Reflecting...

Today, on a cold and grey winter morning I had an early appointment. I was in the general area of where I grew up and close to my old primary school so I decided after my appointment to visit a place which as a girl and young woman was very special to me. I was commenting on a blog not that long ago about a creek and nature reserve which was directly behind my school. On special nature days, accompanied by our teacher we were allowed to visit the reserve and creek to study the vegetation, water plants and grasses, water birds, frogs, dragonflies, hover flies etc., and collect leaves, seeds and draw pictures of the insects, birds and plants.  Today I was so disappointed to find that the sandy shores have now all silted up, also the sandy bottom of the creek. The once crystal clear water is now murky and filled with ‘Alligator grass/weed’, an invasive weed which destroys native vegetation and chokes waterways. Much of the native vegetation along the shore has been destroyed by the invasion of Lantana, a noxious weed in our State. The local Council is addressing the problem but it is a huge undertaking.  I walked around reflecting on what was once here and how beautiful it was. It is still a pleasant place, quiet, with the sounds of the rippling water and birdsong but sadly only a shadow of its former, pristine beauty. Here are a few photos of the creek, the Reserve and some Australian White Ibis, Black Ducks and Pacific Black Ducks. I came away feeling quite sad, perhaps if I return on a sunny day it will not look so bleak. Please enlarge the images.