tarenna

Hi there. Many exotic pine plantations in NSW are in State Forests so there is no problem with public access. There are massive swathes of these SF plantations across the southern and central tablelands and slopes. Have fun

Vernonia cinerea

Could be a chillie

Possibly - but only just... The bigger the vine the more likely to withstand these conditions. I have a 2-3m high caapi ,maximum stem width of approx 2cm, at the edge of a back valley floodplain planted below a native rainforest tree that gets periodic frosting down to a minimum of -2C each winter. All the foliage gets burnt off, but the basal stems survive and re-shoot each winter, re-growing to a bit higher each spring and summer.. This year, the 4th in the ground, the vine has reached about 4m in height and the basal stems are thickening proportionally. I am gunna try more shelter (shade cloth and padding with straw - something not tried previously) in the coming winter to minimise the amount of frost scorch and try to get it a bigger headstart come next spring...

I just read this thread from the start to finish non-stop.. Whoa!!! I have a question for Thunder... How much time do you spend researching these matters?

I met this plant for the first time last weekend, and was told stories about it similar to yours Micro...A most fascinating coincidence because I had never heard of it before. Much respect Alchemica

Yes pachanoi "pc" type. No to rosei

Yew hoo... Thanks heaps MG 41

Looks to me very much like carth=alba.. Wavy leaf margins are diagnostic. I can swing you some foliage of various strains of viridis for propagation if needed.

Prolly too cold in Sydney to grow kava without serious supplementary warmth.. And as far as I am aware it doesn't set seed...

Legendary.. Thanks heaps Gimli. love your work..

Are you sure that this plant is viridis?

I would really appreciate some seeds please. Many thanks

Lovely. Is the last photo a painted button-quail?

Scary scary stuff bro - temps reached on the North Coast that I did not think physically possible until beyond about 2040.... Caused major rethink of living and gardening spaces and what can be done to mitigate such extremes.... Lots of shade and water will be needed in order to grow many spp. and to live comfortably.... Have attached a few shots taken around the backyard over the previous few months. 1 = Stephens Banded Snake 2 = Wompoo Fruit Dove (juvenile flew into window but came good) 3 = Golden Crowned Snake 4 = Giant Barred Frog. First 2 are Vulnerable species and the fourth is Endangered Peace

pm'd

Great stuff and much respect. What a fortuitous situation - you have approached it really resourcefully and look to have ended up with a good score.. Is there logging coupe visible in the background of one of the photos of the footings??

Red-shouldered leaf beetle - Monolepta sp. - probably australis

Amen. If caapi is given nothing but a tiny opportunity at the right place and at the right time then she will amaze...... anything else is a bonus,!!!

Yo Fez.. Hope all is good. Might be worth checking with the d-man himself. He should have some recollection or record of these matters. go well

Great stuff EG.. Will definitely purchase one now. thanks heaps

If there are still hard copies available I would like to purchase one. EG can you please confirm that copies will be available if purchased now. thanks M

I will go no 2 thanks. Will pm

Hi Niggles I left the following comment on your blog and it does not seem to have appeared: Hello Niggles, A couple of words of advice or options to consider: 1. Killing rats and mice.. As you have found drowning is not humane - you could consider using a thick plastic bag (e.g. a large snaplock bag) and transferring the rodent from trap to bag, quickly sealing the top with your hand to prevent escape!! Then smash the bag quickly and strongly onto hard surface such a concrete or rock from overhead. This instantly breaks the neck of the rodent and can be quickly repeated if the first attempt fails, I have never had a failure on the first strike to get a kill though... This method is much quicker and more humane than drowning.. 2. Killing running bamboo.. There is a new method that is almost a silver-bullet method for killing bamboo (when away from creeks). It involves basal application of flupropanate to the rhizome mass (flupropanate is however a relatively toxic herbicide with a long period of activity). The rhizomes draw-up the herbicide and huge infestations of running bamboo are killed with a single application, but a complete kill may take up to a couple of years due to the slow transfer and action of the herbicide within the rhizome mass. Although using a relatively toxic herbicide, the resulting kill means that a huge primary and follow-up labour effort, and in the case of the alternative herbicides such a glyphosate - many repeat applications of herbicide - are avoided. I would be happy to provide case studies and specifics if interested. Well worth researching - but recommend lots of planning and preparation and expert consultation if deciding to use this method. peace and good luck with your new digs - go well and all strength... make sure you have lots of fun along the ways.