After an unusually dry winter, spring is in full swing, and for us, that means it’s time to get out into the field with survey equipment and camera at the ready… I was lucky enough yesterday to spend some time in Burekup, north west of Bunbury, at one of my favourite properties. The property contains some of the most intact privately-owned vegetation that I have ever seen – it’s as much of a credit to its owners as it is a delight. I first visited this site back in 2005 or thereabouts to do some flora surveying, going back several times that year and then visiting again in 2007 to collect specimens for a herbarium. Yesterday’s visit was to collect more plants to add to the herbarium. For those that haven’t come across the term before, a herbarium is basically a book of pressed plants that have been identified and labelled. They’re most often used as a record of what is (or was) on a site, and to help people identify plants, both in the field and back at the house or office. The bush was full to bursting with springtime colour, birds and reptiles… it was an absolute joy to be there and I’m already looking forward to the next time I can go back again, after all, a herbarium is never finished until you’ve searched for new plants at least twice in every season!
Sowerbaea laxiflora or ‘Purple tassels’
A sample of the colour palette
Well, that’s a wrap. Until next time…
