Kwongan Kids

WESTY - The Western Swamp Tortoise!

Very Exciting News!! There is a great new children's story book available written by eco-genius Cathy Levett and the Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise Group. I caught Cathy earlier this week and had the pleasure of reading this delightful story along with enjoying some truly impressive tortoise photography. This is a really great read for both young and old. Available in soft and (like any good tortoise) hard cover. I've ordered my copy. Get yours at https://www.westernswamptortoise.com.au/news/fowst-news/item/75-new-book-about-the-tortoise-westy.html
Also check out the Friends of the Western Swamp tortoise fb group!

FYI. If you're into your plants like me there is a brilliant new website that has just been launched. Flora of Australia uses data from the Atlas of Living Australia to present an impressive distribution of Australia's plants along with extensive interactive keys at the from the family to species level to identify any and everything you come across. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa . Really impressive.

Of course if you're around the Perth region and want something a little more useful and user friendly to identify and learn more about local plants you can't go past my Old Leaves for New Books -
Interactive Key to Common Plants in the Perth Region . I've a few copies already printed lying around taking up space. Make it a Christmas Present.. Drop me a line, help me get rid of them.

In other Kwongan Kids news I'm spending some time over the summer preparing a cool Nyoongar Six Seasons poster artwork that I'll put up here and make available in the new year.

See how the donkey orchids flower looks a lot like the flower of this pea (bacon and eggs).

Another cool trick for pollination.

I love orchid season.

Check out this little Mantis on the petal of this spider orchid. Waiting for some gullible native wasp to drop by, attracted by the orchids pheromones and colours. The poor wasp will naively try to reproduce with the flower's labellum while the mantis eyes off it's lunch....

Stigmodera roei busy pollinating a Xanthorrhoea preissii flower spike! How Kwongan is that!!? Got this one blown up to put up as a poster when I'm having little stalls etc. What do you think? Needs a few more flowers maybe? Anyone want a high quality copy without my scribble just let me know.

Kwongan Kids is excited to be running an interactive and fun plant discovery stall at the upcoming Future Earth Weekend at Scitech on Sunday the 20th of August. Make sure you remember to stop by and check it out!
more info here: http://www.scitech.org.au/events/all/1968-future-earth-with-scitech

The Wildflower Society of WA's 'Bushland Big Day Out' is only 2 days away. There are still places available to book your kids in for what is set to be a fantastic event!

As a project leader within the sub-committee I'm pleased to let you know the following info and invite you along! Entry is just a gold coin donation!

The planned workshops and presenters are as follows:

PERTH’S PERFECT PLANTS FOR KLEVER KIDS with Andrew Price

The plants in our region have some amazing ecological and cultural properties. We live in a truly biodiverse region with an amazing indigenous history that is just waiting to be discovered. Kids will use an innovative and fun tool to explore our plants first hand in their environment as they explore the native bushland and discover hidden worlds beneath their feet!

NATURE/ART PARALLELS with Jennifer Dudley

Help set up “Whopper Blocks” sun, water, stone environments inside, then go bush to find a similar specific environment, noting what you see growing and living there. Use your notes, photos and sketches to begin further research or create an art work you can complete at home.

NATURE CLOSE UP with Cathy Levett

Discover hidden wonders in nature using iScopes that turn iPads into microscopes. Take a close look at soil, leaves, feathers and other aspects of nature.

WILD WRITING with Amanda Spooner

Using poetry to view and relate to nature through a different lens. Introduction to some forms of poetry e.g. haiku, acrostic poetry, and writing sessions.

FASCINATING FUNGI with Grant Thornett

On this walk you’ll don your mycologist hats and search for the astonishing varieties of fungi and slime moulds that are found in the bush.

BUILDING BUG ABODES with Faye Arcaro

A presentation about wildflowers and their relationship with pollinators and predators, then outside to make bee and bug hotels.

FANTASTIC FRUITS with Bronwen Keighery

Making creatures from WA woody plant fruits (gum nuts, banksia cones) and other plants bits.

LOVELY LEAVES AND FANTASTIC FLOWERS with Mady Colquhoun

Explore the astounding variety of leaf and flowers structure which exists in our native plants. Do all our flowers have petals? Why are some of our leaves hairy? Look close up and prepare to be amazed. Create a leaf rubbing to take home with you.

The artwork for the wonderful native garden at Ardross Primary School is nearing completion and looking good. Along with the plants I've tried to hide some sneaky animals in there too. Wrens, Kangaroos, Pardalotes for the kids to find. 10 points if you can spot a bandicoot!
Kwongan Kids can help schools and educators celebrate their local environments with the preparation of resources such as this. Get in touch for more info.

A great day at the Earth Day Expo at the City of Canning. Many thanks to the students at Mel Maria Catholic School and South Coogee Primary School for their interest and enthusiasm today!

Well done Bush Rangers at Rossmoyne Senior High School! Your seeds are germinating nicely.

ATTENTION TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IT'S FINALLY READY!!!

Kwongan Kids brand new interactive key to common plants in Perth, Western Australia is finally here. The Booklet has been specially prepared for schools and students in the region, breaking down the botany into something manageable and relevant to school students of all ages with a focus on curricula for Western Australia.

The booklet is available both in physical and digital formats for $40AUD and contains:

- Over 50 pages of full colour images and illustrations
- Full curricular links relevant to the current Western Australian Curriculum in the learning areas of Science and Humanities and Social Science (HASS)
- A massive of ecological and information about local Indigenous Australians, written in a format that engages young people and encourages discovery based learning

The booklet is also formatted as an extensive dichotomous key, with simple language allowing for the accurate identification of many common plants and plant families across Perth region with it's impressive Biodiversity. To order your copy or for more information please email [email protected]