Winter update

After fires devastated the tablelands in January, it’s been a busy six months of recovery and re-orientation. As we wrap up the growing season we are filled with pride and gratitude for our community. We are also hopeful as we see local flora re-establishing, including our humble feature species: Lomandra filiformis.

Read on for a quick nursery update and information about some exciting upcoming events.

Workshop: Gardening after fire

With support from Mitchell Shire Council, we spent an inspiring day at Highlands Hall last month talking ‘gardening after fire’ with a group of local gardeners and Lauren from LaLa Landscapes. If you missed this workshop, please get in touch with us for a recap or stay tuned to hear about future events. Planning is already underway for another propagation workshop in spring.

Events

Euroa Arboretum Revegetation Masterclass

The Euroa Arboretum are running a fantastic free course this winter to build skills in successful establishment of revegetation. The course is part of the Trees on Farms Incubator Program, funded by Agriculture Victoria, and involves development of a project plan that can be used to support a grant application through the Victorian Trees on Farms program. See below for more information on these grants.

Get in touch with either Janet Hagen [janethhagen@gmail.com] or Cathy Olive [cathy.olive@euroaarboretum.com.au] to register for this course.

Grants

Victorian Trees on Farms Program

The Victorian Government is offering funding to support establishment of trees on farms through the Victorian Trees on Farms Program. Applications for round one of the program are still open but closing soon on the 30th of June 2026! Visit the website to learn more about eligibility. If you have a potential project in mind, please get in touch with us to discuss how we can support you in your application, planning, or seedling production.

info@granitehillsnursery.com.au

Trees for Bees

The Wheen Bee Foundation ‘Trees for Bees’ Community Tree Grants support the planting of bee-friendly trees in public spaces. Grants of $500 are available for not-for-profit organisations, school groups, Landcare groups, community organisations and sustainability groups. Applications are now open and close on the 20th of July. Find out more on their website.

Other opportunities

To discover other funding opportunities for restoring native vegetation on your property, including along waterways, contact your local Council or Catchment Management Authority.

Feature species

Lomandra filiformis

While we may overlook some Lomandra as they as they tickle our calves crossing supermarket carparks, those searching for signs of ecological recovery after the fires may have noticed an abundance of the smaller Lomandra filiformis popping up through the blackened soil. Commonly known as wattle mat-rush (though not technically a rush) it is a fine-leaved tussock plant in the family Asparagaceae. Widespread in open forests and woodlands across eastern Australia, post-fire conditions seem to have favoured this species in our patch. Keep an eye out for these short, sparse, blue-green tufts, and wait for their clusters of cream-yellow flowers which may appear in October or November. The low, tufted form of this species makes it particularly useful for stabilising soil and providing habitat for ground-dwelling fauna. Its leaves are also known to provide food for the caterpillars of native butterflies and moths. The sight of these tough little plants after the fires reminds us not to overlook the quiet importance of our groundcover species.