EASTER IS OVER AND autumn is here!EASTER IS OVER AND autumn is here!

Musings

EASTER IS OVER AND autumn is here. We have had good rain. We gardeners need it.

I am tired and dispirited. I am tired of carrying buckets of grey water from the house to the garden, just trying to keep things going until it rains. I am tired of getting up in the dark for the permitted 6-8am hand-held hose watering. Tuesday I do the front garden, Saturday the back, and as it is not light enough to water at 6am, the precious two-hour timeslots are drastically reduced.

Several consecutive days of 39-degree heat caused my little lemon tree to curl its leaves, another azalea died and I have had to dispose of the bodies of a baby ringtail possum, three blackbirds and a silver-eye. (I kept the birdbath full. Why did they die?)

My back lawn has become a bleak wasteland, as hard as concrete. Some timber on a pergola was being replaced, and as the builder tried with the back of an axe to drive in a thick supporting peg the ground was so unrelenting that the peg split.

Several times showers were forecast, and I hopefully listened to the radio as places such as Warrnambool, Horsham and Geelong reported falls, sometimes up to 10 mils. I watched the western sky darken, and if a few big drops fell I would cross my fingers. Then the sun would come out again. The hydrangeas still drooped.

I think of so many other gardeners who have been beavering away, or have given up. There must be a whole army of us out there who, after so many months of drought, have lost the ability to stay optimistic and maintain the enthusiasm for upkeep on our own much-loved patch.

Slowly we are learning to change the way we garden. We mulch more, remembering to get water through the mulch deep into the underlying soil. We keep grass away from the root areas of our large trees. We are favouring Australian natives. I have replaced a frail old camellia with a ‘Robyn Gordon’ grevillea, which is flourishing. Happily, the little thorn bills have already found it.

I am planting banksias and grevillea where the ill-fated azaleas have left gaps. Even my patio now has a delightful native in a pot, the lovely little Banksia spinulosa (‘Birthday Candles’), and it has remained quite cheerful without the need for shade throughout the hottest and driest of days.

I do not plan to do a grand garden make-over favouring Australian natives but some changes are evolving. The mix of my old traditional shrubs and trees with my new Australian plants may be inappropriate in the eyes of a purist but does not offend my senses. It is like introducing a few pieces of antique furniture into a modern setting. If it’s done creatively, it seems to work. Anyway, if that’s what it takes to cheer me up and instil some enthusiasm into my flagging gardener’s spirits, then I say bring it on. At least the rain has come. Hallelujah.

LYN McGRATH

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LOVE Gardening! But it is hard to maintain it. Why?LOVE Gardening! But it is hard to maintain it. Why?

We often love to do gardening but It is not a simple job to maintain all plants with proper cultivation and need to look after for insects and bugs, they are quite common. And our daily visitor’s butterflies and birds will visit the gardens and enjoy their food. But the unknown thing about gardening is Grass with seeds, which are also a grass plant in the gardens. Where they take the fertile of the land and utilise for its cultivation.

We know that birds need food, this particular plant seeds attract them and for other small creatures. These trees even give shelter for other creatures such as finches as well skinks.

If we have more grass plants they are a chance of attracting birds, butterflies, and many more can be seen in your backyard. In Australia, you will more often see the wallaby grass, weeping grass, tussock grass, and Kangaroo grass, where they provide food for parrots insect, larva, wallaby finches as well as skinks, wombats and so on.

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Reptile – Stimson’s PythonReptile – Stimson’s Python

Scientific Name: Antaresia stimsoni

Pronunciation: ann-tahr-EE-zee-ah   STIM-son-ee

Required License: Category 3

General Information

 Stimson’s pythons are one of the most widespread pythons throughout Australia. They can be found from the south west of W.A, through central and northern W.A into the Northern Territory, across to south west Queensland, and even northern South Australia.

They generally inhabit rocky outcrops and escarpments in woodland areas, feeding primarily on rodents. They will also consume bats, frogs and small lizards.

As one of the smallest pythons in the world, rarely growing larger than 1m long, they are mostly terrestrial often hiding under and between rocks during the day, and coming out at night to find prey.

Suitability

 

Stimson’s pythons (or “stimmies” as they are more affectionately known), make the perfect snake for a beginner entering into the exciting world of reptile keeping. They are typically a very placid and calm species, well suited to handling and interaction. Their reasonably small size and great temperament, has made them a very popular choice.

Requirements

 Enclosure:

Will be dependent on the size/age of the snake. You can comfortably keep a pair of adult stimmies in an enclosure of roughly 600mmL x 400mmW x 300mmH. You can obviously go bigger that this, but any smaller is not recommended. Hatchlings can be kept in a smaller enclosure however will be fine in an adult enclosure as long as there is suitable hiding places for their size.

Substrates:

There are many different substrates available, but I find the Reptile Landscape is a brilliant all-round substrate, especially being designed for Australian reptiles. You can also use various aspen beddings, sand, and other bark products.

Heating:

Being ectothermic, snakes require heat to gain energy, therefore a quality heating source is essential. These come in the forms of globes, heat cords or heat mats. The most commonly used source is a globe. The size of the enclosure will determine the wattage required. Ideally, you need a basking spot temperature of around 30-33 degrees Celsius, not exceeding 36 degrees.

Lighting:

UV lighting is not a necessity for snakes as it doesn’t necessarily provide any health benefits. However, it definitely doesn’t hurt, and in some cases can aid in bringing out a snakes colours. It also acts as a display light in the enclosure.

Feeding:

The most readily available, and most ideal food for Stimson’s pythons, are mice. Most good pet shops now sell these. Size is again dependant on the age of your animal, but check with the seller as to what they are currently feeding on beforehand. All mice need to be defrosted before feeding, and under NO circumstances, are to be fed to the snake as live food. This is against your license regulations. Some snakes will take the food straight off tongs, some will take it at their own leisure if you leave it on the floor, and some require a bit of enticing by wiggling the mouse in front of it before striking.

Décor:

Stimmies tend to hide away when not out hunting, so a suitable hiding area for them to retreat and feel safe is very important. Your choice of hide, is obviously dependant on the size of your snake. We have many different options available on the store. A good water dish is also a definite must have.

This covers your necessary requirements. The rest are all optional, and really depend on your personality and your budget. We have a huge variety of décor items available, ranging from rocks, to plants, to basking platforms. Check out what we have, and design your new pets home to your own personal taste!

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