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This Sunday, the 17th of June, a cast but warm day, we spend all afternoon actually working pretty hard and did not even manage to notice it.
This Sunday, the 17th of June, a cast but warm day, we spend all afternoon actually working pretty hard and did not even manage to notice it.
The weather has been unseasonably dry and the area is suffering greatly. Partly because the substrate of the "soil" is actually a form of artificial regolith that create a type of layered pan that allow only the top soil, formed in the last 50 years or so to collect moisture, and so there is little water retention; partly because the rest of the park is watered by the park authority but the service is not extended to the WLA.
The weather has been unseasonably dry and the area is suffering greatly. Partly because the substrate of the "soil" is actually a form of artificial regolith that create a type of layered pan that allow only the top soil, formed in the last 50 years or so to collect moisture, and so there is little water retention; partly because the rest of the park is watered by the park authority but the service is not extended to the WLA.
There not much anyone can do until the water problem, ie the ability to source some supply, is resolved. The vegetation of the place has to bear it and hope for rain!
There not much anyone can do until the water problem, ie the ability to source some supply, is resolved. The vegetation of the place has to bear it and hope for rain!
None the less the place is still very much alive and a lot life is active there even if some is dormant. We took the occasion for carrying out some quite necessary work, particularly a thinning of the vegetation around the planted bushes and trees and cutting back the buddleja, that while being one of the most resistant plants in the place, is also one of the most invasive and need to be constantly checked.
None the less the place is still very much alive and a lot life is active there even if some is dormant. We took the occasion for carrying out some quite necessary work, particularly a thinning of the vegetation around the planted bushes and trees and cutting back the buddleja, that while being one of the most resistant plants in the place, is also one of the most invasive and need to be constantly checked.
The WLA front section, is still verdant and in spite of the dryness a delight to see. The little stone head, we found on the site earlier, is still there!!
While the clatter has been reduced there is plenty space now for new growth as soon as some rain arrives.
The problems with the dog uprooting plants while still present seems to be lessening, let hope that it will reveal a passing phase.
The front wild lawn, at this times is richer in species and flowering plants. This comes at the cost of an overall quality, as few species are preponderant (every year annual ruderals can vary in successful growth, but the advantages in time of stress are obvious. There is an overall benefit in having a deeper root penetration even if just by fewer varieties.
Interestingly, perhaps because of the shadow and relative protection from the sun, the area under our veteran elder tree, is actually more productive than the bare (and very dry) path bank. Some of the seed we planted seem to be sprouting.
It is also interesting to note that the grain we accidentally dropped few seasons back is growing year in and year out. The artificial selection applied to this grass allow for an early ripening of its seed, in time of stress. The seed kernel however seems to be more bonded to the stem, than in its original cultivator.
Still the Area is far from been bereft. Here some daisies, dazzling in their simple beauty.
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This is something not often seen and encouraging for the health stae of the area. A lady bird emerging from its pupae. Note that the spots are not yet visible, they will become apparent, as the other colours as the keratinous exoskeleton will harden.
The dulcamara is fast ripening, and when mature will be an intense scarlet. Not to be tampered with however, the fruits are toxic to mammals!
Pete is creatively trying to make use of the variety of small wood we have on site. These bunched bows are the prototype of some "artificial" logs that will hopefully be placed on the path side of the bank to shore the sandy soil and to provide a protective growth medium for perennials. The plants will grow amongst the tied branches making it hard for dogs (and humans) to damage their root system.
The dryness has cause a lot of vegetation to wither, the occasion was used to take away some of excess ground cover. The new exposed soil will have now have the chance to receive light and allow the soil seedbank to germinate (as soon as the moisture levels increases, of course). The thinning will also benefit the future growth of the planted bushes, that are still struggling to establish themselves in the poor soil.
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