Just walking in the rain

The Rainforest Gully on 1 March 2012

By Linda Beveridge, Volunteer Guide

Canberra’s summer of 2011-12 had 202.4 mm of rain, compared with the historical average of 168.7 mm. The rain fell over 33 rain days, well above the long-term average of 22 rain days. Most of the rain fell in February which recorded more than twice its historical average rainfall. The wettest day in February was the 29^th which reached 29.8 mm at the airport.

So, on 1 March 2012 the Rainforest Gully at the ANBG had more water flow than I had ever seen in it before; a waterfall in the upper New South Wales area (Fig 1); cascades below a staircase (Fig 2) to the lower board walk which was closed because water was lapping part of it near the Victoria area (Fig 3).

One of the Dicksonia antarctica found the slope too damp (Fig 4) while some others stood each side of the rapid flow (Fig 5) which led to a turbulent flow of water into a wide pond in the Tasmania area (Fig 6). 

Fig 2. Cascade below tower steps to boardwalk	Fig 3. Water on boardwalk	Fig 4. Soil too soggy for a Dicksonia antarctica
Fig 5. Dicksonia antarctica beside water	Fig 6. Wide ponds near green bridge	All photos were taken by Linda.

Perhaps the rainforest gully was...