolonged dry spell over past weeks. September is always an inspiring time for gardeners at Paluma.
One of the most spectacular flowering shrubs at this time of year is the May bush. It tends to be a rambling shrub with arching branches forming a rounded-shaped shrub. The shrub tends to go unnoticed until it bursts into flower in the spring. Clusters of intricate snow-white double flowers cover the entire shrub, forming a spectacular display. When in full bloom the plants are a great attractant for native bees.
The common name ‘May bush’ is somewhat misleading because it flowers in September and October in the southern hemisphere. The species name ‘cantoniensis’ refers to this plant’s origins in South Eastern China and in the northern hemisphere it flowers in May.
The May bush is easy to grow and thrives in the cool mountain climate at Paluma. Many gardens along Mt Spec Road currently have May bushes in full bloom. Keep an eye out for these spectacular shrubs on your next walk through the village.
This month in ‘Meet A Villager’ we introduce you to Roy Mackay.
Roy Mackay celebrated his 90th birthday last March (2018) with one of the biggest birthday parties Paluma has ever seen. The Rainforest Inn was bursting at the seams on the afternoon of Sunday 18th March as all of Roy’s Paluma friends and family joined him for a very special day to mark his 90 years young.
Roy Mackay has led a truly remarkable life. He was born in Camperdown in Sydney in 1928. Roy’s passion for nature, the outdoors and ‘the bush’ developed very early in life and as a young child he kept several varieties of non-venomous snakes. His interest in herpetology has been life-long and even today he is known locally in Paluma as the ‘snake expert’.
Roy’s first job as a taxidermist
Roy’s first job after leaving high school was to train as a taxidermist at the Australian Museum in Sydney. He became so accomplished at his work that he was to become Head of the Department of Taxidermy.
In his mid-twenties, Roy met and married his wife Margaret, who was also a lover of nature and wildlife. They met at a monthly meeting of the Royal Zoological Society in Sydney. Margaret was a nature photographer and she also worked as a zoo-keeper at the Taronga Zoo.
In 1964, Roy and Margaret moved to Papua New Guinea and Roy took up a position as the Director of the Papua New Guinea Museum in Port Moresby. Roy’s work involved travelling the lengths and breadths of PNG to collect indigenous artefacts and museum specimens.
Roy’s love of nature, culture and anthropology led him to spend the next 23 years in PNG. He also worked as the Director of the Baiyer River Sanctuary, which focused on a breeding program for the Bird of Paradise in the western highlands of PNG.
In 1987, Roy and Margaret moved back to Australia and made Paluma their permanent home. Roy says that they chose Paluma to live because they could be “close to nature”. Roy has lived in the village for the last 31 years.
Roy’s early training as a naturalist, curator and scientist means that he is an avid record keeper. Even today, Roy keeps meticulous records. If you want to know the rainfall figures for last November, the average daily temperature for June, or how many snakes have been observed in the village this month, then Roy will have it documented!. His diligence in record keeping is to be admired and envied.
What is most astounding is that Roy has kept detailed journals of his life’s work and travels, filling volumes and volumes of precious hand-written diaries. To add to his achievements, Roy is a published author, with his numerous books and pamphlets pertaining mostly to his work in PNG. For many years, Roy has been a regular contributor to local newsletters, contributing articles on ‘Nature Notes’. Roy’s publications, his personal library, memoirs, journals and his contribution to science and the natural world is nothing short of outstanding.
Roy Mackay in his library
As a nation, Australia keeps a list of ‘National Living Treasures’. The recipients of this award are chosen on the basis of “having made an outstanding contribution to Australian society in any field of human endeavour”. Roy Mackay would certainly qualify for this list. If the village of Paluma was to have such a list, then Roy Mackay would be at the very top of our list. He is our own very special, National Living Treasure.
This week has seen the annual Buddhist’s Retreat held at the Paluma Community Hall. This is the thirteenth year this event has been held at Paluma. The course is organised by Buddhist Chaplain Phil Heang.
The teachings are provided by Lama Choedak, a Tibetan-born Buddhist. Lama Choedak trained as a monk for nine years, spending three and a half years in solitary retreat sponsored by The Dalia Lama.
Lama Choedak
The three day course focuses on ‘Calm Abiding Meditation’ which is the most fundamental of all Buddhist meditation practices. The teachings focus on using the tool of mindfulness to bring a sense of stability and clarity to the mind. Calm Abiding Meditation can assist in understanding the origins of stress and mental confusion and it can assist in coping with life’s problems.
Some 15 participants took part in this week’s course, some traveling from as far afield as Hervey Bay and Melbourne. Lama Choedak is based in Canberra and enjoys his annual visit to Paluma. Lama Choedak and Phil Heang would welcome Paluma residents to join the course next year. The course is usually held in early September.
This beautiful small tree or shrub, also known as Plum Satin-Ash, may be seen in several Paluma gardens and also in the forest understory along the upper reaches of the Range Road. A modest, dainty tree, almost spindly in growth, it is easily overlooked until the emergence of new leaves. These cascade in pendant clusters of brilliant crimson, flame-like against the dark green of older leaves.
Flowering occurs between June and December, but here in Paluma the months of August and September see the most prolific blooming. At present there are many flowers to be seen, hanging demurely beneath long, dark green leaves. The gorgeous flowers are made up of dense clusters of filaments which form a delicate red pompon, about the size of an orange. They attract many birds, mostly honey-eaters. Clusters of cherry-sized creamy white fruit follow flowering. It is not recorded whether they are edible, but most fruits of the Syzygium species are edible.
Syzygium wilsonii is usually seen as a shrub growing to about 3 metres, but it can occasionally grow to 9 metres. Its timber is fine-textured and moderately hard. It is resistant to fungi and termites, but susceptible to dry wood borers. The wood can be used for making musical instruments, tool handles and furniture.
See if you can spot some of these gorgeous flowers hanging shyly beneath long leaves in Paluma gardens.
Paluma gardeners are quite accustomed to regular visits from the local wildlife, be it birdlife, bandicoots, wallabies, lizards and snakes. However, over the past two weeks an echidna or spiny ant-eater (Tachyglossus aculeatus) has been spotted in several gardens along the eastern end of Mt Spec Road. This spiky character has been seen digging for termites, ants and other invertebrate goodies to eat.
Photo by Clancy Swan
Echidna’s occur over most of Australia from cool temperate climes to tropical forests and desert. Mating occurs in July and August which might account for this individual being very active at present. It seems to be particularly fond of the gardens at No’s 15, 16, 17 and 18 Mt Spec Road. Keep an eye out for this welcome garden visitor next time you take a walk through the eastern end of the village.
A very successful Working Bee was held on Saturday (25 August) at the Village Green at Paluma. Fifteen very enthusiastic volunteers congregated at the Green to spread some mulch and topsoil around the Green and at the Trees In Memory. A very big ‘THANK YOU’ to all those attended to lend a hand and make light work of the tasks to be done.
The band of volunteers included:- Don Battersby, Graham & Judy Malpass, Len Cook, Wilfred and Suzanne Karnoll, Graham Pope, Jamie Oliver, Juanita Poletto, Peter Klumpp, Beth Snewin, Colwyn Campbell, Roy Mackay, Wayne Pellow and Michele Bird.
Volunteers at the Working Bee
Special mention goes to Graham Pope for bringing along his tractor!. Roy Mackay kept a close eye on operations and thanks to Suzanne for the tasty sausage rolls. The generosity and community spirit that exists in Paluma makes this village a very special place indeed!
With the superb winter weather at Paluma, every week sees a ‘flock’ of birdwatchers visiting the village and surrounds to search out and photograph our birdlife. Last week, Murray and Dawn Frick spent time at Paluma and were hosted by Don Battersby at Hussey Road. Don provided some free mealworms and the birds arrived.
Murray and Dawn are sugarcane farmers from Bundaberg and this is their fourth trip to Paluma for birdwatching. When they are not working on the farm they love to travel around Australia. They are on their way home after seven weeks on the road, traveling some 10,000 kilometres throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory.
They first came to Paluma some years ago in search of the golden bowerbird. This trip they have photographed the golden whistler, satin bowerbird, rifle bird and many other species. Murray and Dawn say they are never disappointed when they come to Paluma as they know “we will always get good birds here”. We wish Murray and Dawn a safe trip home to Bundaberg and we hope to see you next year!
Since the beginning of spring, clivia plants at Paluma have been blooming and one garden in particular has some superb flowering plants.
