• The delicate fringed lily.

DJILBA’S here and the Friends of Coolbinia Bushland are inviting the public down to enjoy the wildlfowers, learn some expert Noongar knowledge, and hopefully sign on to help restore the pocket of remnant bushland. 

Djilba is the Noongar transitional season of clear cold days mixed with warm and windy days, and it doesn’t have a set yearly start date but is marked by the explosion of flowering plants across the southwest. 

During Djilba the Coolbinia bushland rolls out a carpet of brightly coloured wildflowers and orchids. The land is home to about 80 species of native plants and a lot of birds, reptiles and bugs, and provides a habitat for the endangered red-tailed cockatoo.

The Friends of Coolbinia Bushland was founded many years back then revived in 2020 by a new group of volunteers who wanted to protect the Bradford Street remnant bush, and with some state and federal funding they’ve been working hard to clear out pernicious invasive weeds that’ve been giving the native plants a hard time. 

They’re inviting folk down for their open day on Saturday August 27 from 1pm to 4pm for wildflower walks and expert talks to learn Noongar knowledge and hear from expert guides about how to spot tiny details of hidden biodiversity. 

During June the Friends were helped out by students from the neighbouring Coolbinia Primary School (which owns the land), planting 400 native seedlings. The plan is for every student to have a tree or shrub to plant every year.

Now they’ll need regular watering and more hands to keep the ever-expanding weeds at bay, so they’re hoping more volunteers are inspired to sign up.

The walks and talks and an afternoon tea on August 27 are free but register a spot via www. trybooking.com/CBCXC

by DAVID BELL