Garden Shed complete

The garden shed is complete and has fifteen bags of potting mixture in it all ready for the potting group to start. If you would be interested in joining a small group that would look after the shade house either email us or ring
Rex 854-0973.

Blechnum filiforme

Blechnum filiformeion starting it's upward climb

This is an interesting fern in that it creeps along the ground until it finds something going up that it can cling to then starts its upward climb. As long as it stays on the ground it remains sterile and leaves are small. Once it climbs it changes form into a large leaf format and becomes reproductive.
While it is a common fern in our bush in the North Island we have it in only one location in the gully so we dug out six plugs relocating them to other areas.

Blechnum filiformeion  plug relocated

Feeding nectar-feeding birds

Photo by Clare Mansfield

Feeding nectar- feeding birds over winter is always an option in your home garden.  Even if you are unlikely to get the more exotic birds you should at least get Wax Eyes. They may be common but they are still fun to watch from your kitchen window. If you are lucky you may also get Tui, Bell Birds, and if you live in a very special part of New Zealand (not Hamilton) Stitch Birds and Saddle Backs.





This link will take you to handy hints on sugar feeding created by Banks Peninsula Tui Restoration Group: http://www.bpct.org.nz/Files/2010-SugarWaterFeeders.pdf

New Epiphytes

We have acquired another epiphyte. We think it is an Astelia solandri. This was divided into three and attached to punga logs; they now hang on the wall inside the shade house to grow on.  We have a really good selection of epiphytes now. The trick will be to find big enough trees to install them on that are not willows, then to keep them healthy once they are installed. Some are getting near the installing stage.

AGM

Yes it is that time of the year again. The Trust’s AGM is being held at 7 Carisbrook Place, Rototuna, at 7pm on Tuesday 21st July.

Ghost (Puriri) Moth

Hole left by a Ghost Moth caterpillar

We have all seen the holes in the willows that the Tree Weta live in but did you know that the holes are what is left behind from the Ghost Moth Aenetus virescens caterpillar? If you did know did you know that the Ghost Moth is alive and well breeding in Mangaiti Gully?
Some interesting facts from; “Common Insects in NZ, by David Millar 1971”, the Ghost Moth is the largest native winged insect with a wing spread reaching 150mm (6”). The moths used to appear in great swarms but with the clearing of their habitat, numbers have greatly reduced. The Morepork favour them as a food source.
The caterpillar bores into the growing limbs of a number of trees, which includes our Grey Willows, covering the entrance hole with a fine silken camouflaged web. The caterpillar stage lasts for three years before emerging as a moth during September to November.

A covered entrance hole with a fine
silken camouflaged web

It is interesting to observe what native fauna is already living in restoration areas before major change to the flora mix is attempted. If we had removed all the willows when we first started, as was suggested by a number of informed restoration people, then a very large habitat of the native Ghost Month would have been removed. It would have taken ten to fifteen years for replacement trees to be big enough. The Ghost Moth may well have, at worst, become extinct in our gully or, at best, left with a seriously depleted population.
Ghost month caterpillar bore the holes which pupa to moths that feed the Moreporks. The holes left behind are a shelter for Weta. Weta are also a food source for Morepork.

Giant Willow Aphid

Giant Willow Aphid

It was evident during late summer a honeydew was covering the plants in the understory of the willows and there was considerable bee (not wasp) activity up in the willow canopy.  Since that time it has come to our attention that a Giant Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus salignus  is present in the Waikato. It is now winter so not the time to confirm that they are the cause of the honeydew but we would say it is highly probable. It will be interesting to see if they have any negative effect on the willow population.  If you would like to know more about this aphid click on this link:
http://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/the-essentials/forest-health-pests-and-diseases/Pests/tuberolachnus-salignus-the-giant-willow-aphid/tuberolachnus-salignus-a-new-aphid-on-the-block

Photo:Dense colony of Giant Willow Aphids (image courtesy of Alan Flynn, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand)