FOHCS - Project P

Project Proserpina Bakehouse

Dear Customers,

We have set aside part of our property to create a wildlife garden with the support from the Friends of Hughes Creek. Since we are so close to the National Park it is important to be responsible in the area we live and work. Our garden aligns with the council’s Gardens for Wildlife program. This means planting local indigenous plants and removing environmental weeds. We are proud to display the Our Mountain Home logo in this garden as support for nature in the Dandenong Ranges. We enjoy our garden and its ongoing progress, hope you will too.

Yours Sincerely

Proserpina Management Oct-2022

How to Create a Wildlife Garden

Indigenous Plants: Select plants native to your specific area of the Yarra Ranges to provide natural food and shelter.
Structure: Use a variety of plants, including groundcovers, shrubs, and trees, along with safe spots like rocks or log piles.
Water: Provide water sources like bird baths or ponds to attract birds, frogs, and insects.
Safety: Add nesting boxes for birds or possums, and avoid using pesticides

Overview (updated May 2026)

Medium shrubs and small trees (3-8 metres) are being used to create a protective canopy, while allowing under storey shrubs to thrive in summer conditions. Keeping many of the existing exotics works well for this, although some will need to be transitioned over time as they are environmental weeds. We have added several native Blackwoods to help with the canopy.

R - Rhododendrons (Exotic)

P - Pittostrum varieties (Exotic)

B - Blackwood (Acaicia melanoxylom)

Along most edges we have purposely used low plants (0.5-1 metre) and ground creepers, with taller plants positioned further in (low shrubs 1-2 metres).
If you look you will see a water tray for smaller birds, a "bee hotel" and a nesting box for smaller possums. Many of the sedges used will support butterfly larvae and when they mature we expect to see many butterflies.

Section 1; Low plants, ground covers (nectar garden)

This area is a big focus high flowing plants for butterflies and other nectar insects. Various native paper daisies, ground cover grevillias, some clumps of native Poa grasses, billy buttons. Further away from the railing are Corea reflexa varieties and Mint bush. Keeping these pruned to a height of around 1m will make them dense, perfect for honey eating small birds. Note the bee hotel feature made from Blackwood.

Area prepared for planting May 2024

Section 1; May-2024

Section 2; Low to Medium shrubs

This area is under transistion, mostly Mexican orange bush (exotic), Banksia serrata, Kunzea ambigua (Wilsons Prom variety). A Blackwood was planted early 2025 and hope to create more shade cover.

Section 3; Low plants to low shrubs

Grasses along the car park edge with further ground covers. Further in some small shrubs.

Section 3; Jul-2025 after grassy area weeded and mulch added

Section 4; Low plants to medium shrubs

Mother shield ferns, Trigger plants and Poa grasses as garden edging. More Correa reflexa and Mountain correa (C. lawrenceana) further in. Display shrubs Tea tree and Warratah will provide flowers for display and for wildlife.

Section 4; Fresh planting Aug 2025

Aug 2023, the beginning of the garden path

Upgrade of the path May 2024

Section 5; Low plants to low shrubs

A ranged of small grass clumps, running postman as a ground cover. Low shrubs, Round leaf Pomaderris, Banksia spinulosa 'Birthday Candles'...

Snow May-2026 Note the garden bench seat was donated by the Friends of Hughes Creek made from recycled packing materials.

Section 6; Oct-2022 Ivy one of the many enviromental weeds that needed to be removed

Section 6; Low shrubs to medium shrubs

Waratah, Banksia spinulosa 'Birthday Candles', Grevillia, Some Thomasia varieties that can handle heavy shade yet dry conditions. A blackwood has been added here to help transistion the Pittostrum in years to come.

Section 7; Low plants to low shrubs

Mostly Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia) a sedge garden. Some smaller shrubs, grevillias, Prickly moses (Acacia verticillata)

Section 8; Medium Shrubs, high shrubs and small trees

Strong emphasis on indigenous plants, Hazel Pomerderris, Blanket Leaf, Tree everlasting, Banyalla

Section 9; Low plants, high shrubs and small trees

Dianella sedge along the garden edge followed by Grevillia, Banyalla, Soft tree fern, Dusty miller, Snowy diasy bush. An established Blackwood will eventually take over the Stawberry tree (enviromental weed).

Section 8; Nov 2022, shows general garden before works began

Section 10; Jul-2023 initial planting

Section 10; Medium shrubs

Along the path edge, Hop goodinias, Dusty miller and some clumps of native grasses. One blackwood is becoming extablished as a canpoy tree. Daisy musk, Victoria Christmas bush...