Native Storksbill

Geraniums (Pelargonium xhortorum) had a big rise in popularity during the recent drought in Melbourne. Their native counterpart has many of the attributes and more of the more commonly planted South African species: 

Pelargonium Australe

This widespread native species will self seed into a huge range of soil types and conditions, including gravel driveways, pots, rockeries, pretty much anywhere with well drained soils. It can also tolerate heavier soils and compaction. I think it is a great little plant, particularly for a herb/cottage/native garden styles, flowering throughout spring and summer. It also can develop gorgeous red foliage in autumn and winter as a result of colder weather, tolerating a wide range of temperatures. Another Pelargonium species with this feature is the P. rodneyanum that is less vigorous but has a lovely magenta coloured flower. The roots of both species were eaten by Aboriginies in Victoria. The P. rodneyanum has a smaller leaf that is often a glossy deep green rather than dull like the P. australe. 

These P. australe were found their way (self-sown) into my silverbeet container. Long after the silverbeet had gone  in summer and the pot out of use receiving no additional water, these little pelargoniums remained. So they were transplanted  into the windowsill planter box below, facing south where there is very little direct sunlight. They may not reach their full size (small rounded bush to 50cm) in this situation or I may have to thin them out to encourage bushiness.   

Edwardes Lake Park

Edwards Lake Park in Reservoir has some really significant community values:

• Open space for public use
• Capturing and filtering storm water for large urban catchment area
• Providing habitat for waterbirds

It features bike/walking paths, BBQ and picnic facilities, several playgrounds, 2 undercover/shelter areas, athletics track and even a sailing clubhouse. It is located adjacent to a sports oval and an industrial complex, it is the largest park in Preston/Reservoir/Thomastown area. As it is a large park, there is balance between revegetation, large mature trees (deciduous, native and pine species), turf and built structures, which appears to be mainly low maintenance. However there is not a great deal of cohesion between the spaces, which could be helped by garden beds drawing lines between the spaces that could still represent values of the park. 

The revegetation and development of a billabong wetland system began in the early 2000's, prior to this there was scattered plantings of Eucalypts and Melaleuca throughout the park. The wetland is ephemeral and is dry most of the summer and in winter acts as an overflow area for the lake. Today most of the lake perimeter has been revegetated with semi-aquatic indigenous species. This is important for water quality, erosion control, bird habitat and trapping debris. Due to weed control works and the selection of aggressive and fast growing species, this area has minimal weeds and can cope with inundation and drying out. Recent plantings of grasses, shrubs and forbes compliment the lake edge vegetation but require more maintenance and replanting.

Blooms in the desert

I will have to remind myself to do a trip to Central Australia when it is bone dry sometime as it would look quite different to what I saw, after a 3 + years of solidly above average rainfall – the green centre. Pretty much on the Tropic of Capricorn, it gets a lot of year round sunshine, add water and a  lush garden oasis results.

Olive Pink Botanic Gardens in Alice Springs
Darling Lilies (Crinum sp.) in foreground

Another feature that makes the Centre a plant lovers dream is the McDonnell Ranges, that provide a vast array of microclimates and niches, making it a biodiversity hotspot. The tallest peak of the ranges is Mt Ziel, 1531 m above sea level, high enough for the very occasional snowfall. These ranges are surrounded by desert to the south, west, north and east, however they span a few hundred kilometres east-west either side of Alice Springs.

Graziers delight in West McDonnell Ranges
A.K.A the red centre

Typically the main wildflower show is spring, however when the below photo were taken in March when many plants were going through a second or third set of flowering due to the high rainfall of 2010/11. Some common species I saw looking a showy spectacular were the Desert Rose (Gossypium sp.), the feathery Ptilotus sp. and Chinese Lantern Abuliton sp.

Variation in colour of Swainsonia sp.

The land-use history of the Coburg Hill development site is surprisingly well documented. The traditional owners of the Merri Ck area, Wurundjeri-Willam (part of the Kulin Nation), have left a legacy of stories and artefacts, although their lands were drastically changed in the first few decades of the settlement of Melbourne. Archeological evidence of daily traditional life remains in numerous locations through the northern suburbs despite massive urban and industrial development in the area for over 150 years.

In 1995, a motion was put forward to nominate the Merri Creek for Heritage values on the National Estate, due to its cultural and archeological values. One document suggests that present day Northcote is where the European authorities (John Batman) and the traditional land owners (Kulin Nation elders) signed a treaty worth 243,000 hectares in exchange for European goods in 1835. Interestingly, this treaty was not upheld and declared invalid by the British Crown as did not recognise any land ownership ('terra nullius') in Australia, allowing colonisation to occur.

Growing up in Coburg, Cassy Twomey (nee McKay), explained her family's history of the area:
It began in 1887, when Cassy's great-grandfather purchased the land around Coburg Hill. John Mckay, a dairy farmer,  then passed it down to his son William in the 1920's. It was known as Hillcroft or Newlands Farm. The farming of this land was practised until 1977, when Kodak purchased the site, when the house and most of the buildings were removed. The McKay's then purchased farmland where Craigieburn is now located, however development of this region soon ensured its sale.


REFERENCES:
Faithfull., T (ed.) 2001, People of the Merri Merri,Merri Creek Management Committee, Brunswick

McKay homestead, Hillcroft farm, 1974,
just prior to demolition

William McKay, Hillcroft Farm, 1898

Masterplan showing projected housing density

The great Australian backyard - from quarter acre block - 1000m2 to a now 300m2 and getting smaller. This estate offers a range of housing densities - with 70-80 % projected to be fully detached 300-400 m2 lots. On offer are single storey 3 bedroom homes averaging around 160m2. However, to keep the pricepoint low, smaller townhouse allotments will become available in future stages of the development offering just 180m2 parcel of land. However, the design guidelines stipulate no more than 60% of the allotment can be covered, and 20% is required to have a permeable surface. 

Raingarden

Urban water runoff has been addressed in this estate with the installation of raingardens placed at intervals along the streets:

Raingardens are used in built-up areas to divert some of the rainwater away from the stormwater system, which can often become overloaded during a substantial rain event. Stormwater runoff can lead to increased pollution of local waterways, erosion and flooding. Raingardens can trap some of the runoff and filter the water through the plants and soil before it reaches the ground water or the local creek. 

The raingardens provide a nice contrast to the standard  naturestrips that have been installed inside the estate - kikuyu grass with a Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese Elm), a very common street tree in the neighbouring suburb of Reservoir. The streetscape has also been included in the above masterplan drawing.

Additionally, along the outer boundary of the estate landscaped naturestrips have popped up, planted with a preference for dry-tolerant natives including Correa, Dianella and Eucalyptus species. This instant landscape has been carefully designed to thrive with neglect and tolerate being planted in summer, receive little if any maintenance and appeal to the prospective home buyer. 

Coburg Hill - 20 hectares of new suburbia within 10km from CBD

The West Preston/Coburg North vibe will be forever changed (display homes due to open in August) when this sizable patch of land adjacent to Edgars Creek is developed. As a local, to me this site represented a crossways of industrial creek frontage and old-style housing built for WW1 vets back in the day. It was also a monument to the advent of the digital camera, as the old decrepit Kodak building where film was made is visible. This area of the site has really good views of the city. Nearby is the Coburg Drive-In, another relic of the past still standing.  
According to the Melways there are several public open space areas planned for this area and new bike paths, linking in the the Merri Creek trail at Coburg Lake. The importance for open space in the northern suburbs rates pretty highly with me. It is an exposed elevated site which is probably the least of concerns when it comes to planning these spaces. 
http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd3/map.php?q=coburg%20hill

School perimeter mixed natives planting - interesting blend of advertising and landscaping. Seems a bit strange that it is fenced on both footpath side and school side - to deter vandals perhaps?
For maximum marketing value, the developers have added a couple of signs "Landscaping proudly supplied by" in this small landscape. It is amazing there was room for all these signs and plants in the one small stretch.