Jamestown South Australia
Today we travelled north of Clare to the rural town of Jamestown. Family visiting time. We had lunch with my wife’s niece, her husband and three children – all under three years of age. That’s courage. That’s commitment. The twins are growing rapidly; they are nearly 18 months old. And their brother is almost three and quite the little man about the house.
Two Year Old anctics
I helped his father, Steve, putting up a new fence. Young Riley needed quite a few reminders that the posts were being set in cement and that they shouldn’t be moved in any way. Try telling that to an over-active two-almost three year old! Taking to a post one is trying to set in cement with a hammer is NOT recommended. Later in the afternoon my wife’s sister and brother in law came over from Peterborough for the evening. A very pleasant evening of catching up with family. We left quite a bit later than I thought we would and it was quite frosty on the way home.
Nocturnal bird sightings
As we neared Clare I was suddenly aware of a rabbit sitting on the edge of the road, but I quickly realised it wasn’t a rabbit as it flew off. By its colouration and size it must have been a Southern Boobook Owl. Good sighting. Reminds me of the sighting of a Spotted Nightjar on the way home from Geranium last week. Another great sighting and the kind one doesn’t get everyday.
Barossa Valley South Australia
No Comments »12th May, 2006; Category: South Australia
Mt. Lofty Ranges
Today we travelled to the Clare Valley to visit our daughter. Along the way we drove through the Mt. Lofty Ranges from Murray Bridge to Gawler. We passed through the picturesque Mt. Crawford pine forest area. This drive is beautiful at any time of the year. During the summer the paddocks are covered in dry grass which contrasts with the lush green canopies of the tall eucalypt (gum) trees. Their stark white trunks glow in the harsh summer sun like stately ghosts guarding the grazing sheep.
The Barossa Valley in Autumn
We are now in the middle of autumn here in Australia. This season is perhaps not as dramatic as some other parts of the world, but in certain areas it is just as beautiful in its own way. Before reaching Gawler we travelled through parts of the world famous wine growing district, the Barossa Valley. The vineyards are changing from their summer green and the leaves are orange and gold and starting to fall, carpeting the ground like confetti strewn all over by the wind. The other fruit trees, like apricots and peaches, are also losing their leaves.
New Growth
Scattered in between the vineyards and orchards we saw a patchwork of fields. Some of these paddocks are a carpet of green with the fresh pasture growth. The early rains have resulted in quick growth. Grazing sheep scattered over these paddocks make the scene an idyllic one and so typical of many parts of rural Australia. Some farmers have commenced preparing the soil for seeding wheat and other grain crops. The cultivated ground adds yet another texture to the amazingly beautiful patchwork pattern.
Mid North district
North of Gawler we left the ranges and travelled through the farming lands of the lower and mid-north region of South Australia. We went through the growing town of Roseworthy and its Agricultural College. On to the small towns of Tarlee and Auburn with many wheat fields either being worked up ready for seeding or being applied a pre-emergent spray to prevent unwanted weed growth.
Plant nursery
A roadside sign at Auburn interrupted our journey. We followed this sign and several others until we found a new plant nursery we had heard of but had not yet visited. Over a half hour later we were on our way again, together with a box full of native Australian plants to add to our collection at home.
It was a lovely sunny day with a cool breeze; the temperature was about 18 degrees. It was just right for a drive through a beautiful part of South Australia. This drive is one of our favourite drives.
Do you have a favourite drive? I’d like to hear about it. Why don’t you share it in the comments section?
Wild weather in Geranium
We had some really wild weather over the weekend just gone. Winter is definitely on the way here in the mallee districts of South Australia. On Saturday morning we packed up the ute (a Mazda Bravo) and the trailer with plants from my wife’s nursery (see Mallee Native Plants).
Geranium
We arrived in the little town of Geranium mid-morning, just in time for the set up phase for the sale. Geranium is about an hour’s drive east of home here in Murray Bridge. It is situated next to the Mallee Highway about mid-way between Tailem Bend and Lameroo. This little town has about 80 residents with many more in the farming areas that surround it. It is a tight knit and proud community and was the winner of the Tidiest Town Competition in 1999. It has a primary school, general store, garage, two churches and well established and maintained sporting facilities.
Plant Sale
Every year for the last ten years or so we have journeyed out to Geranium for the annual plant sale organised by the local Australian Plants Society (A.P.S.). We set up tables in a square in the school playground. The plants are then arranged alphabetically by species name. Description labels are placed at the front to assist the customers with their selection. Customers usually come from a wide area – anything up to 100km away or more. Some even come for the weekend, staying with friends or family.
Wild Weather
During the afternoon on Saturday the wind and cloud steadily increased. The wind was not so much of a problem because the sales area is protected on three sides by classrooms. During the evening we experienced heavy rain. All the local farmers were extemely happy because this rain was significant enough to commence their wheat seeding for this year. It will also mean good pastures later for their sheep flocks. Sunrise witnessed gale force wind gusts accompanied by more heavy showers of rain. These continued for most of the day. Dodging these showers was a regular event, but with lots of under cover areas we lived with it.
Poor Sales
The plant sales were down considerably compared with previous years. We think that there were two major factors at work. The weather most definitely discouraged many people from attending. The high fuel prices at present must also have impacted the willingness of people to drive distances to come to this tiny community. Despite that we all had a great social outing. Some of the growers, like ourselves, come from a distance so we “camp” overnight in the school library. We always have a barbecue on the Saturday evening as well as a combined tea after the sale on the Sunday. Getting together with these people is always good fun. If we make enough from the sales to cover our fuel costs we are usually happy.
Needless to say the sun came out late in the afternoon – after all the customers had left.
And then today has been a glorious autumn day – sunny, calm and very pleasant.
Monarto Conservation Park
Last Saturday we travelled the short distance from home to Monarto Conservation Park just west of Murray Bridge, South Australia. We took a picnic lunch to eat in the car park. After lunch and a cuppa we went for a walk through the park along the walking trail leading from the car park. This trail makes a one kilometre loop through several different habitats in the park. After about 45 minutes of gentle strolling the track leads one back to the car park.
Habitats
The predominant habitat of this park is mallee. At one point alone the track one comes to a a small rise overlooking the western parts of the park. The view is one of a sea of mallee. There are small patches of casaurinas and large tracts of heath like vegetation. The heath type areas are brimming with small to medium sized plants, making the area like a natural botanic garden. Grevilleas, astrolomas, correas, acacias and many more kinds of native plants make walking through this park a true delight. I was able to take a few good photos; the real delight will come in a few months when many more plants will be in flower.
Birds of the Park
While it was tempting to only go along plant watching, something my wife does all the time, I also kept and eye and ear out for the bird life all around us. There were scattered clouds and a cool breeze so I would have expected a good list of birds. It was, however, a little disappointing with only a moderate list. Grey Currawongs, Australian Magpies, New Holland Honeyeaters and Red wattlebirds were quite apparent. I heard a Grey Shrike Thrush and saw several Mallee Ringneck Parrots. As we were about to drive off I saw and heard two Peaceful Doves in the trees near the car park.
Parachilna Gorge, Flinders Ranges
About 8km from the little township of Parachilna in the far north of South Australia is Parachilna Gorge. Parachilna Creek meanders through this part of the long chain of rugged mountains known as the Flinders Ranges. They were named by the English explorer Captain Matthew Flinders in 1802.
Beautiful Gorge
The creek has carved out a steep and rocky gorge through the mountains. Parachilna Gorge is one of the larger gorges in this chain of mountains. Normally the creek is a mere trickle of water easily stepped over in one stride. Several waist deep waterholes can be found in various places. In drier times, even this little trickle of water dries up. The stark red rocks of the gorge light up in the early morning or late afternoon sun and make excellent photographic subjects. The flat areas near the creek make excellent camping spots; we have camped there on a number of occasions. Many people also come here for picnics as it is a very pleasant spot to stop if travelling from other parts of the ranges.
Floods
While I was teaching at the nearby Parachilna Rural School in the late 1960s I also saw the other face of the Flinders Ranges. From my classroom I could see a long stretch of the range. Early mornings witnessed the soft blues of the hills and valleys, sometimes shrouded in mists. In the late afternoons the mountains become fiery battlements in the setting sun. Heavy rain in the ranges higher up would cause each creek to become a raging torrent of water, each emptying into the Parachilna Creek, the only way for the water to escape to the plains below. At these times the gentle trickle of water became a rampaging, runaway monster taking all before it. To see one of these creeks in flood is an awesome sight.
Flood Damage
These thundering flood waters are capable of snapping off hundred year old eucalyptus trees and sending them tumbling downstream, tossing them around like toys in a bathtub. Large boulders can be moved downstream. In one famous downpour in 1955 a section of a railway bridge south of Parachilna at Hookina was washed away by floodwaters. On at least one occasion I camped overnight in the back of my car in Parachilna Gorge waiting for the waters to subside enough to complete the drive back to Parachilna.