September marked Australia’s Biodiversity Month, highlighting the vital role our native plants, animals, fungi and ecosystems play in creating a healthy future.
Each year, the City of Greater Dandenong celebrates by hosting the Biodiversity Blitz on iNaturalist, encouraging the community to head outdoors and record the living species they discover. Every observation—from butterflies and wildflowers to backyard birds—contributes valuable data that helps guide conservation and land management.
A common observation during this year’s 2026 Biodiversity Blitz was the Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpos pinifolius), photographed in the Greater Dandenong. This tough native shrub produces clusters of white flowers that look like a bridal veil. It grows in local heathlands and woodlands, and its flowers provide food for native pollinators. Photos like this help us discover and better understand the biodiversity in our local area.
See the full results of the 2026 Biodiversity Blitz on the iNaturalist website.
Image Credit - chocolatelily90 - via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
