Excursion 13: Alberton Cemetery

SEANA Spring 2023 Camp

Excursion 13: Alberton Cemetery	Sunday afternoon
Leader: Lorraine Norden	Facilitator: Julie Murray

Our visit to the historic Alberton Cemetery coincided with an attractive display of a range of bright, colourful flowers nestled among the grasses and sedges. This site is known for its native grasses; these flower and seed later in the year. We set off along the main gravel path, past a patch of Golden Weather-grass that gleamed beside the track – the light shower of rain didn’t dull their colour or our enthusiasm.

Lorraine guided us to spots where flowers were displayed at their best. We soon found ourselves wandering among a delightful display of colour: Trigger plants, Chocolate Lillies, Milkmaids, clumps of Pimelea and a patch of Hop Goodenia.

Further exploration revealed more lilies: Yellow Rush-lily, Bulbine Lily and the less conspicuous Blue Grass-lily. Held high above the grasses, were yellow pom-pons of Common Billy-buttons, some providing a home for a tiny spider with its web handy, just below the pom-pom.

A careful search revealed the tiny blue, mauve and purple blooms of Love Creeper, Slender Speedwell and Showy Violets. Over a wider area, among the many plants, we found Dianella revoluta, Running Marsh-flowers, Small Grasstree, Swamp Daisies and Wiry Buttons in bloom. Before leaving, many of us walked to the Albert River at the back of the cemetery to see the historic graves and riverside vegetation.

We thank Lorraine and Julie for organising and leading this interesting and enjoyable excursion.

Margaret Rowe