Where's my bread!

After our shopping this afternoon, and for a first visit for blip, we went to a small botanic garden in Blackwood called Wittunga. Unfortunately there were some heavy showers around, so time was limited. Plus I took my wide angle lens expecting to shoot a landscape, not dreaming this would be Bird Paradise.

Paladian wanted to hog the long lens - most unfairly, I thought - but I got it off her (hehehe) after a struggle, and managed a couple of shots. Then the heavens opened so it was a quick sprint back to the car, and instead of a superb bird in flight capture, I only got this interbred fowl/duck - although he is still fairly handsome.

One of the problems with the duck population in South Australia is that they tend to interbreed very freely. I think that this is the product of one such misalliances. There would seem to be a bit of Shelduck in him, but the rest is a mystery, so he is a Heinz duck. He or she has a weird beak which I found most interesting.

Mr Heinz!

The Wittunga Botanic Garden devotes 14 hectares to indigenous and non-indigenous collections. On a nice day it is a popular place for family gatherings and lakeside picnics on the shady lawns. This time we were the only ones there.

Established by Edwin Ashby in 1902 (see my note below), Wittunga showcases an extensive collection of water wise plants from Australia and South Africa. In 1965 Wittunga was placed into the care of the Board of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium and in 1975 it was opened to the public.

There are brilliant displays of ericas and proteas in spring; plants from Kangaroo Island and our local Fleurieu Peninsula; a new grey box forest and a beautiful butterfly garden.

The Wittunga Botanic Garden - Master Plan.
The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide board has developed a Master Plan for the Wittunga Botanic Garden. This Master Plan reviews the current structure and use of the Garden and provides direction for sustainable change that will improve accessibility and encourage greater use and appreciation of this unique resource.

Central to the recommendations within the Master Plan is the need to promote resilient use of climatically suitable plant species, water resources and natural materials.
The commissioning of this Master Plan is the result of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and the broader community providing long-term planning for the future of the Garden. Our state Government wanted to sell this land off for housing!

Edwin Ashby(1861-1941)
Edwin Ashby, estate agent and naturalist, was born of Quaker stock on 2 November 1861 at Pleystowe Capel, Surrey, England, son of James Ashby, tea merchant, and his wife Eliza. A delicate child, he had little formal education but was encouraged in his natural history interests by his parents, both critical field naturalists.

He worked for his father, then visited Australia for his health in 1884-87 and migrated to Adelaide in 1888 with his elder sister.
There were three main facets to Ashby's life: his work as a land and estate agent, his passionate interest in natural history, and his involvement with the Society of Friends.

In 1902 the Ashbys moved to Blackwood in the Adelaide hills and established the property, Wittunga, in virgin bushland.
Ashby was an avid collector of birds, butterflies and other insects, shells (particularly chitons) and plants.

A critical observer, with infectious enthusiasm, he wanted to share each new discovery. He published over eighty papers in ornithology alone, and named or discovered several new birds.

His original garden has been preserved by the gift of his son Keith and his family, who in 1965 donated 35 acres (14 ha) to the Board of Governors of the Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia.