Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

Biodiversity

BIODIVERSITY is important, really important. Biodiverse systems are complex and more resistant to or at least capable of adapting to challenges. A simple system is vulnerable to pests and diseases and much more susceptible to environmental factors like climate change. As climatic barriers are gradually lowered, high latitude managed and homogeneous forest ecosystems are particularly at risk. Thirteen million hectares of [...]

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In the Wild with Spencer Shaw

Pest Management I RECENTLY sat on the panel for the community input workshops for the new Sunshine Coast Regional Councils first “Pest Management Plan”, that is in its planning phase at present. It’s great to see all levels of government, business, academia industry and community of course, coming together to discuss the issue of pest management. This regional [...]

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Fabulous foliage

Most Range residents will no doubt be quite happy to see the last of the rain. It has, however, encouraged a wonderful burst of leaf growth. Seasonal flowering is great but we enjoy foliage in all its colours and forms throughout the year. Leaves manufacture the nutrients on which plants and other life depend, both [...]

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In the Wild with Spencer Shaw – Rainforest Pioneers

When it comes to re-establishing rainforest on the range don’t forget the fast growing but short lived pioneers. Pioneers are the “live fast, die young” members of the plant world. They quickly pop up in areas of disturbance, such as when a large tree has fallen and provide the rapid cover and shade. Using pioneers in [...]

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What’s Flowering Now?

Heliconia rostrata From a genus of around 200 species, few are native to the south pacific while most originate from the American tropics. All species are rhizomatous with clump-forming shoots. Some species grow to 1m and others to 6m or more in height. Leaves are relatively large, similar to bananas leaves. Heliconia rostrata is native to [...]

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Hundreds of Orchids at the annual Orchid Society Show

HUNDREDS of orchids from around the world will be displayed by nine orchid societies at the annual Sunshine Coast Orchid Society’s “Orchids in April” Show. The Show will again be held in the Uniting Church Hall, at the corner of Queen and Ulm Streets in Caloundra on Friday 23 April from 9am until 5pm and Saturday [...]

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The need for seed

WE OFTEN want a wider range of plants in our gardens and trees in our landscapes. Availability usually depends on the ability of nurseries to propagate as many species as possible, or to buy what they need from elsewhere. Community nurseries concentrate on species in their own regions, usually to meet the needs of those [...]

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What’s Flowering Now?

Medinilla (magnifica) – common name rose grape Melastomataceae; The Tibouchina family This is a large genus of over 150 species of herbaceous shrubs, some of which are vine like and epiphylic. They are naturally occuring from tropical Africa to southern Asia to the South Pacific. Medinilla magnifica is native to the Philippines, growing both terrestrially and as [...]

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In the Wild with Spencer Shaw

Are You Nuts? Did you get to nibble on a bunya nut or two this year? These delicious nuts are a great bonus to our diet and potentially free if you have one on yours or a friends block. Free food is always great and food that literally falls from the sky is even better – but [...]

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What’s Flowering Now?

Peltophorum pterocarpum (Yellow flame) From a small genus of about 15 species the Peltophorum is indigenous to a wide area of tropical Asia from Srilanka through Malaysia, Philipines to northern Australia. The tree has a dense crown of ferny foliage atop a massive grey trunk. It grows to a height of over 15m in an [...]

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