I received recently the latest newsletter from the Western Australian Museum on the Alcoa Frog Watch program. There are several interesting items of news for those interested in attracting frogs into gardens. If you are interested in any of these projects you may be better to get in touch with Western Australian Museum, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth 6000, Western Australia, Australia, Tel: (08) 9427 2750, Facsimile (08) 9427 2883, email address frogwatch@museum.wa.gov.au.
There is a good website also with references to frogs, frog disease and research it is: http://www.frogs.wwf.org.au
This piece is a little late as today is February 2 2003, and I am pleased to say there was a violent thunderstorm last night which brought quite a lot of welcome rain to this dry and arid landscape. January has been one of the driest on record and despite many gardening books describing the month as one where joyful gardens and long hours of brilliant sunshine enhance flower colour, improve foliage density and promote rapid growth, the roses in our garden have not progressed as well as one would hope. They have not been as productive as usual, and one can only put the results down to lack of water and too much sun.
Unfortunately we have lost a couple of bushes and the easterly winds have spread the leaves of the eucalypts all over the place. The fact that we can use sprinkler systems on two days each week has kept the hardy bushes and trees we have planted quite well and growing strongly. Adequate mulching has also reduced the amount of water we need for the stronger plants to survive. Healthy plants tolerate extreme weather conditions pretty well.
I believe that our planting of drought tolerant plants, especially the ground covers, and moisture retaining soil additives and lashings of mulch over all areas of the garden have helped conserve the water use. Even though we have had a few casualties this summer.
A good tree to plant is Western Australia's 'red flowering gum' Eucalyptus ficifolia. This is the essence of summer. The bright vermilion or red blossom glows in January's intense sunlight. Against the deep blue sky, its impact can be very spectacular. This tree can grow to about 8 metres (33 feet), and is a very attractive and good-looking tree.
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