Reefcare Report: Tackling Asparagus Fern

Our group working at the Top Paddock on asparagus fern and non-native pigs face - Photo by Lisa

It was quite a warm morning when we met at the carpark and decided that we would make morning tea and finishing time fluid, and see how we were all going working on site, knowing that they day was going to get hotter and predicted to get above 30 deg.

With that in mind, our Supervisor Mahi suggested that we work in the Top Paddock just below the whale sculpture instead of going all the way down the flat, where there was some mature trees giving some shade for any rest required. There is enough asparagus fern in this area to have a full platoon work on just this one weed in this area - so that is where Jim, Jennie, Lisa, Misima Julie and Rebecca worked.  (Lisa in the left photo and Jim & Jennie in the right photo)

Alex and Leila worked on the Turkey Rhubarb under the Acacia Longifolia which is still requiring follow up before joining us in the top paddock and working on asparagus fern which was under a huge patch of non-native pigs face, so they had to clear the pigs face to get to the asparagus fern; a big heavy job given the heat.  

Brad worked for awhile on Bitou bush around the gully and reported that unfortunately most of the plants we planted last year had not survived the summer – there is a high mortality rate. What a shame about this high death rate of plants, and just so disappointing on several fronts from the time to collect seeds or cuttings, growing them from seed trays to tube stock, waiting to be big enough to be planted it out, and Reefcare planting all these in this area, which is a lot of work given all the terraces we had to make due to the steep slope.

Uprooted bitou - Photo by Misima

We decided to work until 11am and then leave the site, as there was not enough shade in this area to accommodate us all, we had morning tea on the steps at the carpark.

Morning tea - Photo by Lisa

Text by Lisa