Praemorsa our pride and joy, in the happy places of Lowlands Reserve, old and new

Day 46 Banksia Praemorsa, Wednesday 9 December 2020

One tree, so many shapes and textures and colours! Rust coloured and also pink and yellow coloured flower spikes, Sunday 6 December, on the Bibbulmun track, Lowlands Reserve. One of my old favourites — happy place

Old tree with picturesque form, slightly younger tree with orange new leaf growth, Sunday 6 December, on the Bibbulmun track, Lowlands Reserve. One of my old favourites — happy place

Varying flower colours, and new flowering cone in bud, Sunday 6 December, on the Bibbulmun track, Lowlands Reserve

The pink and yellow flower colours are particularly attractive, Sunday 6 December, on the Bibbulmun track, Lowlands Reserve

New growth and old fruiting cones, Sunday 6 December, on the Bibbulmun track, Lowlands Reserve

My path through flowers, banksia praemorsa in background, co-occurring with, flowering Quarral, ridgefruited mallee, and pink pimelia, and blue Lechenaultia expansa, Sunday 6 December, on the Bibbulmun track, Lowlands Reserve. Old favourite happy place.

I was saving Banksia praemorsa from Day 43, my Sunday walk on 6 December , west of Knapp Head Road along the Bibbulmun. It is such a gorgeous tree, so many different shades throughout the flowering season, maroon, orange, pink, yellow, rust. It is a south coast endemic, occurring in some fragmented populations from Denmark to Cape Riche. In Lowlands Reserve it grows in at least three places, :- on the Bibbulmun track, west of Knapp Head Road ; near the Deeps track; and, near the Bum Rock track. It also grows near the Albany wind farm, as does Eucalyptus angulosa , the other Day 43 species.

View to Bum Rock, from above Healing Beach, 9 December 2020, Lowlands Coastal Reserve. Its named Bum Rock because it looks like a bum. Further north, the old 4WD track has been revegetated by our community with many species, including Banksia praermorsa

It is a species close to our community’s hearts, as we often have planted Banksia praemorsa seedlings on newly closed off 4WD tracks as part of Lowlands revegetation projects. 30 years ago there were dozens of 4WD tracks making braided compacted ways through the reserve. Gradually with the help of City of Albany, the community has reclaimed and revegetated surplus 4WD tracks, with not only Banksia praemorsa, but also with Acacias, Ficina, Agonis and much more.

Lighter green is new regrowth on reveg at old blocked Bum Rock 4 WD track, 9 December 2020, Lowlands Coastal Reserve. New happy place for Banksia praemorsa

Our seedlings are lovingly nurtured and supplied by our wonderful revegetation specialist, Mark Parre.

So the other reason for the delay in choosing to feature Banksia praemorsa, because after visiting one of the natural populations on Sunday, I wanted to check out one of our reveg spots. This means a longer walk than usual for me. I chose to walk the Bum rock 4WD track, as it’s so windy, cool and overcast today, I’m unlikely to get run over by eager fisherfolk in 4WDs.

reveg at old blocked Bum Rock 4 WD track, 9 December 2020, Lowlands Coastal Reserve. New happy place for Banksia praemorsa

I’m delighted to say, that the reveg near Bum Rock track, is startlingly healthy. Dozens of Banksia praemorsa are thriving, it seems this species is doing better than the acacias we also planted at the same time. Visiting the reveg at the new happy place today, reflecting on the joy of healthy plants and feeling proud of our local community and our capacity for little steps towards some elements of ecosystem healing

This youngling Banksia praemorsa is spelling “L” for love, 9 December 2020, Lowlands Coastal Reserve. New happy place for Banksia praemorsa

Writing this daily blog featuring a plant a day and walking daily is my fundraising effort for Bush Heritage #groundworkchallenge . To join my team or donate go to https://www.groundworkchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/sheilamurray/2020?fbclid=IwAR2HbNn0YsCCc3tiSK-_lbF5xLsssaD8wjGHaUwVYrRqYxM-kdJkijoj2N0

Lowlands Reserve is on Menang Noongar land.

I recognise and respect the Traditional Owners of this Country and their connection to the lands, waters and skies.