Day 4 March 8 2024 Flora and Fauna Sanctuary Project Montville QLD, Australia

Jono, Kaelan, and I set off in different directions. Each with a mission to de-weed the forest for the planting of native species. Jono and Kaelan went after the Flindersia brayleyana. I was focusing on the Hypoestes phyllostachya or the common name polka dot plant. It is sold at local nurseries but once released into the wild, it can be very invasive. It has been hours of spraying, pulling, and snipping for a $1 punnet bought at an irresponsible retailer and probably planted by my neighbor, "Ochna". It is important to note that property owners near national parks should plant their gardens responsibly. We found a well-developed Olea paniculata that seems to have been spontaneous germination. I also noticed how much the previously weeded areas had grown. We have had rain nearly every day since December. The open spaces are starting to fill with ferns and weeds. We will start planting an understorey next round.