Gordonvale, Rhododenrons, Daffodils and Weeds in General

[Liamy77]

Im with WT.
Bumblebees are a huge pest and causing havoc to our native flowers which in turns effects our native bees AND the swift parrot!! They are SO big they fly inyo a flower and bummble around collecting their nectar because of their size they often destroy the flower so the above mentioned species cannot have their fill!!!

I kill them on sight.

Also anyone who has been to the Gordon Dam may have seen large patches of blackberry starting to spread!!! right on the doorstep to places like the Prince of Wales Range, Frankland Range etc etc.. the most wildest remote areas in Tasmania!! Can you imagine if Blackberrys spread into these areas?? Baeura and Scorparia would seem nice to push through...

i find this FAR more worrying ( i have fallen off a plank into a blackberry as a kid and have disliked em since then. (but the berries taste good)

[stepbystep]

Any drive along any forestry road will reveal vast infestations, not to mention in the coupes themselves.
Can't believe people are frothing at the gills over one plant that hasn't spread, that is growing outside the WHA and can be easily monitored.

ILUV has a good point re. the blackberry, I wonder if the authorities know about it??

[frenchy_84]

Can't believe people are frothing at the gills over one plant that hasn't spread, that is growing outside the WHA and can be easily monitored.

Frothing at the gills? now that might be abit of an exaggeration. It has only been suggested that it be removed, it is quite obvious that we have bigger weed issues however It would be quite easy to destroy this one plant.

[doogs]

I was only frothing at the mouth due to large sherbet intake and subsequent sugar high. I have also see what apest this plant can become, admittedly in a different climate on the other side of the world. But ........

[Son of a Beach]

I don't think anyone's been frothingly upset about it (I think I just invented a word). And I think everyone recognises that Blackberries, Scotch Thistle, Gorse, etc are much more serious concerns in Tasmania.

I hate blackberries and do everything I can to destroy them along the road near where I live. Except for a couple of months of the year, when I take full ownership of them, and spit on anybody else who goes near them. mmm... blackberry and apple pie... blackberry jam...

[eggs]

Having been told about a patch of rhododendron at an old picnic area just below the restored ABT railway line near Queenstown, I took a look on the web.
I could be mistaken, but it appears that this particular plant has a huge range of varieties, and it may only be one particular variety that is the great spreading and suffocating pest in the UK? [Rhododendron ponticum ] Does anyone know if the ones in Tas are the same types?
We don't seem to read of any calamities with the Australian native versions and there is no hint of issues with all the Aussie Rhododendron societies around.

I believe that the rhododendrons we were told about are the bushes lower left with white buds in this photo from the train.

[Singe]

Im with WT.
Bumblebees are a huge pest and causing havoc to our native flowers which in turns effects our native bees AND the swift parrot!! They are SO big they fly inyo a flower and bummble around collecting their nectar because of their size they often destroy the flower so the above mentioned species cannot have their fill!!!

I kill them on sight.

They've also been observed to aggressively chase natives away from flowering plants and to bite through the base of flowers to get at the nectar without pollinating the plant. Yet a couple of years ago veggie growers were campaigning to have them introduced to the mainland as pollinators for commercial crops... They probably still are.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Im with WT.
Bumblebees are a huge pest and causing havoc to our native flowers which in turns effects our native bees AND the swift parrot!! They are SO big they fly inyo a flower and bummble around collecting their nectar because of their size they often destroy the flower so the above mentioned species cannot have their fill!!!

I kill them on sight.

They've also been observed to aggressively chase natives away from flowering plants and to bite through the base of flowers to get at the nectar without pollinating the plant. Yet a couple of years ago veggie growers were campaigning to have them introduced to the mainland as pollinators for commercial crops... They probably still are.

Typical!! That really makes me a bit angry.
didnt we learn anything from the introduction of the cane toad????

[north-north-west]

Also anyone who has been to the Gordon Dam may have seen large patches of blackberry starting to spread!!! right on the doorstep to places like the Prince of Wales Range, Frankland Range etc etc.. the most wildest remote areas in Tasmania!! Can you imagine if Blackberrys spread into these areas?? .

Now THAT is a serious problem. One of the things that struck me on my last visit was the dearth of blackberry infested areas, especially creek- and riverbanks. Up here it hard to find a creek or river that doesn't have major blackberry brambles on its banks, and some sections are inaccessible for miles.

Nik: All I'm saying is that it's a small problem, currently easily contained, and not worth anything more than regular monitoring. If there's money available to work on weed issues there are other places where it should be spent.

[Binder]

G'day all.

We have been keeping an eye on the Rhodo and other introduced plants at Gordonvale over the years. Gordonvale is an 80 ha private freehold block which is also heritage listed (along with the introduced plants) so it would be a bit of a process for us to do anything with the weeds, (happy to do if they appeared to be spreading), but that doesn't seem to be the case at the moment. Would be keen for anyone to PM me if you have seen evidence of recent spread.

I have also started organising funding and works on the Blackberry at the Gordon dam, in conjunction with Hydro and NRM south. Fully agree that we don't need this stuff around the entry to the great SW.

Stay safe

Binder

[stepbystep]

I have also started organising funding and works on the Blackberry at the Gordon dam, in conjunction with Hydro and NRM south. Fully agree that we don't need this stuff around the entry to the great SW.

Stay safe

Binder

Awesome, great work!

[north-north-west]

I have also started organising funding and works on the Blackberry at the Gordon dam, in conjunction with Hydro and NRM south. Fully agree that we don't need this stuff around the entry to the great SW.

Stay safe

Binder

Remind me to buy you a drink next time I'm down that way. Good work, old chap.

[Son of a Beach]

Thanks, Binder for the good work, and for letting us know that it is being dealt with.

[Nuts]

On Blackberries, I have seen them choke creek and riversides, take over disturbed ground and regrowth, even established open bush where the understory is more sparse. I led groups pulling weeds around tassie for a couple of years. I'm just trying to recall seeing anywhere an invasion into old growth understory or acidic peat moors???

[Binder]

On Blackberries, I have seen them choke creek and riversides, take over disturbed ground and regrowth, even established open bush where the understory is more sparse. I led groups pulling weeds around tassie for a couple of years. I'm just trying to recall seeing anywhere an invasion into old growth understory or acidic peat moors???

Well spotted nuts

Our main concern is them getting down the Gordon and other creek lines in the area. From what I've seen they don't do too well in the acidic moors or heavy canopied undisturbed areas (happy to stand corrected on this, as a Banana Bender I'm still fairly new to the beast...). Main problem is that the area around the dams is obviously heavily disturbed, and prime country for a major seed source if left uncontrolled.

Parks have over the last couple of years have regularly run a crew down the Franklin in rafts to deal with the Blackberry down there, and seem to be having a win. I can't promise an overnight demise of the Gordon berries, but we have started work on it.

Cheers and stay safe.

Binder

[Nuts]

Yer... no worries.. just was curious. There is a lot of disturbed land as you say. I've always thought that they werent really a threat in the same way that they are in NSW/VIc. I'm thinking that way cause i havent seen it but also stand to be corrected.

Hey, is there a place on that raft? (I know my weeds)

[Nuts]

and still have my parks shirt somewhere.....

[Binder]

I might need a loan of that shirt the way the budget is looking

[Nuts]

See, thats the thing as a public servant. Your bean counters drum away at the fact that you have no money so much that you end up believing them....
We.. (on the other hand)... all know all too well that you must, I swear someone there keeps an eye on my bank account in case theres any left ...

Anyhow.. yer, you can have the shirt (I even think I have an old khaki one somewhere from the good ol days

I'm keeping the Akubra though

[north-north-west]

you can have the shirt (I even think I have an old khaki one somewhere from the good ol days

Sp do I, but the embroidered badges have disappeared somewhere along the line.
I'm keeping my shirt, but. Apart from some maps and a few grey hairs it's all I have left of my time with TasPAWS.