Wow, we are water logged-here down on the lower paddocks all so much water- quite sloppy - so much grass- rediculous- we need 100 head of cattle-to mow it down. Only two horses is not going to work!  Mowing-slashing trying to set up some fire breaks- but it all looks fabulous! Getting more road repairs done- so much water damage- Happy with my (earth bank) project- coming along nicely- but need to plant a lot more stuff- all the shrubs are going well- but need more perrinnials- daisies-and grasses. I am planning to get a Garden/greenhouse/Orchid house! so thats something to work towards.Our birdlife here is amazing- love our Apostle birds- here they are all lined up- we have counted approx 20. Go to the Birdlife page!  all our Bony Mountain birds ! ah well ,some of them!   

Here we are in 2022 now but still getting storms-rain - all still so green. we have measured around 100 mls- in the last few days!  so a very wet Autumn, Trees are all loving it- Both Ben & I  have been mowing madly- but big job-on 100 acres! plus I try to tidy entrances-keep the roadside tidy- Council do not do as much as they should! mowing keeping the roads safe & tidy. On some bends the grass is so high-you can't see whats coming really. Aah well, I'll keep plugging away! I often think other women are inside being good housewives- I'm out Mowing-planting- I am addicted to the outdoors! I hope you are all loving this Autumn  weather- getting some windy days - I love my natives-but through all the droughts-dry times-I get a lot of joy from my potted plants- some rather exotic- but they bring colour & greenery to an otherwise very brutal landscape! All is green now-but this is Australia- and there will always be droughts- and even just a little piece of paradise is wonderful!  I have native blue hibiscus! but this color is intense!  I will not take this page down- to update its good to keep as a reference!  

LOVE BLUE IN THE GARDEN- THIS NATIVE HIBISCUS!  WHAT A STUNNER! 

All our hard work years ago is paying off now -all the shrubs in the corridors are flowering- these are Grevillias--several varieties- (one of our koalas ) Also all the Bottle Brush are flowering down the drive ! what a display! and the Grevillias-over at the Festival gardens- the birds (honey eaters) are all feasting- our bird life here at Bony Mountain is thriving!   Phil- my partner feeds the birds-here at the Bungalow-  he spends about $11 per week he said- but worth it to have all the birds around!  Our cockatoos are outrageous- also the Apostle Birds- Parrots (several species) they let you know when the food is gone! we put them out over at the Festival site- Koalas & others can get a drink too! seeing a lot of Echidna activity - so they are busy too. 

Well we welcome all the glorious rain & all the green grass- only downside is Mowing- mowing! but I love my rideon & enjoy the Mowing- just watch out for the Stumpy Tails!  And part of my Landcare-maintanance is mowing weeds-before they can seed-or germinate! Mowing/slashing is so good for the paddocks- and is how we have controlled some of the biggest pests.  Photo here of one of our magnificent (Tipuana Trees) -an exotic I admit-but I have a whole new respect for them after the prolonged drought. They came through with flying colours- can be fed to stock- they are a legume- and so fast growing! PICTURED HERE  we will be burning off some big piles during May/June- 2022

Our Bony Mountain Folk Festival-SEPTEMBER 17-18-19 -for 2021 all finished- I felt so proud of the gardens- they looked fantastic!   a Highlight every September! we will put water points around the Festival site- for wildlife- birds- this past year has made us more aware of the (lack of water).  Our troughs for horses-provide a water point- but we need to look at Koala-Kangaroos- that don't want to come right in close! So that will be a priority -also more mulching is desperate- mulch dissapears so fast here.    Hope your gardens are surviving? 

A BEGINNING-OUR FESTIVAL GARDENS !  

FESTIVAL 2022- SEPTEMBER TBA   www.bonymountainfolkfestival.com 

Well we will welcome all the glorious rain & all the green grass- only downside is Mowing- mowing! but I love my rideon & enjoy the Mowing- just watch out for the Stumpy Tails!  And part of my Landcare-maintanance is mowing weeds-before they can seed-or germinate! Mowing/slashing is so good for the paddocks- and is how we have controlled some of the biggest pests.  Photo here of one of our magnificent (Tipuana Trees) -an exotic I admit-but I have a whole new respect for them after the prolonged drought. They came through with flying colours- can be fed to stock- they are a legume- and so fast growing! PICTURED HERE

OUR RAINFALL SO FAR FOR -BONY MOUNTAIN- UP TO FEB 12TH- OUR TALLY- 342. ML   -13 INCHES IN THE OLD MEASUREMENT. 

I have had some comments on planting Peppercorns (or Pepperinas) as the locals call them, but I grew up with Peppercorn trees & we learned from (Roc) our old stallion that the peppercorns are marvelous for arthritis!  Horses will always self medicate if they can, and select medicinal plants, Peppercorns (medicinal) and Willow (medicinal) they contain Aspirin. I recall one little Qtr Horse mare (pregnant) used to stop & eat one particular native plant! it was obvious it gave her something she needed. Everyone with cattle or horses should consider what they grow in the paddocks with self medication in mind! makes sense to me. Looking at our corridors now though I have had success with the Brigalow, Kurrajongs, (not many) Bushy Sugar Gums ,are a bit touchy-(need more water) . But as I said the SHEOAKS Casuarinas win the award for the most rewarding ,most suitable trees here!  And a mate stopped the other day to have a yarn and he suggested if I plant enough of them the Black Cockatoos might move in ?  We love Black Cockys, we had them at Uralla in New England but they do live here! They can be a bit destructive they just about ate our Hakeas , but enjoyed having them around. The hakea are a beautuful bush they do grow here naturally and their seeds are great food for the bigger birds, so I should look at an understory of Hakea? the ideal habitat for so many birds . Looking at all we have planted here & with summer looming, it just inspires me to plant even more! Simply because a dense habitat protects all of us, but mostly our birds, our Wallabies, Kangaroos, they really appreciate the shade, shelter and Koalas can pop up any tree as protection instead of covering large open spaces where they become vulnerable! After the tornado we had here a few years ago my Neighbour (in his wisdom) got the bulldozer in and flattened nearly all the trees on his side, our western side which has become a windswept no mans land for wildlife! I do look on the positive though, at least we will never be burnt out from that side.  But no rest ! more planting/mulching/ etc for 2017 when the weather is nicer.

MORE PHOTOS SOON!