Greater Dandenong Environment Group

Carnivorous Plants

The Grass Triggerplant (Stylidium graminifolium) is flowering now. Gently touch the “trigger” and watch it react. This helps the plant get its pollen onto insects that land on the flower. But does it have other uses? The sticky area under the flowers can trap and digest prey.

Another plant just beginning to produce tiny flowers is the Tall Sundew (Drosera auriculata). Look carefully near the edge of a path and you may spot one. Close up, it looks like something from another world. The hair-like tentacles lure insects, then trap them on the sticky droplets. The tentacles bend in to form a trap and the plant secretes digestive enzymes to absorb the nutrients.

Photos: Ian Kitchen

Butterflies are Hatching

The first butterflies of spring are hatching. This beautiful Imperial Jezebel, or Imperial White, hatched out this weekend from a larva on a Grey Mistletoe in Churchill National Park. The caterpillars had eaten most of the mistletoe’s leaves before pupating.

Save the Trees!

Two beautiful River Red Gum trees are under threat by a housing development in Noble Park. Residents have presented a petition with 1800 signatures to the City of Greater Dandenong asking them to save the trees. Questions were asked at a council meeting, including by this group’s President, dressed as the Lorax (who speaks for the trees).

Discover Dandenong Creek

The “Discover Dandenong Creek” festival was on again on 11th April in Tirhatuan Park. There were various displays about the area and the environment. Our group had a display of photographs of wildlife and trays of waterbugs that are found in the creeks and lakes in the area. One notable bug was the Water Scorpion below.

Council Climate Plan Needs More Funding

Greater Dandenong Council has a good plan for tackling climate change. But plans need resourcing to happen. This group considers that the current staffing and resources within the Council are inadequate. See a discussion of this issue in the Star Journal.

Clean Up Australia!

Come along with Greater Dandenong Environment Group members to clean up one of the sites where we monitor the health of the Dandenong Creek and Dandenong Wetlands. Meet up at the picnic area to the south of the Dandenong Stadium in Stud Road (just to the south of the Monash Freeway) between 9:30 and 11:30 on Sunday 3rd of March. Morning tea will be provided.

See here to register or for more details.

Congratulations, Matthew Kirwan!

Congratulations to GDEG member Matthew Kirwan for receiving Greater Dandenong’s Sustainability Award for 2024. Matthew is a highly valued member of our group who is dedicated to sustainability and environmental progress. Well earned Matthew! Thank you for your commitment and efforts in protecting and improving our local environment.

Butterfly Time

There are a lot of butterflies around at the moment. Do you know their names? The most common one at the moment is the Common Brown. Most of them are males. We can tell that because the male is noticeably different to the female. Have a look here at some butterflies found in Dandenong or nearby.

Are you Prepared for a Heatwave?

The City of Greater Dandenong held an event on 19 September about preparation for the heat we may experience in the coming summer. It is expected that there will be more and more extreme hot days in the future. We all need to prepare our homes and know how to help the vulnerable people in our community. See here for more information.

Spring Fling

Spring is here and the bugs are blooming! The Spring Fling at Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve on 3 September was an opportunity to celebrate the spring reopening of the reserve and enjoy all things nature. The day included planting, nature play, tours of the reserve and a free BBQ. Our group was there with a sample of local waterbugs for everyone to learn about the critters in our waterways.