Des and John's Diary
March 2012
Kia Ora tena koutou
It is still very wet and the last working bee was washed out. However the next one will be on
Sunday 1st April at the usual time of 10.30. If wet it will be on Sunday 8th April.
The time for planting trees is getting closer and I have been advised that we will receive a delivery
of plants about the middle of May
We have had several PD workers moving mulch but my efforts to have them bag and move it some way up the
track have failed. However it has been moved part way up and you will note the pile on the left before
the bridge. Please help yourself.
The recent rain will help our fern reproduction as this is essential for the spores to be fertilized.
I have started another group and will do this in association with the Bells’ Track working group.
It is the Awarua St Te Araroa improvement group. As mentioned in the last update we are part of
the Te Araroa pathway which runs from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island.
So we have the Bells’ Track and Awarua St down to numbers 13 and 15 where it joins up with Cunninghams
Park. Already we have got rid of sycamore, planted natives opposite Awarua St station and spread mulch.
There is a lot of work to do on the track to Cunninghams Park. Working bees will be held during the
week on the first Tuesday of the month at 10.30 am. If you know of anyone who could be interested
please ask them to get in touch with me.
It was disappointing to read (again) in the garden column an attack on muehlenbeckia austrailis. (refer
January update for notes, I can forward a copy to anyone wanting a copy) The article put this in the
category of pest plants such as clematis vitalba ( old mans beard) which is ridiculous.
The flora this month is Toetoe and also Tauhinu. Toetoe has just finished flowering – usually starting
in late spring. Whereas pampas grass starts mid-summer and is a pest plant. It is good to know the
difference.. The fauna is the Tree Weta
Hei konei ra
Des
February 2012
Tena koutou
Looking back over last year’s updates I note we had rain in the summer last year as well but a
bit more sun. With the intermittent rain recently we have had very good growth which we can
be pleased with.
I went up the track with one of the rangers a few days ago and it is pleasing to see the results
so we have earned thanks from the Council. We are trying to organise the carrying up the hill
of more mulch so please help yourself to some for your spot.
Bells’ track is part of Te Araroa , the long walk from the top of the North island. This gives
us a good incentive to make it an enjoyable walk. The walk comes down the track from Mt Kaukau,
along Awarua St then through Cunningham’s Park to Trellisick Park where it turns off to Wadestown,
Tinakori Hills and the Botanical Gardens.
Scott, one of our youngest members together with help from his mum Janet is doing a great job on
one of the more rugged parts of the track It looks so much better as a result of their weeding
and mulching. The last working bee with Stan, myself, Philip and Ian went well – many thanks.
The next will be on Sunday March 4th at the usual time of 10.30 – 12.30. For those doing their
own thing please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any queries or would like friends or neighbours
to join up.
The flora and fauna this month relate to a plant that is important in Maori culture – the kawakawa.
The fauna is the looper caterpillar that lives happily with it, making all those holes in the leaves.
Kawakawa is fruiting at the moment –why not try using the drupes in cheese muffins?
Hei konei ra
Des
December 2011
Tena koutou
After a wet December the growth up the track has been exceptional with the lower part now resembling
a walk through native bush. Looks like last year’s planting has been almost a 100% strike so thanks
for all the help.
Welcome to Janet Geoff and Scott who have now joined the team and adopted a spot just before the
new steps.
Recently a house near us has been sold and native trees over 50 years old have been chainsawed down.
I recognise that people need sun on their property but it is a pity that a bit more thought does not
go into it. However it confirms my thoughts that it is worth planting on a reserve as it is far more
permanent and good for saving species.
Did you know that both kereru and tui are nationally listed as being in gradual decline? Their decline
within the eco-system is serious as many native plant species rely on them for pollination and seed
dispersal.
The next working bee will be on Sunday 5th February starting as usual at 10.30 am. I aim to work a bit
longer than usual so if anyone needs a hand on their patch please let me know.
The flora this time is divaricating shrubs-a feature of NZ flora and the fauna the Wellington green
gecko.
Hei konei ra
Des
November 2011
Kia Ora koutou
Last month I wrote of plenty of rain but not too much wind, well, there’s still plenty of rain
and it’s rather windy.
I took a couple of American friends up the track last week and they were impressed at just how well
the trees had grown over a space of ten years. It is looking good and I think there is now a feel
in the lower part of the track that we are walking through native bush
I have ordered over 300 plants for next year and they will make a difference.
A welcome to Nick and Jace who now have a spot at the top of the track. They arrived this year to
help plant trees and now have adopted the spot they planted. Nick has a good knowledge of our flora
so you can pick his brains if you are lucky enough to spot him.
There will be no working bee on Sunday 4 December but instead a party to celebrate our work. Its at
4pm at our place, 24 Fox St so please come along with a plate of food to share or maybe something to
put on the BBQ.
Some flaxes are turning yellow and if you are wondering about this it is due to ’Phormium yellow leaf
disease’ this is caused by a phytoplasm spread by flax leaf hoppers Olearus Atkinsoni. These are
tiny sticky creatures that look like fluff.
Digging out the flaxes, burning them or treating them with insecticide is beyond us so we can only
hope it goes away.
The flora this month will be the two main species of flax. With so many flowers out now they are
providing nectar for the birds. The fauna is the silvereye which ahs several names including tauhou,
waxeye,white eye, blight bird and blightie.
There will not be a December update. The next working bee will be on the first Sunday in February
from 10.30 am to 12.30. Meantime I hope to see you all at our place on Sunday 4 December.
Hei konei ra
Des
October 2011
Kia Ora koutou
Plenty of rain and not too much wind has been ideal for our planting this year to get established.
A Welcome this month to some new ‘adopt a spotters’. Daan, Megan and family have a spot with
plenty of gorse which they have been clearing. Desirée will be busy looking after the lower half
of the steps where we recently planted miro trees in memory of Sue Dunlop. Kirsten who helped
earlier with planting some kahikatea has now adopted that spot. The McNutt family has a spot
lower down the track where 5 year old Adam planted some northern rata. If you know of anyone
who would like a spot please put them in touch with me
These notes are listed on the Wellington rainbow Gardeners website
www.rainbowgardeners.net/plants
if anyone wishes to look back on the flora and fauna we have written
about.. ( the site costs about $70 a year to run so at some stage we might consider a fundraiser)
The council wants our list of trees/shrubs before the end of November. We plan to plant another
300 or so and if there are any particular plants you would like for your spot please let me know
as soon as possible
The next working bee will ,as usual, be the first Sunday of the month -6th November from 10.30 am
to 12.30 pm
flora for this month will be clematis paniculata and hange hange. The fauna is the kaka. We may
well see some up the track one day. (after seeing the amazing kakapo “Sirocco” at Zealandia it
seems appropriate to keep the parrot theme going -- kakapo in maori means night parrot) When
Wellington was settled people built baches in the Awarua St area where they would spend the weekend
and be able to watch the kaka one of the most prevalent birds in the area. Mt kaukau is apparently
a misnamed area and should include the name ‘kaka’. I think it was Tarikaka, the name of a street
in the old railway settlement area of Ngaio. I’d love to see a correction made so if anyone has
energy for such a project I’d love to hear from them.
Hei konei ra
Des
September 2011
Kia Ora koutou
Spring is now here and already, for the second year, we are going to have kowhai flowers.
These trees take seven years to flower from seedlings so it is evident that we are now getting
established trees for the birds.
The last working bee with Stan, Philip, Ian and me saw some good work done at the bottom of the track.
Additionally a number of people expressed interest in helping out. The next working bee will be, as usual,
the first Sunday of the month i.e. 2nd October.
Thanks to Nick, his family, friends and scouts the mulch is slowly moving up the hill
The extent of the gorse and barberry makes it difficult for the regional council to get full
predation control. They put enough bait out to stop possums coming down to the houses. Our help
would be welcome. If anyone has a Timms trap and would like some bait I can arrange this with the
regional council. The bait they use does not cause rust and lasts longer than apples, carrots etc.
On Sunday 18th September there will be a special planting of 10 miro trees in memory of Sue Dunlop
who died just over a year ago. Sue was a talented musician with a kind and generous nature.
Her willingness to help out and perform at various events, including our civil union, will not be
forgotten.. Her partner Fran and adopted son Andy will be there to share in the planting.
The flora chosen this time is the miro and the fauna the korimako (bell bird)
Hei konei ra
Des
August 2011
Bonjour and Kia Ora
After spending over a month in France we arrived home on 24 August and heard many tales of
the snow in Wellington. Would love to have seen it. We were having temperatures of 30+
degrees and were not thinking of snow.
Walking up the track last Sunday and saw the work that had been done by volunteers. It was
pleasing to see so many new plants and areas that now look like NZ bush. Having had several
walks in the forests of the French alps and Provence I realise that what we have is very special
and certainly worth preserving. It was hard to get my head around the presence of ivy and old
man’s beard in their forests and to realise that they were ‘at home’. Here they are pest plants.
So nice to see and hear tui in the garden.
The last working bee saw just Stan, Philip and Ian attend but there is no doubt that others have
been working on their spots. So a big ‘thank you’.
Next working bee will be Sunday August 4th from 10.30 -12.30 as usual. A special thanks to Nick,
his family and friends plus the scouts who have been moving mulch up the hill. Not an easy task
as we have the steepest area of all volunteer groups around Wellington. If anyone wishes to help
with this on 4th, together with friends who may be interested, that would be worthwhile.
July 2011
Tena Koutou
Kia ora
With the planting season well underway things are looking good – with about 300 native plants going in.
The last working bee on 3 July was great with many people turning up to get trees for their patch.
I always feel that the good point about caring for a reserve is that what we do will last for generations
whereas in suburbia the change of house owners can, in a very short time, see the destruction of
someone’s hard work.
The flora this time is two species of Poroporo (Solanum aviculare and solanum laciniatum). The fauna
piwakawaka or fantail.
There are several reasons for choosing the piwakawaka including the delight our friend Thierry from
New York had in seeing them around our home at breakfast time and their presence at the bottom of the
track these days. They are a good indicator of healthy bush. Have just read Jan Wright’s (Parliamentary
Commissioner for the Environment) report evaluating the use of 1080 A very good read and she mentions
that without predation control the piwakawaka would be one of the first birds to go.
It is best to read the report rather than go on line. This is recommended by Bob Brockie who in his
World of Science article (Dompost 20 June)goes on to say “Don’t go to the web because that is where
the mischief making “1080 national network”.. fill the web with needless fear, exaggeration, myths and
conspiracy theories.“
The next working bee will be as usual the first Sunday of the month 10.30 am – 12. 30 on 7 August.
Philip and Ian will have the spare tools as I will not be there.
A big thanks to Nick and family who are organising a group of scouts to help move some mulch up the track.
Hei konei ra
Des
June 2011
Tena Koutou
It has been very wet so the working bee due to be held on 5 June was transferred to 12 June with
half a dozen people turning up that day. On Monday 20th we had 10 people from the ANZ bank plus
Stan and myself working mainly on their spot well up the track by the seat they donated. Over 50
plants were put in and some of the team were keen to move mulch as well. Gorse was also cut. Many
thanks are due to them for their work.
We have had good growth this year – known as a mast year. Approximately every four – six years some
trees flower abundantly and produce much larger numbers of fruit and seeds than usual. Tragically
these ‘boom’ years have turned into times of population collapse for native birds in forests where
mast events occur. The sudden abundance of food leads to huge population irruptions of mice, rats
and (crucially) stoats. This highlights the value of Zealandia (Te Mara a Tane) where the predator
proof fence protects our native species.
The next working bee will be Sunday 3 July at the usual time 10.30 -12.30. Soon the Council will be
delivering more plants so I am hoping that some time in July I will be able to get as many people
as possible along for a planting day.
The fauna this month is the Red Admiral Butterfly and the flora two of our six species of stinging
nettles – urtica incisa and urtica ferox.
Hei konei ra
Des
May 2011
Tena Koutou
The last working bee was on 1st May with a good turnout and plenty of activity. Thanks for all
the help. Next working bee will be Sunday June 5th 10.30 am to 12.30 as usual. In July the council
will be delivering trees for the track and I will keep you informed on this. A group from the ANZ
Bank will be helping on June 20th at their spot by the seat they donated three quarters of the way
up the hill. They will be planting 40 trees and hope also to have time to weed and cut gorse.
If anyone else is available at that time their help would be welcome.
The flora this time is rata and the fauna the tui as they enjoy the nectar from the beautiful red
rata flowers.
Our grandson Adam (age 5) asked when he could plant some trees so last Sunday we arranged for him to
plant three northern rata on the lower left part of the track. We thought it neat for him to ask to
do this at his age and he should be around long enough to see them mature. Rata are a favourite food
of possums and it is known they can kill a 200 year old tree in 2-3 years by progressive browsing.
So it is many thanks to DOC for keeping these pest under control.
He konei ra
Des
Kia ora koutou
Cooler days are with us now and autumn is upon us so our planting can begin.. Soon I will be picking
up 50 native plants from the council. Most of these are likely to be planted by the ANZ bank team
and this will be a great start to getting things underway. More plants should be available in July.
Growth this season has been exceptional and when trimming to keep the track clear we had to cut back
a few native plants. This shows that we are well on the way to help re-vegetate the area with natives.
We have had a few more people interested in adopting a spot so I am hoping that our numbers will grow.
This month’s working bees on 3rd and 17th went well and saw the removal of weeds and a clean up of the
stream by Stan. The next working bee is again on the first Sunday of the month ie 1st May from 10.30
am t0 12.30pm. I will let you know when the ANZ Bank team does their planting. It will be a weekday but if anyone could assist at that time it would be appreciated.
Flora this month are kanuka and manuka. The fauna is the green gecko. Manuka is found In various spots
up the track and there are some seedlings in the middle of the track just past the flight of steps.
If anyone would like to transplant these or pot them up to plant later it would be good as they won’t
be able to continue growing where they are now.
Hei konei ra
Des
April 2011
Kia ora koutou
Cooler days are with us now and autumn is upon us so our planting can begin.. Soon I will be
picking up 50 native plants from the council. Most of these are likely to be planted by the
ANZ bank team and this will be a great start to getting things underway. More plants should
be available in July.
Growth this season has been exceptional and when trimming to keep the track clear we had to cut
back a few native plants. This shows that we are well on the way to help re-vegetate the area
with natives.
We have had a few more people interested in adopting a spot so I am hoping that our numbers will
grow
This month’s working bees on 3rd and 17th went well and saw the removal of weeds and a clean up
of the stream by Stan. The next working bee is again on the first Sunday of the month ie 1st
May from 10.30 am t0 12.30pm. I will let you know when the ANZ Bank team does their planting.
It will be a weekday but if anyone could assist at that time it would be appreciated.
Flora this month are kanuka and manuka. The fauna is the green gecko. Manuka is found In
various spots up the track and there are some seedlings in the middle of the track just past
the flight of steps. If anyone would like to transplant these or pot them up to plant later it
would be good as they won’t be able to continue growing where they are now.
Hei konei ra
Des
March 2011
Tena Koutou
The last working bee on 6 March was again a damp day with Stan and I as the only workers.
Stan has weeded and cleaned up all the steps plus removing a lot of weed from the stream.
So a big thanks Stan. The ‘adopt a spot’ scheme works well and the ‘spotters’ have been working
hard on their patch so thanks to them too.
Next working bee is, as usual, the first Sunday of the month i.e. 3 April. I will not be available
that day but if anyone wishes to work on the track that’s fine. On Sunday 17th April I will be there
at 10.30am mainly to weed out tradescantia (aka wandering willy etc)from the lower part of the track.
If anyone is available to help that day it would be much appreciated.
To see what changes can be achieved by the removal of tradescantia the ‘zig-zag’ between Iwi St and
Fox St offers a good example of regenerating bush. The top two triangles and up the straight steep
path area have had tradescantia removed. Its now a rich source of native seedlings – such seedlings
are not appearing where the tradescantia is thick. I have managed to pot up whau , kanuka and tarata
for later planting on the track or elsewhere.
The Council will be delivering trees sometime in July/August. I will let you know when they are available.
This month’s flora are hoheria and porokaiwhiri, both of which provide food for the kereru which is
this month’s fauna. The kereru is important to the Bells’ track for it can eat and thus transport
seeds of larger tree fruits (once distributed by now extinct birds)
Hei konei ra
Des
February 2011
Kia ora katoa
And a special thought for the people of Christchurch at this trying time.
Hope everyone has been enjoying the warm weather, the plants certainly have, with some
intermittent rain the growth this year is wonderful.. It has turned out to be a mast
year an expression used when trees give an abundance of fruit or nuts.
The last working bee saw just Stan and myself but as there was light rain and people
still in holiday mode this is understandable.
The next working bee will be Sunday March 6th from 10.30 to 12.30 as susual. If you
are not working on your own spot it would be helpful to have as many as possible helping
at the lower end of the track to remove tradescantia (aka wandering willie/wandering jew).
If you have interested friends or neighbours plase don’t hesitate to bring them along even
if it is just for an hour or so.
A warm welcome to Chris Parkin who has joined the team and adopted a spot just before the
second long run of steps. We continue with the support of the Rainbow Garden group and
Mike who does a great job of putting our updates on their website.
The fauna for this month is the cicada; the flora Mahoe and the fern Blechnum Novae Zelandiae ( kio kio in Maori )
Hei konei ra
Des
January 2011
Tena Koutou Katoa
Happy New Year and thanks for the work done in 2010.
This is the first update for 2011 and I will try to issue one each month covering two
plants and also a note about our fauna...
Last year saw good growth of our native plants. Kowhai and Ti Kouka ( cabbage tree)
flowered. As each of these take seven years to flower from the seedling stage its
another step towards our goal.
The next working bee will be, as usual, the first Sunday of the month from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm.
i.e. Feb 6th (Waitangi Day). There is plenty of weeding and mulching to do. When mulching
please ensure that the mulch is not packed tight around the base of a plant as this can cause
collar rot. Preferably the soil should be moist before applying mulch.
On Sunday 23rd January fifteen volunteers from a Labour Party youth group arrived at 9.15 am .
they split into four groups to tackle different jobs- pulling out English ivy and tradescantia,
bagging up and distributing mulch up the track, weeding the lower part of the track and ( with
the assistance of Chris Moore) cutting gorse further up the track.
Thanks to Joe and Patricia at the bottom of the track who lent us their garage to serve tea
coffee and biscuits. The goodies for the morning break were provided by the Wellington Rainbow
Garden Group.
This months plants are the Muehlenbeckias and for the fauna the sun-loving common copper butterfly
Des
30th November 2010
Kia ora koutou
Here’s the monthly update on the bells’ track . A big welcome to the Makererua group who have
adopted a spot near the top of the track close to the ANZ seat.
Big thanks also to Lynn and Graeme Turner of Gaya Grove for their generous donation of $100
for plants and compost. With this gift we managed to buy 5 tawa ,2 titoki and some compost.
We are grateful to Gus Evans at his nursery in Waikanae for giving us a discount on these purchases.
The November working bee saw the Chan family , Erina, Nigel and others planting, composting,
watering and mulching the above trees.
This month I am attaching descriptions of two more native plants – Tawa and Titoki.
Tawa should be one of the dominant trees in the area.
Our planting on the track should continue to be only plants indigenous to the area. I notice that
someone has planted a pohutukawa which is not appropriate. I will cover this aspect during my talk
on 5 December.. On that day, wet or fine, there will be a meeting at the track entrance at 11am for
a one hour walk. I will talk about the type of forest we are establishing, weed control point out
our planting and identify the plants and fauna we aim to attract.. Please feel free to invite
interested friends to join us there.
Afterwards there be a BBQ at our place, 24 Fox St. This is open to all volunteers and to members
of the Rainbow Gardeners group …. So please bring along some food and drink to share
Ka kite ano.
Des Smith
3rd October 2010
Tena koutou
The last working bee was very successful. 14 people turned up and more trees were planted
and weeds cleared.
A hearty welcome to new "adopt-a-spotters' Stephen , Greta and Erina. We do have some
other people interested but could always do with more . So if you know of anyone else
please put them in touch with me.
The two native plants this month which are suitabkle for our area are Wharangi and Kaikomako.
The next working bee will be on Nov 7th from 10.30 am till 12.30pm
Dec 5th will be the last working bee for the year. At 11am I will take a tour for one
hour to explain the forest we are planting and related flora and fauna. That will be followed
by a BBQ at our place , 24 Fox Street for volunteers and the Rainbow Gardeners group. If you
know anyone who would enjoy the walk and the BBQ please dont hesitate to invite to join us.
Ka kite ano.
Des Smith
5th September 2010
Kia Ora koutou
The last working bee on Sept 5th went well with a team of 8. The next working bee will be
Sunday October 3rd again from 10.30 am to 12.30pm.
Some "adopt-a-spotters" prefer to do their own thing and this is beginning to show positive
results with more trees planted and weeding done.
Darwinian Barberry (berberis darwinii ) is becoming more evident. The previously dominant
yellow colour of the gorse flowers is beginning to change to the orange of the barberry.
The plant is easily recognised by its bright orange flowers and prickly dark green leaves.
Proliferation of this barberry will destroy the biodiversity of our bush. Older barberry
trees can be hard to dig out by the roots. This should be done if possible and the plants
and any pieces hung in trees/bushes out of contact with the ground. Pieces left on the
ground may take root.
Thank you for your support
Hei konei ra
Des Smith
4th July 2010
Last Sunday went well with few turning up but now have managed to adopt out five spots so
some people are doing their own thing.
This Friday a group from the ANZ bank are going to help something to do with their bonding.
That's ok for they will do some planting and move mulch as well as weeding. All helps.
27th June 2010
Well we did get some work done last Sunday (the 27th) on the track despite the weather.
There was a no rain patch from 11am to 1.30 pm.
A special thanks to Glen & Tate a delightful couple recently arrived from
Queensland and willing to do something for the environment here in their
two year posting.. They worked hard weeding and planting trees in their adopted spot.
Look forward to seeing others on our regular monthly working bee next Sunday
the 4th of July 10.30am to 12.30
Hugs to all.
Des.
13th June 2010
Finally had some good weather on Sunday 13 June to work on the Wellington Rainbow
gareners group project at the Bells' track at the end of Awarua St Ngaio.
A big welcome to Philip and Ian who have 'adopted a spot' near the track entrance . They
worked hard clearing gorse etc in preparation for tree planting.
The aim is to reinstate the forest that was there prior to the arrival of humans to NZ.
Originally this was a broad leaf podocarp forest and planting is limited to what is
indigenous to the area.
Three 'spots' have been adopted so far and look forward to others being adopted by
members even if the space is only small.
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