A Walk on the Wallum Side

*

A Walk on the Wallum side
of the National Park...

I walked into the Wallum
on the southern side
of the National Park headland

and was interested to see
what wildflowers were evident now
compared to the last time
I came through


Heathy Parrot Pea
Dillwynia retorta

especially since we have had no rain
for about three months

but the Wallum Banksias
and the Grass trees
still looked green and healthy

except for these ones

- A controlled burn
had taken place a week ago
fearful of fire threats to the community
in this time of extreme fire danger
in my corner of SE Queensland,
the bush had been partially reduced

while the casaurinas
and the banksias were charred
and mainly black

the resilience
of the grass trees,
Xanthorrhoea,
was quite apparent

and the banksia nuts demonstrated
how they use a fire
to their advantage
to disperse seeds

meanwhile
the wild flowers
on the unburned side of the track

Woollsia pungens stem
pungere = to prick
see the sharp points...

flowered pink

and bright yellow
as if to compensate

Golden Candlestick
Aotus lanigera

we heard a rustle
then all was still...
like a log
the Bearded Dragon sat
motionless
blending so well
into his environment

when we moved in closer
he puffed out the loose skin
under his chin
to create a beard

Wikipedia




my friend and I
were thrilled to see this creature
as both of us
in over thirty years of walking these tracks
had never seen a Bearded Dragon




Evidently they make good pets...

I drove home from the Wallum
via the beach
and realised
that I have not yet shown you

the long stretch of pristine coast
that is called Sunshine Beach



But that will be another day
and another post...






*

*