Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

Bats in the Belfry

I've been woken at dawn recently by the tinkling of the Tibetan cowbell, which hangs by my back door. The first time it happened I thought I had early morning visitors of the human kind. Spookily, no one was there when I looked and I thought nothing more about it until the next day I noticed what looked like rat droppings on the ground beneath the bell. Peering up I was stunned to see five little faces squinting back at me. A colony of Gould's long-eared bats (Nyctophilus gouldi) had taken up residence inside the bell.

As a gardener I'm delighted that they have made themselves at home in my back yard, because even tiny bats like these consume huge quantities of flying and non-flying insect pests. I choose not to use chemical insecticides, and because there's such a healthy diversity of species in my garden, the insect life is vibrant. Sometimes too much so, for instance recent rains caused a mosquito breeding frenzy but whereas I would normally consider this a disadvantage, I am now grateful because it may be what attracted the bats here.

Of course bats wouldn't usually reside in something as quirky as a cowbell - their normal habitat is in hollows of old trees or under the eaves of established buildings or sometimes even in a second hand birds' nests. With the amount of land clearing and/or housing development that is going on in far north NSW and southeast Queensland their natural habitats are shrinking and they are being forced to look for alternative accommodation. Gardeners may like to leave a corner of their property undisturbed to try and attract their own colony.

Gould's bats fly close to the ground so apart from humans, their other threat is cats. Keep your feline friends indoors at night and everyone will be happy. Dogs aren't a problem.

Lismore Garden Club News

The next meeting of the Lismore Garden Club is next Thursday, April 3, at 1.30pm at the Lismore Workers Club. All keen gardeners are most welcome. For further information phone Mary on 6621 5293.

In North Eastern NSW the best weather for humans is from March to October. Even the plants seem to prefer all but the coldest days. It's so much easier to work outside in the garden in the milder weather. We don't have to contend with weeds and garden pests and diseases to near the same degree as we do in the summer. If you have never planted garden before, there is no better time to start than right now.

Jobs to do now

Prune Wisteria's now and they will provide a good lot of flowers next spring. Feed and water passionfruit. Feed roses plant sweet peas. Feed pot plants.

Gardening Tip

When selecting seedlings, look for healthy vigorous strong looking plants, not too small or too tall, but medium size. Plant them out mid to late afternoon, cover if the temperature forecast is more that about 28 degrees. Protect with snail bait and fertilize with "Seasol" or wait a few days and fertilize with half strength "Aquasol" or "Thrive"

Happy Gardening
Ron Burns