Pig Weed

Pigweed

After rain, a succulent annual plant called pig weed can be found growing. Pig weed has red stems and thick green fleshy leaves. This plants gets a small yellow flower. Pig weed can be found in areas where the soil has been disturbed eg around watering points, in cattle yards, on the edges of graded roads etc.

Livestock do eat pig weed, however it is poisonous to animals who are not used to it eg if you graze hungry or travellilng stock on it. After a long dry 2009, the pig weed is flourishing in Western Queensland.

Spectacular Seed Heads

Spectacular Seed Heads

The pastures are well and truly in seed at the moment. It is simply amazing to see every plant sprouting bountiful seeds. Check out some of the seed heads that can be found at the moment. Any wonder our insect and bird populations are booming.

Simply sensational, isn't it?

Bountiful Birds

Bountiful Birds

The wonderful season has produced a bird boom in Western Queensland. The Mulga Parrots are out and about in an abundance. As I walk around in the great outdoors of late, the Mulga Parrot population (which has increased magnificently) skitters around me. They flutter from being on the ground to up in the branches, and back down to the ground - always keeping about 5 metres ahead of me. Are the Mulga parrots expressing their happiness at the huge food supply? The seed heads of the grass are not only rippling hypnotically in the breezes, however they are also starting to get so heavy that the seed heads are bowing to the ground. The insect population is also booming as well, so all birds must be well fed at the moment.

The poor little swallows that commonly build their mud nests under bridges may have seen their homes submerged in recent weeks. These marvellous little architects and builders will no doubt be out and about collecting more mud to rebuild their nests.

The birds are bountiful in Western Queensland in 2010.

Noogoora Burr

NOOGOORA BURR

With the fresh runs in all the river systems, there is a mightly fine crop of Noogoora Burr growing in Western Queensland. Noogoora burr is considered a weed, and is poisonous to livestock if eaten when a small plant. It can grow up to 2 metres tall, and recent weather has ensured that it will blossom to its full capacity.

Noogoora grows clusters of burrs which contain seeds. The burrs dry off to a brown colour, and have incredible sticking power. They cling remarkably to socks, clothing, wool, cattle, hair, machinery...........and also float rather well down the water ways. Hence, its spread alongside water ways.

It is a species that has adapted rather well to our boom and bust climate. Each burr contains two seeds. One seeds germinates in the first year of growth, and the second one remains dormant until the next good season. How amazing is that?

There are great clumps of Noogoora currently to be seen in Western Queensland......and most landholders aren't overly proud of their magnificent stands of Noogoora. It really is a weed and a pest.

Farewell to the Lick Block Routine

Farewell to the Lick Block Routine!

During periods of dryness, many Western Queensland graziers feed their livestock supplementary nutrition. This is needed as the naturally occuring pastures are often lacking in key nutrients as drought sets in. These 20 kg blocks are usually placed near to watering points, and the cattle come in and lick the blocks - hence the name lick blocks!

The Western Rivers Carer boldly predicts that there will be very little placing of lick blocks in the coming months as the pastures are lush. Farewell to the 'lift, drag the cardboard box off, unwrap the plastic' and start all over again of putting lick blocks out.

The Magically Appearing Plants of Western Queensland

Have you ever wondered how the seemingly non productive landscape of Western Queensland can be quickly transformed into an area of lush green pastures after rain? How does this change happen?

The soils play host to a range of seeds, which can lie dormant for long periods of time. Once it rains, these seeds quickly germinate and grow. If you look carefully at the Channel Country soils, you can easily see these dormant seeds.

Even a careful search of black soil will reveal these seeds. And those black soil cracks are part of the magic of this rejuvenation. Whilst the soil cracks look ugly, they actually allow the rain water to penetrate deeply into the soils, and provide fabulous sub soil moisture for the growing plants once they are established.

How fortunate are we in Western Queensland to live amongst countryside that can perform miracles like this? Just magic!

Fat Cattle

There will be an abundance of fat cattle coming out of Western Queensland in the coming months. The natural pastures have responded to the recent rain, and are growing across the vast expanse of the outback. Much of the beef that is grown in the outback is organic, and has its own unique flavour and a very special tenderness.

For a primary producer to use the organic label, the cattle must have been bred and grown on 100% organic feed, which in Western Queensland means they have eaten the natural herbage and pastures. They have also spent their life in the great outdoors, living in fresh air amongst the sunshine and rain. A certified organic beef producer must undergo an accreditation process which clearly demonstrates that the beef production is done under organic management guidelines.

Increasingly, organic beef is labelled as such, so why not check out what you can find in your local butcher, supermarket or restuarant. You will be in for a treat.............and there will be many head of cattle trucked out in the coming months.

On the Wing Over a Vision of Green

On the Wing OVer a Vision Of Green

It was a most delightful experience flying over Western Queensland today. It was a carpet of green as far as the eye can see. What a magical start to 2010, and how fortunate we are.

Button Grass Boom

If you wish to see Button Grass, be quick!

Whilst Button Grass is growing across vast areas of Western Queensland in response to the recent rains, it won't last for long. Button Grass is a short lived plant that usually dries off within 6 weeks or so. Livestock love to eat this short, leafy grass.

If you study the images carefully, you will see the seed head is rather unique. It may or may not look like a button shape to you. (No - I can't see the button thing happening!) It grows to 20 - 30 cm tall, and literally carpets the country side at the moment.

Have you seen any fresh and leafy button grass lately?

The Rain Falls Mainly On The Mitchell Grass Plain

There continues to be fabulous falls of storm rain across Western Queensland. The clouds look positively tropical and coastal, and the rainfall is greatly appreciated by all.

And All The Rivers Run!

And All The Rivers Run!

There are strong runs in most creeks, rivers and channels in Western Queensland at the moment..........for the second time in as many months. These frequent flush outs are important for the health of the river.

Ecologically, these strong river flows not only clean out the waterholes that make up the main waterway, however they also flood out onto floodplains and wetlands. These floodout areas are often called the 'kidneys' of a river as they play a purifying role by filtering dirt and toxins before they reach the lakes, rivers and aquifers.

The water spreading across the wetlands and floodplains aids the growth of healthy vegetation which provides habitats for animal communities in the area, and this water also forms part of the natural filtration and balancing system of the ecology of an area.

Incidentally - did you know that forests are the lungs of the water system, as they absorb pollution and prevent flooding?

Now for the Brown!

Brown water snaking across chasms of brown mud is currently making its way across Western Queensland.

So why is the water brown?

There are large quantities of suspended sediment, usually fine clay particles within these waters, and it is this suspended matter that gives the outback water its characteristic brown colour.

For now, Brown is the colour in Western Queensland. The mud and the water intermingle and are a perfect match!

Grey and Green are Magic Colours.

Grey is the colour of the skies over Western Queensland today.

Green is the colour of the grass growing rapidly in the wake of the rain.

The disintegration of Cyclone Olga has seen some brilliant falls of rain over Western Queensland in the last 48 hours.

Magic!