Autumn 2009
After the terrifying experience of the fires
of Summer, we have had some modest autumn rainfall. This has been enough
to germinate grass seeds in the paddocks with enough follow up rain to
ensure it survives but with enough warmth so far to stimulate pasture
and plant growth.
After the February fires, many of the grafted walnut
trees showed significant new growth, something you do not expect to see
in later summer. Some of the ungrafted walnut rootstocks (J. regia)
are going autumnal (early May) but the smoke from the fires seems to
have convinced the grafted trees that it is still spring.
The photo above was taken during some recent showers,
looking west from the farm house.
About DeadHorseCreek
DeadHorseCreek is situated in a picturesque valley in
the southern foothills of Victoria's eastern ranges. We have enough
rainfall (about a metre a year in non-drought years) to remain green all through summer
and, with 2 permanent creeks, we manage to escape the Australian
archetype of the "Wide Brown Land" during summer.
We are surrounded by bush* on two sides and farms on
the other two (see Farm Photos).
With the bush to the south and east, we are protected
from the worst of the bushfire season with the prevailing wind pattern
in summer coming from the north and west, especially on hot days.
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