Sunday 1st June Working Bee

It seemed we removed more rubbish from the Reserve today than weeds, however we did remove the usual culprit, Sallow wattle (see previous posts on why we remove this tree), blackberries and weedy grasses from the orchid patches. Yes!, the Nodding Greenhood Orchids and Mosquito Orchids are back and we were lucky enough to see them in flower.
The Sweet Wattle is also currently in flower which makes them stand out in Upper Sweetwater Reserve so a post on the Sweet Wattle seemed timely.

Sweet Wattle:   Acacia Suaveolens

Sweet Wattle draws its name from the small clumps of flowers that occur during Autumn and early Spring, that produce a sweet scent. The flowers and seed pods provide a food source for a variety of birds.  In Upper Sweetwater the shrubs are easily identifiable at the moment as they are currently in flower and are dotted throughout the Reserve.

Sweet Wattle can be planted in the home garden in groups or as an accent plant, (seedlings can be purchased from Frankston Indigenous Nursery). Grown in Full sun or Partial shade and can tolerate moderately salty winds. It reaches a Height of 1-2 m. Maintenance is relatively easy, if required selective pruning encourages more vigorous leaf growth. Plant some to attract birds to your garden and to delight in their sweet fragrance.



Reference: `Indigenous Plants Of The Sandbelt' by R.Scott et al, 2002