Outdoor living

 If you live on the side of a mountain, having a bit of flat space is a luxury!

We've now created a small grassed area out the front of the house - lovely rock walls around the garden, a frog pond (old bath!), a 'dry creek bed' run-off, and a (still-to-be-completed!) mini waterfall with lots of tree ferns.

Maybe a suitable spot for a small wedding! Certainly a place for al fresco winter lunches, or evening drinks

 

And the 'dry creek bed' worked a treat in the recent storms!

Land for Wildlife

We are delighted that Turkey’s Nest has just been accepted into the Land for Wildlife program, a voluntary program that helps landholders provide habitat for wildlife on their property. 

 

Over 130 species of native birds make Mount Glorious their home as well as a vast array of mammals, reptiles and amphibians, some of which are on the vulnerable and threatened species list. Turkey’s Nest provides a significant area of remnant rainforest, including a palm grove, which, in connection with other properties and National Park in the area, creates a wildlife corridor for native species.

 

Eastern Spinebill feeding on Grevillea

Land for Wildlife began in South East Queensland in 1998 and as of March 2013 had over 3900 members protecting over 50,000 hectares of wildlife habitat. It is a tool to help encourage, link together and inspire landholders to look after their land for our native wildlife. Providing healthy habitats for wildlife also has wider benefits such as reducing erosion, connecting patches of bushland together, improving soil health, improving water quality in creeks and improving our sense of well-being and aesthetics.

Palms. giant figs and rainforest trees cover two-thirds of Turkey's Nest

We are honoured and privileged and to be included in such a wonderful scheme

Bunya Nuts

It's Bunya nut season, and the massive cones are crashing down every day, spilling scores of nuts onto the driveway.

Bunya Nuts in the cone

It's not surprising that the Aboriginals travelled vast distances to take advantage of their bountiful harvest. One large tree can produce an enormous number of nuts.

Bunya nuts in the husk

 

They require a fair amount of work to cut open the tough husks and release the nuts, which are about 6cm long. 

  

Russell bought this Bunya Nut Recipe Book from the Bunya Nut Cafe at Blackbutt, and will be experimenting with new uses for the nuts. They taste rather like potatoes, and can be roasted and used in soups. The ground nuts can be used instead of flour in soups, breads and cakes, and also as a pesto.

International Year of the Forest

I read just recently that 2011 is the United Nations International Year of the Forest.

I'm not sure how many forests are going to be saved because of it, but I thought it a good opportunity to celebrate our beautiful rainforest at Mount Glorious.

In the early part of last century the forests here, like so many,  were used for logging. The bright red new spring growth of the Red Cedar tree would alert the loggers to the location of this valuable timber.

 

 Now the area is largely National Park, with beautiful walks through the rainforest. We are fortunate to have our own patch of untouched forest at Turkey's Nest, and are gradually extending the rainforest walk for both our guests, and ourselves to enjoy.

Rainforest Walk

Giant fig - Turkey's Nest Mt Glorious

Autumn and owner building

The huge red cedar that dominates the grassed area next to the house is starting to get ready for winter - some of its leaves are turning yellow, and in a few weeks there will be masses of leaves raining down with every gust of wind. The tree will be bare and stark for winter, but the advantage is that that will let in lots more sunshine on the clear cold winter mornings.  

The Red Cedar is one of six native deciduous trees . We also have two of others on the property, the Illawarra Flame Tree and the Silky Oak.

Next to start losing its leaves will be the big Liquidambar near the cottage. Seeing the seasons is one of the many things we enjoy on the mountain.

In other news, our house features in the current edition of The Owner Builder magazine - very exciting! We'll be contributing a couple more articles as the light earth building continues.