Page 12 - Tropic Magazine Issue 12

Tropic
In season

In season

Tropic’s expert guide to
the best of TNQ nature
this June and July.
Words Nicky Horstmann
Cassowary Pine
Explore / Best time of the year
As the best time of year is upon us,
perhaps it would be seasonal to take the long, pendulous, creamy following few days, so it will continue to
advantage of the cold, cooler, erh… lower-spikes that look somewhat like a put on its best show. Backyard
milder temperatures and get to know very large, drooping bottle-brush. Full telescopes could even provide vision of
some of our local treasures. e Barron of nectar and covered in pollen, these the Martian polar icecaps. Make the
Gorge National Park is one such gem. blossoms attract birds and insects alike. most of this as there won’t be an encore
Carved into the Great Escarpment, the Examples of this popular species can be performance until 2035.
gorge extends 8km inland from found on the Esplanade, in parks and In the early hours of July 28, early-risers
Kamerunga and is criss-crossed with gardens, as well as naturally occurring have the opportunity of viewing a Total
walking trails that take the energetic throughout the lowland rainforest. Lunar Eclipse. e Earth’s shadow will
among us through all sorts of country. start “taking a bite” out of the reddening
e might and beauty of the Gorge is Astronomy / Planet spotting moon at 4.24am and the Total Eclipse
also available to ordinary folk via the July this year provides some begins a little later at 5.30am.
Kuranda Train and the Skyrail. So, the astronomical highlights and they don’t Unfortunately, as the Moon is heading
first seasonal note to yourself should be necessarily demand all-nighters to catch for the horizon, we won’t see the
“reconnect with my environment – a glimpse. Add at least one of these to remainder of the show a ter 6.47am. A
research the walking tracks of the your to-do list. good west-southwestern prospect
Gorge or book a train trip today”. e 16th of the month will provide us should maximise your opportunity.
with the visual spectacle of Venus sitting
Tree / Iconic species close to the crescent Moon. Spotting this
Maybe it’s also worthwhile to get to is as simple as spotting the moon a ter
know one of the area’s iconic tree night falls. Leave it too late and you will
species, the Barringtonia calyptratra, also miss out as both players go to bed just
known as the Cassowary Pine (because a ter 9.00pm.
they eat the blue fruit) or the Mango e next event is provided by Mars on
Pine (the smell of the fruit) as well as the 27th. It will put on its brightest
the Corned-beef Tree (the smell of the orange colour for us as it will be sitting
wood). ese tall trees will begin to “at opposition” to the sun. Mars will also
lower in July and can be identified by be especially close to Earth over the

Rusty’s Markets: Health boost
Total Lunar Eclipse
The last and most important seasonal
note-to-self should be “don’t forget my
health”. Rusty’s Market is overflowing with
locally grown fruit and vegies all packed with think of it, this “to-do” doesn’t sound much of
vitamins and minerals, ready to boost your a challenge at all here in Tropical North
immune system. The variety of citrus alone Queensland!
will amaze you and daily doses could help to
ward off the winter viruses. Actually, come to MORE: rustysmarkets.com.au