Looking Beyond the Surface: How to Read a Landscape and Work With It

When we look at a landscape, it’s easy to focus on what’s right in front of us - the dry grass, the dusty soil the dry dam, maybe a couple of brave weeds clinging to life. But every patch of land holds so many more stories than what meets the eye.

Take our little patch of land in Amphitheatre, for instance.  Right now, it’s bone dry thanks to a long stretch of drought. But underneath that parched surface? Life is buzzing and crawling  - quite literally!  Our farm sits within a “Dry Grassy Forest” ecosystem.  It’s a name thought up by humans, but it helps us understand how everything fits together - the plants, the soil, the beetles, the spiders, the birds, and yes, the bees.

But I’ve been thinking: What used to be here? What lived and thrived on this land before fences went up and invasive species like rabbits and goats moved in? And maybe more importantly, what could this land look like in the future?

Our farm sits within a “Dry Grassy Forest” ecosystem

Using Tools Like NatureKit to Travel Through Time

One of my favourite tools for exploring these questions and learning how to read a landscape is a free online platform called NatureKit. It’s basically a treasure map for biodiversity nerds like me!  Using it, I can zoom in on our farm and discover what plants and animals used to live here — before colonisation, before agriculture, before roads.

NatureKit shows something called Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) - a fancy way of saying “this is what nature looked like here.” It even lists the species that would have grown in the canopy, understorey, and ground layer — plus the typical weeds to watch out for.

This info is gold if you’re trying to restore or rewild a patch of land. Because when we understand what should be growing in a space, we can work with nature, not against it.  

Pelargonium rodneyanum is a small, perennial herb that is very resilient and endemic in our area

Not All Native Plants Are Locally Native

You’ve probably heard people say, “plant natives!” - and that’s great advice.  But did you know not all native plants are locally native?  A plant might be Australian, but not adapted to your specific patch of earth.

That’s why I always encourage people to ask: “Is this plant locally native?” Plants that are endemic (which means they only grow in a specific geographic area) are often perfectly tuned to the local soil, climate, and insects - which makes them super resilient and low-maintenance.

Climate Change & Poleward MIgration

Of course, the climate is changing, and that’s forcing plants and animals to change too. Species are slowly moving toward the poles in search of suitable habitat - something known as poleward migration. It’s like a slow-motion shuffle, as species try to find the conditions they need to survive.

But that also means we need to plant with care. Even native species can become invasive if they’re plonked into the wrong spot and start taking over. That’s why it’s so important to look at the landscape - and really look.

Drought Conditions - the dams are empty!

Let Nature Be Your Guide

One of my favourite things? Seeing nature take the lead. This year we’ve had some beautiful surprises: eucalyptus, gravillia and acacia seedlings popping up all on their own. That’s nature thriving.  And when I do my own plantings, I always try to listen to what the land is telling me.

Exploring local reserves and even roadsides is another great way to get inspired. Every park, every creekline, every overgrown verge is like a window into what could be growing on your patch.

Want to Learn More about How to Read a Landscape and Work With It

If you're curious about how to use NatureKit and other amazing biodiversity tools, I run hands-on workshops to help people connect with their local ecosystems, decode their landscapes, and plant with purpose.

Check out the Workshops tab on our website or drop us a line.

Barry the Pyrenees Furry Teddy Bear Moth - A Mystery Visitor

How cute is this little furry face? I’m calling it Barry the Pyrenees Furry Teddy Bear Moth - at least for now!

Proteuxoa species are part of Australia’s pollination network

As you probably know, I’m a big fan of all insects, but lately, I’ve fallen head-over-heels for moths. On the farm, if I’m up late at night, I sometimes get surprise visits from curious little creatures fluttering into the shed. They’re drawn to the glow of the LED lights we’ve set up.  So when I’m sipping a cuppa and having a bickie, I’ll often yelp with excitement when a moth friend comes in to say hello.

Whenever I can, I take a photo and upload it to iNaturalist - one of my favourite tools for learning and connecting with other nature lovers.  I’m also contributing to a huge global biodiversity data set for conservation and land managers - every observation counts.  Thanks to the incredible community there, I’ve been expanding my knowledge of Australian moths. One of the things I’ve learned is that Australia has a huge biodiversity of moths with over 22,000 species, but only about 10,500 have actually been named and described! That leaves a whole world of moth mysteries still to be uncovered.

I went to great lengths to try and figure out who this little moth is. I used the AI powered image recognition built into iNaturalist, I chatted with other naturalists, and even reached out to the wonderful people from the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (a brilliant facebook group if you’re a fellow nature nerd). The verdict? This moth remains unnamed, but it does belong to the genus Proteuxoa — pronounced proh-TEE-uh-sow-ah.

Our Mystery Visitor - Here is a quick look at its T axonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)

• Class: Insecta (Insects)

• Order: Lepidoptera - the second-largest order of insects, includes both moths and butterflies.

• Superfamily: Noctuoidea — a huge group of mostly nocturnal moths.

• Family: Noctuidae - one of the largest moth families worldwide, including some pest species and many important native ones.

• Subfamily: Noctuinae - sometimes called "cutworms" or "dart moths" in their caterpillar stages.

• Tribe: Agrotini - ecologically significant grassland moths.

• Genus: Proteuxoa - a genus found mostly in Australia and nearby islands.

• Species: Proteuxoa sp. [undescribed] - meaning it hasn’t yet been officially named and described in scientific literature.

Why This Moth Matters

Even though it might not have an official Latin name yet, this moth is far from insignificant. Like many moths, Proteuxoa species are part of Australia’s pollination network - the night shift workers of the pollinator world! While bees and butterflies often steal the spotlight, nocturnal pollinators like this one play a crucial role by visiting night-blooming flowers, especially those that are pale, fragrant, and open after sunset.

Their caterpillars also serve as important herbivores, and both caterpillars and adult moths are a valuable food source for birds, reptiles, bats, and other insect-loving creatures. Plus, they contribute to the nutrient cycling that keeps ecosystems healthy.

So many important jobs for such a small, cute fuzzy creature! Until someone officially describes it, I’ll just keep calling this one Barry - my adorable little Pyrenees Furry Teddy Bear Moth.

Want to Help Moths (and Other Pollinators) Too?

If you love learning about moths, bees, butterflies, and other fascinating pollinators, checkout my Citizen Science and Habitat for Pollinators workshops.

In these workshops, we explore how you can: Identify pollinators, even the elusive nocturnal ones like moths. Create pollinator-friendly habitats at home, on farms, or in community spaces and become a citizen scientist using platforms like iNaturalist to help build your biodiversity knowledge.

I run workshops for community groups, schools, kinders, and anyone who wants to make a difference (and have a lot of fun doing it!).

If you'd like to know more, visit www.friendswithhoney.com.au or get in touch - I'd love to connect with you!

Sing, Dance, Learn: The Power of Music, Movement and Storytelling in Bee Education

I grew up dancing - classical ballet was my jam. My childhood was spent in a pink leotard, my hair pulled tight into a bun, and my tape deck full of Tchaikovsky.

A lot has changed since my days studying ballet at the National Theatre in St Kilda. These days, you’re more likely to find me in a beekeeping suit than a tutu. But my love of dance? That has never changed..... And that brings me to Sing, Dance, Learn.  It’s more than just a tagline - it’s at the heart of how we teach at Friends with Honey.

These days, you’re more likely to find me in a beekeeping suit than a tutu

The Birth of the Friends with Honey Musical Kids Show

Last year, we poured 12 months of creativity and passion into producing the Friends with Honey Musical Kids Show Album. What started as a simple idea to create some songs for my bee incursion programs quickly turned into something much bigger.  Once the album was complete, we saw an opportunity to bring our Sing, Dance, Learn philosophy to life through a 45-minute musical kids’ show.

By fully embracing storytelling and weaving educational messages into a performance, we found the perfect way to engage children and teach them fundamental lessons about bees and biodiversity.

Benny recording the Album - the toy piano features on 'Some Bees'

Learning Through Storytelling, Music, and Movement

In our show, I play the beekeeper, and Benny is the musician.  He visits my farm, full of curiosity about bees.  Along the way, he gets into some sticky situations - literally!  But each time he learns something new, it sparks an idea for a song.  And when he sings, he can’t help but dance!  Through this cycle of storytelling, singing, and dancing, we reinforce learning in a way that is interactive, memorable, and fun.

Why does this work so well?

• Sing – Singing enhances memory, breathing, and language skills.

• Dance – Movement supports rhythm, coordination, and emotional well-being.

• Learn – Storytelling engages imagination, emotions, and curiosity while making information easier to understand and remember.

Music, movement and storytelling aren’t just fun - they offer incredible developmental benefits. They help children improve cognitive growth, problem-solving, self-expression, and social skills.

Dress rehearsals are full of fun and dancing!

Backed by Science and Tradition

The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework recognises performing arts - music, dance, and drama - as essential components of early childhood education. But long before formal education systems existed, cultures worldwide have used storytelling, song, and dance to pass down important lessons, historical knowledge, and life skills.

Children exposed to music and movement show higher cognitive development, better knowledge retention, improved self-expression, and greater emotional competence.

Bringing Sing, Dance, Learn Into Your Classroom

To help teachers incorporate Sing, Dance, Learn into their sustainability education programs, we’ve created a resource pack, available for download alongside our music on streaming platforms. You can also book:

• A Friends with Honey bee incursion

• A performance of our Musical Kids Show

• A professional development workshop for educators

We’d love to bring the magic of music, movement, and bee education to your school.