Fire is a powerful ecological force in Australian heathland. It can remove dense vegetation, expose mineral soil, release nutrients and alter the chemical…
Wattles are among the most recognisable plants on the Tomaree Peninsula, yet identifying one from its yellow flower alone can be surprisingly difficult.…
Coastal banksia is one of the most recognisable flowering trees around the Tomaree Peninsula. Its pale yellow flower spikes stand above leathery leaves, often…
A single wattle can reveal the rhythm of an entire landscape. Through changing leaves, flower buds, seed pods, rain-darkened bark, and visits from insects, one…
Upper saltmarsh is a narrow but ecologically important band between regularly flooded tidal flats and less saline coastal vegetation. It may appear open,…
A garden does not need to be cleared and rebuilt before native plants can return. On the Tomaree Peninsula, many residential blocks contain exotic lawns,…
Damp coastal moors on the Tomaree Peninsula support a distinctive mix of low-growing herbs, sedges, rushes, shrubs and insect-attracting wildflowers. Among…
Coastal gardens around Port Stephens and the Tomaree Peninsula are exposed to salt-laden air, strong sea breezes and drying winds. A well-designed windbreak…
Autumn on the Tomaree Peninsula is often subtler than the brilliant display associated with northern hemisphere forests. Much of the local vegetation is…