Pillaga

We live in the Pillaga and visit the scrub often 

and sadly there are so many weeds

 it is full of farmer's friend, various burs and prickles and cactus 

that get stuck in our Doberman's feet his name is Jerry 

and we have poodle called Indigo Blue. 

They are like brother's although Indi and Jerry are different breeds.

This is a pretty part of the scrub but
these plant's are not native to the Pillaga
they might have come from peoples garden's.

The forest is good to ride bikes in and walk in
but our poodle is a prickle collector and
even though the forest is a wonderful place,
it is a bad for walking fluffy little dog's :-(

There was hardly any cactus 30 years ago,
 but then kid's attacked it with stick's
and spread the seeds and piece's and and
now they are every where.

The Pillaga forest discovery center is a nice place run 

by national parks and wildlife service
 they have a gallery space and usually have an exhibition happening
 and there is a  photography exhibition at the moment. 

It is interesting noticing the differences between places, 

here there are many more grass parrots 

 than there are up at the Clarence and no lorikeets.

There are mapped bird routes through the Pilliga and over 

 240 recorded species including 

the  beautiful barking owl and the turquoise parrot

 as well as other endangered species of birds.

Sadly walking around this town we also come across dead animals

the people around here are really  into a blood sport called pigging

 where they go out with pig dog's and hunt and shoot pigs it sound's disgusting

they also kill other animals and we have found their remains.

  

I can't wait to hook into these

Prickly Pear are invasive weeds in Australia

with a really interesting history.

It was introduced to Australia 

 by governor Arthur Philip because Joseph banks 

wanted to establish a crop and cochineal dying industry. 

The cochineal make a red dye 

and they used it for the "Red Coats" the marines wore.

When we go walking in the Pilliga 

it is everywhere

 and I noticed all of those juicy looking fruit so I wanted to try some.

We went cactus picking with a bucket, gloves and tong's,

 and got loads of cactus fruit's
 they are very prickly but taste great so it's worth it.

It was dusk when we were out picking

 and when we where walking home a little micobats flew

 over us we thought it was a bird until we saw its wing's closely .

                                       

Some friend's across the road use to pick them

so I took over some and they liked that:-).     

                                                                      

The fruits are quite beautiful, red on the out side and yellow on the inside,
they have so many seeds though
 and they grow easily from cutting
so it is easy to see how they can become such a problem.

The cactus fruit can be eaten and so can the fleshy pads

I have been looking at recipes and the Ballarat Cactus and Succulent Society

have loads of information on eating all sorts of cactus.

I think   Cooks.com  cactus are good sites as well.

Sculptures in the Scrub

We went on amazing walk in the Pilliga Scrub
called " Sculptures in the Scrub "
it had nice flowers along the track and trees
the flowers out there are in the national park and
  the plants that grow there are very different
 to the plants that grow in the scrub near our house,

       

   The sculptures were nice,

 some are made from metals and some from stone, 

and the newest ones out there are bright coloured mosaics. 

 and the walk was good too, 

it had some really amazing views across the gully.

 Even though I wasn't in the mood for it, it was still great.

Walking can make a bad mood into a good mood.   

                           

I think it would be a good walk for everyone, it is not too long
  only 2km all around on a loop and it is easy walking
 with really good steps and the cliffs have guard rails.
It would also be good for someone
 who was getting a job as a forester
 because it has good and bad trees in the surrounding forest ,
my dad is a forester and he has taught me what trees are good.

                                                                       and bad