User Profile

Merilyn House

Merilyn House is a bush regenerator and horticulturist, and she is passionate about enjoying and protecting of our local bushland. She moved to Helensburgh in 1973. In 1993, Merilyn, along with her husband Allan, started the Helensburgh & District Landcare Group, as they were concerned with the increasing presence of environmental weeds in our neighbouring bushland. Merilyn believes everyone has a responsibility to become aware of exactly what they have growing in their gardens, and to remove any problem plants.

Science & Nature

Beer traps and other snail remedies

Prompted by readers who reported snails were infesting their gardens and their letterboxes – even eating this magazine! – we asked Merilyn House of Helensburgh Landcare for tips. Is your garden being overcome by snails? Are snails eating your...

Merilyn House

January 2025

Science & Nature

Deer damage Helensburgh Bushcare site

For 30 years now, Helensburgh & District Landcare Group has been removing weeds and planting trees and shrubs at Helensburgh Creek. Those trees that were planted between 25 and 30 years ago are now, mostly, mature trees. We occasionally had deer...

Merilyn House

December 2024

Clubs & Community

Helensburgh Landcare needs you! Join Rise and Shine Community Clean-Up this Sunday

Helensburgh & District Landcare Group is celebrating 30 years of trying to protect our local bushland areas from being overtaken by exotic ‘weeds’. Helensburgh & District Landcare Group had its first weed removal day on 16 September...

Merilyn House

November 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Giant Bird of Paradise

Giant bird of paradise, Strelitzia nicolai, is an ornamental evergreen, tall, palm-like plant with large, broad leaves up 1.5m long. During spring and early summer, it bears unusual beak-like, blue and white flowers with deep purple bracts. The...

Merilyn House

August 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Liriope

Liriope (Liriope spp.) is a clump forming, grass-like plant with glossy dark green leaves. It has spikes of small purple, violet or white flowers, followed by black, pea sized berries with one seed. It is a popular garden plant used extensively for...

Merilyn House

July 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Asthma weed

Asthma weed (Parietaria judaica), also known as pellitory of the wall and sticky weed, is a native of Europe, central and western Asia and northern Africa. It has invaded and is common in some parts of eastern New South Wales, southern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, as well as being present in other states and Lord Howe Island.

Merilyn House

July 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Coolatai grass

By Merilyn House, of Helensburgh Landcare It is just over 12 months ago that I first became aware of Coolatai grass, Hyparrhenia hirta. My daughter asked me if the grass growing below the netball courts on the bike track was Coolatai grass. I took...

Merilyn House

July 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Black-eyed Susan

Remove it: Black-eyed Susan, Thunbergia alata Black-eyed Susan is a native to tropical and southern Africa. It was grown widely as a garden climber, but has ‘jumped the garden fence’ and become an environmental weed in the coastal districts of...

Merilyn House

June 2023

Science & Nature

Watch out for Mother-of-millions

Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) is native to Madagascar. It is an erect, smooth, fleshy succulent plant growing to 1m or more in height. Its mottled leaves are cylindrical and have a few small ‘teeth’ near their tips. Tiny plantlets are produced at the tips of its leaves.

Merilyn House

June 2023

Science & Nature

Watch out for Canna lily

Canna lily (Canna indica, Canna x generalis) is native to tropical America. It is considered an environmental weed in many areas of eastern and south-eastern Australia. It is also a problem on many Pacific islands, New Zealand and in the southern...

Merilyn House

June 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Cape ivy

Cape ivy (Delairea odorata), a native of southern Africa, was once widely grown as a garden ornamental. However, it is now recognised as an environmental weed, especially along the east coast of Australia. It is also a problem in NZ, Hawaii and the...

Merilyn House

May 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Cocos palm and Canary Island date palm

Be Weed Wise - Cocos palm & Canary Island date palm Cocos palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) Cocos palm Cocos palm is native to South America. It is invasive in Queensland and NSW, as well as places...

Merilyn House

May 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Dietes

Dietes spp. – also known as butterfly iris or just dietes – is in the Iris family. It is native to eastern and southern Africa. Dietes has recently been appearing in bushland in south-eastern Australia. It still seems to be commonly planted by...

Merilyn House

May 2023

Be Weed Wise

Watch out for Ochna

Ochna, the Mickey Mouse plant (Ochna serrulata), is another example of an ornamental species escaping into bushland. A native of Africa, it has been widely planted in Australian gardens for its strikingly attractive flowers. It is a significant...

Merilyn House

May 2023