Australian Plants Society NSW Stories archive

Open garden and plant sale at Westleigh Native Plants - 28–29 March 2020

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 08:17:03 GMT

Brian Roach of Westleigh Native Plants is having an open garden and plant sale at his home in northern Sydney on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March. Free entry.

Brian says:

"If you’re anything like me, there’s lots of holes to fill in the garden after a devastating final 3 months of last year and the start of this year with virtually no rain, unbelievable heat and water restrictions. But what a wonderful fall of rain in early February! What a disappointment the Johanna’s Christmas Bush has been. All the mature plants in my garden flowered really well around October but then produced little or no red colouring late in the year, obviously due to the total lack of rain. The only exceptions were a couple of reasonably mature plants in pots. I was able to keep the water up to them and hey presto! Plenty of colour as shown in the photo below."

Brian will have plenty of these special plants in 6”/140mm pots next at $18 each. There’ll also be a good range of other plants for sale, mainly in tumblers at $5 each. Brian is concentrating on propagating plants that he can confidently recommend for our changing weather conditions – hot and dry. Enter the wonderful grevilleas, eremophilas (emu bush) and many of our grey-foliaged native plants.

Details

Free entry

Location: 47 Eucalyptus Drive, Westleigh 2120

Time: 9.30 am to 3.30 pm.

Contact: 0418 115 630, bcroach@optusnet.com.au

Read more about Brian on ABC's Gardening Australia here.

Climbing Mount Banks - inspiring our sense of wonder

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 11:44:06 GMT

Ian Cox from Parramatta Hills Group shares his walk to Mount Banks in Blue Mountains National Park, one of the highest points in the Blue Mountains - just three weeks before bushfire.

On 26 November 2019 Lesley Waite and I went on a magical walk to the summit of Mount Banks. The objectives of our visit were twofold – to indulge in the beautiful upper Blue Mountains flora, and to experience the magnificent surroundings and views. We were not disappointed in either of these. However, we were not to know that in less than three weeks this area and many others would be scorched and blackened by a massive bushfire.

The fire has changed everything, at least for the immediate future. It will be worth watching the vegetation’s recovery and the re-greening of the landscape over the next few months and years.

The walk to the summit is not long or difficult but a bit steep in parts. As you can see above, at the start of the track previous walkers were happy to make their walking sticks available for subsequent users. However, although one member of our duo is ‘not young’, he managed to make the journey without their help.

The track starts off in open woodland, but after a modest climb soon comes to low-growing heath and bare sandstone. This part of the track is where the best views are to be had, and also where the interesting plants are.

The heath vegetation is what I like best (above). You can easily see the plant that asks for a closer look. And there were so many. Our cameras worked overtime!

The heath is dominated by the Proteaceae family such as dwarf Banksia serrata, Hakea dactyloides (left photo above), Hakea salicifolia, Isopogon anemonifolius, Lambertia formosa and Conospermum taxifolium (right photo above).

One plant that is quite prolific and makes its presence known with profuse white flowers is Hakea teretifolia. Here, it is semi-prostrate, less than half a metre high, and quite attractive so long as we didn’t get too close to its needle-sharp leaves. It is in the background of this photo below of Lesley engrossed in botanical research,

Another notable plant is Darwinia fascicularis ssp. oligantha. We noticed this plant near Wentworth Falls on a previous trip, sprawling over the rocks as if taking advantage of the glorious views. It was doing exactly the same here. It seems to position itself only over and around rocks that afford the best outlook – a very clever plant! You can see it doing this in the photo below.

The views are breathtaking. You feel so privileged to be here, amid the wonders of nature! The darwinia and hakea are both enjoying the view of the Grose Valley below.

When the Parramatta and Hills Group walked here over 20 years ago, I vividly recall seeing a profusion of Boronia floribunda flowering at this time of year. However today we noticed only a few of this species. Why is this? Could it be because of different fire regimes, or climate change?

Ironstone bands on the sandstone form an unusual pattern (photo below).

As you start the climb towards the summit, you can clearly see the thick forest growing in the rich basaltic soil that caps Mount Banks:

Made it!

Here the forest is dominated by Eucalyptus cypellocarpa. The understorey is quite thick, and contains several species of ferns. Because of the tall trees surrounding the summit there are no sweeping views in all directions, and you don’t get the feeling that you’re on one of the highest points in the Blue Mountains. But you do get a great sense of achievement!

At the summit is a memorial plaque to George Caley, which reads:

George Caley

Botanist – Explorer

With companions travelled via Kurrajong and ascended the Mount on 15^th November 1804.

He named it Mount Banks after Sir Joseph Banks.

There ended his heroic attempt to cross the Blue Mountains

Caley took three weeks to reach Mount Banks. In a letter to Banks after his return he wrote: “The roughness of the country I found beyond description.” And from his journal: “. . . it was the most laborious (journey) man ever went to. Every day sweat poured down in torrents, and our clothes were commonly as wet as if they had been dipped in water.”

Caley’s epic journey, and our visit today, couldn’t have been more different!

All photos: Lesley Waite/Ian Cox

Read about another of Ian's Blue Mountains adventures here.

Gardening tips for hotter and drier conditions

enewsletter Editor — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 11:24:53 GMT

With our increasingly hotter and drier conditions and water restrictions in many locations, new approaches are needed even for gardeners used to native plants.

Here are some tips to consider for hotter and drier conditions in general and for more very hot days.

Well-known tips for all gardeners that are still tried-and-true include:

Choosing plants appropriate for the conditions, which means matching up your conditions and the preferred conditions of plants.
Grouping plants with similar preferred conditions together in the garden.
Using mulch to cover the surface of the soil to retain moisture and prevent weeds.

Tips for replacing plants

For existing plants in gardens, our hotter and drier conditions mean that as well as the natural old age deaths of plants, some may disappear before their expected lifespan. Although it is always sad to lose a carefully chosen and nurtured plant, think of it as an opportunity to replace it with a more tolerant plant.

Research heat and dry-tolerant genera and species.
Be aware of the preferred conditions of the plants you choose.
Aim for plants that thrive, not just survive, in our new conditions.
Consider the likely future climate conditions in your area, particularly when planting trees or longer lasting plants.
Collect seed or take cuttings from favourite plants so you have a chance to grow more.

Tips for very hot days

Cover sensitive plants to prevent leaf burn.
Water well in the days before.
Prune plants.

Is it really dead?

Don’t be too quick to write-off a plant after a bout of hot weather. It may look unhappy, but could recover from wilted or dead leaves. Even with dead leaves, the rest of the plant may still be alive. Prune off affected foliage then water well and wait to see what happens. Research if the plant has a lignotuber, epicormic buds or other ways to recover from leaf damage. For larger plants with a trunk, scrape away a small piece of bark to see if the plant is alive.

Tips for plants in pots

Plants in pots need particular care due to their smaller amount of soil and ability to dry out faster.

Avoid black plastic pots. Even sitting a black pot in another larger lighter colour pot can help.
Use waterwell pots to allow plants to draw on moisture as they need it.
Cover the soil surface with mulch.
Use bigger pots.
Soak pots in a bucket of water and let them drain to fully soak them.
Move pots to a shadier, sheltered position, on a day forecast to be particularly hot and/or windy.

Thriving not just surviving

An example of plants which thrive may be eremophilas, but not correas. Maria Hitchcock, the former leader of the Correa Study Group and holder of the National Correa Collection in Armidale NSW, writes in the December 2019 Correa Study Group newsletter that correas are generally thought to be drought-hardy plants and until the current drought she has rarely had to water her well-mulched gardens. However, the current conditions have proven disastrous for many recent and even well-established plants. While Maria’s collection is now being held in pots until the drought ends, climate change may lead to a rethink on how we garden, possibly moving towards more deep-rooted trees rather than shallow-rooted shrubs such as correas.

The Gardening Australia February 2020 issue has ideas too.

Send your tips or success stories to the enewsletter editor Rhonda Daniels at enewsletter@austplants.com.au

APS members in the media in January 2020

enewsletter Editor — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 10:34:26 GMT

Three APS NSW members were featured in the media in January 2020.

Conny Harris

Conny Harris, President of Northern Beaches Group, was featured in the Sydney Morning Herald on 24 January 2020 for saving Aboriginal carvings by very generously buying bushland threatened by development at Cromer Heights.

As soon as they owned the six hectares of land, Conny and husband Anthony Harris asked for the 36 carvings and rock shelter to be added to the list of protected Aboriginal places. The NSW government has recognised the area’s “exceptional significance”, declaring it protected. The artefacts have been declared an Aboriginal Place, meaning they cannot be destroyed or altered without a permit from the heritage office.

Read the article "'Protect all of this': Victory in the fight to defend Aboriginal carvings" by Janek Drevikovsky here.

Greg Bourke

APS member Greg Bourke, who spoke on carnivorous plants at our May 2019 quarterly gathering, successfully saved his home in the Blue Mountains from fire. An ABC 7.30 interview with Greg can be viewed here.

Greg has also been also busy fighting fires in his day job as Curator of The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah. Unfortunately, about a quarter of the living collection was lost.

Rhonda Daniels

Sydney Morning Herald columnist Jenna Price was looking for an APS Sutherland Group member to speak to after a holiday visit to the Royal National Park. Rhonda Daniels, secretary of Sutherland Group, answered the phone on a Sunday evening and was quoted in Jenna's article on Tuesday 31 December 2019 titled "Parched suburban dreams now dying by gardeners' own hands".

"You can see the impacts of climate change with a gradual reduction in moisture and higher temperatures," she says. "It's beyond drought."

Daniels is secretary of the Sutherland Group which completed a list of plants seen on the coast walk in the park 14 years ago and she saw the impact of the major fires in 1994 and 2001 on her much loved park. "Some plants can resprout and send out leaves really quickly - but if there's no water at all, the plants just die. The banksias have been hard-hit and a lot are dying, weakened by the drought, it's very sad for people who love plants. It's a whole ecosystem, the plants depend on the animals and the animals depend on the plants."

If you see an APS member in the news, please email the enewsletter editor at enewsletter@austplants.com.au

Bushfire recovery – what we can do

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 06:06:27 GMT

The 2019/20 summer of bushfires has had devastating impacts, with lives and homes lost, communities disrupted and millions of hectares of native vegetation burnt. Fire is a natural part of the Australian environment, and plants can recover from fire, but fire behaviour and impacts are changing.

Fire impacts have caused much distress and prompted much public debate over the causes and solutions. Here are some ideas for APS members to help recovery of our natural environment from bushfires. There are based on ideas from Dan Clarke, APS NSW Conservation Officer, and academic sources including The Conversation website. Depending on your location and skills and regional priorities, there are different ways to help in the short term and long term.

Other suggestions are welcome. Email Rhonda Daniels, enewsletter editor at enewsletter@austplants.com.au

1. Help rescue and care for fauna

Fauna can be caught up in any natural disaster, just like us. We can help care for and rehabilitate animals injured in a bushfire. This may include leaving out water, providing nest boxes and, in special circumstances, plant vegetation providing critical food resources or supporting wildlife carers with supplies.

2. Undertake or get involved in flora or fauna monitoring

Monitoring recovery is important, especially of threatened plants where we know populations have been burnt. We can liaise with research organisations to provide local support or adopt a local patch to monitor impacts and recovery.

3. Be practical on the ground, noting priorities may vary by species and regions

Control weeds to allow nature to recover.
Control feral grazing animals and protect regenerating plants from animals with, for instance, temporary fencing and tree guards.
Don’t disturb the soil where seeds from burnt plants are likely to be scattered.
Don’t clear “dead” plants which may resprout and provide shelter for remaining wildlife, including perches for birds who may bring in seeds.
Ensure areas are not stripped of seed in the rush to collect seed for revegetation.

4. Donate to or volunteer with organisations supporting recovery and reducing future impacts

This could include organisations for weed removal, landcare, conservation, wildlife rescue and care, fire fighting, national parks and research.

For maximum impact, check what support is most wanted, and be clear what organisation you are donating to and that your donation is going towards what you intend.

5. Influence public policy to address causes, assist recovery and reduce future fire impacts

At an individual level, this could include writing direct emails or letters to decision makers or the media, commenting in social media, supporting peak lobbying organisations, and supporting an evidence-based approach whenever talking about fire recovery issues.

Lobby politicians for more resources and protection of our natural areas to allow flora and fauna to recover.
Protect natural areas which can act as refuges.
Control feral pests and weeds and increase control efforts for pest animals and weeds that can worsen the impacts of these fires on wildlife.
Ensure any activities allowed in national parks support recovery.
Stop native vegetation clearing, especially unburnt vegetation home to threatened species and communities.

6. Be informed and correct misinformation

There is much community debate over causes of fires and solutions to reduce future impacts including land use and management in national parks, other natural areas and areas near development. Solutions should be based on research and evidence. Promote reputable sources of information, ensure you are well-informed, and discuss and share information with other people.

The Conversation website has published many articles by university academics and other researchers based on their years of research and evaluation of the evidence. The articles are short and free to access. Here’s just a selection of recent articles:

Pulling out weeds is the best thing you can do to help nature recover from fires by Don Driscoll

Conservation scientists are grieving after the bushfires – but we must not give up by Stephen Garnett and others

A season in hell: bushfires push at least 20 threatened species closer to extinction by John Woinarski

Many of our plants and animals have adapted to fires, but now the fires are changing by Cris Brack

Yes, native plants can flourish after bushfire. But there’s only so much hardship they can take by Lucy Commander and Heidi Zimmer

Weather bureau says hottest, driest year on record led to extreme bushfire season by Australian Bureau of Meteorology staff

Take care when examining the economic impact of fires. GDP doesn’t tell the full story by Janine Dixon

Researchers across diverse disciplines have devoted their working lives to understanding Australia’s natural environment, how plants and animals respond to fire, changing fire patterns, and recovery. There is much knowledge and research on all aspects of fire, including a well-established Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre. Let's implement what we do know and keep working to fill our knowledge gaps.

Banksia serrata recovering after fire (photo Ralph Cartwright)

Australian Flora Foundation newsletter – Research Matters, January 2020

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 02:51:13 GMT

The latest newsletter from the Australian Flora Foundation is now available here. The foundation is a charity fostering scientific research into the biology and cultivation of the Australian flora.

Research Matters, No. 31, January 2020 announces projects being funded by the foundation and prizes awarded:

The foundation has awarded four grants for research commencing in 2020: Jenny Guerin (Botanic Gardens South Australia) for a project on the seed biology of sedges for restoration of wetlands; Borala Liyanage (The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan) for a project on understanding seed and reproductive biology of Geijera parviflora and the implications for conservation and restoration; Harry MacDermott (Charles Darwin University) for a project on the fire ecology of Northern Australian heath vegetation; and Jasmin Packer (University of Adelaide) for a project on fire versus mechanical disturbance in stimulating germination and establishment of the endangered Acacia whibleyana.
The foundation awarded two prizes to students at the annual conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA) held in November 2019 in Tasmania.

Member benefit – 10% discount at Randwick Council nursery

enewsletter Editor — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 04:54:34 GMT

Randwick City Council nursery is pleased to offer a 10% discount on plant purchases to members of the Australian Plants Society NSW.

The nursery specialises in Australian natives and Eastern Suburbs indigenous species in tubestock to 300 mm pots.

It is open Monday to Friday 9 am to 3 pm, plus the first Saturday of each season.

Find a plant list and nursery information here.

Location: 2B Barker St, Kingsford NSW.

Phone: (02) 9093 6250

For more APS member benefits, check here.

An award winning coastal garden with a Wollemi pine by Kim Rudder

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:12:03 GMT

The Rudder garden at Maroubra recently won the Native Garden Section of the Randwick Council Garden Competition for the 16th year in a row. Kim wrote to share his own Wollemi pine, after missing our November 2019 quarterly gathering on the Wollemi pine.

My Wollemi pine

Here is my Wollemi Pine. It was given to me as a small tree about 30 cm tall, close to the first public release, somewhere like 17–18 years ago. It is now 4–5 metres tall. It has branched 3–4 m above the ground (when the top growing tip was damaged). Where it has lost leaves in the lower part of the trunk, it has several small branches, all actively growing. The longest of these is about 50 cm long and has just broken out into new growth. Last year it produced a female cone about 1.5 x golf ball size: this year two more.

It was planted directly into where it is today. I have not directly fed it. It is well mulched. It is in questionable sandy soil not far from Maroubra Beach, with five houses between our place and Arthur Byrne Reserve behind the beach. It is fairly close to a couple of large Callitris pines.

Living with salt spray

The only care I give it is to give the foliage a spray with the hose every 2 or 3 days to wash off any salt residue.

I have never been sure about this... the car gets a little salty so I figure the plants also get a bit salty. It’s not a major problem, but I have given most of the plants a rinse regularly over the last 20 years or so. I don’t give much thought to the fact that the salt I wash off goes into the soil, and have never thought to test this, but there never seems to be a problem.

The rest of the garden - flowers

Garden paths and shade for summer

Relocation native plant sale at Somersby - limited dates

enewsletter Editor — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 04:29:12 GMT

Sustainable Natives is a wholesale native plant nursery located in Somersby on the Central Coast.

It has been operating for over 10 years on the mountain but will have to move to another site nearby and has to sell its stock!

The SALE DATES are:

Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December 2019

Friday 13, Saturday 14 and 15 December 2019

Sustainable Natives is moving to another site TBA and need to clear at near wholesale prices plants which range from tubestock ($3–$4) to 140 mm plants ($7.50–$10), 200 mm pots ($12.50–$17.50) and semi advanced ($35–$60). All prices are only available during these special open days in November and December 2019 only!

Plants will make great Christmas Gifts and there is plenty of Christmas bush for sale.

Location: 972 Wisemans Ferry Road, Somersby.

There is a clearly marked sign at the property. Drive through past the shed and house and through to the back of the property.

Website: www.sustainablenatives.com.au

Contact Jonathan Steeds 0415 465 162 or Olga Blacha 0414 557 581.

Free online short course in natural history illustration

enewsletter Editor — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 04:10:19 GMT

The University of Newcastle is offering a free online short course in natural history illustration, starting 4 March 2020.

The six week course covers:

Core scientific observational skills
Field drawing and sketching techniques
Concept sketch development
Composition for natural history illustration
Form, proportion and structure essentials
Drawing and rendering techniques.

Taught by staff from the Bachelor of Natural History Illustration program, it aims to help people learn how to see and draw nature like an illustrator and build observational and visual interpretation skills in an interactive and enjoyable way.

There is an option to pay US$49 to complete the assessment and receive a certificate.

APS members Liz Aitken and Leonie Hogue completed the course in 2019 and recommend it.

See more information, including a short video from the teaching staff: here:

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/online-learning/drawing-nature-science-and-culture

Blue Mountains Adventure by Ian Cox

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 21:56:19 GMT

The number one priority of our trip to the Blue Mountains on 7th September was to hear Liz Benson’s talk about the Wollemi Pine at the Wentworth Falls History Centre. While we were there, as well as absorbing the views around the falls, we wanted to do some plant exploring on Kings Tableland, and also take a look at the location of Grevillea ‘Lawson Queen’, discovered by Pip Gibian in 1988.

After Liz Benson’s fascinating presentation, our first stop was Wentworth Falls Lake, which was created to supply water for the steam engines on the nearby railway. It’s a delightful park, very scenic and extensive, and features large sandstone sculptures of the seedpods of plants native to the area. Two endangered species, the Giant Dragonfly and the Blue Mountains Water Skink, live here. I shouldn’t really say this, but when I was a child I accidentally fell into the lake from the wharf – it was winter too.

Wentworth Falls Lake. Photo Lesley Waite.

I should mention the weather. It was extremely cold and windy. I checked the actual weather readings later for nearby Katoomba, and the day’s temperatures ranged between 2 and 4 degrees. The wind blew from the west-south-west at 46 kph with gusts much higher. At the lookouts near the top of the falls people were getting drenched as the water was blown up by the strong winds. On occasions not a drop of water seemed to be going down!

Photos above: The ‘upside-down’ waterfall. Photo Lesley Waite: Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii. Photo Brian Walters

A small shrub that enjoys these constantly moist situations is Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii (formerly named Microstrobus fitzgeraldii) or Dwarf Mountain Pine. It’s an endangered species that only grows on wet rocks and ledges on south-facing waterfalls between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba, and we could see it in the distance.

The views of Jamison Valley and Mount Solitary were magnificent as usual. Now and again I get envious of people living in the mountains so close to such natural wonders. Except for the sometimes-extreme weather, of course.

In 1836 a young Charles Darwin visited the falls on his way to Bathurst. He wrote: “there is a view exceedingly well worth visiting . . . Below is the grand bay or gulf, for I know not what other name to give it, thickly covered with forest. The point of view is situated as it were at the head of the Bay, for the line of cliff diverges away on either side, showing headland, behind headland, as on a bold Sea coast . . .

This kind of view was to me quite novel and extremely magnificent.”

Jamison Valley and Mount Solitary viewed from the falls. Photo Lesley Waite.

After a quick lunch we went across to Kings Tableland - along Tablelands Road, parked in Chester Road and took a wander down the bush track to Rocket Point Lookout. Here, right at the lookout and rather appropriately sprawled over the rocks opposite the falls was Darwinia fascicularis subsp.oligantha. This is an attractive decumbent shrub I’ve been growing in the garden for years. It’s very hardy, and where the branches contact the soil they usually take root.

The genus Darwinia was named after Charles Darwin’s grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, who was a well-known English physician. He was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, inventor and poet.

On this walk we noticed the flora was generally stunted, no doubt due to the harsh conditions and rocky terrain. The Proteacae family had by far the greatest representation here - Banksia cunninghamiana, B. ericifolia, B. oblongifolia, B. serrata, Hakea dactyloides, H. teretifolia, Isopogon anemonifolius, Petrophile pulchella and Lambertia formosa were spotted.

We bumped into (sometimes literally) a Hakea with yellow flowers and needle-like leaves that was vaguely familiar. I pondered over its identity for a few days, and came to the conclusion that it must be Hakea propinqua. Now, my reference books are fairly old, and after a bit more time I finally woke up. I noticed in my Fairley and Moore a note under Hakea propinqua that says: “A yellow flowered form in the higher Blue Mountains is now regarded as a new species, H. pachyphylla.” And do you know what? A few years ago, Alan Fairley had given me a plant of it (along with a few other unusual ones), and it’s still growing here! Hakea pachyphylla. Photo Lesley Waite.

Next, on to Lawson. Pip’s Grevillea ‘Lawson Queen’ is thought to be a natural hybrid between G. sericea and G. oleoides. It has large deep pink flowers and grows in a very small area north of Lawson. Pip has registered this plant with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority, and her application notes said: “Thought to be a Grevillea sericea hybrid, possibly with G. oleoides which also occurs in the area. The differences are in the deepness of the pink in the flower colour and the leaf characteristics. The very best-coloured G. sericea comes nowhere near it. The leaves are much wider than G. sericea. The leaf is a much darker green than G. sericea. Grevillea sericea can be quite variable in leaf, and for a while it was thought it could possibly be a new species however it does not set seed suggesting it may be sterile hybrid.

It has been in the applicant’s garden since it was first collected.”

Today we found that the fire trail leading to the site of G. ‘Lawson Queen’ has a locked gate. It was late afternoon, and although quite close to its location we didn’t have quite enough time to continue our journey on foot. However, we did have a short meander in the bush just past the gate. There was plenty of Grevillea sericea and what I thought was G. oleoides here, the latter having large rose-pink flowers. However, when Pip saw Lesley’s photo below of one of these plants she thought it could be a hybrid. After all, there are many intergrades and look-alikes in the area, but there’s none as pretty as G. ‘Lawson Queen’.

Left to right: Grevillea ‘Lawson Queen’. Photo Rob Horton; G. sericea. Photo Brian Walters; Is this a rose-pink form of G. oleoides, or is it a “brother or sister” of G. ‘Lawson Queen’? Photo Lesley Waite.

Here too was Woollsia pungens, on which most plants had a mixture of white and pink flowers. We had never seen this before – perhaps the pink flowers change colour to white as they age?

On a previous visit I had seen an unusual form of Grevillea laurifolia growing in this vicinity, with long upright leaves like rabbits’ ears.

It was getting dark. It had been a fabulous day, and we couldn’t have crammed anything more into it. Our passion of being totally immersed in native plants had been temporarily satisfied!

Woollsia pungens. Photo Lesley Waite

Growing Hoyas in pots, by Ian Cox

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 21:38:28 GMT

I’ve been growing a Hoya australis in a concrete trough for several years, and each year in the warmer months it puts on a nice display of pink flowers over a long period.

Hoyas seem to like their roots restricted, and I haven’t seen a need to repot it yet. I found that the medium should be well-drained and open, so I gave it half pine bark and half potting mix. It gets a 9-month slow-release fertilizer each spring, and is placed in bright filtered light away from frosts.

My Hoya is supported by plastic stakes slightly more than a metre high, which it soon covered and made invisible. One thing to remember is that it flowers each year from the same stems, so it shouldn’t be trimmed too much.

I’ve found it’s easy to grow, needs little care, and has had no pests so far. It’s also very easy to propagate from cuttings.

Spring 2019 issue of Australian Plants journal

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 11:25:14 GMT

The Spring 2019 issue of Australian Plants was mailed to members and subscribers in late November. Members of the Australian Plants Society NSW receive Australian Plants four times a year as part of their membership.

The Spring issue is a theme issue on mini-myrtles, the smaller members of the Myrtaceae family, produced by the WA Wildflower Society. It has articles on:

Mini myrtles
Starflowers (Calytrix) diversity and identification guide
The pomegranates – Balaustion and Cheyniana
Hypocalymma - the myrtles
Rinzia – my special choice
Seed propagation of 'mini myrtles'
Mini myrtles: grow from cuttings
Myrtle rust impacts in Eastern Australia
Myrtle rust impacts in Western Australia

Subscribe now

Non-members can subscribe to Australian Plants. Annual subscription (four issues) is $30 including postage. Overseas subscription is A$45.

Online payment is now available here.

Contact:

Subscription Officer

PO Box 3066

Bowenfels NSW 2790

merleaps@bigpond.com

Single issues

Limited supplies of recently published past issues are available for $5 per issue plus $2 postage in Australia. Email merleaps@bigpond.com

Olive Pink: Artist, activist and gardener

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 09:54:24 GMT

Jennifer Farrer from APS Parramatta Hills Group shares the life of Olive Pink, 1884–1975, from a book celebrating her life.

Olive Pink: Artist, activist and gardener. A life in flowers by Gillian Ward. Hardie Grant Books, 2018.

Visit the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens

Perhaps you have visited the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens in Alice Springs. It is certainly one of the best places to see Central Australian flora and as a bonus there is an excellent café. So who was Olive Pink?

Olive Pink's early life

Olive Pink was born in Hobart in 1884 and learned to love the Australian bush and its unique flora on rambles with her father on Mt Wellington. Her life was influenced by the Quaker philosophy of social justice she encountered at the private Girls High School in Hobart, run by a Quaker family. This influence can be seen in her later activism on behalf of Aboriginal people, which made her an unpopular figure in government circles. It was easy for people to dismiss her as an eccentric old woman.

Olive first learned to paint at the Girls High School. Her teacher was Mary Augusta Walker, a successful painter who had been trained in London and Paris and believed that to achieve success as an artist, a woman had to make art her first priority before social life and family. Olive’s teachers were role models of strong, creative and independent women.

As a young woman in Hobart Olive began to pursue her lifelong passions of art, Aboriginal welfare and plant conservation.

Life in Sydney

Olive continued her art studies in Hobart but after her father’s death moved to Perth where she gave art lessons. She met the love of her life who was sadly killed at Gallipoli. Later in 1915 she moved to Sydney where she continued to teach art. She completed a Town Planning Diploma at the University of Sydney and was employed in various government jobs which gave her financial security but she did not enjoy the work. She attended evening classes at the Julian Ashton School. She began to design cards and calendars depicting flowers and birds which she continued to do for the rest of her life.

Olive’s connections in Sydney, including the Association for the Protection of Native Races, inspired her to travel to the outback. She met Daisy Bates and visited her camp on the edge of the Nullarbor Plain. Olive spent her annual holidays there in 1926 sketching, painting, recording Aboriginal words and observing Aboriginal customs. Daisy Bates invited her back the following year.

In 1930 Olive took six months leave from her job at the Railways and embarked on a sketching tour from Port Augusta to Darwin, of the flora of Central Australia as well as further investigation into how Aboriginal people lived. These experiences were life changing for Olive. She learned the desert survival skills which gave her the confidence to live in the most difficult conditions.

Back in Sydney she attended anthropology lectures at the University of Sydney and submitted a thesis on the ritual ceremonies she had observed in Central Australia. Qualified as an anthropologist she resigned her public service job and applied for grants to continue her anthropological research. She wrote several research papers for conferences and publication, all done in very primitive conditions and on a “microscopic” income. She also relied on friends and family support and in 1937 returned to Hobart for a year to write up her research.

Olive Pink in Alice Springs

A small donation from a Quaker benefactor, which included money to purchase a truck, and a small annual allowance from the Sheet Metal Workers Union allowed her to return to Alice Springs in 1940. In 1942 she set off for Pirdi Pirdi near Thompsons Rockhole in the Tanami Desert. She remained there until early 1946 when severe drought, extreme heat and lack of food forced her to return to Alice Springs.

After WWII she moved into an ex-army sleeping hut made of unlined corrugated iron. She lived in half of the hut and the other half was used to house her collection of Aboriginal artefacts and her paintings. She opened this collection to visitors for a small fee. Her other source of income was the sale of plants and flowers and her hand painted cards and calendars. She also cleaned the Alice Springs courtroom. This gave her an income, and also enabled her to observe how fairly or unfairly Aboriginal people were treated in the white legal system. Her efforts were not popular with the staff at the courthouse or the police.

Her life in Alice Springs took a dramatic turn when she was evicted from her beloved Home Hut. She applied for a licence to move to a vacant quarter acre block on the other side of the Todd River. In late 1956 she pitched her tent at this beautiful site. In 1958 after protracted negotiations her hut was re-erected nearby.

Olive Pink Botanic Garden

Wherever Olive Pink lived she created a garden. In her last home she created a garden that has been named after her – the Olive Pink Botanic Garden in Alice Springs. She persuaded the Northern Territory Government to create a flora reserve to conserve the native vegetation, to plant arid land plants and to protect the beautiful location from development. Her desire to protect endangered species and to preserve the local flora was ahead of its time when the Australian Arid Regions Native Flora Reserve was gazetted in September 1956.

Until 1961 Olive Pink worked alone. Aboriginal gardeners were employed to assist her after she was assured they would be paid the basic wage. For 12 years her assistant was a Warlpiri man, Johnny Tabijinba Yannarilyi , whose knowledge of local plants and growing conditions was invaluable.

Olive died in July 1975 but her garden lives on as a place for the peaceful contemplation of nature and education about local plants.

About the book

Some 200 of Olive's botanical paintings and sketches are held in the Library of the University of Tasmania. This biography of Olive Pink has been written by Gillian Ward who curated an exhibition of these paintings at the University in 2004. Almost half of the book comprises a selection of these flower paintings which have been botanically identified and paired with a photograph of the plant. The book is also generously illustrated with photos from Olive Pink’s life and times.

New book – Native Fauna of Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 09:41:42 GMT

The authors of this book, Judy, Peter and Kate Smith, are members of APS Blue Mountains Group. Judy Smith explains the content of the book and the significance of its timing.

Native Fauna of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Judy, Peter and Kate Smith. 172 pages, soft cover. Published by P & J Smith Ecological Consultants, October 2019. RRP $35. Details: www.bluemountainsfauna.com.au.

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is an area of spectacular views, eucalypt forests and woodlands interspersed with swamp, wetlands, escarpments, rainforest and heath, together with some 1500 different plants. The area has 98 different eucalypts (Angophora, Corymbia and Eucalyptus species) as well as iconic endemic plants, such as the Wollemi Pine and Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii, formerly Microstrobus). The area is also home to an outstanding and diverse native fauna. Native Fauna of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, published in October 2019, provides the first comprehensive account of this fauna.

The book includes descriptions of the area’s environment and fauna habitats and details the status, local distribution and ecology of each of the 432 native vertebrate fauna species (68 mammal, 254 bird, 74 reptile and 36 frog species) that have been reliably recorded in the area since European settlement. The number of species, including almost one third of Australia’s bird species, is astounding. A checklist indicates in which of the World Heritage Area’s eight constituent reserves (Blue Mountains, Gardens of Stone, Kanangra-Boyd, Nattai, Thirlmere Lakes, Wollemi and Yengo National Parks and Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve) each species has been recorded together with dates of the last records. The 28 mammals, 34 birds, 4 reptiles and 7 frogs considered threatened at national or state level are highlighted. Over 200 colour photos (Peter’s work), 20 illustrations (Kate’s) and two locality maps are included.

Celebrating 20 years

As the 20^th anniversary of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Listing approaches in 2020, this book celebrates the diversity, scientific value and conservation importance of the area’s fauna.

About the authors

The authors, Peter and Judy, are ecologists who have lived and worked in the Blue Mountains for almost 40 years. Their daughter Kate grew up in the Blue Mountains and now works as a visual artist in Canberra.

Dr Judy Smith and Dr Peter Smith

P & J Smith Ecological Consultants

44 Hawkins Pde

Blaxland NSW 2774

smitheco@ozemail.com.au

Volunteer at IndigiGrow Nursery at La Perouse

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 10:12:18 GMT

Bruce Thompson, Senior Horticulturalist at IndigiGrow Nursery, is calling for volunteers.

IndigiGrow welcomes volunteers at our nursery which is a not-for-profit nursery and social enterprise of First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation. Please check our website for more information: www.indigigrow.com.au

We grow and sell Australian native plants, bush food and medicinal plants.

IndigiGrow nursery is open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm and our plants are also available online. Customers can also call us to order plants from our Growing List that can then be mailed to them.

Check the Current Growing List and Plant Information Guide.

Location

La Perouse Public School

8-18 Yarra Rd, Phillip Bay NSW 2036

Free volunteer checks

As we are based at La Perouse Public School, volunteers need to have a Working With Children check and a Police check conducted for members wishing to do volunteering between Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm.

It is free for volunteers to get their Working With Children check and a Police check conducted using IndigiGrow's partner organisations.

More information

Bruce Thompson

Senior Horticulturist

E: bruce.indigigrow@gmail.com

M: 0439 327 933

W: www.indigigrow.com.au

Brian Roach appears on Gardening Australia - twice

enewsletter Editor — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 11:10:14 GMT

Brain Roach, a member of APS North Shore Group, runs Westleigh nursery from his home and has an open garden and plant sales twice a year. Brian wrote this article after the Gardening Australia team visited and filmed in 2018. The segment aired on 1 November 2019.

It would be fair to say that most gardeners, including those with a particular focus on our native plants, would watch the long-running ABC TV show, Gardening Australia. I’ve been fortunate (I think) to have been invited to participate in segments on two occasions; once in 2006 and again last year in 2018.

With Angus Stewart in 2006

On the first occasion, Angus Stewart came to our home and nursery at Westleigh, Sydney with his crew. The filming, which occupied most of the day for a 5 or 6 minute on-air segment, was about the propagation of native plants. We finished the day with Angus demonstrating how to propagate a Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ with an air-laying technique. This involved… now just what did it involve? When I got to this point, I thought I’d check with Doctor Google so I typed in ‘Laying banksias’. The first site to come up was… https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/propagating-natives/9427072

and I’ll be blowed, there was Angus and myself with a synopsis of the segment. Where, oh where is all this heading? The website has a photograph of the two of us with a ramp on the right that I’d built to give me quick access down into my nursery area. Some weeks after the filming, I slipped down the ramp and broke my leg. I watched the segment go to air a month or so later with my leg in plaster. Anyhow, Angus finished the air-laying job by putting sphagnum moss around the treated banksia branch and then wrapping it in an alfoil cover, asking me to check it from time to time for signs of roots. Unfortunately, within a day or two a currawong had ripped the thing to shreds. I never did have the heart to tell Angus.

With Costa Georgiadis in 2018

My recent brush with Gardening Australia in August 2018 was most enjoyable. Host Costa Georgiadis is a delightful person and so enthusiastic. It’s not just a performance for the cameras. He’s also the same height he appears on TV. The producer, Sandy, kept saying to me, ‘Brian, will you stop looking down at Costa’. So far as possible, we got him on the high ground. Again, the four Gardening Australia visitors were at our home filming all day – 8 am to 5 pm. My wife, Carol, was good enough to provide them with morning and afternoon tea and they ducked down to the local shops for lunch.

The segment, which aired on Friday 1 November 2019, had two messages: firstly, dealing with native plants that are recommended for hot, dry conditions; and secondly, showing that new species or forms are still being introduced into cultivation from the wild.

I was quite chuffed when Costa said before leaving that he had had such an enjoyable day and had learnt so much. That’s not so surprising considering his background is not so much with plants, but rather as a landscape architect. At one stage he asked me about a particular plant and I told him it was an eremophila. I asked him if he knew what the name meant. When he said he didn’t, I pointed out to him, being of Greek parentage, that it was a Greek word meaning ‘desert loving’. We all had a good laugh and what a very memorable day it was.

Brian Roach with wife Carol and Costa Georgiadis

Prostanthera scutellarioides - stunning in spring

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 09:49:34 GMT

Ian Cox of APS Parramatta Hills Group introduces a stunner in spring.

I was introduced to this attractive plant accidentally. In fact, it introduced itself. I was at the John Benyon Park at Kenthurst and here it was, in this unlikely place one spring, covered in flowers and looking brilliant! Of course, I took home some cuttings.

Prostanthera scutellarioides has a wide distribution, usually growing in forest from the Cooma district north on the NSW ranges and up along the coast to southern Queensland. It’s round in shape, usually about one metre by one metre, with purple to deep lilac flowers which contrast nicely with the verdant green foliage.

In the garden it sometimes grows larger than this, to 1.5 m x 1.5 m or more. It does best in filtered sun or half to three-quarters shade, but doesn’t like the hot afternoon sun. It’s very hardy and matures fairly quickly, and should flower after its first year. A light pruning will ensure more flowers next season.

Prostanthera scutellarioides can be planted as a stunning hedge. The photo below was taken at the Community Environment Centre at Annangrove, where some of the Parramatta Hills Group’s members work as volunteers, and forms a wonderful border along the walkway to the meeting room.

If you would like one or more of these desirable plants, check with Lesley at the next Parramatta Hills Group meeting, as they are regularly available at the group’s plant sales.

Creating a roadside verge garden by Dan Clarke

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 08:23:32 GMT

Dan Clarke presented on his new roadside verge garden at the APS Sutherland Group September 2019 meeting and wrote this article which appeared in the APS Sutherland October 2019 newsletter. Look out for updates as the plants grow.

Planning

I presented my road verge garden (not fully completed) at the September meeting. The garden has been installed for about 5 months.

The main reason I was able to install the garden is because my property falls within the Sutherland Shire Greenweb mapping. This mapping serves the purpose of covering biodiversity areas in the Shire and many residential areas are mapped as potential linkages to biodiversity areas. Therefore, the Greenweb initiative provides for planting of locally indigenous plantings in such areas to enhance local native habitat and create habitat corridors. However, this does not mean you cannot install a verge garden in a non-Greeenweb area, or in another Council area.

When planning a road verge, it is important to consult your Council first and then be sure to plan it out, deciding where you want plants, paths and other features. Be sure to ask Council if you are entitled to any free native tubestock. I obtained 100 tubes from Sutherland Council community nursery and I have only used 50 so far.

Beware the 5Ps

FirstIy, consideration must be given to the 5 Ps: Pedestrians, some of who may have Prams (2^nd P); Powerlines, Postman (or Postlady) and Parked/Parking cars. To quickly cover these:

Pedestrians (with or without Prams) must be able to walk through the garden unimpeded.
Plants installed in the garden must not interfere with any Powerlines.
The Postman/Postlady must be able to conduct their work unimpeded.
Parking cars must also be unimpeded by any planted vegetation.

It is also important to not block traffic views, which might happen if the garden was on a street corner.

I would strongly advise that space is left for a footpath (if there is not one already). These are typically 900 mm wide. This path can be left as turf or constructed of gravel or mulch. If Council decides to install a formal footpath later, then they can.

Getting started

My verge is about 60 m² (3 wide x 20 m long).

Before

I removed the grass and then planned out a series of garden beds with a pathway in the centre. I used treated H3 Pine (90 mm x 45 mm x 2.4 m lengths) to construct my beds (screwed together) and then filled them with soil borrowed from minor excavations elsewhere on my property. I then overlaid the path area with crushed blue metal dust and compacted it.

I then asked a local tree lopping service for some free mulch. This can be a risky strategy as the lopping service will simply want to dump at least half or all of their load on your doorstep and the mulch may contain anything in terms of plant species, including weeds. I was lucky enough to get a load of Liquidamber mulch, which seems benign enough, and will add much needed organic matter to my soil.

After: leaving a gravel path for pedestrians

Getting feedback

My other tips are to install a few sections at a time and see how neighbours and anyone else reacts to the space. So far, all of my feedback has been positive and I really love to see people strolling through the space and taking it in. I must complete it when I get a chance!

Species used

I have chosen a mix of species from low grasses to shrubs to trees.

Banksia serrata

Banksia marginata

Breynia oblongifolia

Ceratopetalum gummiferum

Grevillea buxifolia subsp. buxifolia

Hakea sericea

Isopogon anemonifolius

Isotoma axillaris

Olearia microphylla

Persoonia pinifolia

Poa labillardieri

Prostanthera incisa

Themeda triandra

Harry Loots' prize winning native garden in North Sydney

enewsletter Editor — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 00:46:34 GMT

This story is based on an article by Lindy Monson, Bushcare volunteer, in the newsletter North Sydney Bushcare, Summer 2015, issue 28, and updated for 2019.

Harry Loots has won awards for his native garden in 2015, 2016 and 2019.

2019

In 2019, Harry's garden was awarded Winner – Best Urban Forest.

Photos: North Sydney Council's winners presentation at

www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/Waste_Environment/Get_Involved/Garden_Competition

2016

In 2016, Harry's garden was awarded Highly commended – Best Urban Forest and Winner – Most Environmentally friendly garden.

2015

Bushcare and Streets Alive volunteer Harry Loots was awarded two prizes in the 2015 North Sydney Garden Competition. He was awarded runner-up in the most environmentally friendly garden and best urban forest categories. North Sydney Council put on a lively event for the presentation of the garden competition awards at the North Sydney Oval Function Centre in October. Mayor Jilly Gibson and gardening superstar Costa Georgiadis hosted the event, engaging an enthusiastic room of gardeners with their wit and grace.

Harry with Mayor Jilly Gibson and host Costa Georgiadis

The North Sydney gardening community were able to share in the enjoyment and appreciation of each others’ gardens, as well as the work Council staff put into running the local programs. It was a fun night with generous prizes, food and drink as well as a focus on the local environment. Many local residents have seen Harry’s garden on Council’s annual Native Havens tour.

Harry has been growing Australian plants for over 25 years and is a member of the Northern Beaches Group of the Australian Plants Society (APS) and the Honorary Treasurer of APS NSW. The Society promotes the growing and conservation of Australian native plants. It would be great if the North Sydney Garden Competition could also include a specific category for Australian plant gardens.

Photos: North Sydney Council presentation at ceremony in 2015.

Medicinal uses of native plants - Part 2 Commercial uses

enewsletter Editor — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 00:11:36 GMT

This article byJennifer Farrer first appeared in APS Parramatta Hills Group newsletter Calgaroo. Part 1 is on early colonial uses of medicinal native plants.

The information is from a variety of sources including the book Australian Medicinal Plants by E.V. Lassak and T. McCarthy (Reed New Holland, 2011) gathered by Jennifer over many years as a guide with Boronia Tours.

Eucalyptus oil

Of all the Australian plants with medicinal properties only 30 have been exploited commercially and of these 20 are various species of Eucalyptus.

The pharmacist Joseph Bosisto migrated to Australia in 1848 and began the first serious investigation of the volatile oils of Australian flora. In 1854 he started the first commercial production of eucalyptus oil in Victoria. He used the process of steam distillation which is a process first developed in the Middle Ages. The leaves are placed in a vessel fitted with a lid and an outlet pipe connected to a water cooled condenser. After the addition of a certain amount of water the leaves are boiled and the steam enriched with the vapour is passed through the water cooled condenser. There the steam and the essential oil vapours are reliquefied. Since the oil and the water do not mix, the lighter-than-water oil can be skimmed off the surface of the condensed water. This method at its simplest is still being used by small distillers in country areas particularly Braidwood, Tumut, Cooma, and Casino in NSW and Bendigo in Victoria.

Of the 20 species of eucalypts used to produce this type of oil, the most commonly used is the blue mallee, Eucalyptus polybractea. Even though Australia is the home of the eucalypt, only 5% of Eucalyptus oil is produced here. Portugal and Spain account for 60% of the world’s production using the foliage of the Tasmanian blue gum Eucalypts globulus which was introduced into Europe last century as a timber tree and for paper production.

Tea tree oil

Another medicinal oil produced today on a commercial scale is that of medicinal tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). It is produced by a small number of distillers around Casino and Lismore by the same steam distillation process used to produce Eucalyptus oil. Apart from its bactericidal applications, the oil is used in the flavouring industry.

Commercial production of this oil faltered in the 1970s due to unreliable supply, inconsistent quality and lack of promotion. The foliage was hard to obtain as the species is found on swampy ground which made harvesting difficult especially in years of high rainfall. The oil content of the naturally occurring trees was also quite variable.

The situation changed in the 1990s. Manual harvesting of variable natural stands of Melaleuca alternifolia was eliminated. Highly successful efforts to improve the seed enabled huge plantations which could be harvested mechanically to be established along the eastern coast of northern NSW, southern Queensland and even inland. Australian tea tree oil is now well established in world trade and is even included in the International Standards ISO 4730.

Corkwood leaves

The leaves of corkwood (Duboisia myoporoides) a native tree of the rainforests of northern NSW and southern Queensland contain a large proportion of an alkaloid (hyosine) which is used to treat stomach ulcers and sea sickness. The production of corkwood foliage on the north coast of NSW has been a steady if not large industry. The collected leaves are dried out of the sunlight and sold overseas to pharmaceutical firms to extract the alkaloidal constituents. Boehringer Ingelheim has an Australian plantation of 1,400 hectares in northern NSW which employs 20 people in the harvesting of Duboisia myoporoides leaves for the drug Buscopan.

Callitris resin

The pale yellow resinous exudates from the cut trunks of the white and black cypress pines (Callitris sp) is sold overseas under the name of Australian sandarac. This resin is used to coat pills which are to dissolve in the intestine and not in the stomach.

The collection of the resin is a cottage industry. Parts of the forest which have been logged more than a year previously are visited to collect the resin which has now collected on the stumps in worthwhile quantities.

The future of the medicinal plant industry in Australia is bright as the world looks to become less dependent on the petroleum industry to produce synthetic organic chemicals. There are many potentially useful plants to be developed.

Note: Care should be taken in the medicinal uses of native plants which requires expert knowledge.

Medicinal uses of native plants - Part 1 Early colonial uses

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 23:49:55 GMT

This article by Jennifer Farrer first appeared in APS Parramatta Hills Group newsletter Calgaroo. Part 2 is on commercial uses of medicinal native plants.

Early settlers on the whole were not willing to try Aboriginal treatments but preferred to try plants which reminded them of those they had known in Britain and other countries such as India and China.

Anti-scurvy

The main health problem facing the first European settlers was scurvy as they had no supplies of fresh food and were ignorant of the food available to them in the Sydney bush. The most popular antiscorbutic was Bush Tea or Sweet Tea made from the leaves of native sarsparilla (Smilax glyciphylla). Soldiers and convicts gathered its sweet tasting leaves, from which a bitter/sweet tea was made. It was so important that the English risked death from hostile Aboriginal people to obtain it. The Vitamin C content is similar to tomatoes at 26 milligrams per 100 grams and far less than oranges.

Eucalypt oil

Another early plant used medicinally by colonists was the Sydney peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita). The odour of its crushed leaves is vaguely pepperminty and probably reminded them of their own English peppermint Mentha piperita. Its volatile oil obtained by steam distillation of the foliage was reputed to cure “cholicky” complaints and was the first plant product sent from Australia to England. The chemical composition of the two oils is very different. It was a happy accident of nature that the two oils had similar medicinal qualities and it is fortunate that Eucalyptus oil was only taken in small amounts as it is more toxic than peppermint oil.

The person credited with being the first to discover the usefulness of Eucalyptus oil was Denis Considen, Surgeon of the First Fleet. He sent a sample to Joseph Banks in 1788.

Other plants used to alleviate coughs and colds

Native mints were substituted for the related European plant Pennyroyal. The leaves were boiled in water for 15 minutes and the tea sweetened with sugar. It was taken warm at bedtime for coughs and colds and other aches and pains.

Melaleuca quinquenervia oil can be obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and used for coughs and colds and externally for neuralgia and rheumatism.

Tonics

Tonic is a word that is disappearing from everyday use. A tonic is an agent which will give the body strength and vigour without any adverse side effects. The term tonic is a vague one as it refers to the treatment of certain symptoms without taking into account their underlying causes. Knowledge of how diseases developed and their causes was rudimentary and expert medical attention was not readily available, so there was a real need for remedies that would help to combat loss of appetite, weakness and lassitude that accompanied most illnesses.

To the early settlers tonics were very important. It is likely that after arriving here, weakened by a long and exhausting voyage, suffering from the effects of inadequate nutrition and confronted by a hostile harsh environment, they were prone to all kinds of fevers and digestive disorders. Since bitters and certain other bitter tasting remedies were held in high repute as nerve tonics at that time, any local bitter tasting plants were eagerly sought and investigated for medicinal use.

In Sydney native sarsparilla Smilax glyciphylla was also used extensively as a tonic and was a common article of trade among Sydney herbalists in the 19^th century. A decoction was prepared by prolonged boiling of the leaves to obtain a thin syrup which was bottled for later use. This procedure would have destroyed its Vitamin C content. It was also used as a medicine for coughs and chest complaints.

Antiseptics and Bactericides

The Aboriginal people knew many plants which were useful in curbing infections. The early settlers do not seem to have used many of them. It may have been the higher standard of hygiene such as the common use of soap or the widespread use of methylated spirits and carbolic acid for wound disinfection. Although early settlers did use eucalyptus oil as a reputed antiseptic which is odd as it has few antibacterial properties. Maybe its clean, crisp smell encouraged them to believe it was effective.

In the 1920s A.R. Penfold and his team at the Technological Museum in Sydney (now the Powerhouse Museum) discovered the high germicidal activity of the essential oil obtained by the steam distillation of Melaleuca alternifolia foliage.

To extract the oil the leaves and terminal branchlets of Melaleuca alternifolia have to be boiled with water and the oil separated from the condensed aqueous steam distillate . One kilogram of foliage will yield only between 12 and 25 gm of oil. The small oil yield and the relatively complicated procedure for its extraction may explain why this shrub’s medicinal properties were not discovered earlier.

Tea tree oil can penetrate unbroken skin and is particularly useful in the treatment of infected fingernail beds, coral cuts, tinea, some types of boils, mouth ulcers, as well as all kinds of cuts and abrasions.

Its remarkable bactericidal properties even contributed to our Second World War effort!

“An interesting application of the oil is its incorporation in machine cutting oils, the germicidal and healing properties having reduced to a minimum infection of skin injuries, especially abrasions to the hands by metal filings and turnings. Large quantities of Melaleuca alternifolia oil were used for this purpose in the various ammunition annexes during World War II” Sydney Technological Museum 1946.

Digestion and Elimination

The generally hot Australian climate and the lack of hygiene as well as poor nutrition contributed in varying degrees to all kinds of digestive complaints. Fortunately there are many Australian plants which can be used to alleviate some of the unpleasant symptoms of these conditions.

Astringents to stem the secretion of body fluids and thus able to check diarrhoea were available from various plant exudates or extracts from the very beginning of the colony. Some of these were red or brown exudates of eucalypts and angophoras often referred to as kino. This is a word from India. Kino had been introduced to Europe in the mid 18^th century from plants from Africa. The kino from Australian angophoras, eucalypts and corymbias presents first as a red currant jelly like substance which hardens until it is crystalline. There is no smell but it is astringent to taste. The active ingredient is kinnotannic acid which affects the lower intestine. Kino from Australia was introduced into Europe as early as 1810 when the gum of the ironbark Eucalyptus siderophloia, was collected by convicts under the name Botany Bay Kino. About 200 ml of kino from the Sydney red gum Angophora costata was mixed with water in a 10% solution and taken as a daily dose.

Tannins present in the bark of many trees have astringent qualities which are effective in the treatment of diarrhoea eg Acacia decurrens and casuarinas. The kino from the scribbly gum Eucalyptus haemastoma was used to treat cuts, wounds and ulcers. It was also used as a throat gargle.

Early settlers reported using gum from wattle trees dissolved in hot milk for the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery with good results but no one knows which wattle gum was used. The gum of the Sydney green wattle Acacia decurrens is not soluble in water.

Other plants

Leaves of the native raspberries Rubus species were used to treat stomach upsets and diarrhoea.
Eucalyptus oil was also used to treat stomach upsets and “cholicky” complaints.
The leaves of the native mint Prostanthera rotundifolia were used to ease flatulence. This is not surprising as peppermint is also used for this purpose.
Manna found on the manna gum Eucalyptus viminalis was used as a mild laxative.

Note: Care should be taken in using any native plants for medicinal purposes without expert knowledge.

Book review: Mistletoes of Southern Australia by David Watson

enewsletter Editor — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:35:07 GMT

Dick Turner reviews Mistletoes of Southern Australia by David M. Watson.

Eight years after the first volume, a second edition has been published on this interesting subject.

From the start the author David Watson outlines that mistletoes are part of the natural environment, are not toxic, are not a weed, and are part of the Australian flora. Many books have the title of a genus or a group of plants, but only mention part of that group. This book contains comprehensive information on all 47 species of mistletoe that occur in Southern Australia – which is where the majority of the population of Australia live.

Mistletoes differ from other plants because of their habit of parasitising on a host plant, mostly a tree or a shrub. Mistletoe foliage, flowers and seeds are visited by many fauna and insects, thus benefitting the environment.

Of 1,500 species of mistletoe in the world, 97 occur in Australia but only four across all of Europe. The 47 species in this book are nearly half of the mistletoe species found in Australia.

The author uses cross referencing which allows the reader to follow a subject through various chapters in the book. Another innovation near the end of the book is a list of all the species in Australia showing the page number that includes definitive information assisted by a beautiful watercolour image or one of the 130 colour photographs.

The book is highly recommended for information, not just on mistletoes, but also for the natural history and environmental point of view. Members of APS could have this book on their shelves to complete their references on Australian flora.

Purchase details

The book is available from CSIRO Publishing or can be ordered through your local bookshop for $59.99.

Details here: publish.csiro.au/book/7857.

About the reviewer Dick Turner

Dick Turner has published two papers on mistletoe in forests as acknowledged by the author, following his research work in forests near Eden, NSW. As a life member of the Australian Plants Society NSW, Dick wrote an article Mistletoes are Australian Plants in Australian Plants journal, Autumn 2017 (Volume 29, Number 230).

Bees enjoying tiny Gonocarpus flowers

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 09:00:56 GMT

Ralph Cartwright from APS Sutherland Group had his camera up close on a spring walk.

On a recent APS Sutherland Group walk of the Curra Moors Track in the Royal National Park, we found several large, colourful flowers, such as waratahs and Gymea Lilies.

However, I was intrigued by a tiny common herb that I had never really noticed before. It is called Gonocarpus teucrioides with the common name of Raspwort or Germander Raspwort.

I noticed it first because of the bees. There were lots of them buzzing around this tiny plant whose flowers I could hardly even make out, but the bees were very interested.

Sutherland Group's identification CD, Coastal Plants of the Royal National Park, describes it as:

An erect, hairy, rough-leaved herb or shrub up to 40 cm high. Its stems are 4-angled, rough and hairy.

Flowers: Small, green to red, 4-petalled flowers and 3–5mm long and borne in a raceme.

Flowering: December–January.

Fruit: Ovoid silver-grey ribbed nut about 1.5 mm long.

Leaves: Hairy, opposite, ovate 7–15 mm long and 5–10 mm wide with toothed margins.

Habitat: Widespread in a variety of habitats in dry sclerophyll forest and heathland.

Features: Rough toothed hairy leaves on 4-angled stems. Small red-green flowers. Occasional red leaves.

Once I got home and had my photos enlarged, I could see the large amounts of pollen being presented for the bees and the full pollen sacs on the bees' legs (below).

Volunteer to digitise herbarium specimens

enewsletter Editor — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 01:42:05 GMT

The following call for volunteers is passed on from the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The National Herbarium of New South Wales is imaging its 1.4 million specimens ahead of its move to the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan in April 2021. This is the first project of this scale to happen in the Southern Hemisphere.

We need your help to prepare them for the digitising process!

By volunteering you will have the opportunity to see our incredible collection up close and meet expert plant scientists. There are two sessions per day (morning and afternoon), with each session running for approximately 3 hours.

Email now

If you would like to help and gain valuable experience, please contact Melissa Wong on melissa.wong@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au with your availability and contact details.

Find out more information about the digitisation project here.

A Southern Highlands bush excursion by Harry Loots

enewsletter Editor — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 05:32:09 GMT

Harry Loots, of Northern Beaches Group and APS NSW Treasurer, joined Blue Mountains Group for a weekend in August 2019. Photos by Harry Loots.

Thoughts of the Southern Highlands of NSW bring to mind country estates and towns such as Bowral that exude wealth and gentile country living. The replication of a very English countryside with conifers, elms and roses and large ornate country houses with horses is prevalent. Recently vineyards and whisky distilleries have appeared. The high altitude and cooler weather fit this culture from another world.

In the frigid beginning of August, APS Blue Mountains Group ventured to the high country to discover the extant native vegetation. We were not disappointed. Although this area has been farmed for nearly 170 years, this has occurred on the most fertile land leaving the agriculturally barren sandstone country and hills to the bush.

Box Vale Track, Mittagong

It was interesting to come across evidence of long-vanished industries whose location is now wilderness. In the late 19^th century Mittagong was an important industrial centre. Iron was mined and smelted by Mittagong’s Fitzroy Iron Works that burned coal mined by the Mittagong Coal Mining Company at the Box Vale Colliery in the Nattai River Gorge. We walked along the abandoned train line route running from the Nattai Gorge to Mittagong where it joined the main southern line. This is now a walking track out to the Nattai Gorge Lookout. A few of us walked the 4.4 km mostly flat path through cuttings, over embankments and through an 84 metre long tunnel.

On the Box Vale Track

This easy walk passes through dry sclerophyll forest, which has returned to the trackside. Trees include Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua), Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans), Ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra), Stringybark (Eucalyptus oblonga) and other gums. Ferns and Dracrophylum secundum grow in the deep cuttings. From the Lookout we viewed the deep rugged Nattai River Gorge wilderness, its olive green continuing west to the horizon and the Kanangra-Boyd National Park in the Blue Mountains.

This walk has long been a favourite with APS members. Halfway along the track we were surprised to find a plaque fixed to a table stating, “Angus Wilson Corner, Australian Plants Society Southern Highlands 2006”.

Joadja

Another narrow gauge railway once ran west from Mittagong to the oil shale mine at Joadja where the Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Co produced kerosene. Because of a lack of local labour, miners and their families were brought to Australia from Scotland. By the 1870s Joadja was home to approximately 1,200 people. Joadja is now a ghost town set in a beautiful Eucalyptus dominated landscape. A spectacular sandstone escarpment with Eucalyptus forests gives way to the Wingecarribee River gorge, which cuts into the High Range. Despite the previous mining and industry the gorge has returned to a pristine native bush where modern houses are located on isolated bush blocks.

Mount Gibralter

Between Mittagong and Bowral the extinct volcano Mount Gibraltar, at 863 metres, provided us with district and town views. Between 1886 and 1986 Mount Gibraltar’s Trachyte or micro-syenite rock was quarried for building stone used on many important Sydney buildings such as the Queen Victoria Building. Bowral Trachyte, known for its durability, was freighted to Sydney by rail. Eucalyptus fastigata (Brown Barrel) occurs on Mt Gibraltar’s heavy red soils although it does not grow as tall as on Mount Tomah where it reaches up to 50 metres. The quarrying operations created the abyss below the Bowral Lookout where revegetation and pieces of abandoned equipment can be seen.

Eucalyptus fastigata at Mt Gibralter

Robertson

Robertson to the east of Bowral was once a thriving dairy district sustained on rich rainforest soils. Fertile basaltic soils had previously supported the Yarrawa Brush which, at an altitude of 750 metres, was a cool temperate rainforest thriving on high rainfall and heavy mists. There are still 5 hectares of remnant rainforest in the Robertson Nature Reserve with a canopy of sassafras, featherwood, coachwood and possum wood producing the dark conditions for ferns, mosses, fungi and vines to grow. While it was only a short walk through the rainforest we were still able to appreciate a complex ecosystem.

Remnant rainforest at Robertson Nature Reserve

Fitzroy Falls

A visit to Fitzroy Falls topped off the excursion. Located on the eastern edge of the Southern Highlands near Kangaroo Valley, Fitzroy Falls is a major tourist attraction. We marvelled at the water falling 80 metres and the Morton National Park gorge, the Yarrunga Valley wilderness beyond. The 4 km return walk along the escarpment’s west rim offered many opportunities to view the precipitous cliffs and vegetation.

Fitzroy Falls escarpment

There was a surprising variety of sandstone vegetation ecosystems to be appreciated as we walked from one lookout to the next, from a copse of Lambertia formosa to groves of casuarinas, hakeas, acacias or persoonias. Along the wet cliff rim and under rock ledges there were many different ferns. As the early evening fell an increasing number of small finches darted about the heath.

Acacia terminalis

Thank you Jim Plummer and Blue Mountains Group for inviting Lindy and me to a weekend surveying this interesting area. The excursion provided a fascinating insight about the early industry and local biome before farming.

Eucalyptus leaf at Fitzroy Falls

Remembering Warren Sheather

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 12:05:13 GMT

Warren and Gloria Sheather were awarded Life Membership of APS NSW in 2018. Warren died in August 2019. This text is based on the nomination by APS Armidale Group.

Warren Sheather at the APS Christmas party, 2017

The early days

Warren and Gloria joined Blue Mountains Group and worked in Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve when it was first established.

On moving to Armidale they were foundation members of the New England Group when it was formed in August 1977. Warren held positions as seedbank officer, vice president and president.

In his work, Warren was initially in the PMG and later in the Navy as a civilian working in electronics. He followed his interest in native plants to become a ranger at Warrumbungles National Park and was later a ranger at New England National Park.

Working at UNE

As the Sheather family grew older, they moved to Armidale to be closer to schools for their children. Warren took up a position as Professional Officer in the Department of Botany at the University of New England. He continued his association with National Parks, serving on the Advisory Service. He also completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in botany at UNE.

At UNE, Warren ran lunchtime teaching sessions in a voluntary capacity, for the staff and students, on native plant propagation. He also worked with the UNE administration to plant out the grounds with native plants, many of which he grew himself.

Promoting Australian plants to the community

Warren promoted Australian plants continually throughout his life. He had a fortnightly column in the local newspaper, the Armidale Express, for over 30 years. He also wrote articles for other papers. His articles explored species suitable for local conditions with details of their natural distribution and growing conditions. For over 20 years, Warren had a fortnightly half hour session on ABC Saturday Gardening where he answered questions on air and discussed the propagation and cultivation of native plants. He has been a popular guest speaker for many community groups.

He maintained his own website www.yallaroo.com.au for over 25 years, where he has over 500 items about Australian plants, wildlife and National Parks. He maintained an online diary about what was happening in his garden and a photography collection with a commentary on how to grow native plants.

The Sheathers developed a 5 acre hobby block to the west of Armidale at Invergowrie where they planted an enormous number of species. This block also served as an inspiration for those seeking to learn how to revegetate after the 1970s Eucalyptus dieback.

They then moved to Yallaroo where they continued to propagate and cultivate Australian plants. This garden was visited regularly by many different community groups. Warren and Gloria received the Golden Spade award from Peter Cundall of ABC Gardening Australia. Their property has served as a practical demonstration of what can be achieved with local flora.

Warren and Gloria have been "Australian plants" for northern NSW for 40 years, increasing the awareness and knowledge of Australian plants, fostering the growing of Australian plants, protecting and conserving Australian plants.

Supporting research projects at the Australian Flora Foundation

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 11:19:58 GMT

Paddy Lightfoot, member of APS Newcastle Group and Director of the Australian Flora Foundation, explains current research projects.

As members know, Newcastle Group of the Australian Plants Society supports the Australian Flora Foundation with an annual donation.

The Australian Flora Foundation is a not for profit charity which supports research into Australian plants. The Council consist of academic botanical specialists as well as three members of the Australian Plants Society – Ross Smyth-Kirk, Ian Cox and myself.

We meet three times a year at the University of Sydney. Our brief is to provide grants for research projects. This year we have approved grants for the following projects – all involving restoration of the much-degraded Australian environment. This is to a large extent due to habitat clearing with European farming practices introduced over the past two centuries plus climate change with increasing fires.

Seedling establishment for the endangered Whibley Wattle (Acacia whibleyana) –Jasmin Packer

This wattle was a new species to me. I am going to try to obtain seed from the Acacia Study Group. It grows on the Eyre peninsula in South Australia, sometimes close to salt swamps. It grows to about two metres tall. Golden pods of flower look impressive in photos. Could be a good garden plant. It is coastal so may be worth a try in suburbs close to the ocean?

Understanding seed and reproductive biology of Geijera parviflora or Wilga – Ganesha Borala Liyanage

Understanding seed biology is important for its conservation and restoration.

I remember very well the Wilga growing on my uncle’s property at Breeza on the Liverpool Plains – at present due to be cleared for a coal mine by the Chinese company Shenhua.

Wilgas are small trees or bushes found in inland parts of eastern Australia. Some farmers call it sheepbush or dogwood. It has small white flowers and is a member of the citrus family. The flowers have a citrus smell and are insect attracting. Regeneration from fresh seed has proved difficult.

It is a useful fodder tree for farmers as well as providing stock with shade.

The tree prefers full sun itself. Although slow growing it is planted in Australia and overseas as an ornamental.

Apparently First Nations peoples used the leaves as an anaesthetic for toothache!

Fire ecology and management of North Australian sandstone heath vegetation – Harry MacDermott (PhD student)

With increasing fires due to climate change and the altered fire occurrences in our north, understanding the ongoing, as well as forecasted, damage is very important for our country.

Investigating the seed biology of sedges (Cyperaceae) for the restoration of wetlands – Jenny Guerin

This is a project that should be of interest to Newcastle Group. After all we meet at The Wetlands Centre Australia (HWCA) and do our propagation in the nursery here.

An alarming statistic is that 50% of the world’s wetlands have been destroyed in the past 100 years. There are 900 nationally recognised wetlands in Australia and 64 world recognised Ramsar Sites. Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia is one of these sites! We are involved in reclaiming rugby fields for a swamp – first in the world!

You can support research too!

I am sure members will agree these are great projects and, although Newcastle Group donates annually, please feel free to make individual tax deductible donations at the website: aff.org.au.

Australian Flora Foundation

PO Box 846

Willoughby NSW 2068.

Remember 100% of donations go directly to research, and all work by the AFF Council is voluntary!

Creating a native garden at Phillip House, Kariong

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 10:40:42 GMT

Virginia McIntosh from APS Central Coast Group reports on creating a garden at Phillip House, Kariong. Virginia was the coordinator of the working bee.

You want us to plant a native garden? Oh YES!

And the story goes...

Kerry, a Rotary member and manager of Phillip House Kariong, approached us, APS Central Coast, to plant a native garden at the entrance to the building. We were more than happy to oblige as we hold our meetings there and who doesn’t love to plant natives!! The entrance had recently been remodelled to accommodate disabled people.

The entry – Before

The working bee

After some discussion re design, time to plant and creating a list of suitable plants, we formed a working bee for Saturday 13 July 2019. We timed it nicely to fit in with a sausage sizzle lunch happily and kindly provided by Rotary. Thank you Kerry and mates! And after lunch we had our monthly meeting. A long but enjoyable day.

As the area had already been mulched, the day began with Jonathan Steeds and Olga Blacha from Sustainable Natives delivering some decent sized rocks kindly donated by Steve Jones from Grants Road Sands in Somersby. With great dexterity Jonathan rolled these off his truck and man-handled them into position! No injuries....phew!

The plants

Then came the planting. Sustainable Natives van's doors opened to reveal a treasure trove of goodies ......oooh how exciting! All donated by Sustainable Natives – fantastic! Here is the list:

Dianella ‘Silver Streak’ and caerulea; Lomandra ‘Little Con’, ‘Little Pat’ and ‘LimeTuff’; Grevillea ‘Dorothy Gordon'; Banksia integrifolia ‘prostrate form’, oblongifolia, ericifolia, ‘Little Eric’,and spinulosa; Veronica perfoliata; Melaleuca ‘Ulladulla Beacon’ and hypericifolia; Correa reflexa; Darwinia fascicularis; Chorizema cordatum; Scaevola ‘Mauve Cluster’; Leptospermum ’Vertical Drop’; Dwarf Leucopogon; Micromyrtus ciliata; Thryptomene P.C.Payne; Grevillea oldeii, humilis, ‘Pink Gem’, speciosa X and sericea; Patersonia occidentalis; Anigozanthos ‘Big Red’ and ‘Pink Pearl’; Acacia howittii dwarf; Westringia ‘Smokey’; Prostanthera incisa and magnifica; Podocarpus spinulosus; Pycnosorus globosus; Isopogon anethifolius dwarf; Petrophile pulchella; Goodenia mcmillanii; Callistemon ‘Rocky rambler’; Casuarina ‘Cousin It’. Hopefully I haven’t left any out – think I may have but just too many to remember! Anyway you get the drift.

A production line

Olga, being a landscape designer, and Jonathan had already laid the plants out ready for planting so we set up a production line of hole diggers, planters, waterers and pot collectors. After a final watering in, we left our little proteges while we gorged ourselves on sausage sandwiches!

The OHS site supervisor doing her job, dressed in blue coat and red collar!

Olga Blacha watering

Feeding the workers with a BBQ

Finishing up

Fully satisfied we headed into our monthly meeting and left my husband, Stuart, to erect a ‘rabbit proof fence’ around the perimeters of the two gardens. Don’t worry, he didn’t mind – he usually falls asleep in meetings!

Protecting the new garden

Being on an eastern, gently sloping block with buildings uphill and thus to the west helps ensure plant survival. Rotary have taken on the responsibility of caring for the garden and each time we walk by we can enjoy the fruits of our labours and the benefits of Rotary’s maintenance. Hopefully others who use the path are suitably impressed and are converted by the beauty and resilience of Australian native plants. A win win all round!

Do you like our garden gnome??!!

Birds and bugs in my backyard by Ralph Cartwright

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 10:27:59 GMT

Ralph Cartwright from APS Sutherland Group reports sightings in his Engadine backyard in early spring.

Birds

I have seen both Eastern Rosellas and King Parrots eating the fruits of my lilli pilli and then coming onto the ground to feed on Grevillea mucronulata and Grevillea preisii.

The Kookaburra liked my Acacia vestita to perch in to look for frogs after the recent rains.

Bugs

My Citrus australasica (finger lime) is in full flower now and I saw European honey bees feeding, as well as a very cleverly disguised green bug, which appeared to be either eating the stamens or cutting them at the base, possibly to feed on nectar at the base or get at the ovary?

I went back later to check and found the flower to be almost completely destroyed. Two of the petals had gone, plus most of the stamens and the ovary.

I cut off another flower nearby which was fully open and brought it inside to photograph. It did not appear to have any nectar and I could taste nothing when I destroyed the flower in the name of science. Just a slight citrusy smell when squeezed.

Release of pink flannel flowers at Grevillea Park, 7/8 and 14/15 September

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 11:00:01 GMT

Book review – Flora of the Hunter Region

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 22:34:57 GMT

The following review by Andrew Pengelly first appeared in Gumleaves June 2019, the newsletter of APS Hunter Valley Group and is reproduced with permission.

Flora of the Hunter Region

Stephen Bell, Christine Rockley and Anne Llewellyn

This is a remarkable publication, given that it provides detailed and authoritative botanical monographs of 54 trees and shrubs that are endemic to the Hunter region, each one of which is accompanied by a full-page scientific illustration.

The lead author, Dr Stephen Bell, is probably the leading botanist in the region, having undertaken countless plant surveys over the last 25 years.

The fact that the other two co-authors, Christine Rockley and Dr Anne Llewellyn, are both scientific illustrators, demonstrates the significance placed on the illustration component of this book. In fact as many as 20 different illustrators were used, all alumni of the Bachelor of Natural History program at the University of Newcastle.

Each monograph contains the full nomenclature and etymology (origin of the botanical name), distribution (with map) and known reservation plus location of the “type” specimen, habitat including a long list of species it occurs with, flowering period, affinities with similar species and hints on differentiating them, key diagnostic features, conservation status, plus a protologue ie the original material associated with a newly published name, comprising detailed botanical descriptions.

Potential health promoting species of interest are the Pokolbin mallee (Eucalyptus pumila), the North Rothbury Persoonia (Persoonia pauciflora) and the broad-leaved pepperbush (Tasmannia purpurascens). There are some entries for species of interest from the point of view of their essential oil potential, but given that many of them are threatened or of limited distribution, they aren’t readily available for distillation. One such species is Prostanthera cineolifera, so named by Baker and Smith (pioneers of essential oil analysis of Australian plants) because it contains 1,8-cineole, giving off a eucalyptus-like fragrance. This species grows in a limited range centred around the Brokenback Range.

Additional information provided includes a glossary, an ecological and taxonomic bibliography, specimen collection locations plus coordinates (latitude/longitude) for locations mentioned and conservation assessments for each species.

The full title is Flora of the Hunter Region. Endemic Trees and Larger Shrubs, published by CSIRO Clayton Vic, 2019. A second volume is in preparation, which will include herbs, grasses, orchids and other smaller plants. The recommended retail is A$80, however it has apparently already sold out, so we wait for the next printing.

This book is a must for native plant enthusiasts in the Hunter region, and for people anywhere who enjoy botanical artistry.

Dr Andrew Bell at APS NSW Newcastle get together, 17 August 2019 (photo Kevin Stokes)

Highlights from Newcastle get together August 2019

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 01:03:50 GMT

Many members enjoyed the APS NSW get together hosted by Newcastle Group on 17–18 August 2019 with a program of highlights of the area. Thanks to Newcastle Group including President Mark Abell and Secretary Maree McCarthy and all the volunteers who made the weekend so successful. Photos by Kevin Stokes, Newcastle Group (unless noted).

Registering for the weekend

APS NSW President John Aitken and wife Liz

Flora of the Hunter region

Dr Stephen Bell from University of Newcastle gave a presentation on endemic flora of the Hunter region based on his new book Flora of the Hunter Region.

Dr Stephen Bell

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, Heatherbrae

We then had guided walks of the volunteer-run gardens which have many theme areas from acacias to rainforest. It's a great place to stop while travelling through Newcastle, with a cafe.

More information: www.huntergardens.org.au/visit and

www.huntergardens.org.au/theme-gardens

Inspecting Parry Place at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens

Port Stephens walks

To explore the coastal wildflowers and scenery of the Port Stephens area further, there are many more walks documented in the Bushwalks around Port Stephens brochure: emag.bushwalk.com/bushwalkingportstephens.pdf

Awabakal Nature Reserve

Looking north

A group enjoying the view (photo Rhonda Daniels)

Amongst the spectacular coastal scenery were several species of orchids.

Lyperanthus suaveolens

Glenrock Scout camp, Glenrock

We visited Glenrock Scout camp with a guided tour of the garden created on a very difficult site, at the entrance to an old mine, by 2018 ABC Gardener of the year John Le Messurier.

More information: www.nsw.scouts.com.au/groups/glenrock-scout-centre

John Le Messurier showing the gardens to the group

APS Newcastle Group President Mark Abell presenting a Eucalyptus pumila tube to John Le Messurier

Ladies in red testing the human sun dial for accuracy at Glenrock

Hunter Wetlands Centre, Shortland

The weekend finished with a guided walk at Hunter Wetlands Centre and plant sales from the Newcastle Group nursery.

APS Newcastle Group has a long association with the Hunter Wetlands Centre which is where the group holds its meetings and runs a nursery and propagation area. Many of the plantings in the wetlands have been done by the group.

It's another great place to drop in for a walk and cafe stop while travelling through Newcastle.

More information: http://wetlands.org.au/visit-us

Winter 2019 issue of Australian Plants

enewsletter Editor — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 01:51:26 GMT

The Winter 2019 issue of Australian Plants was mailed to members and subscribers in late August. Members of the Australian Plants Society NSW receive Australian Plants four times a year as part of their membership.

The Winter issue is a theme issue on Gondwana and its legacy with articles on:

Gondwana – a global adventure
Family Proteaceae: a representative and well-known Gondwanan taxon
Plants of New Caledonia – a hotspot of endemism on a fragment of Gondwana
South American connections
Plants from the end of the world
Gondwana rainforest World Heritage Area
Inala Jurassic garden
Corrections to Australian Plants 2018/19 Vol. 29 No. 237 on Carnivorous plants.

Subscribe now

Non-members can subscribe to Australian Plants. Annual subscription (four issues) is $30 including postage. Overseas subscription is A$45.

Online payment is now available here.

Contact:

Subscription Officer

PO Box 3066

Bowenfels NSW 2790

merleaps@bigpond.com

Single issues

Limited supplies of recently published past issues are available for $5 per issue plus $2 postage in Australia. Email merleaps@bigpond.com

Congratulations to Australian Plants Award winners: Professor Kingsley Dixon and Glenn Leiper

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 09:08:20 GMT

Riitta Boevink, President of Australian Native Plants Society (Australia), announces the 2019 winners of the Australian Plants Awards. The Awards will be presented at the ANPSA conference in Albany Western Australia, 29 September to 4 October 2019.

2019 Australian Plants Awards

Every two years two medals are given in association with the ANPSA Biennial Conference, one in the professional and one in the amateur category. “Amateur” is not intended to signify less valued or amateurish. On the contrary, the recipients invariably are people who have unstintingly given their time and made significant contribution in the area of their interest and expertise.

Congratulations Professor Kingsley Dixon (Professional category)

This year’s winner in the professional category is Professor Kingsley Dixon from Western Australia. He is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University. The title of John Curtin Distinguished Professor is Curtin University’s highest honour for academic staff. Professor Dixon has a long list of memberships and positions held in organisations, both international and local. These include being a foundation member of Cambridge Coastcare and long serving committee member.

Professor Dixon's research has resulted in WA being recognised as an international hub in mining environmental science. His enthusiasm for working with the mining industry in WA to promote excellence through science in minesite rehabilitation is most recently demonstrated by leadership of the $5.3 million BHP Billiton sponsored Restoration seed bank initiative, Directorship of the ARC Centre for Mining Restoration and recipient of the Golden Gecko Awards for Environmental Excellence.

He has published 319 scientific works, including eight books. He has received numerous awards, including the Linnean Medal for Botany in 2013.

Professor Dixon’s achievements include participating in the team at UWA and Murdoch University in the breakthrough discovery of the chemical in smoke responsible for germination of many Australian plants. His international profile in seed science and biology is world class and demonstrates how seed can be used to optimise restoration benefits that have resulted in a broad suite of industry and research support with25 industry and 16 nationally competitive grants.

Congratulations Glenn Leiper (Amateur category)

The winner in the amateur category is Glenn Leiper from Queensland. He has made an outstanding contribution to the study, propagation and conservation of Australian native plants, with emphasis on plants indigenous to the south east region of Queensland. Glenn began his career as a primary school teacher culminating in his appointment as the teacher in charge, then principal of the Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre in the early 1980s. Since his retirement he has been able to focus on his passion for native plants. Together with co-authors Jan Glazenbrook, Denis Cox, and Kerry Rathie, Glenn has produced a comprehensive and user-friendly field guide to the native plants of South East Queensland, Mangroves to Mountains. The second edition, containing 200 species additional to the original, was released in 2017. As well as being a field guide, Mangroves to Mountains is a record of the native flora of the region, featuring Glenn’s spectacular photographs. Over 25,000 copies have been sold, reflecting its popularity with native plant enthusiasts.

One of Glenn’s greatest achievements is the rediscovery and passionate protection of the thought-to-be -extinct Angle-Stemmed Myrtle (Gossia gonoclada). Charles Stuart first discovered Gossia gonoclada in Mogill in the 1850s. It was thought to have gone extinct in the 1880s. Glenn Leiper and Janet Hauser rediscovered the species in December 1986, stimulating interest in searching for more populations. Glenn also discovered populations of Gossia gonoclada at an area now known as Murray ‘s Reserve. Glenn then went on to advocate for Murray’s Reserve to be purchased by Logan City Council in the 1990s. Glenn has also made significant contributions to the development of botanic gardens in Queensland. He has collected and donated over 100 rare and threatened species to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

Glenn maintains strong links with the local community through his work with Environmental Services Officers from the Logan City Council. Glenn joined SGAP QLD (Society for Growing Australian Plants, Queensland Region) – now called Native Plants Queensland – in the early 1980s. He is currently a Regional Councillor and the Conservation Officer. He joined the Logan River Branch in 2005 and has made a significant contribution, serving as secretary from 2011 to 2017. He frequently provides articles to the quarterly NPQ journal, always illustrated with numerous photographs.

Eremophilas - tough, fast and colourful

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 07:30:29 GMT

Ian Cox from APS Parramatta Hills Group shares his enthusiasm for the Eremophila genus.

Eremophilas - they have it all!

Which genus of native plants:

· is quick growing and flowers early in its life?

· looks good in gardens?

· is hardy and drought-tolerant?

· grows in a range of soil types?

· is usually easy to propagate?

Well, eremophilas tick all these boxes. They also have a great variety of flower and foliage colours and textures. In garden design they can be used as feature plants, backgrounds, foregrounds or edgings. They can also be grown in pots. Many of them flower for long periods and attract small birds.

Eremophila youngii (photo Brian Walters}

Where can you get eremophilas?

My own Group (Parramatta/Hills) has them for sale at meetings. In my locality, Plants Plus and Boongala Gardens have a small range. They can also be bought at the Collectors’ Plant Fair at Clarendon which is usually held in April each year. Another option is to buy them online, e.g. from the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden, Port Augusta. Another way is to join the Eremophila Study Group and participate in their exchange of plants and cuttings.

How many eremophilas are there?

A member of the Eremophila Study Group has compiled a spreadsheet with the names of all species, cultivars, hybrids and forms, together with photo links. The list has over 1,000 names!

Eremophila maculata yellow form (photo Brian Walters)

Learning about eremophilas

Perhaps the best way to increase your understanding of this genus is to join the Eremophila Study Group. The Sydney sub-branch of the Eremophila Study Group has regular meetings and an email discussion group. Its members include enthusiasts who enjoy sharing their incredible knowledge. At recent meetings we have had a grafting demonstration, a keying exercise, discussions about propagation and the usual garden inspections and swapping of plants and cuttings. Members also receive the Eremophila Study Group newsletter which is a first-class publication full of great information and stunning photos. Members also have the opportunity to attend interstate conferences and field trips. The Eremophila Study Group’s website is here.

Growing eremophilas in Sydney

Many eremophilas grow well in Sydney on their own roots, especially the E. glabra and E. maculata forms and hybrids. There are lots of plants in this group to choose from, most of which would make a stunning addition to your garden. Some have fancy names like 'Pink Pantha' and 'Mallee Lipstick' just to make your imagination work overtime!

Some eremophilas don’t like Sydney’s summer humidity and rain (when it does rain!), and the usual answer to this is to grow these particular eremophilas as grafted plants. You can either purchase grafted plants or graft them yourself, usually using a hardy Myoporum as the rootstock. The basics are not too difficult, and can be learned by joining the Eremophila Study Group.

I’ve been growing eremophilas for close on 25 years and have been delighted with the results. In well-drained sunny positions eremophilas usually reward me for my efforts. The proportion of these plants in my garden has steadily increased, based solely on their good looks and overall performance. I have been fascinated and enthralled by their charm, and can thoroughly recommend them.

Eremophila nivea (photo Brian Walters)

Spring wildflower walks - Suggestions from Facebook

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 08:47:19 GMT

Barbara Melville from Central Coast Group recently asked our Facebook for suggestions for walks to see spring wildflowers. Here are some of the responses. APS Groups also have walks in their local area, so check the Group activities and newsletters.

Sydney

Royal National Park - Coast Track in particular. Walk in to RNP from Bundeena ferry or from Loftus, Engadine, Heathcote or Waterfall stations. Drive to access coastal tracks from Wattamolla or Garie.

Heathcote National Park

Lucas Heights - there's usually some great winter and spring flowers. Rock orchids, wattle, Gymea lily and various peas go crazy, plus it's a lovely easy walk. Also close to Heathcote National Park.

Muogamarra Nature Reserve. Only open for a few weekends each spring. Turn off Pacific Highway near Berowra (if heading north) or south of Brooklyn (if heading south).

Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden at St Ives (bushland and planted garden)

Stony Range Botanic Garden at Dee Why (planted garden)

Sylvan Grove at Picnic Point (planted garden)

Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve at Kareela (planted garden)

North of Sydney

Bombi Moor Track near MacMasters Beach, Central Coast

On the edge of Bouddi National Park, access several tracks along the Coastal Walk from Beachview Esplanade at MacMasters Beach. Sandy trail, no steps.

Brisbane Water National Park between Pearl Beach and Patonga usually has a fabulous display of waratahs.

West of Sydney

Bells Line of Road. Last year in early November, the waratahs were spectacular. And the other flowers were beautiful too. Cathy said "Maybe others could talk to specific places to stop as we just parked on the side of the road to take photos. They were the most spectacular waratah photos ever".

South of Sydney

Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, on the top of Jamberoo Mountain inland from Kiama. Great for heathland and birds as well.

South Pacific Headland, Dowling Street, South Ulladulla

Open day and plant sales at Westleigh Native Plants - 12–13 October

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 08:28:31 GMT

Brian Roach of Westleigh Native Plants is having another open garden and plant sale at his home on Saturday and Sunday 12–13 October. Free entry.

It’s a bit later this spring because Brian wants to especially showcase an absolute ripper – Homoranthus prolixus (Golditops) which will be in full flower around that time. It was introduced from the wild around 15 years ago after being found growing around Inverell on the granite belt. It’s as tough as old boots, handles extreme dryness and cold (as expected, coming from up on the northern tablelands) and is stunning in flower. The only thing it demands is winter sun for good flowering.

Tumblers are $4.50 each (or 5 for $20) and 6”/140mm pots are generally $8 each. There will also be some grafted plants available which will cost a little more.

There’ll also be a limited supply of Brian's dwarf Christmas Bush Johanna’s Christmas in 6”/140mm pots at $15 each and a good supply of tumblers at $7 each.

Address and time

47 Eucalyptus Drive, Westleigh (northern Sydney)

9.30 am to 3.30 pm, 12–13 October 2019

Free entry

More information

0418 115 630

bcroach@optusnet.com.au

Ablaze with colour: the Illawong Fire Station garden

enewsletter Editor — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 12:11:59 GMT

Here's a selection of spring photos from Lloyd Hedges of the garden maintained by Menai Group at the Illawong Fire Station garden in southern Sydney.

Isopogon cuneatus, from WA and grafted onto Isopogon anemonifolius rootstock

Banksia praemorsa, from WA

Eremophila 'Kalbarri Carpet', a tough groundcover

Eremophila form, red flowers

Eucalyptus preissiana

Hakea purpurea – yes, it does look like a Grevillea flower, but note the woody fruit

Wattle Day - why is it 1 September?

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 10:55:54 GMT

Alan Fairley explains why Wattle Day is 1 September. This article first appeared in Doryanthes, the newsletter of the Oatley Flora and Fauna Society, and is reproduced with Alan's permission.

Wattle Day in NSW

Anyone who went to primary school in NSW in the 1950s or 1960s will remember Wattle Day. It was held on 1 August. Students were encouraged to research wattles or native plants, wear sprigs of wattle, play wattle games, write poems or stories with wattle as a theme or were even taken on short walks through local bushland in search of different wattles. And 1 August was an obvious day for such activity, as the majority of wattles in the Sydney area are in flower around that date. So, why is Wattle Day now celebrated on 1 September when most of Sydney's wattles have finished flowering?

Before Federation and up to World War 1

Recognition of the many wattle species (750+) as a distinctive feature of the Australian flora and an inspiring focus for spring festivals was evident in the Australian colonies well before Federation in 1901. The earliest record is from Tasmania in 1838 where it became customary to wear a sprig of the wattle (Acacia mearnsii) to celebrate the Hobart Regatta and the European discovery of the island. As the 19^th century progressed, interest grew in finding a flower which could be associated with Australia and reflect the growing patriotism as the states progressed towards Federation. This led in 1889 to the short-lived Wattle Blossom League formed by the Adelaide branch of the Australian Natives' Association. This was followed in 1899 by the Wattle Club in Victoria, whose founder, Archibald James Campbell, would lead a trip on the first day of September into the countryside to look for wattle. He suggested a national Wattle Day in a speech in September 1908.

Not to be outdone by Melbourne, botanists such as J. H. Maiden of Sydney's Botanic Gardens called a public meeting in August 1909 to support a Wattle Day and to set aside a day on which Australia's national flower might be worn and displayed. By 1910, branches of a Wattle Day League were active in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Festivities were held each year on 1 September, marked by bunches of wattle and planting of wattle trees in schools and parks. 1913 saw the incorporation of wattle into the design of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.

Fundraising for World War 1

Wattle Day festivities intensified during World War 1 when wattle sprigs were widely used as a symbol of national patriotism. Sales of wattle badges and blossoms by organisations like Red Cross were a way of helping soldiers on the war front. In Sydney, demand for bunches of wattle were so great that demand could not be met on 1 September, so in 1916 Wattle Day celebrations were put forward to 1 August.

Thus began the divide which continued until 1992. Interest in Wattle Day gradually declined in NSW but in Victoria the Wattle Day League lasted until the 1960s, continuing its push for celebrations on 1 September, which happily coincided with the first day of Spring.

Renewed interest in the 1980s

In the 1980s there was a renewal of interest in Wattle Day in NSW when Maria Hitchcock and the Australian Plants Society campaigned for a national wattle day. The issue was resolved from above when on 23 June 1992 the Governor-General Bill Hayden declared that 1 September should be observed as National Wattle Day in all Australian States. Prior to this, as part of Australia's Bicentennial Celebrations in August 1988, the then Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, proclaimed Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle) to be Australia's national floral symbol.

These two proclamations from Canberra were a double blow to NSW (as well as Queensland and Northern Territory). Not only was Wattle Day to be celebrated on a day when few wattles were in flower, but the chosen national wattle does not even occur around Sydney or further north, being distributed only in southern NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, and around Adelaide and Perth. So we have a national flower which is not nationally distributed and are asked to accept a national celebration in the wrong month of the year. Fortunately the genus Acacia (wattle) is found nationwide and the many species are truly iconic Australian flora which can be celebrated at any time of the year.

For more on Wattle Day, read the story here.

New Study Group – Australian Plants for Containers

enewsletter Editor — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 07:56:27 GMT

Members of the Study Group focus on investigating and trialing those Australian plants that may be suitable for growing in pots or other types of containers. This Study Group has been in recess for some time but Ros and Ben Walcott, formerly leaders of the Garden Design Study Group, have volunteered to reactivate it.

Many people live in smaller units and apartments with balconies or have a small area for a garden and growing Australian plants in containers is a great way to have a small garden of native plants. Growing in containers also allows gardeners to have plants that otherwise won’t tolerate local conditions. Ros and Ben plan to produce a newsletter twice a year with contributions from interested members. Membership is free and all newsletters will be distributed by email.

Ros and Ben would like to receive a picture or two of favourite or interesting native plants in pots with a short description.

To be added to the mailing list of this Study Group, just email Ros or Ben at roswalcott5@gmail.com or benwalcott5@gmail.com

Remember, membership is free to all members of ANPSA affiliated Societies, including Australian Plants Society NSW members.

Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum Open Day - Sunday 15 September 2019

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 07:30:56 GMT

Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum Open Day is on Sunday 15 September.

The Official Opening will be at 10 am but people are very welcome to arrive earlier than that. There will be 15–20 stalls including a coffee van and food sales. There will be plants for sale from the Arboretum Nursery and from Bilby Blooms nursery. Activities are being organised for children and there will be a few workshops and some entertainment.

Visitors from further away might like to stay at the Caravan Park Cabins at Burrendong Dam on the other side of the road.

Alice Newton from Friends of Burrendong Arboretum says the drought has taken it's toll but staff and volunteers have worked hard watering and trying to care for plants. The Friends look forward to seeing APS NSW members on 15 September.

If you can't make the Open Day, the Arboretum is open 8 am to 6 pm daily.

Location

Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum is at 95 Tara Road Mumbil, south-east of Wellington in the Central West region of NSW.

More information

The website www.burrendongarboretum.org is being updated, so try:

Friends of Burrendong Arboretum on Facebook

Poster

www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/dubbo-area/wellington/attractions/burrendong-botanic-garden-and-arboretum

www.wellington-nsw.com/BurrendongBotanicGarden.html

Celebrate Wattle Day on 1 September

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 10:46:41 GMT

The following notes are based on Maria Hitchcock’s book A Celebration of Wattle: Australia’s National Emblem (2012). The book is a revised and updated edition of Maria’s earlier book Wattle (AGPS 1991), which grew from a small booklet sent out to schools in 1988.

Acacia or wattle?

Acacia is the genus name, and wattle is a common name derived from the use of Acacia saplings to build early colonial buildings in the wattle and daub method. This is a rural British building technique where flexible twigs formed a framework on which mud was daubed. Wattle is an Anglo Saxon word meaning woven.

History of Wattle Day

Wattles have always been popular because they are tough and hardy, are widespread throughout Australia, are fast growing and provide a blaze of golden colour.

But although acacias have long been used and recognised as symbols of Australia, it was only relatively recently that our national floral emblem and Wattle Day were officially recognised. Following a successful campaign by Maria Hitchcock and others, Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle) was gazetted as our national floral emblem in 1988 and Wattle Day was officially gazetted as 1 September in 1992.

Acacia pycnantha www.austplants.com.au

Early in the twentieth century there was a Wattle Day League and movement to celebrate 1 September. During World War 1, in 1916 the date for wattle day in NSW was changed to 1 August because of the early blooming of wattle around Sydney. In particular, the planted Acacia baileyana, which was used for sprigs of flowers to sell for war fundraising, finished flowering by 1 September. NSW maintained the date of 1 August after the war, and the tradition of Wattle Day was kept alive in NSW in the 1920s and 1930s as school-based celebrations, but faded in other states.

Acacia vestita www.austplants.com.au

Wattle Day Association

The Wattle Day Association is a community not-for profit, non-political organisation founded in 1998. It aims to raise awareness of 1 September as National Wattle Day, of Acacia pycnantha as our national floral emblem and of wattle as a unifying symbol for all Australians. It promotes National Wattle Day as a day of celebration of Australia and the Australian spirit.

www.wattleday.asn.au

Celebrate your way

Maria’s book has a whole chapter on celebrating Wattle Day plus an anthology of wattle poetry. The Wattle Day Association website also has some ideas.

Wear a sprig of wattle
Display a vase or collection of wattle
Enjoy a picnic or gathering outdoors
Plant a wattle
Sing a wattle song, read a wattle story or wattle poetry
Make a wattle-based art or craft piece
Wish people Happy Wattle Day and celebrate Australia

There are also many ideas with an environmental theme for schools and community groups such as competitions, fundraising, displays and stalls.

Acacia acinacea www.austplants.com.au

Resources about acacias

Websites

World Wide Wattle by the Western Australian Herbarium: Worldwidewattle.com

Wattle Day Association: www.wattleday.asn.au

Acacias for gardens: See our Plant Database with trees and shrubs at www.austplants.com.au

Acacia Study Group newsletters: www.anpsa.org.au/acaciaSG

Books

Maria Hitchcock (2012) A Celebration of Wattle: Australia’s National Emblem. Rosenberg Publishing.

Inez Armitage (1977) Acacias of New South Wales. An oldie and a goodie, with black and white drawings of about 200 species, so look for a second hand copy.

Australian Flora Foundation newsletter - Research Matters, July 2019

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 10:48:30 GMT

The latest newsletter from the Australian Flora Foundation is now available here. The foundation is a charity fostering scientific research into the biology and cultivation of the Australian flora.

Research Matters, No. 30, July 2019 includes reports on two Australian Flora Foundation-funded projects:

Interactions between native and exotic plants in the context of grassland restoration and the importance of below ground processes – Monique Ellie Smith
Cracking a hard nut – germination of Persoonia species, a genus with hard woody indehiscent endocarps – Kerryn Chia

Book: Dictionary of Botanical Names by Don Perrin (2018)

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 11:02:00 GMT

Dictionary of Botanical Names by the late Don Perrin is an updated edition of Don's earlier book on the derivations of Australian plant names, now with 4,500 entries.

As an early member of the Society for Growing Australian Plants (now Australian Plants Society), Don was involved in setting up the Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve in the Blue Mountains and was a founder of the Redcliffe Botanic Gardens in Queensland.

The following review appeared in the APS South Australia journal, February 2019.

This is a book which explains the meanings of botanical names at the genus and species levels. The complex Latin and Greek names that are often used to name plants are more likely to be remembered when you can use this book to learn about their derivation or who they were named after. For example, Acacia penninervis has leaves with feather-like veins. Pinna is “feather” and nervis is “vein” in Latin. The author has also drawn excellent illustrations of many of the terms used in his explanations.

This book would be particularly useful to guides at botanic gardens or to park rangers who are often asked by the public to identify plants. The temptation to use a common name would be less if the guide or ranger could tell a story about the botanical naming.

Knowing the derivation of botanical names would also be useful to plant enthusiasts who were in the final stages of identifying a plant. This book is a must for those interested in identifying plants and for the libraries of APS groups and educational institutions.

The following is an extract from the journal Native Plants Queensland, March 2019, by Jan Sked who wrote the foreword in the book.

This updated edition is now produced in A5 size and consists of 222 pages of fascinating information about the meaning and derivation of our Australian plant names. The introductory chapters, written in Don’s inimitable style, are a joy to read. Then there are 197 pages of definitions, which include about 1,000 new ones, making a total of about 4,500. Don’s excellent line drawings have been retained and they are supplemented with some sheets of colour illustrations as well.

Enquiries and sales

RRP $29.95 plus postage and handling

Email Tracey Perrin at greendataprojects@gmail.com

Ph 0421 465 464

Facebook: Dictionary of Botanical Names

Hawaii – a mix of endemic and introduced species

enewsletter Editor — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 10:30:19 GMT

This story is based on Ralph Cartwright's presentation to APS Sutherland Group in June 2019 on botanical trivia of Hawaii with photos from his trip and text compiled from various sources.

Hawaii's volcanic origins

The American state of Hawai`i includes 137 islands, the largest known as Hawai`i. Of the 8 main islands, 7 are inhabited. They lie in the middle of the North Pacific, about 3,000 km from the nearest continent. The islands are the tops of massive volcanoes, the bulk of which lie below the sea surface.

This chain of islands developed as the Pacific Plate moved slowly northwestward over a hotspot in the Earth’s mantle at a rate of 50 km per million years. The southeast island is still volcanically active, whereas the islands on the northwest end of the archipelago are older and typically smaller, due to longer exposure to erosion. The only active volcanism in the last 200 years has been on Hawaiʻi, where Kilauea has been erupting nearly continuously since 1983. The Hawaiian volcanoes are composed almost entirely of the igneous rock basalt. Due to the volcanic activity, the soil is quite fertile.

A mix of endemic and introduced species

Around 95% of plants found on the islands now are thought to be non-indigenous. Since human settlement first by Polynesians and later by early European explorers, food plants and animals have been introduced. These included species such as rats and pigs that have preyed on native birds and invertebrates that initially evolved in the absence of such predators. The arrival of European settlers had a more significant impact, with the promotion of large-scale single-species export agriculture such as sugar cane, pineapples and later livestock grazing.

Introduced Grevillea species with roadside grasses

Endemic species

Vaccinium reticulatum

Vaccinium reticulatum, or ʻōhelo ʻai, is one endemic plant. It is common around Kilauea at an altitude of around 1,200 m. It is a member of the Ericaceae family, found most commonly in acid and infertile growing conditions. It grows on lava flows and freshly disturbed volcanic ash. Adaptations to volcanic activity include the ability to survive ash falls.

It is a shrub usually 0.1–1.3 m tall, with evergreen leaves, spirally arranged, leathery, oval, 1–3 cm long, red when freshly emerging, then green or green with reddish patches. The flowers are bell-shaped, 8–12 cm long, variable in color, usually red, but can be yellow or pink. The fruit is an edible berry 8–14 mm diameter, ranging in colour from blue or purple to red, orange or yellow. The berries are an important food source for the nēnē, a goose which is the official state bird and endemic to the islands, and the seeds are dispersed in the birds’ droppings.

Metrosideros polymorpha

Metrosideros polymorpha, ʻōhiʻa lehua, is another endemic plant found at Kilauea. A flowering evergreen in the Myrtaceae family, it is related to our bottlebrushes. It is a pioneer plant and grows directly on basalt around the lava fields where it is found as a small shrub, but in favourable positions, it can grow to 25 m. Most of the ones seen around Kilauea were up to 3 m tall. It is still abundant, but many introduced plants including Grevillea robusta compete with it and a newly identified fungus is also causing sudden death syndrome in some forested areas.

The lehua has adapted to periodic exposure to the harmful volcanic gases seeping up from below the earth by being able to quickly close the stomata in their fleshy leaves. When the wind changes, the pores re-open allowing the leaf to breath again.

Argyroxiphium sandwicense

Mauna Kea is the highest volcano in Hawaii at over 4,000 m. Near a small reserve next to the visitors centre was Argyroxiphium sandwicense, the Hawai'i silversword. This is a slow growing plant which can take up to 40 years to send up a single 2 m flower spike and they only flower once. There are reputed to be only 40 plants left in the wild. They grow at high altitudes, on poor soils and are subjected to extremes of weather.

Like the native goose, it has been decimated by introduced animals, in this case sheep and goats who browsed it almost to the verge of extinction. Most of the feral animals on the mountain have now been eradicated and efforts are being made to revegetate areas like the reserve. The leaves are covered with layers of silvery hairs which reflect sunlight and help conserve moisture.

Samanea saman

Samanea saman, MonkeyPod Tree, is widespread throughout the islands and is yet another introduced species of rainforest tree, this one native to Central and South America. It is thought it was introduced by ranchers as a shade tree for their beef cattle, who also ate the prolific seed pods when they fell from the tree. It is a fast growing tree, with a wide canopy. In Venezuela, a 20 m specimen is recorded as having a crown diameter of around 60 m and a trunk of nearly 3 m diameter. It is an easily worked, and durable hardwood, popular with wood carvers and furniture makers. In tropical India, the common name is rain tree. Because of the massive crown, cicadas can live in great numbers, feasting on the leaves and their honeydew-like discharge can seem like rain.

Invasive species from Australia and beyond

The Hawaii Invasive Species Council website lists 75 species for which they have funding for prevention, control or research, including many plants familiar to Australia. These include a senna, the Australian tree fern and Grevillea robusta which has been deliberately planted since the 1800s as a shade tree for coffee and tea but is now one of Hawaii's most invasive horticultural plants and now categorised as a “do not plant” species. Other items on the list include pampas grass, gorse, lantana and of course feral deer, feral cats and fire ants.

Eleocarpus species

On the island of Kuai’I is a Hindu temple. Next to it is a peaceful grove of some Rudraksha trees, Eleocarpus ganitrus. They are native to the North Indian plains to the foothills of the Himalayas. This grove of 108 trees was planted in 1984 and the trees are now around 15-20 m high. Australian Eleocarpus species include the blueberry ash and the quandong, both with blue fruit, like the Rudraksha.

The legend is that the God Siva looked down upon the Earth and, seeing the sorrowful plight we humans had created for ourselves, wept a single tear. The tear fell from His cheek and upon hitting the ground created the first Rudraksha tree (the word rudraksha means the tear of Siva). Hindus wear beads made from the fruits for protection.

Pennisetum purpureum

Another introduced plant originally brought in as cattle feed from Africa is Pennisetum purpureum – Elephant or Guinea grass. Unfortunately, it is extremely invasive and has taken over the whole island as it can grow to 2 m. Another introduced African grass, originally ornamental, is fountain grass, which while being quite attractive when seen growing on otherwise bare lava fields, is also fire-adapted. It can sustain fires that spread quickly into adjacent areas and its dried leaves increase the intensity of wildfires. After a fire it sprouts faster than native plants.

Tracks of the Royal National Park, talk by leading wildlife photographer, Ken Griffiths

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 23:13:49 GMT

Menai Wildflower Group, one of our local groups, is hosting a talk on Saturday, 13 July at the Illawong Rural Fire Station. The speaker is Ken Griffiths - some of his work can be found here. Come along and find out about the diverse local bushland of the Royal National Park. Everyone welcome.

Winter delights by name

enewsletter Editor — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 11:12:19 GMT

What do Acacia 'Winter Gold', Acacia 'Winter Flame', the Correa 'Winter Bells' collection, Eremophila 'Winter Gold', Grevillea 'Winter Delight', Philotheca 'Winter Rouge' and Syzygium 'Winter Lights' have in common? Yes, they are all named for a winter feature – either their flowers or foliage.

Some plants do seem to flower all year round, like some of the larger grevilleas and groundcovers like scaevolas and brachyscomes. But with fewer plants flowering in the cooler months and gardeners looking for a burst of colour, it should be a more popular marketing name for cultivars.

Winter flowers

Acacia 'Winter Gold'

Photo: Plant profile at www.austplants.com.au

Acacia amblygona 'Winter Gold' is a prostrate form of Acacia amblygona which is a shrub up to 1.5 m high. The hardy groundcover is spectacular in golden flower. Propagate by cutting to retain the prostrate habit. Many Acacia species flower in winter with cream, lemon, yellow or gold flowers.

More information: http://anpsa.org.au/a-amb.html and www.anbg.gov.au/acra/descriptions/acc131.html

Correa 'Winter Bells' collection

Bywong Nursery has a collection of correas named Winter Bells which flower in winter in a range of colours from salmon, pink, red and more. Cultivars include 'Annabell' (soft pink), 'Canberra Bells' (red) and 'Catie Bec' (pale pink).

Another one is Correa glabra 'Winter Glow' with white flowers.

Grevillea 'Winter Delight'

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grevillea_Winter_Delight.jpg

Grevillea lanigera x lavandulacea 'Winter Delight' has small pinky-red and cream spider flowers amongst its small grey foliage. It is a compact shrub, about 40 cm tall and up to a 1 m wide. The more sun, the more flowers it produces.

Many of the larger grevilleas have big brush flowers throughout the year. Several other grevillea cultivars have been registered with winter in the name although they are not widely available.

More information: www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/grevillea-winter-delight-grevillea

Philotheca 'Winter Rouge'

Photo: www.touchofclassplants.com.au/products/philotheca-myoporoides-winter-rouge/

Philotheca myoporoides 'Winter Rouge' has pink buds which then open to pale pink flowers which fade to white. The long lasting flowers are known as wax flowers. A hardy shrub to about 1 m, it flowers from winter to spring and has aromatic foliage.

More information: www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/philotheca-myoporoides-winter-rouge-wax-flower/

Winter foliage

Acacia 'Winter Flame'

Acacia cognata 'Winter Flame' is a small, fast growing shrub to about 1 m, with fine foliage and orange tips. You don’t grow this one for the flowers, but the orange tips occur throughout the year, not just winter. A similar foliage plant with crimson tipped foliage is Acacia fimbriata ‘Crimson Blush’.

Syzygium 'Winter Lights'

Syzygium australe 'Winter Lights' has bright red new foliage and bright green leaves. It is a psyllid resistant shrub up to 4 m, but can be pruned for hedging or to keep it more compact. Many other lilly pillies also have orange or red new growth.

More information: www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/syzygium-austral-winter-lights-lilly-pilly/

For those visiting Albany in September, Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 11:45:06 GMT

The Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show in Western Australia is one of the biggest in the world! And yet the 600+ specimens gathered in the Ravensthorpe Hall each year still only represent a third of the plants in the Shire. This is, of course, because they don’t all flower in the middle two weeks of September!

The show keeps on growing and diversifying just like our flowers that adapt to the environment in which they live.

An energetic band of volunteers goes forth into the bush armed with picking licenses and secateurs to seek elusive specimens they know exactly where they can be found. As you enter the Ravensthorpe Hall the scent of the bush will assail you, the shelves of flowers will amaze and the volunteers are welcoming. A guided tour is available of the newly built Herbarium.

Features include:

An interesting pollinator photographic display highlighting our Ravensthorpe Bee, the latest Australian native bee to be identified. It is unique in that it is only active while a certain species of Eucalyptus in the Ravensthorpe Range is in flower. It has only been found in this area. Fascinating! It’s called the Shaggy Spined Bee (what a name to give the poor bee). We call it the "Ravy Bee".
Geological display: This display highlights the correlation between plants, minerals and the rocks.

The program of events and activities throughout the Spring Festival is as diverse as the flowers, offering caravaners and visitors an action packed time in Ravensthorpe with its welcoming and vibrant community.

Wildflower Show 9-21 September at Ravensthorpe Town Hall
Artisan shopping
Country soups and Devonshire Teas daily
Pop up stalls
Patchwork
Art exhibitions and photographic displays are abundant each year in Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun
Water colour workshops with the very talented and renowned Margaret River artist Megan Hodgson
4WD Tag along Tours, with a guide to the most interesting wildflower hotspots lunch included
Also popular are the Walk & Talk with the rangers of the Fitzgerald River National Park – try a medium walk in a section of the Hakea Trail around 4.5 hours with great commentary, plenty of flowers and some of the most spectacular coastal scenery
Guided Geology Walk & Talk
Marine Walk & Talk
Country Carnival / Street Parade middle weekend
Guided bus tours
Bee keeping workshop
Wildflower paper making
C B H Silo Art
Gala Finale Long Table Lunch at Jerdacuttup Hall on the last Sunday 22 September.

The town of Ravensthorpe is situated 295 km east of Albany and 185 km west of Esperance, in the south coastal region of Western Australia called the Fitzgerald Coast. Ravensthorpe is encircled by the Ravensthorpe Range and sits amid stately Salmon Gums.

A visit to the local national park should not be missed. The Fitzgerald River National Park (Hopetoun) hosts 1,800 different species, and it showcases itself along a wild and beautiful coast, with its famous qualup bell Pimelea physodes, royal hakea Hakea victoria, weeping gum Eucalyptus sepulcralis, smoke bush, banksias and so many more.

The upgraded facilities in the park include fully surfaced coastal roads, interpretive displays and lookouts with spectacular views.

Further details: www.wildflowersRavensthorpe.org.au

Jen Biddulph Promotions, Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show & Spring Festival 0428 580737; Sue Leighton Coordinator 0407 981 301

Orthrosanthus multiflorus, Morning Iris, by Kevin Stokes

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 11:54:39 GMT

The Morning Iris is found in southern South Australia and Kangaroo Island. It also occurs in Victoria and Western Australia.

It is a very hardy and attractive plant for informal rockeries or massed displays. The plants somewhat resemble Dianella sp. in form but not in flower.

Orthrosanthus belongs in the family Iridaceae whereas Dianella is included in Asphodelaceae - both have a strappy leaf clumping habit so valuable for rockeries or accent planting.

Orthrosanthus requires very little attention and flowers in winter through to early summer. This Iris will grow in semi shade but will take full sun and may be used in coastal planting with some front-line shelter.

The flowers last only a day but are produced in such profusion that there is hardly a time, during its flowering season, that it is without a flower. Most people would find the butterfly and bee attracting qualities of this plant to be a bonus.

Propagation is by seed or division. Morning Iris is sometimes available in native plant nurseries and seed is also available from seed merchants.

This image was taken on Kangaroo Island October 2016

Recipes for Bush foods by Colleen and Geoff Keena

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 11:29:36 GMT

Here are some wonderful recipes for bush foods, developed by Colleen and Geoff.

Just a word of warning first: Be sure plants are accurately identified. Exercise caution with unfamiliar foods. Although the following are usually considered safe, adverse reactions in particular individuals cannot be ruled out.

Lemon Myrtle drink: Backhousia citriodora

To make 2 litres of lemon myrtle drink, take 4 fresh young lemon myrtle leaves. Pour over a small quantity of boiling water. Let cool. Add cooled liquid to a 2 litre bottle of cold water. The flavour keeps coming from leaves for several days so further drinks can be made by adding fresh water to the leaves.

Lemon Myrtle syrup: Backhousia citriodora

5 grams of lemon myrtle leaves; 1 1/4 cups of boiling water’ 1 1/4 cups of sugar

Roughly chop lemon myrtle leaves. Pour over boiling water. When mixture has cooled, discard leaves and mix the water and sugar together. Bring mixture to the boil. Lower heat and simmer gently until the volume is reduced by a third. Pour into a sterilised jar and store in the fridge.

Tetragonia tetragonioides, Warrigal Greens

IMPORTANT: Warrigal Greens have a high oxalate concentration. Blanch leaves in boiling water for several minutes. Discard water. Rinse leaves before using.

Warrigal Greens Pie (rice base)

Delicious both hot and cold. Garnish with lemon myrtle leaves.

Rice (extra tasty if rice is cooked in coconut cream)

Greased dish, e.g. oval dish 27 cm x 19 cm and 5 cm deep.

4 eggs, beaten with 1/2 cup milk (can be low fat milk)

Grated cheese (can be low fat)

Blanched Warrigal Green leaves

Put a layer of rice into the bottom of the dish, patting down firmly until layer is about 2 cm thick.

Cover rice with a thick layer of grated cheese. Place a layer of blanched Warrigal Greens so cheese is completely covered. Pour over the eggs beaten with milk. Add another layer of grated cheese to finish off. Microwave for 5 minutes on high and 10 minutes on medium.

Hibiscus heterophyllus, Australian native hibiscus recipes

This native hibiscus, which occurs along the eastern coast of Australia in New South Wales & Queensland, is in the same group of plants as Hibiscus sabdariffa (Rosella). The petals of Hibiscus heterophyllus can be used to make jam, syrup and cordial. The flavour of the flowers & buds is very mild. Flowers only last one day but if they are to be used at night, they can be picked as they begin to unfurl in the morning, then stored in the refrigerator crisper and if taken out in the late afternoon, will open and stay fresh until well into the evening. The flowers make a colourful edible ornament for a salad. Buds can be pickled or boiled as a vegetable; flowers can be stuffed, made into fritters or tea.

For the following recipes, use Hibiscus heterophyllus or some of its crosses, e.g. ‘Montburg Pink’, ‘Ian’s Cream’, ‘Citrus Haze’, ‘Citrus Mist’, ‘Tasty White’. Buds can be picked over 2-3 days & stored in fridge until required.

Microwave Method: Times based on 600 watts on high. Adjust times as needed according to Microwave.

Petals only from 10 large hibiscus flowers

1/4 cup of lemon juice

Detach petals from calyx and discard calyx. Chop petals finely & place in a very deep pyrex bowl.

Cover petals with lemon juice.

Australian Native Hibiscus Preserve: As above plus:

1/2 cup of boiling water; 2 cups of sugar

Microwave petals and lemon juice on high for 4 minutes. Add boiling water & sugar & stir well. Cook 2 minutes then stir. Cook another 2 minutes, stir & then cook 2 minutes more and stir. Let cool for one hour. When cool, cook for 2 minutes then stir. Test whether preserve gels by placing a small amount on a cold plate. If needed, continue cooking but no more than 2 minutes at a time. Pour into a sterilised jar. This recipe produces a rich red spread with the consistency of honey. It has a distinctive flavour and is delicious on toast or scones. Can be used as a glaze or diluted with white vinegar for sauces or marinades.

Australian Native Hibiscus Syrup: As above plus:

1 cup of boiling water; 1 cup of sugar

Microwave petals and lemon juice on high for 2 minutes. Place the water & sugar into a heavy-based saucepan and heat until sugar has dissolved. Add petals & lemon juice. Bring mix to the boil. Lower heat and simmer gently until the volume is reduced by a third (about an hour). Remove from heat & strain through a fine sieve to remove petals. Pour into a sterilised jar. Syrup will keep for 12 months if refrigerated.

Australian Native Hibiscus Cordial: As above plus:

1/2 cup of boiling water; ½ cup of sugar

Microwave petals and lemon juice on high for 2 minutes. Dissolve sugar in boiling water. Add petals and lemon juice. Place in a 2 litre bottle and fill with cold water and ice. Stir well before drinking.

Honey Joys

125g butter (1/2 a small packet of butter); 1/2 cup caster sugar; 2 tablespoons honey; 4 cups cornflakes

In a frying pan (electric is easier), melt butter, sugar and honey together over medium heat. Boil for three minutes, stirring continuously. Remove from heat and pour over cereal. Put 1-2 tablespoons into separate patty pans (about 20). Leave in refrigerator until cool enough to eat. Glaze with heated Hibiscus Preserve.

For more information, contact Colleen or Geoff at www.hibiscus.org.

Calostemma, the forgotten lily, by Kevin Stokes

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 11:06:19 GMT

Calostemma purpureum seems to be one of those plants that gain popularity and then, for some unknown reason just stop being around, at least in the local area of Newcastle. I can recall, when first starting a native garden, seeing this attractive plant in other members' gardens and also available to buy in specialist nurseries. I am pleased that I have “rediscovered” this lily and had the pleasure of many flowering heads during late summer.

Commonly called Garland Lily, it belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae and is the only wholly endemic genus of that family in Australia.

Garland Lily occurs in western NSW, South Australia and north western Victoria where it is found in a variety of habitats.

This lily makes an attractive rockery plant with leaves approx. 30cm, glossy green and fairly typical of the family. The flower heads are tubular and arranged in an umbel. Colour is purplish red and there can be as many as 16 or so flowers in the umbel and there are multiple stems over the growing period.

In common with some other members of the Amaryllidaceae, it often flowers in a leafless state in summer and early autumn when there are fewer flowers to be seen in gardens, otherwise the leaves are persistent. I have noticed that leaves will die off in dry times even during peak growth times so some watering and mulching will be beneficial during dry periods. In my experience, Calostemma will tolerate some shade.

Calostemma makes a delightful rockery plant that could be used as a massed planting or planted in pockets where it would grow taller than lower or prostrate plants and so add another dimension to a rockery display.

Propagation is easy, the fruits can be collected green or as soon as they fall and they sometimes begin germination in a storage envelope. I have not noticed any particular pests but I’m sure slugs and snails would enjoy them.

REF: ANBG article, https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp7/callostemma-purpureum.html

Autumn 2019 issue of Australian Plants

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:57:17 GMT

The Autumn 2019 issue of Australian Plants was mailed to members and subscribers in late May. Members of the Australian Plants Society NSW receive Australian Plants four times a year as part of their membership.

The Autumn issue contains articles on:

Update on the Terra Australis garden at the National Arboretum
The role of Aboriginal people in the dispersal of plants
Wild horses and Kosciuszko’s workaholic plants
Travelling stock routes: not just for livestock
Native orchids of the Blue Mountains
The AusZen portable garden
Australian native flower photographs in ultraviolet light.

Subscribe now

Non-members can subscribe. Annual subscription (four issues) is $30 including postage. Overseas subscription is $45.

Online payment is now available here.

Contact:

Subscription Officer

PO Box 3066

Bowenfels NSW 2790

merleaps@bigpond.com

Single issues

Limited supplies of recently published past issues are available for $5 per issue plus $2 postage in Australia. Email merleaps@bigpond.com

Sunshine and shadow to modify the temperature of a house, by Colleen and Geoff Keena

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 30 May 2019 07:04:03 GMT

This article first appeared in the Garden Design Study Group Newsletter, May 2019.

More information on the study group managed by our 'mother' organisation can be found here.

Since moving here in 2000, the temperatures have varied from 47 C in Summer to -6 C in Winter.

The use of appliances to modify temperature, such as an air-conditioner or heater, impacts on expenses and on the environment. However, their use can be minimised or even made unnecessary, by planting deciduous native trees, Melia azedarach along the north of the house.

In summer, Melia trees are a mass of foliage, so reducing the heat that can enter the house.

In winter, the trunks are completely bare, thus allowing full sun into the house for winter warmth.

Planting a row of Melia to the north of the house has meant that in summer, a comfortable temperature is reached with the use of fans or an evaporative air-conditioner. There is no heating in winter, other than in the bathroom for early morning showers.

Melia azedarach not only modifies the temperature of our house but provides seasonal changes not often seen in the sub-tropics. The perfumed flowers in Spring attract a range of butterflies. The stunning foliage in Autumn is a reminder of the bare branches to follow in Winter.


Perfumed flowers in spring	Lush foliage in summer	Golden colour in autumn

Australian native plants in other countries, by Lawrie Smith

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 30 May 2019 06:50:34 GMT

Lawrie Smith is the leader of the Garden Design Study Group. In the latest newsletter, he shares photos of some of the Australian collections he's found in other countries. Stunning images, for our enjoyment. Thanks Lawrie.

More information on the ANPSA Study Group can be found here.

The Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

The Australian collection – Mediterranean Biome - The Eden Project, Cornwall UK

The Australian collection – Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

David Williams, unassuming President of Hunter Valley, a social media hit

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 30 May 2019 06:14:51 GMT

Did you see the latest writeup about David Williams, President of Hunter Valley Group by NBN? Thanks NBN!

Apparently with his trusty, and cracked iphone, he's a social media hit on Instagram and Twitter.

He photographs his farm, the lovely cows and the plants he finds. Beautiful images.

Enjoy his work here: https://www.instagram.com/david_vacy/

Above is a small sample from his Instagram account...

Open days - Illawarra Grevillea Park

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 30 May 2019 05:59:16 GMT

The Illawarra Grevillea Park is a wonderful place to visit to see our beautiful flora in full bloom. It's located at the rear of Bulli Showground, Princes Highway, Bulli – close to Bulli Station.

Spring Open Days 2019 - final weekends for 2019

Saturday and Sunday, 7–8 September and 14–15 September, 10 am to 4 pm

Progress in the park

Over the summer hundreds of new plants have been added to the gardens’ extensive collection and new paths built through the rainforest. A warm autumn has been excellent for many of our flowering beauties.

Winter is a great time to stroll around the park. Explore the display gardens and discover grevilleas and other plants from all over Australia. Spend some time in the tranquil rainforest, take a bush walk in the vine forest or relax and picnic on the lawn.

In spring, everything is bursting into bloom.

Plants for sale

Hundreds of natives are for sale, including grafted grevilleas, eremophilas and pimeleas. And there are plenty of books to browse and purchase at low prices.

In September, APS Menai Group will have limited stock of Actinotus forsythii, the pink flannel flower, for sale.

Tours of the garden occur each day at 11 am.

BBQ facilities are available and there is easy access to display gardens, including the rainforest, for wheelchairs and prams.

WANT ADVICE? – bring your questions and we will do our best to help!

COST: $5 adults and children free.

FURTHER INFORMATION: The Illawarra Grevillea Park/Facebook, johnelton@grevilleapark.org 0424 830 925

Image above by the late Noel Rosten.

ANPSA News, by Riitta Boevink, ANPSA President

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 30 May 2019 05:52:50 GMT

ANPSA meetings

Nineteen people joined the ANPSA Council teleconference on 14 May. Each time the time differences bring home the vastness of Australia as a country. As the member societies are autonomous bodies allowing for differences, these meetings of delegates and elected office bearers are an opportunity to share information and find common ground.

Our next meeting will be the Biennial meeting associated with the conference in Albany in September 2019. It looks to be a well attended event as at the time of the teleconference 250 registrations had been received. An important feature of the conference is the handing out of the Australian Plants Awards. This year the Award recipients are Professor Kingsley Dixon, who was nominated for the professional category by the Wildflower Society of WA, and Glenn Leiper nominated by the Native Plants Queensland for the amateur category. More extensive publicity will take place closer to the conference.

Study Groups

The main practical role of ANPSA is to support the Study Groups. Jane Fountain as the ANPSA Study Group coordinator provided us with a report of the current state of the Study Groups. There are currently 17 active Study Groups. Sadly the Boronia SG and the Rainforest SG have closed.

Good news is that the Goodeniaceae SG has been restarted with Royce Raleigh as the leader and Maree Goods as the newsletter editor. Their first excellent newsletter has come out. Nicole Maher is the SG liaison officer for New South Wales.

ANPSA website: www.anpsa.org.au

The ANPSA website is an excellent resource of information including Study Group newsletters. Nicky Zanen, our publicity officer, has reminded us that Australian Plants was first published in December 1959 – 60 years ago. A copy of that edition is on the website.

We all appreciate the excellent work of our webmaster Brian Walters. He reports that there is now an online archive of newsletters produced by 44 current and closed Study Groups. The archives can be accessed from the general SG page:

http://anpsa.org.au/study.html

The online image database for the Eremophila Study Group now has over 160 Eremophila species. A dedicated website for the newly activated Goodeniaceae SG has been set up.

http://anpsa.org.au/goodeniaceaeSG

There is ongoing discussion on the future management of the ANPSA website as succession planning is necessary to ensure smooth continuity should Brian become unable to manage. The likely outcome eventually will be engaging a commercial firm to manage the website. At the same time it would be wonderful for someone to volunteer to work with Brian and learn the ropes. Even if a commercial firm is engaged, a person with knowledge of the society and plants will be needed to guide and instruct on the contents.

Conservation

Our conservation officer Eddy Wajon has continued to lobby actively in relation to the expansion of the Jandakot airport with commercial development into a reserve. Another issue of national importance is the insidious spread of Myrtle Rust. Eddie is keeping us informed of the attempts by government authorities to develop a management plan in a nationally coordinated way.

The NSW government’s anti-environmental legislation protecting feral Brumby horses in the Australian Alps has been another issue. Chris Long, APS Victoria President, has also sent a letter to the NSW Minister for the Environment.

Eddie reported that in WA damage to roadside vegetation by local council clearing practices is continuing.

Newsletters

The inevitable shift to distributing journals/newsletters electronically is slowly happening. NSW delegates informed us that the NSW journal is now only available digitally to the members. Libraries get paper copies, but statutory bodies prefer digital versions.

Seeking new public officer and publicity officer for ANPSA

ANPSA public officer John Carter is stepping down from his position as he is moving out of the ACT. A new public officer who is a resident of Canberra will need to be appointed at the beginning of 2020.

We will also be looking to fill the position of the publicity officer as Nicky Zanen will be stepping down after the Albany conference. Nicky deserves recognition for her contribution over the years.

Riitta Boevink, ANPSA President

May 2019

Native citrus success by Ralph Cartwright

enewsletter Editor — Sat, 25 May 2019 05:46:24 GMT

The following article by Ralph Cartwright appeared in the APS Sutherland Group April 2019 newsletter. Ralph brought in several finger limes to give away at a meeting and we asked him for the secrets to citrus success.

Citrus australasica, finger lime, seems to me to be pretty easy to grow.

I THINK mine is now about 5 years old, and has been flowering and bearing fruit for the last three years. I would guess that it is a grafted specimen, although it doesn’t say that on the label.

I still have the label, and I think it is from the Sydney Wildflower Nursery at Heathcote and cost me $29.95. It was a 6 inch pot from memory.

My variety is ‘Crystal’: Green skin, green ‘caviar’ – very fresh, very juicy. The grower is Gourmetlimes.com.au

I have it planted under a large mango tree, north facing, but due to shade from other plants around it, it probably only gets half sun at best. Being a rainforest plant, it is probably a good spot for it.

I don’t feed it and only water it when I remember, usually when I notice the small flowers on it in spring and think I should help it to set fruit!

I don’t know what pollinates it, and can’t find much about that on Google either. I’ll have to keep an eye on it next spring.

In summer, I sometimes see stink bugs which cause dieback of some new growth, but not as many as I get on my orange tree nearby.

While researching this, I read that I should be pruning lightly in autumn after harvesting the fruit.

I generally only prune to keep it in control and at about chest high. It is VERY prickly and I always wear gloves when working nearby.

This season, I got about 30 fruit off it and have been having them on my breakfast cereal and puddings daily. They are also good on fish and in salads.

For those who also have this plant, the fruit are ripe when they just come off the plant easily when you pull lightly and I read that they do not ripen off the tree. You can freeze them if you have a huge crop.

Photos: Ralph Cartwright

Joan Zande's garden – a design with nature, described by Lawrie Smith AM

enewsletter Editor — Wed, 22 May 2019 13:03:13 GMT

This article by Lawrie Smith AM, Leader of the Garden Design Study Group, originally appeared in the Garden Design Study Group Newsletter 106, February 2019 and is posted with thanks to Lawrie Smith.

Lawrie's introduction

While attending the APS NSW gathering in November 2018 hosted by Sutherland Group I had the pleasure of visiting Joan Zande's garden and was very impressed at the application of so many design principles in this relatively small residential garden reconstructed after 40 years as a collaborative effort between Joan and an obviously very talented landscape contractor, Greg Hopcroft.

First impressions

Walking up from the front gate along the stepped pathway within the narrow space between two adjoining houses you sense that there is something different about to happen – then suddenly you are sure, as straight ahead a Japanese style downpipe is the first sculptural focus to attract your attention. You turn right and can’t help but exclaim Wow!! …. as you see for the first time the surprisingly expansive garden that draws your eye up to and around the rugged enclosing sandstone cliff.

An informal flagstone pathway invites immediate entry to the ‘amphitheatre’ garden – however the main access is further along where the surrounding garden diversity can be fully appreciated.

Sandstone escarpment

The almost vertical crescent of sandstone rock face more than nine metres high sweeps diagonally across the site. The rock is irregular enough to support a range of small shrubs, orchids and covers to conceal and reveal just the right amount of sandstone as the dominant physical and visual element.

This has defined the garden design strategy through its dramatic sculptural forms, textures and colours. The strong horizontal lines of the rock strata are repeated in the rock walls, in the scree rockery, in the hedges and in the plant massing.

The ‘borrowed landscape’ of the bushland above the rock face also enhances the garden and is reflected in the subtle diversity of the selected planting below inspired by the nearby Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve at Kareela.

The circular lawn

As you approach the garden along the upward sloping side entry path, a wide horizontal band of green seems to underline the garden view to be progressively revealed as a dramatic circular manicured grass terrace.

The regular shape of this unexpected formal lawn is defined by the crescent sandstone rock face, with the existing sloping landform reshaped by cut and fill to complete this strongly geometric garden terrace. Although the circular lawn and perimeter low hedge is visually dominant, it is a carefully integrated element within the garden. The contrast between the level lawn and the vertical face of the escarpment provides visual drama, and everything is carefully tied together by the strong horizontal lines of rock strata, stone walls and the surrounding hedge.

Hedge and gardens

The circular hedge of Syzygium ‘Allyn Magic’ effectively enhances the strength of the formal geometric design and also provides a safe edge where the garden terrace falls away to lower levels.

In views from the several main viewpoints, the circular hedge effectively sweeps the eye into the garden to focus on a number of differing sculptural or botanic elements. Interestingly, the hedge attracts the eye into a group of formal Sannantha virgata spheres or balls, which seem to ‘bounce’ up into the sloping scree garden below the sandstone cliff.

The contrast in form between the dramatic circular lawn and hedge with the irregularity and informality of the rockery garden merging with the sandstone cliff provides controlled visual interest and diversity. Carefully selected and managed shrubs provide an ever-changing living mosaic of colour, form and texture complementing the sculptural sandstone.

Access and circulation

The garden geometry is primarily derived from the natural curved form of the sandstone escarpment and as it diverges away from the base of the cliff the ‘scree’ slope rockery garden becomes wider, offering a ‘natural’ rock stairway through clusters of small plants accessing the various levels of terraced garden. Sandstone slab step treads continue the sympathetic choice of ‘hard landscape’ materials to ensure that the garden colour palette is complementary and integrated.

Skilful use of dry laid sandstone block walls again repeat the circular form and horizontal expression of the lawn and hedge, extending the visual significance of the geometry.

Upper terraces

High up on the rock escarpment, views down into the garden from this naturally dramatic location reveal how effectively this steep sloping site has been used and planned to provide two major and distinctive garden ‘places’, each with differing uses and attributes but all surrounded and integrated with gardens of appropriate native plants. The upper terrace, complete with timber deck, seating and fire pit, offers an attractive place for both winter and summer activities.

The circular lawn is visually dominant but still an integral component of the garden with many uses.

Linking gardens

The gardens meander throughout the various levels, effectively linking the main spaces generally in irregular or ‘natural’ character but sometimes in more formal geometry.

The plant material is carefully chosen for its suitability, function and aesthetic qualities, particularly to variously complement or contrast with the character of the sandstone. Considered use has been made to integrate a few well-chosen exotic tree species to provide focal points of seasonal interest and added diversity.

Collectively all of the garden materials and plants create a very interesting and unified garden in which you are enticed to progressively explore the various differing spaces and environments.

Designed with nature

This garden strongly exhibits what I like to call ‘Design with Nature’ – where the natural geology, form and aspect of the site is a strong influence on the detail design, in close association with the functional parameters and aesthetic values set by the garden user and designer. The result is that this garden belongs just right where it is and could probably not be successfully established anywhere else.

It exhibits that interesting juxtaposition of natural vegetation forms with appropriately modified specimens for visual contrast and other aesthetic reasons. Overall this garden offers a huge opportunity for a dedicated native plant enthusiast to successfully establish an amazing canvas on which to display a range of species suited to numerous ecological niches – what more could you ask?

Photos: Lawrie Smith

Read more about the Garden Design Study Group including the newsletter archive and free membership to APS members here.

Congratulations to Lloyd Hedges, Life Member

enewsletter Editor — Wed, 22 May 2019 12:35:04 GMT

Congratulations to Lloyd Hedges of Menai Group who was awarded Life membership at the APS NSW Annual General Meeting on 18 May 2019. Menai Group's nomination of Lloyd is reproduced here.

Lloyd Hedges with Pam Pitkeathly, Vice President of Menai Group

Lloyd Hedges received the APS NSW Conservation Award in 2012 and has continued his very active contribution to the objectives of APS NSW since then.

Lloyd’s involvement in Australian native plants has never had a narrow focus. He continues to show the connections between Australian flora and birds and animals, and the need to conserve our plants so that diversity is preserved. He puts time into fostering good relations among neighbouring APS groups, to helping school children plant out gardens and conducting regular workshops for adults to improve their knowledge of propagation. His annual splitting of the bee hives at Illawong should not be missed. He supplies tube stock to other groups and to Sydney Wildflower Nursery and Illawarra Grevillea Park, giving Menai Group the financial stability to offer scholarships to students, fund research and to offer workshops to the community.

Developing the Illawong Fire Station native garden

In 2002, Lloyd promoted Illawong Rural Fire Services station as a base for Menai Wildflower Group, where we have operated successfully as a showcase for what the Society stands for. We have extended the operation onto Sutherland Council land adjoining the fire station and have installed propagation equipment to raise plants for members, to supply plants for various projects and to conduct workshops for the community every month.

Growing for conservation

Two major undertakings have been engineered by Lloyd over recent times: the growing of thousands of sheoaks to line a corridor from coast to mountains for black cockatoos (the Glossies in the Mist project), and the growing and planting of lomandra in large quantities for delivery to Big Island via small tender in rough seas for the Five Islands project near Wollongong.

Lloyd's involvement in both projects has given valuable publicity to APS groups and provided more understanding of the importance of habitat for biodiversity.

Developing the pink flannel flower

Lloyd found examples of Actinotus forsythii, the pink flannel flower, in the Blue Mountains and managed to propagate this at Illawong, providing those pots of rare pink flannel flowers that were in great demand at APS meetings. He advocated a grant to UNSW for a research project to examine this in detail, and we are expecting a report in 2019. This scientific approach by Lloyd to Australian natives did not surprise members and colleagues who were witness to his early experiments in producing “smoke water” at the Tip nursery.

Supporting Sutherland Council Bushcare

Lloyd has played an active role in Bushcare in the Sutherland Shire for over 15 years. He continues these links and is involved with the ongoing survey of Powerful Owl nesting sites, work which provides great images for the web pages and opportunities to showcase these birds to younger generations.

In 2003, Menai Group, with the help of ANSTO, published a walking guide to the Mill Creek area. Lloyd described the tracks and identified the native flora on each track, as well as some rare aboriginal carvings which can be seen on the walk. Bardens ‘n Bush is no longer in print, but we still get enquires from people outside of the region. This project was only possible because of Lloyd’s personal knowledge of the restricted area and the contacts he had developed, and a ripple effect is still being experienced.

Wide interests

Lloyd’s exploration of inland Australia and its flora has been beneficial for all of us, providing many a talk for APS groups over the years, with great images to accompany his tales, not to mention the wonderful seed pod and wire jewellery that his wife Mary produced. At national level, Lloyd took part in the Desert Plant Survey in February 2011.

Congratulations to Barry Lees, Life Member

enewsletter Editor — Wed, 22 May 2019 12:00:01 GMT

Congratulations to Barry Lees of North Shore Group who was awarded Life membership at the APS NSW Annual General Meeting on 18 May 2019. Barry’s love and respect for our native plants is contagious and he has inspired many others to share his passion. Here's North Shore Group's nomination of Barry.

Barry Lees with Sue Bowen, President of North Shore Group

Contribution to North Shore Group

Barry Lees joined APS North Shore Group in 2003. Since then he has been an extremely active member and led the group for much of the past 6 years: as President (2013–2015), Vice President (2016 when there was no president) and President again in 2017–2018. Prior to becoming president in 2013 Barry was the editor of the monthly North Shore Group newsletter, Blandfordia, for 2 years in 2011 and 2012 and a committee member in 2010.

Barry has always been supportive of all members, especially those on the committee, and provided constructive advice whenever needed. Barry almost always attended the monthly group outings and annual trips away. Barry would beaver away at working bees at the APS North Shore Group propagating area at Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, where his engineering expertise and practical skills always facilitated a positive outcome.

As one member commented, “I think he was a great president and carried out the presidential duties with enjoyment, tact and good humour (a lot of it self-deprecating!)”. At meetings, visitors and members were always welcomed and Barry would often gently explain to newcomers why botanical names were so important for the accurate identification of plants. Barry also offered unstinting assistance to some members who needed extra help with their personal situations. Despite his own commitments, he never shied away from being there for others.

Barry has always fulfilled the broader role of president of a group and attended APS NSW meetings and gatherings and participated in the various forums, as required.

Barry’s interest in native plants is focused on LOCAL species as they are found in the local bush. He has an extensive knowledge of local native plants. While not focusing on gardening in their bushland setting, he and Noni have a native garden around their house. This garden is a joy to behold. Barry’s childhood was spent in the bush but it was only in the past 20 years that he started focusing on names and fine tuning his extensive experience of native plants. At a recent meeting, members talked about their favourite plant and, in keeping with his genuine and gentle approach to most things, Barry said that he particularly likes Adiantum species, i.e. Maiden Hair Ferns.

In a previous life, Barry had a full-time position with the organisation previously known as the State Rail Authority NSW and he has travelled extensively throughout NSW. Barry recently gave us a deeper understanding of the complexity of the rail lines and interchange arrangements at Hornsby Station while we were waiting to go on an outing.

Volunteering at Hornsby Herbarium

Barry has been active in the Hornsby Herbarium work on an almost weekly basis for about 20 years. This involves a small group of very dedicated people going out into the bush in Hornsby Shire. Plant surveys are done of native plant species on Crown land, National Parks and Reserves from Wisemans Ferry to Bobbin Head and south to Pennant Hills and Hornsby.

This team of dedicated people traipses all over the fire trails and tracks of Hornsby Shire in Barry's ancient, but excellently self-maintained 4-wheel drive doing plant surveys, investigations and the collection of particular plants, including rare species.

Barry wouldn’t let thick scrub or cliffs get in the way if he was on a mission to track down a particular plant. Sometimes these outings were for surveys for Hornsby Shire Council, property owners or other groups involved in bushland conservation. He has also managed the Herbarium website and all the data for the group over many recent years.

Volunteering at Landcare and Streamwatch

Barry has also been active in his local Still Creek Landcare group based at Fagan Park, including being the coordinator. The group also cares for other surrounding areas, including Carr’s Bush. This work involves bush regeneration, planting native plants and providing advice to landholders on many aspects of growing native plants and managing their bushland. Not content to be land bound, Barry has also assisted with the Floating Landcare group on the Hawkesbury River. Barry’s own property is a “Land for Wildlife” reserve with the Office of Environment and Heritage. APS North Shore Group members have been extended hospitality on group outings there.

Barry has contributed to Streamwatch by doing water quality monitoring in local streams. He also supported other plant and bush conservation causes by making submissions and representations to government and other organisations.

More on Landcare

Barry is an inaugural member of the Landcare Group and was at the first Expression of interest meeting held over 11 years ago. He has participated and contributed from the start and enthusiastically continues to today.

Projects

Barry has been involved in every project our Landcare group has undertaken. I estimate >15 major one off projects as well as our annual projects for Weed of the Year, Plant Giveaways, Weeds for Trees and Community Engagements.

The Trees for Weeds has been an astonishing success over the few years it’s been running with Barry being the main driver. It has now become a major Annual Project for our group. Barry would visit each of the applicants properties and provide expert advice on how to manage weeds, what natives would be best suited to each site and then provide advice on how and when to plant.

Barry has been a major instigator of our projects and has contributed more volunteer hours than anyone else in the group. He is directly involved in ordering materials, plant selections, weed management methodology, scheduling contractors and general operational project management.

As a researcher, Barry would provide invaluable insight into how to best achieve the desired outcomes. His research on Bell Minor dieback is a good example. Barry proposed and used the latest approaches to eliminate the domination of the Bell Minor Birds. He created a more diverse environment by removing the dominant weeds base and planting a diverse plant population that introduced competition to the Bell Minor Birds, ultimately rebalancing the area and halting the dieback. He also shared the information back to Local Land Services to aid other Landcare Catchments.

Barry would always trial new methods and share his findings with others. A good example of this was when we ‘Deep Stem Planting Method’ on a trial site. We had a very good outcome with improved growth and survival rates all because of an article Barry had read.

Working bees

Our group has regular monthly working bees all over our catchment to maintain finished projects and to help locals with worthwhile projects. That’s over 120 working bees to date. Barry’s contributions usually led the way in ‘how to’, ‘what is that’ and ‘I’ll find out for you’ areas

Publishing

Our Landcare group publishes monthly press releases and produces handouts on a myriad of topics to support landholders. Barry has produced a large number of wide ranging articles for our local Community News. He has also penned a number of brochures covering many topics such as weeds, plant me instead, native grasses, propagation and much much more. Again it would take time and space to list all his contributions here. Barry was also a great contributor in his reviews of our publications, keeping us to the facts and offering improvements where he saw fit.

As an aside, Barry is the most photogenic of our group and his face has been used on many occasions with his broad hat and smile at the ready.

Research

Barry is our main go-to person for research, weed management, regeneration methods, planting methods, herbicide use and methods and even bush regen for climate change.

Water testing

For around 10 years, Barry has been part of the catchment water testing team being responsible for a sample area at the headwaters of Still Creek. Barry took monthly samples, tested, evaluated and reported via data entry into the Streamwatch program.

Community engagement

Landcare carries out various annual community engagements: Hornsby Council plant giveaways, local school fairs and occasional other activities. Barry has always enjoyed participating in these activities where his knowledge shines and he can share his contagious enthusiasm for nature with the public.

Other volunteering for the community

Barry’s volunteering is part of a pattern of consistently helping the community over time.

Barry has been an extremely active member of TAD Disability Services (TADNSW) over almost 40 years. In this role he puts his vast engineering and innovative and creative skills to work to assist in designing and making individual equipment for people needing help.

Barry carries out the design, construction and familiarisation of the technical equipment be it for self-care, working, transport, recreation, schooling, or feeding purposes. One example of his work was to make a cutting board device that allowed a young boy to use scissors after he became a quadruple amputee due to meningococcal disease. Such equipment provides significant improvements to the person’s independence, enabling them to live more fulfilling lives, participate more equally with work and school colleagues, friends and family, and participate more fully in society.

Barry has contributed to various local publications and spoken to various groups about Landcare, native plants and TAD.

Barry has spent many an hour up the fire tower on look-out as part of his duties with Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Rural Fire District Support Brigade.

Still not one to be idle (Barry doesn’t know the meaning of that word), he participated in an amateur musical group (Loosely Woven) for several years by repairing musical instruments, making props and being part of the “cheer squad” at events. This group raises money for charities. On a few occasions, Noni and Barry provided the musical entertainment at the APS North Shore Group Christmas parties.

Finally, Barry has a long association with the Sydney Clockmakers Society. Members make complex clocks while providing training, recreation and host public displays of clocks.

Barry’s contributions have been outstanding in all fields: in his leadership; his ability to inspire and encourage others; include his willingness to shoulder responsibility and to achieve goals and to lead by example in workshops, meetings, bush regeneration, survey teams or for the Hornsby Herbarium Library website. Barry’s love and respect for our native plants is contagious and he has inspired many others to share his passion.

Celebrating Australian natives at the Easter Show 2019

enewsletter Editor — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 03:10:26 GMT

Enjoy some of the entries in the many classes of the Australian plants competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, April 2019. Thanks to all the entrants, particularly Central Coast, East Hills and Sutherland Groups, who together created a colourful display on the diversity and beauty of Australian native plants, despite the time of year. All the competition results are here, searchable by exhibitor.

Floral arrangements

Champion, Mixed or Unmixed Australian Native Blooms and First Prize, Vase of mixed grevillea blooms – Sutherland Group

Jill McLelland with Champion ribbon

First Prize, Mixed arrangement in a vase – Sutherland Group

First Prize, Mixed arrangement not in a vase – Sutherland Group

Floral arrangements – Banksias

First Prize, Banksia arrangement – Sutherland Group

Floral arrangements – miniature

First Prize, Miniature vase – Central Coast Group

Gumnuts in a car, by Sam aged 5

Foliage arrangements

First Prize – East Hills Group

Pots – foliage

Champion, Australian Native Plant and First Prize, Foliage (pot) – Central Coast Group

Pots – flowering shrub

First Prize, Flowering shrub in pot – Sutherland Group with Actinotus forsythii (pink flannel flower)

A selection of pot entries

Photos: Thanks to Jan Douglas and Jill McLelland.

Remembering Hugh Stacy, Life Member

enewsletter Editor — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 12:30:00 GMT

Hugh Stacy at the Menai Group propagation facility, May 2017

One of the stalwarts of East Hills Group, Hugh Stacy, died on 5 March 2019, his 83^rd birthday.

Hugh was a very active and valued member of the Australian Plants Society and its forerunner, the Society for Growing Australian Plants, for many years. He was the State President from 1978 to 1980 and State Treasurer from 1989 to 1996. In 1994 he was awarded life membership of the Society in recognition of his contribution.

Hugh’s contribution to our own district group was also much valued. I am sure we all have memories of him discussing a plant or plant family and how amazed we were by the amount of research that he had done to discover this information. Hugh possessed a wealth of knowledge on so many native plants, and often at our plant table could provide detailed information about plants that others had brought along.

Hugh was also recognised as a skilled propagator, and many of us have plants in our gardens – particularly hakeas – that he had propagated. These are a living reminder of him.

Members of East Hills Group attended a thanksgiving service for Hugh at the Lugarno–Peakhurst Uniting Church on Wednesday 13 March, and the large gathering of his family and friends also included APS members from other groups. The service included beautiful musical interludes in recognition of another of Hugh’s great interests. Other members of East Hills Group and members of APS who are well known to East Hills Group had attended Hugh’s funeral service at Woronora that morning.

Hugh’s genial company, enthusiasm for native plants and extensive botanical knowledge will be greatly missed.

Graham Fry

President, East Hills Group

Hugh Stacy at East Hills Group meeting, April 2016
Photos: Jan Douglas, East Hills Group

Bioluminescent fungi at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, by Kevin Stokes

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 01:51:08 GMT

Interested in bioluminescent fungi? It is about this time of the year these fascinating fungi appear in the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens especially after the rain of recent times.

The fruiting bodies should be appearing soon and there are several people keeping a lookout. If any appear, walks will be organised.

For those interested I have included some images of Omphalotus nidiformis and an open source article that explores the way the fungi glow.

The Hunter Region Botanic Gardens have organised walks for the past few years although last year was abandoned because of lack of reasonably sized fruit and the very short term nature of the ones present probably due to the lack of Autumn rain.

In organising walks, there is quite short notice as there a couple of factors at work:

It means a night time visit to the Gardens and guides organised.
It is best held on a moonless night...not always possible
Sometimes the fungi are apparent for relatively short periods so people have to be ready to come at a moment's notice.
Some visitors just want to walk around and find the fungi…others wish to try their hand at photography which has its own challenges. Because the two groups are not compatible, generally two different night walks are organised or the photographers descend after those that are only interested in seeing them have left. This often means a fairly late night and sometimes standing with an umbrella over the tripod and camera (photographers can be committed sometimes...or ought to be).

It is a strange feeling to walk around in the dark and see these glowing fruiting bodies dotted through the bush. How bright they are depends entirely on the amount of darkness.

Photographing the fungi can be challenging as there are long exposures involved and the actual glowing is not as bright in reality as the images depict.

They are best observed on a moonless night and using a tripod, complete darkness and no lights or movement near the tripod. Exposures vary according to conditions but can be 20 mins or more. It's a challenge but the results can be worth the effort.

If anyone is interested in a walk it is essential to be on a list and be prepared to come with short notice. Those wishing to attend should keep an eye on the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens face book page accessible from the web page (www.huntergardens.org.au)

It is also worth a walk in your local bush at night because there are a number of species of bioluminescent fungi around, not only the Omphalotis……there are a number of these and other fungi in the Watagan Forests near Lake Macquarie that display bioluminescence.

About fungi

“A team of researchers from Russia, Brazil and Japan has uncovered the means by which two kinds of mushrooms glow in the dark, as evidenced in their paper published on the open-access site, Science Advances.

Scientists have long been fascinated by organisms that produce their own light (bioluminescence) and research has led to an understanding of how the process works in many insects and seafaring organisms (and recently in a frog). But how it works in fungi has remained a mystery. In this new effort, the researchers have finally solved that mystery.

Prior research has found just 80 species of fungi that are bioluminescent out of approximately 100,000 around the globe. It is believed that such fungi glow in the dark to attract wasps, beetles, flies, ants and other creatures—spores adhere to their bodies and are carried to other places, colonising new territory.

The new research showed that bioluminescence occurred in the mushrooms when luciferin molecules interacted with a luciferase enzyme in the presence of oxygen—the reaction resulted in the production of a light-emitting substance called oxyluciferin. Over time, the oxyluciferin released its oxygen bringing the luciferin back to its ground state. The process repeated, allowing the mushrooms to emit light in the presence of oxygen. The team also found that luciferase in fungi appeared to be what they describe as "promiscuous," because it interacts with a multitude of luciferin molecule derivatives. They also found that they could change the colours emitted by a slurry of ground-up mushroom parts by changing the amount of luciferin in the mix, which suggests they may be useful in synthetic form in human applications such as imaging research—luciferase could potentially be used as a reporter gene in genetic research, for example.”

Learning more about how nature produces bioluminescence has already led to applications in human endeavours—bio-researchers, for example, use them to aid in tracking cells to learn more about biological processes."

Native Terrestrial Orchids of the Hunter by Lynda McPherson

HEATHER MILES — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:13:00 GMT

One of our members, Kevin Stokes from Newcastle, has brought to our attention a new book called Native Terrestrial Orchids of the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, by Lynda McPherson.

The Hunter Region Botanic Gardens is 130 hectares, much of which is pristine bushland. This expansive natural area, together with the sandy soil, is the perfect environment for native terrestrial orchids. Over 5 years, as Lynda discovered the orchids, she photographed, documented and then painted them in this lovely book, which illustrates and describes 26 species of native terrestrial orchids occurring naturally in the gardens.

Another fascinating inclusion is the Aboriginal uses of native terrestrial orchids. Flowering times and locations are included in the book, as well as a section for new explorers to write down their own observations, whether it be flora or fauna.

The end result is intended to encourage and inspire people of all ages to explore the natural bushland both in the gardens as well as more widely.

Lynda has also been accepted to exhibit at Botanica, Australia’s leading contemporary botanical art exhibition.

The annual showcase, now in its 20th year, features work by some of the best Australian and international established and emerging botanic and natural history artists, Botanica is considered one of the foremost exhibitions of its kind.

Botanica is showing at the Royal Botanic Garden’s Lion Gate Lodge garden, Sydney, from 30 March.

Lynda's beautiful watercolour, Flame Pea, is shown below:

The Quest for the Flying Duck, by Jennifer Liney, South East Group

HEATHER MILES — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 10:54:53 GMT

Bob Ross’ mention of the Flying Duck Orchid in the October 2018 issue of Native Plants for New South Wales reminded me of a piece I wrote some years ago for the Chefs Cap: newsletter of the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden at Batemans Bay. This is an edited version.

There are many strange, interesting and beautiful ground orchids common on the NSW south coast, but none so delightful, appealing and downright cute as Caleana major, the Flying duck orchid.

I know a lady from Dalmeny who is fascinated by Australian orchids. She (and her husband and family) have spent many hours searching their local forests and grasslands for ground and epiphytic orchid species. Her orchid specimens are a valuable part of the Wallace Herbarium (ERBG) collection. The Bodalla Forest Park has been a favourite hunting ground for quite some time; in fact, she has written about her experiences there.

Early in October she phoned me with news of a colony of Flying duck orchids she and her husband had found just off the Princes Highway, opposite the entrance to Brou Tip (a bit north of Dalmeny). Never having seen this orchid in the flesh, so to speak, at first opportunity I hastened down the Highway to try and locate it. I had been given some pointers to follow, and in due course I found these. But in spite of an hour’s searching, no Flying ducks. Time had run out and I had to return home.

A phone call, asking for more directions. A few days later, I drove down to the tip area again. I was told that the orchids are rather small and grow in very dry, gravelly places, and that the first one is very difficult to find, but once the sightlines are established, others appear as if by magic. After another fruitless hour, I was thoroughly disgusted and on the point of going home, when I spied a single maroon orchid leaf in among fallen dry stringybark leaves. Suddenly, near the gravelly base of the tree (that had been left like a little hillock around the tree trunk after gravel had been removed from the site) I could see a little dark red/brown stem about 8cm tall with an orchid flower on top. Then there was another, and another, and another. I had found the Flying duck orchids!!

I was astonished at the delicate, intricate form of the flower; a form that is highly specialised to attract insects for pollination. The lower part is somewhat cup shaped and contains nectar, while above this and connected by a flat tensioned straplike appendage, is the ‘duck’ head that contains the pollination mechanism. When an insect lands on the cup – attracted by the nectar – the spring is activated and the ‘duck’ head snaps down, depositing pollen on the back of the insect. After a little while, the spring releases and the insect is free to fly away to another flower, thus transferring the pollen. The photograph, from Sydney Coast Walks, is a good illustration of the flower parts involved in this procedure. It is an amazing process, evolved over untold years, wonderfully simple, yet incredibly complicated.

I could not keep this find to myself, so I rang an acquaintance in Canberra who is interested in orchids. “I must see them”, she cried, and forthwith arranged to meet me at the spot the next weekend, postponing all her normal Saturday activities. Photographs were taken, and suitable expressions of wonder uttered. Others were shown the orchids, and these in turn showed their partners and friends.

All of these people shared my pleasure in these unusual and charming members of the fascinating world of plants.

Visiting South Australian in April? Be sure to take in the Plant Fair

HEATHER MILES — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 23:38:39 GMT

The Australian Plants Society SA is hosting its next Expo and Plants Sale on 13 and 14 April at the Adelaide Showgrounds.

 The theme is smaller plants and groundcovers with workshops on:

Propagation
Sustainable Gardening in the Australian garden with Sam Glazbrook
Gardening in a small Space - Local Natives for Courtyards, Patios and Hanging baskets with Brett Oakes
Native grasses (with emphasis on ornamental use) with Greg Kirby
Small Plants and Ground Covers with Ian Trigg

In addition, there is likely to be a session on building a native bee hotel! Here is a flyer with further details of the event.

A list of the plants expected to be on sale and the finalised program will be posted to SA's website prior to the sale.

Polblue, a fragile wilderness, by Andrew Pengelly, Hunter Valley Group

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 09:30:39 GMT

This article was contributed by Andrew Pengelly of the Hunter Valley Group and appeared in their newsletter, Gumleaves.

As a way of escaping extreme December heat, as well as to participate in a plant collecting trip for the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, we headed up to Barrington Tops National Park, observing the change in temp from 35C in the valley to 26C an hour later, at an elevation above 1400m. The plan was to camp the night at Polblue camping area, then meet our collecting colleagues there in the morning.

Along with the camping and picnic area, Polblue has a significant peat bog, surrounded by sub-alpine flora. This area is not only of great ecological significance, it also harbours a number of rare and threatened plants, including two species of mountain pepper, Tasmannia purpurescens and T. glaucifolia (fragrant pepperbush) - see above.

Around the campsite we found an abundance of flowering veined doubletail orchids (Diuris venosa), another threatened species. (see left)

There is a good walking track around the peat bog, however it is a surprise to find large piles of horse manure along the track. I took a short stroll into the peat bog and found plenty of large hoof prints deeply embedded in the soft ground. Our guide Bill Dowling indicated there are around 100 feral horses in the area, certainly one of the threats to this world heritage wilderness site.

As we progressed slowly along the track at botanist speed, another major threat is ever-present, the introduced Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), a declared noxious weed. While it is a reasonably attractive plant with its’ buttercup yellow pea flowers and bright green pods, this species looms as the greatest threat to the stability of this fragile wilderness.

After a lunch break we drove a little way north to another section of Polblue creek, known habitat for the rare silver tea tree (Leptospermum argenteum) and two threatened species of plantain (Plantago spp.)

We disturbed a wild pig, another environmental threat to the region, and we did find some silver tea tree on the creek bank although it was visibly in the process of being squeezed out by the broom. A few specimens of T. glaucifolia on the edge of the creek were also being overwhelmed by the broom. See image to right with T. glaucifolia is being overwhelmed by Scotch broom (see right).

The continuing spread of this invasive weed is a massive problem. At Polblue hundreds of seedlings can be seen emerging in places both inside and outside of the walking trail, making a mockery of attempts at controlling this species with herbicide. In fact, I learned that the spray program was put on hold after it was discovered that around 100 T. glaucifola specimens were accidentally poisoned.

I do have major concerns about the use of herbicide on such a large scale, as we know that much of the residue will end up in the waterways, and ultimately the Hunter River. Physical control by digging out the plants could work in theory, but the scale of the problem means hundreds of workers would be required for an extended period, an idea that is clearly impracticable. See image to left - Cytisus dead and alive

Late in the day as we headed back down into the valley and the heat I had very mixed feelings. On the one hand, it is a beautiful area with so much more to explore and a selection of rare and interesting plant species. On the other hand I felt a sense of despair – it is hard to imagine that within the foreseeable future the peat bog won’t be overrun with Scotch broom, just as the nearby creeks and woodlands are already.

APS NSW AGM and Quarterly Gathering, Saturday 18 May 2019, Blue Mountains

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 00:39:57 GMT

The APS NSW Annual General Meeting and Quarterly Gathering will be held on Saturday, 18 May 2019. Hosted by the Blue Mountains Group, it will be held at Blaxland Community Hall, 33 Hope St., Blaxland

Featuring: Plants with a Bite

Keen to find out about Australian carnivorous plants, what they are, what they eat, how they capture their prey and how to grow and maintain them in cultivation? So little is known about these plants, yet Australia has one of the world’s richest carnivorous plant floras.

Our guest speaker Greg Bourke, who has an unbridled passion for these highly unusual plants, will answer all your questions.

Greg has been fascinated by carnivorous plants from an early age and has become an established expert in the industry, and is co-author of the authoritative book, Australian Carnivorous Plants. He is currently Curator-Manager, Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mt Tomah and is Vice President for Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand.

Greg is a wonderful speaker who will enthral you with his extensive knowledge of, and passion for Australian carnivorous plants. This is an opportunity that should not be missed.

There will be a selection of plants, including carnivorous plants, for sale.

You can hear more about Greg’s passion for ‘plants with a bite’, by listening to Richard Glover’s recording with him on Self-improvement Wednesday, ABC 702, at www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/drive/siw-greg-bourke/10124412

Program for the day

10am: Glenbrook Native Plants Reserve and Nursery, 41 Great Western Highway, Glenbrook (Opposite Tourist Information Centre), for a guided walk around the reserve and an opportunity to buy plants.

9.45am: Short walk Pippa’s Pass, led by Jim Ward. Meet at Blaxland Library car park, 33 Hope St., Blaxland at 9.45am for 10am start. The walk is a little rough at the start with a few uneven steps and may be slippery if wet but it then levels out and becomes easier. We would expect to see some of the common Blue Mountains species.. Xanthosia pilosa and the Green Grevillea, Grevillea mucronulata, occur near the start of the walk

12 - 12.30pm: Lunch - bring your own. Tea and coffee will be provided.

12.30 - 1pm: AGM

1 - 2pm: Greg Bourke, Plants with a bite.

2 - 2.30pm: Afternoon tea & plants sales

2.30 - 3 pm: Greg Bourke, Growing and maintaining Australian carnivorous plants.

Registration fee, to offset cost of the hall, speaker’s gift and afternoon tea.

Members $5
Non-members $10

APS NSW Saturday 23 March Gathering at Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 05:41:15 GMT

The next gathering is being hosted by North Shore at the beautiful Ku-ring-gai WIldflower Garden.

Click here for information: March 2019 APS NSW Quarterly Gathering.pdf

Featuring Greenwalls

Our guest speaker is Mark Paul, Horticulturist and Founder of The Greenwall Company. Mark is a very experienced speaker who has spoken on greenwalls to many groups in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and North and South America. During his talk, he will share his expertise with us on the design, construction and choice of plants suitable for greenwalls.

Mark created what is believed to be the very first greenwall in Australia over 30 years ago. His company is involved in greenwall design and construction, in a wide range of residential, commercial and public works.

In a recent media release, Mark stated “We have been working tirelessly on creating new forms of eco-friendly greenwalls for all types of spaces, including new designs for high-rise buildings. Not only do greenwalls look fantastic on the exteriors of the buildings, but they truly transform the aesthetics and atmosphere of the street, and surrounding areas, not to mention the health benefits.

For further information about projects Mark’s company has created, visit his company’s website at https://greenwall.com.au

Program for the day

10.30 am Walks and talks: A choice of two guided walks around the gardens;

Walk 1 will visit the rare plants in the garden and the propagation area;
Walk 2 will look at the rainforest plants in the gardens.

12 - 1pm Lunch. Bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee will be available. Plants will be on sale during lunch time.

1-3pm: Mark Paul’s presentation on Greenwalls, and afternoon tea.

This image is from the WIldflower Garden one morning this week with the dew still on the frond.

Planting Australian natives: are we bringing the bush to our backyards or our backyards to the bush? By Dr Matt Pye

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 03:21:47 GMT

This article by Dr Matt Pye* recently appeared in the Australian Flora Foundation's January 2019 Research Matters and is reproduced with permission.

Introduction

Gardens are an important part of our existence in urban environments. They provide relief from the concrete and bricks that create the artificial environment that most Australians now inhabit – the urban landscape. Our gardens provide shelter and shade, a potential kaleidoscope of colour and, in many backyards, a small localised food source in the form of vegetable gardens. In cities, gardens and street trees also provide additional cooling mechanisms to the heat sinks of concrete structures.

Despite their ubiquitous presence, Australian backyard gardens have evolved over time and are far from static entities. The traditional English Gardens that were first established, presumably to trigger memories of the Mother Country, have morphed into a hybrid design which often includes representatives from the Australian flora. More recently, there has been a sustained trend towards preferentially planting native Australian species, deemed to be a better or more ‘natural’ alternative to the exotic imported species of the past. Many of these garden plants have gone on to achieve fame as invasive weed species. However, does the mere incorporation of native plants into one’s garden warrant a horticultural ‘pat on the back’? Do native plants actually do anything other than make us feel some misguided source of ‘Aussie pride’? Can we actually increase the functionality of our backyards into something truly beneficial – for both our gardens and surrounding native ecosystems?

The use of Australian native plants

The dominance of native plants in many Australian horticultural contexts suggests that the practice of including indigenous flora in our backyard plant assemblages has long been established. However, it was only through the periodical 'Growing Native Plants' published by the Canberra Botanic Gardens (now known as the Australian National Botanic Gardens) in the 1970s and early 1980s that any information was available on the topic of how to grow native plants. These booklets were published once a year for 14 years. The publication of ‘Australian Native Plants’ by John Wrigley and Murray Fagg in 1979 and the ‘Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants’ by Rodger Elliot and David Jones in the 1980s resulted in less demand for the booklets and the series was discontinued.

Nevertheless, the (native) seed had been planted. Australian native plants are now part of the Australian horticulture consciousness. Today, seeds and seedlings of many native species, along with established shrubs and trees, can be readily purchased from commercial suppliers (e.g. a well-known hardware chain lists the availability of 114 native species for sale as of September 2018).

There is also a substantial presence of Australian natives in the cut flower industry with many florists choosing to utilise the dramatic foliage and long-lived nature of many Australian species (e.g. flowers from Banskia spp., foliage from Eucalyptus spp.).

Growing natives is now a serious scientific, evidence-based business. For example, research on germination strategies of many members of the Australian flora has led to the inclusion of ‘smoke water’ when buying native seeds. Evolving in concert with fire, much of the Australian flora have developed a dependency on smoke, or rather the chemicals found in the smoke from bushfires. In an evolutionary sense this strategy assures the best prospects for germination and establishment in natural settings.

A preference for Australian native plants

This may explain how Australian native plants became available but how and why did they initially become the preferred selection for the informed gardener? Why does the use of native plants persist despite the reputation of being “scraggly”, “untidy” and “difficult to grow” in an urban garden context? The answer possibly lies in a similar domain to Dick Smith and Aussie Mite – stay with me here.

Above: Flowers from native plant species sit alongside their gaudy exotic counterparts, albeit with a higher price tag. Photographs courtesy of M Pye and T Bell.

In 1986, 3 years after Australia raised its profile on the international stage beginning with the America Cup win, and just after the first publications about Australian plants became available, the Australian Made logo was launched – an initiative to support locally-grown produce and locally-made products. Launched by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, this campaign strengthened Australian nationalism and pride for our Country was at an all-time high. Consumers are likely to have been making conscious choices about supporting Australian products, including the selection of plants for their backyards. The link to the backyard garden and the plants surrounding the ubiquitous Hills Hoist may well have been established right then and there in the suburban consciousness. The choice to incorporate more “Aussieness” in backyards and other local spaces would have been simple. Native plants offered a bold statement, given their differing and distinctive morphology and colour palette compared to more traditionally preferred species.

So, at this point in time, we began to incorporate native flora into everyday Australian life. A research study conducted in 2010 in the Melbourne metropolitan area, showed that 60% of gardens contained a mix of native and non-native species but only 10% of gardens contained mostly Australian native plants. Evidence can also be seen in street plantings which are generally species that local councils deem to be “non-offensive” in terms of fruit production and branch drop. An inquiry to local Sydney City Council governance was illumining in this respect. The selection of dry-fruited species is always promoted over any fleshy-fruited species due to trip hazards, “mess” and other undesirable features. Plants in the genera Melaleuca and Waterhousea seem to be favourites in the Sydney landscape. Do we therefore have an assemblage bias in urban landscapes by promoting one species over another in our streets?

Above left: Syzygium sp. planted as a street tree in Sydney; right: fallen fruits from this species ‘litter’ the footpath and road. Photographs courtesy of M Pye.

The potential horticultural bias can be further explored using the Gondwanan family, Myrtaceae. This family contains a fleshy-fruited group and a dry-fruited group, historically described as the subfamilies Myrtoideae and Leptospermoideae (Note: current molecular studies do not support this taxonomy, with fleshy-fruits appearing to evolve independently at least twice in the family, rendering Myrtoideae polyphyletic). In theory, that would mean we should only see approximately half of the diversity of this iconic Australian plant family in our urban landscapes. This means we would see more species in the genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora than we would of Syzygium. However, the ‘widow maker’ status (i.e. tendency to drop large branches) of the Eucalyptus/Corymbia/Angophora group adds complexity and has probably resulted in fewer street plantings that we would otherwise see, except in some rare exceptions. Public safety is paramount and trumps any effort to restore our urban environments to their former plant community structure.

Above: The iconic avenue of Lemon-scented Gums (Corymbia citriodora) lining the Avenue of Honour, May Drive, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, WA. These trees were planted in 1938, despite their tendency to drop branches, to replace the original avenue of Red-flowering Gums (Corymbia ficifolia), many of which succumbed to canker. Photograph courtesy of T Bell.

The role of native plants in urban environments

An example I can draw from personal connection is the Bunya Pine, Araucaria bidwillii – a majestic Australian conifer which is almost demonised when planted in urban areas. I spent a good few years thinking about little else while studying this species for my PhD. This magnificent tree, one deeply embedded within Indigenous knowledge along the eastern seaboard of Australia, has long suffered the reputation of being the bad guy. “Attack of the Killer cones” is a frequently encountered headline for this species due to the production of female cones which can weigh up to 20 kg each. Some basic physics calculations shows that they have the potential to kill or at least do some serious damage to a person. Most commonly they damage property such as parked cars, so they generally are roped off and given a wide berth during their coning period, as if they were some infectious entity worth avoiding at all costs. In reality, they mostly drop their cones at night, thereby avoiding the humans who are seen as the target of their reproductive strategies.

Above left: The stately silhouette of the Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii); right: a warning to the unwary. Photographs courtesy of M Pye.

What benefit other than an aesthetic one could Bunya Pines possibly provide? Urban specimens in Brisbane are at least 100 km from their nearest population in the Bunya Mountains and nearby Noosa Hinterland, and 1000 km away from their northern population counterparts at Cannabullen Falls and Mount Lewis in Far North Queensland. I suggest that these urban plantings offer little to biodiversity as they are too far away to reproduce with their naturally-occurring conspecifics. If, however, they were planted closer to their forebears the potential benefits to the genetic diversity of the species, and biodiversity itself, could be massive and ongoing.

The question here is what function do we want our gardens and urban landscapes to serve? Do we merely want an aesthetic reprieve from the concrete and bricks (similar to the initial colonised gardening practices of re-creating the English garden), or is there a deeper function that we could tap into whilst also retaining their visual benefit?

The deeper function that I am referring to here is the maintenance of gene flow within the Australian landscape – between our urban landscapes and the natural vegetation that these islands of concrete are situated within. Gene flow refers to the movement of genetic material (e.g. seeds, pollen) from one population to another. When gene flow rates are high, two geographically distinct populations may be considered to be one as they share a significant proportion of genetic diversity. Low gene flow can lead to speciation events (i.e. the creation of distinct species) as random mutations and/or selection for certain traits driven by environmental and/or other factors create two distinct genetic populations. Eventually these distinct populations may become different enough that the two populations can no longer interbreed – leading to the creation of two new species.

I believe that our goal, as an environmentally-conscious society, should be to decrease the manipulation of our natural environments as much as possible, and, ideally, to minimise our genetic impact on these environments. The question for our society is, do we want isolated urban vegetation pockets containing a mishmash of aesthetic, non-messy plant species (native or otherwise) or do we have an ethical responsibility to reconnect these urban landscapes to the vegetation and surrounding habitats that they have replaced?

Climate change, and all of the environmental uncertainties that it brings, adds more support to the planting of locally-occurring species – plants of local provenance. On one hand we have the question of the capability of garden species to withstand local environmental conditions and fluctuations, and on the other we have the water demands of those species alongside any need for fertilisers and other inputs. If plant species are sourced from the native vegetation that surrounds our urban fragments, then they are more likely to be locally adapted, in an evolutionary sense, to available nutrient and water regimes. This is a win/win situation in terms of reducing added nutrient loads to soil and any runoff that may occur, while also minimising the use of additional water to keep gardens alive. Such a garden would have zero net needs – the perfect environmental model for a climatically uncertain world.

We need only look to the history of the colonisation of Australia for a chilling lesson – one which we are yet to fully adopt and one which I echo in the sentiments of this article. Upon arriving in Sydney, the First Fleet established a food garden at Farm Cove where the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is now situated. A lack of understanding of the differences in soil types, climatic regimes and local pest species proved to be a significant barrier to the establishment of core crops:

“Very little of the English wheat had vegetated and a very considerable quantity of the barley and many seeds had rotten in the ground ... all the barley and wheat likewise destroyed by the weevil”.

28 September 1788, Governor Phillip reporting to Lord Sydney.

It was the use of Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonioides) that saved the first settlers and helped them avoid scurvy, a common condition resulting from diets low in Vitamin C. It would appear that over 200 years later we have learned little of the importance of planting local species that are adapted to local conditions.

Australian plants for nationalist pride? We can do better than that

While the presence of Kangaroo Paws (Anizoganthos spp.) in Sydney may make us well up with nationalistic pride and perhaps fond memories of the incredibly diverse flora of Western Australia, they do little to contribute to gene flow along the eastern seaboard. Their contribution is quite definitely confined to the aesthetic.

Above left: Kangaroo Paws (Anigozanthos sp.) planted adjacent to an artwork at the University of Sydney, NSW; right: Kangaroos Paws in a mass planting in Kings Park and Botanic Garden, WA, a location closer to their area of origin. Photographs courtesy of M Pye.

I am not arguing against the use of native flora in our gardens and streets. I am, however, ardently pointing out that we could do better with what we have – plant what is adapted to local environments and, where possible, use local council nurseries to source plants and/or seeds of local provenance. We can still plant native plants, with all of their “scraggly” beauty, while also doing our bit for remediation of habitats. Such plants will attract pollinators (another win for the zoologically-inclined) that then pollinate neighbouring plants within the surrounding vegetation. Gene flow in action. Our backyards will be connected to the bush and each planting will increase exponentially in its utility – albeit on a timescale that may not be evident in a human lifespan. Rest assured, your contribution to biodiversity will be imprinted in the genetic makeup of these populations for years to come.

*About the author

Dr Matt Pye is an Academic Fellow in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, at the University of Sydney. He has an interest in plant systematics and investigates the impacts of historical fragmentation on genetic diversity within and among plant populations.

Merle Thompson, our Membership Officer, receives Order of Australia Medal

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 22:30:20 GMT

MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA IN THE GENERAL DIVISION Miss Merle Kay THOMPSON, South Bowenfels NSW 2790

For service to the community through a range of organisations.

Australian Federation of Graduate Women

National Delegate, Educational Conferences in Istanbul, Fiji and Cape Town
Served as Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Business Manager, Honorary Registrar
Past Committee Member, Blue Mountains Branch.

New South Wales Branch

Past Honorary Registrar
Past Honorary Newsletter Editor
Member, since the 1960s.

Polio NSW

Member, Joint Steering Committee, current (NSW Health and Polio NSW)
Member, Management Committee, since approximately 1995
Secretary, 2012
Vice President, 1997-2011
Member, since approximately 1995
Life Member, 2009

Australian Plants Society NSW (APS NSW)

Board Member, current
Membership Officer, since 2009
Treasurer, 2007-2009
Co-editor, 'Australian Plants Journal', since 2008
Delegate to the Federal Council, for many years
Secretary, 1993-1995
Life Member, 2011
Member, since the 1970s.

Central West Group

Delegate to the State Council, since 2009.

Blue Mountains

Newsletter Editor, since 2002
Delegate to the State Council, 1987-2008
President, 1997-1999
Secretary, 1986-1996

Congratulations, Merle!

Wombat Care, Bundanoon by Fran Mullard

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 09:33:49 GMT

In November last year, the Southern Highlands APS group enjoyed an informative and passionately delivered presentation by John Creighton, AKA Wombat Man, who talked to them about the important work carried out by volunteer carers at Wombat Care Bundanoon.

Wombat Care Bundanoon is an independent, self-funded volunteer group of dedicated carers focused on wildlife in general and wombats in particular. They are licensed to treat mange, which is the cause of the protracted and extremely painful deaths of many wombats, and work with the Wombat Protection Society Australia to deliver best practice care for the wombats living in our local area.

They are also active in area schools, mainly Bundanoon Primary School, in providing education and awareness about wombats and local wildlife issues.

The wombats in the local area are from the family Vombatus ursinus, from the latin “ursus”, meaning “bear”. They are known as the Common Wombat or Bare-nosed Wombat. The Southern Hairy-nosed and the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats are from a different family, Lasiorhinus latifrons, and are not found in our area.

Unfortunately habitat loss, competition for food from livestock and feral animals, shooting, poisoning, bull-dozing of burrows, road deaths and mange present huge challenges for the Common Wombat. The two most pressing and obvious concerns are roadkill and mange.

We have all seen on the side of the road wombats who are injured or killed by cars. Often these animals have a viable “pinki” or a joey in the pouch. Volunteers from Wombat Care rescue these babies and raise them where possible, preparing them for a soft, supported release back into the area from whence they came. The body of the parent wombat is tagged with paint to alert other rescuers that the pouch has been checked and the baby removed if applicable.

The raising and rehabilitation of wombats in captivity must be respectful of the need to produce resilient animals which are able to survive in the wild. Keeping them inside and feeding them on human food beyond the 5kg mark is setting them up for failure.

It generally takes about two years from pouch to release pen. During this time the wombats are affectionate towards their own humans, are gentle and connect with each other and are sometimes buddied up BUT they have special needs and truly do not make good pets! When they are ready to go they become more aggressive as if asking for release. In our area it is becoming harder to find places where they can be released safely away from people and cars.

Mange is a form of animal scabies caused by mite infestation. Introduced by Europeans and carried to the wombats by foxes, it is a major threat to wombat health. It causes incessant and injurious scratching by the animal creating painful lesions which become infected and eventually prove fatal. The infected animal displays “accordion fur”, crusty ears and scabs in the eyes.

There is, however, a cure which works without the need to capture the wombat. The idea is to break the life cycle of the mite. A flap is made using the lid of an ice cream container which is hung with string over the entrance of the burrow. The medicinal dose is in a can attached to the flap and as the wombat leaves the burrow the treatment dose upends onto the wombat’s back. Ingenious! Treatment lasts 15-20 days. Every 5 days the medicine needs to be replaced. Mange treatment kits are available, among other things, on the Rocklily Wombats website www.rocklilywombats.com and there is a new single dose available or close.

Now for some interesting facts. Did you know that wombats:

have poor vision and hearing
have an incredible sense of smell ...a hundred times better than a beagle. They smell their way around
do around 100 rectangular poos a day......marking tracks 
have a backward-facing pouch with two teats *usually have only one young at a time
are the original “earth-movers”, rotating as they dig to produce a beautiful, round tunnel
have a tiny tail hidden by fur
have a universal port called a “cloaca”, as do all marsupials
eat mainly native grasses, sedges, matt rushes, and tree and shrub roots
can short-sprint at up to 40 k.p.h. if required
maintain stable populations by emigration of immature animals or regulation to transient status pending the death of adults
will fight, sometimes to the death, over territory
are the koala’s closest relative
ARE EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT?

"Wombats are essentially, but not exclusively, solitary animals. Their simple grazing way of life might suggest that they do not require a particularly high intelligence. It is therefore of interest that the cerebral hemispheres of the Common Wombat are proportionately larger than any other marsupial and that those of his relative, the koala, are so poorly developed that they do not meet in the mid- line.” **

Not so common, really, eh?

...

This article first appeared in the Southern Highlands Group Newsletter January 2019

...

References:

Rocklily Wombats Calendars 2018 and 2019

Notes from John Creighton’s presentation

**Australian Museum Complete Book of Mammals, edited by Ronald Strahan, Angus and Robertson

For additional information: John Creighton at Wombat Care Bundanoon 0490 659 245

Dianna and Warwick at www.rocklilywombats.com

Follow up to John’s talk: Response from attendees was very supportive, and a motion from the floor to provide a donation for the work that John and Wombat Care Bundanoon do was heartily endorsed. A cheque from APS Southern Highlands was presented to him at the Xmas lunch.

Pruning eremophilas

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 09:47:11 GMT

We were asked by a reader about pruning eremophilas.

Question: I have an Eremophila glabra (Murchison Magic) that flowers all year round. I've never pruned this plant therefore it's getting out of control and quite leggie. Could you please let me know when is the best time to prune this Eremophila of mine?

Answer from Ben and Ros Walcott: Most eremophilas do well with a good prune to keep them dense. The best time is when the flowering has slowed down but often that isn’t possible so just do it when you can. In Canberra we tend not to prune in the late autumn because the new growth gets hit by the frosts but otherwise, anytime seems OK. How hard to prune depends on the plant and the effect you are after. We know someone who cuts some to the ground but for us that is too radical. Pruning by up to ½ is not too radical.

Thanks to our readers and Ben and Ros Walcott for their answer.

Here is an Eremophila nivea 'Beryls Blue' growing in the Hunter Valley. More information on eremophilas can be found in our plant database - Plant database Shrubs.

Save the date - 17 to 18 August 2019 - Get-Together in Newcastle Area

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 09:33:22 GMT

An Invitation…

You are cordially invited to the 2019 APS NSW Get-Together. This not to be missed event is being held at a varied range of locations in the Newcastle area.

There are a range of different native vegetation communities available to explore. Your visit will take you to some of the gems of the area and you will be able to see the spectacular coastal flora at its peak.

Highlights will include a visit to the Hunter Wetlands Centre where you will be welcomed to the Newcastle Groups home base, this will also include the opportunity to purchase from the wide range of native plants produced by the “Thursday Mob”. https://wetlands.org.au

A visit to the award-winning Hunter Region Botanic Gardens and herbarium is also on the agenda. https://www.huntergardens.org.au

There will be some gentle bushwalks included, these will feature some of the special places that can be found in the Newcastle area.

There will also be an evening dinner to look forward to on the Saturday night.

More details including registration forms and prices will be covered in the next issue of Native Plants.

So, please save the date – 17-18^thAugust 2019

Lorikeets lapping up the delicious nectar from this dwarf eucalyptus flower

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 22:41:34 GMT

Here are some stunning images from Colin Lawrence of the Newcastle group, who captured the lorikeet enjoying its fill of the dwarf eucalyptus. This tree lived in a pot for a a couple of years and then was planted out 5 and a half years ago. It certainly looks happy!

All images by Colin Lawrence.

What bug is that? Answer: Saunders Case Moth

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 02:15:04 GMT

A reader recently asked for help to identify a butterfly or moth in her garden.

Question:

Does anyone know what butterfly/moth made this cocoon? I’ve seen bright blue butterflies, lime green, large black and white and small white with black borders, small brown and large brown butterflies. Clearly I don’t know their names, and it would be lovely to ID this one.

Answer:

One of our plant experts, Dick Turner, has responded: You have a case moth larva sheltering inside the protection that it has made for itself. The larva or caterpillar uses the cover for protection while it moves about foraging on leaves.

Your specimen could be Saunders Case Moth.

They do not cause major problems in the garden or outside environment, and are a fascinating creature to observe in your own backyard.

Designing with Australian Native Plants, this Saturday, 10 November, Loftus Community Hall

HEATHER MILES — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 05:12:05 GMT

Dear members and friends,

Come and join us this Saturday morning to visit a native/blended garden in Sutherland, to be followed by fascinating talks in the afternoon by Lawrie Smith AM on Designing with Australian Natives. The day will finish off with a fun trivia quiz (with prizes) hosted by Karlo Taliano.

The afternoon venue (from 1pm) is at at Loftus Community Hall, Loftus Ave, Loftus.

Afternoon tea will be served and there will be raffles and native plants for sale.

Entry fee for Saturday’s sessions is $10 for members and $15 for non-members, payable at the door. This helps cover costs.

For more information and location of the garden visit, see here: Nov 2018 Get together info v3.pdf

Threat to Mount Canbobolas' rare flora, Central West, by Cilla Kinross

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 12:12:17 GMT

Cilla, of the Central West area, wants people to be aware of a new threat to Mount Canbobolas and its rare flora.

The draft plan of management for Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area could permit a large new mountain bike network (> 60 km trail) plus associated infrastructure in what is quite a small area (1600 ha) with highly significant remnant vegetation, with many threatened and endemic plant and animal species.

Cilla has provided a submission guide prepared by the Central West Environment Council. People can use the information in this to prepare their letter. The submission can be lodged as follows:

Have your say

Public exhibition is from from 29 June to the 1 October 2018.

You can provide your written submission in any of the following ways:

Post your written submission to: Manager, Planning Evaluation and Assessment, PO Box 95, Parramatta NSW 2124
Email your submission to: npws.parkplanning@environment.nsw.gov.au
Make a submission online by using the online form (link removed as date passed for submission)

Here is the submission guide.

Submission guide final.docx

For more information, see the website: https://savemtcanobolassca.com

Submission to prevent the spread of Myrtle Rust, Maria Hitchcock OAM

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 11:24:12 GMT

Myrtle Rust is a serious plant disease which has already had, and is likely to have an even more, devastating impact on many threatened species and ecological communities, wetlands of international importance, world heritage properties and national heritage places.

Myrtle Rust is also having, and will increasingly have, a devastating effect on the built Australian landscape, nation-wide, where more than 60% - 70% of the plants used are Myrtaceae.

Some members may be aware that Native Plants Queensland is leading a campaign for government action against the spread of Myrtle Rust.

An important part of the campaign is an online petition to the Parliament of Australia seeking a National Myrtle Rust Summit.

Please sign the e-petition for a National Myrtle Rust Summit straight away. It only takes a few seconds. The petition closes on 19th September when it will be presented to Parliament.

Thank you for your support.

Maria Hitchcock, OAM

Go to: this link

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Petitions/House_of_Representatives_Petitions/Petitions_General/Petitions_List

Write EN0686 in the search box. (note, that is zero686)

More information here prepared by : Comments on Myrtle Rust Action Plan Rev E.pdf

Preventing land clearing in WA, by Mary Slattery, Secretary of ANPSA

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 10:41:23 GMT

ANPSA's Conservation Officer, Dr Eddie Wajon, has been working hard to prevent the clearing of land in WA which would result in loss of habitat for threatened species.

See this report from him along with the species threatened.

Thanks to Mary Slattery, the Secretary or ANPSA, for bringing it to our attention.

Click here for the full report: ANPSA Meetings with politicians in Canberra 20180821

Native plants to keep cats out

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 23:01:12 GMT

A reader recently asked for plants to discourage cats from entering the garden. Here are the plants suggested by our panel of experts that are thought to be cat repellent, due to the smell of their foliage i.e. attractive to humans but not to animals. The reader's plants needed to thrive in tough conditions being southerly facing and sandy soil.

Here are some suggestions:

Try the mint bushes e.g. Prostanthera ovalifolia, and other species of mint bush that would be suitable for your area, and maybe available for sale.
Others with fragrant foliage to consider include:
- Darwinia citriodora, Lemon-scented Myrtle
- Philotheca myoporoides, Long-leaved Wax Flower
- Crowea exalata
- Mentha australis, Native mint
- Zieria cytisoides, Downy Zieria

The plant shown here is Philotheca.

Prickly natives for barrier hedges

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 22:51:44 GMT

A website reader recently asked for good Australian natives which will keep unwanted visitors at bay.

Here are the suggestions for prickly shrubs and hedging plants from our panel of experts:

Grevillea rosmarinifolia cultivars such as'Scarlet Sprite' (pictured below)
Grevillea Winparra cultivars eg 'Winparra Gem' - dense, tough, fast growing, up to 2m
Hakea sericea - prickly and copes with sand, prune to keep to 1m
Graptophyllum ilicifolium - rainforest type look with dark green "holly-like" leaves, but very tough and copes with dry, also lipstick pink flowers, prune to keep to 1m
Bursaria spinosa, Blackthorn - this flowers in autumn which offers an advantage to wildlife by providing sustenance ahead of the approaching winter.
Acacia ulicifolia, Prickly Moses or heath wattle. There are also a number of small wattles that have spiky foliage, but remember that these species are fast growing and may be short lived
Westringia fruticosa - dense, tough and copes with sand, but not prickly

Anything marketed as attracting small birds would work as usually dense and prickly for habitat.

Wattles are blooming, by Barbara Melville

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 22:20:28 GMT

Here is a selection of wattles blooming at Hunter Regional Botanic Gardens. Images by Barbara Melville.

My favourite Australian native plants - text and photos by Kevin Stokes

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 06:54:33 GMT

When it comes to thinking about a favourite plant, I think those interested in Australian plants are very spoiled for choice. Have you ever thought about a favourite? Where would you start? Banksias, grevilleas or a thousand others? There would be as many favourites as there are plants to choose from and it is of course a personal choice. What makes a favourite?...Is it colour?...form?...flowering?

I must confess to liking most Aussie plants but over the years, a few have popped up relentlessly in my garden, some even having the status of 'annual' even though they are not. I just keep getting sucked in by their…what?

I can't answer that. For me it's just a feeling. As an instance, I find it very hard not to buy a Hypocalymma robustum in flower even though I know it will become mulch before the end of summer. So in contemplating my favourites, I thought I would share my choice half a dozen or so plants that for me stand out. They are not always the brightest colours or the biggest flowers and I wondered if other people might like to share their favourites with other members.

If I had to pick a No.1, it would probably be this one - Thysanotus multiflorus. I’m not sure how reliable this species is on the East Coast but I have one planted and in bud so here’s hoping. Local species of Thysanotis grow well in light soil in gardens but don’t have the floral display of this one. I find the contrast between the flowers and buds most attractive.

Hypocalymma sp 'Cascade' is a stunning low growing or prostrate plant that is listed as Rare and Endangered. This would make a wonderful rockery plant if it ever gets more into cultivation than it is now. It grows in a restricted area in WA in the Esperance district and is probably named after the small village of Cascade. I saw this in a garden in WA doing very well in imported soil. I imagine this is a plant that will be very popular in time.

Now Viola hederacea - I never tire of seeing a bed of this delightful and easily grown ground cover. It prefers shady moist areas but will take some sun if there is assured moisture. Ivy Leaf Violet is native to many parts of eastern Australia and grows to about 10cm tall spreading readily by trailing stolons that take root at nodes along the stolon. It's very easily propagated and is rarely without a flower. While very commonly grown and easily obtained, it never-the-less gets a place in my favourites list.

For some reason this particular Boronia hits the spot for me. There are of course many lovely Boronia species and, of course, I adore them all including one called Boronia serrulata which I have renamed Boronia seeyalater. This is because of its habit, along with many other Boronias, of exiting this life with little or no hesitation or care nor consideration for devastated gardeners.

All this genus is worthy of trialling. I have had this species shown (Boronia saffrolifera) survive for some time in a pot with a potting mix of sand peat and a little compost. The mix had had other plants growing in it for some time before I used it for the Boronia, and perhaps this helped it survive. It was in a sunny position but with late afternoon shade. This Boronia can be seen around Port Stephens in sandy soil.

Eucalyptus macrocarpa and Eucalyptus youngiana must rank near the top of Australia’s most spectacular flora.

To see these plants growing wild is a privilege not easily forgotten. Not likely to be grown successfully on the east coast and won't grow at my place...nuff said! Look 'em up on the web for more details, if you want to sacrifice your hard earned dough. E macrocarpa is grown successfully at Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum.

I may be criticised by some for including plants from other areas or that are difficult to grow but I didn’t set out to do a gardening advice article. I merely wanted to share what plants I have been impressed by over the years as I came across them in gardens or in the bush. I would dearly love to grow them but it isn’t likely to happen. But that doesn’t stop me from appreciating the incredible Australian flora. I hope others may share their favourites in this way - I’m sure there will be many surprises.

Oh yes, Verticordia oculata is a species of the sand plains of Kalbarri National Park and I've changed my mind…this is now my No. 1.

The Noah’s Ark of Gondwanaland, meeting at Menai

GLENDA BROWNE — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 02:14:58 GMT

Menai Wildflower Group Meeting

Speaker- Emeritus Professor Gerald Nanson

Australia Adrift: The Noah’s Ark of Gondwanaland: How did Australia acquire such a remarkable collection of plants and animals?

Saturday 11 Aug Meeting, Commences at 1pm

Illawong Rural Fire Station, Old Illawarra Rd, Illawong

All welcome

For more information, contact: menaiwildflower@austplants.com.au Or see Facebook: https://austplants.com.au/Menai-Wildflower

Native Plant Identification Course Blue Mountains starting 3 August

ALIX GOODWIN — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 10:47:23 GMT

If you'd like to learn to identify Australian plants then join the 8 class plant morphology course being run by the Blue Mountains Group. The course is being held on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month, commencing Friday 3 August 2018. Cost $30. Open to members only. For more information contact Alix on alix.goodwin@bigpond.com or 0417-679-964.

Rare plants in abundance after fire

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 04:49:17 GMT

John Arney from Sutherland group led a recent walk in Kamay NP at Kurnell and pointed out these plants.

Apparently the juvenile leaves on Commersonia hermanniifolia, (previously Rulingia hermanniifolia), had some people wondering if this was a new weed.

The leaves on the right are from an older adult plant. It is coming up in several spots in the recently burnt areas of both Kamay and the Royal and is temporarily prolific, as mentioned in Alan Fairley’s book under the "Seldom Seen” section, where he mentions it's limited presence until after fire.

On PlantNet, it is noted as rare.

According to the ABG website, it is in the genus Commersonia, a member of the family Malvaceae which ranges from small shrubs to large trees such as the Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius).

The habit of C. hermanniifolia places it among low growing sub-shrubs and mat-forming plants that are useful in varying situations in most gardens.

It is well suited for rock gardens as it follows contours and crevices, flowing gracefully over rocks.

In spring the plant is covered with pink tinged buds followed by small star-like flowers which are borne in cymes. The flowers open white and fade to pink with a red centre, giving an attractive contrast as the old flowers are replaced by new ones. The fruit also provides colour from late November with its deep red capsule about 4 mm in diameter.

It occurs naturally on Sydney sandstone and along the coast where its habitat coincides with that of the Rock Wallaby. Its foliage is often damaged by regular cropping by this animal.

Season and smoke - a fascinating event in Menai, 14 July, 1pm - all welcome

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 00:55:32 GMT

Menai Wildflower Group of the Australian Plants Society are hosting a super meeting on Season and Smoke: Key Elements in Dormancy and Germination, with speakers Dr Mark Ooi and Dr John Porter.

Senior Research Fellow, Mark Ooi, will delve into the Dormancy and Germination characteristics of Sydney Flora seed.

Research Fellow, John Porter, will concentrate on Actinotus (The Flannel flowers).

Mark and John are from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science at UNSW. Menai Wildflower Group are providing a Scholarship of $2000 for research into the dormancy and germination in Actinotus species. This donation follows on from the basic work carried out into A. heliathii and forsythii seed which indicates that while smoke and age are important factors in breaking their dormancy, they are not the only factors. The feeling is population, temperature and the ‘Mother’ effect also may be important.

We hope this further research may contribute to increasing the number of Actinotus plants available to the public and in Australian gardens.

The meeting is being held on Saturday 14 July, commencing at 1pm, at Illawong Rural Fire Station, Old Illawarra Rd, Illawong. The gardens will be open from 12 noon.

Along with the guest speakers there will be a raffle and plant sales. The day will include a look at the Illawong Rural Fire Station gardens. There have not been a lot of flowers out due to the drought but thanks to the recent rains that seems to be changing. And there should be some interesting plants in flower.

Everyone is welcome.

For more information, contact: menaiwildflower@austplants.com.au Or see Facebook: https://austplants.com.au/Menai-Wildflower

Orchid being fertilised by a wasp! Photos from the late Noel Rosten

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 30 May 2018 08:16:38 GMT

This series of photographs, taken by the late Noel Rosten, shows the process by which the orchid, Cryptostylis erecta, is fertilised by the wasp, Lissopimpla excelsa.

The male wasp hatches about a week before the female wasp. The orchid emits an odour imitating that of the female wasp and the male wasp copulates with the flower, in the process gathering pollen to be taken to the next orchid.

This was the topic of a short talk given by Noel at the Australian Plants Society-North Shore Group meeting on February 9th, 2018.

Thanks to Rae Rosten for sharing them with us.

Keeping Tuggerah Lakes pristine, by Nick Carson, story Elsie Bartlett

HEATHER MILES — Tue, 29 May 2018 02:06:41 GMT

Central Coast Group's speaker in May was Nick Carson, an Environmental Education Officer at Central Coast Council where he educates the community about the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary. Nick spoke passionately about the importance of the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary and catchment area.

Features of the estuary

The Tuggerah Lakes Estuary system is a system of three inter-connected coastal lagoons, mostly separated from the sea. These lagoons are called Lake Munmorah, Budgewoi Lake and Tuggerah Lake and cover an area of approximately 80 square kilometres. Although they are called lakes, a lagoon differs from a lake in that it’s a shallow body of water close to the sea with a small inlet permitting tidal currents in and out.

Estuaries are formed when bodies of water, including rivers, lagoons and creeks meet the sea causing fresh and salt water to mix. This is known as brackish water. They are a complex and unique habitat for many animal and plant species that have adapted to the brackish water.

The catchment area of the three lagoons is massive, stretching from Bateau Bay to Ourimbah and west to the Watagan Mountains, an area of 700 square kilometres. The isolation from the sea creates an extremely unique environment that supports a huge diversity of plants.

The biggest impact on the Lakes is fresh water coming off the land.

Freshwater flows into Tuggerah Lakes from rivers and creeks in the upper part of the catchment to the west. When it reaches the lakes, it mixes with a small amount of sea water entering via The Entrance channel, creating an estuary.

As water flows along rivers and creeks, it naturally brings sediment downstream to the lakes. However, if large volumes of sediment, fertiliser or pollution enter the rivers, they will also eventually be deposited in the lakes. Therefore, the water quality of these waterways is important as it will be reflected in the health of the lakes.

Fauna of the wetlands

Wetlands are areas of natural beauty with plants that have adapted to tolerate waterlogged soils, either permanently or seasonally. They may be freshwater, salt water or brackish water environments, and may include marshes, swamps, lagoons and bogs. Wetlands play an important role in filtering water, maintaining water quality, stabilising banks, reducing flood impacts and providing shelter and food for many land and aquatic animals.

Frogs, fish, waterbirds, and many insects rely on wetlands to complete their life cycle while other native animals use them as habitat to live in, somewhere to find food or as refuge during droughts. 50% of the wetlands around Tuggerah Lake have been filled in.

Streambanks run along the edge of rivers, creeks and streams. The Tuggerah Lakes catchment has many kilometres of streambanks along its rivers and creeks which flow from the highlands in the west of the central coast region down to the eastern coast. Streambanks allow animals to move between land and water as well as safely migrate upstream and downstream along the waterway.

Riparian zones are habitat for aquatic, semiaquatic and land animals, such as frogs and lizards, providing food, shelter and shade. The Tuggerah Lakes catchment is also home to yabbies, platypus and turtles.

Seagrasses have adapted to live in salty or brackish water. Similar to land plants, they have flowers and pollen for reproduction, and roots that secure them in the sandy or muddy lake beds.

There are three main species that are native to the estuary system - Eel grass (Zostera muelli), Stack weed (Ruppia megacarpa) and Paddle weed (Halophila ovalis). Seagrasses play an important role in maintaining the health of the estuary through stabilising sediments similar to how tree roots stabilise soil.

Impacts on the lakes

One of the impacts on the lake now is the amount of pollution entering the lake. So it’s like the lake used to have 2 kidneys and now only has one and that one kidney is expected to do the job of two.

Saltmarsh is the lakes' digestive system, keeping it healthy and clean by efficiently recycling the lakes natural by-product. It acts as a ‘drying bed’ for dead seagrass or wrack when it washes onto shore.

Wrack is like garden mulch, drying out and breaking down, providing moisture retention and nutrients for sediments. Without saltmarsh plants, increased amounts of wrack remain in the water and rot, producing additional rotten egg gas. For this reason it’s important to allow saltmarsh to regenerate and to never mow all the way to the shoreline.

People have an impact on the estuary system everyday. Simple activities like washing the car, mowing the lawn and animal waste all impact the estuary system. These activities add excessive nutrients and sediment into the lakes via the stormwater drains.

Excessive nutrients in the lakes can harm the water quality and increase the amount of macroalgae in the lakes. Equally, increased sediment in the water increases the cloudiness of the water which blocks the sunlight required for the natural seagrass to survive Macroalgae and Stormwater.

Macroalgae occur throughout the year, often growing rapidly in spring and early summer. However, when high levels of nutrient enter the lakes through the stormwater system, excessive growth of macroalgae can occur causing algal blooms. Nutrients that are useful for plant growth in the garden (like those found in fertiliser) may cause excessive growth of algae and weeds in our waterways.

Litter pollution is an increasing issue for the Tuggerah Lakes estuary system and the most common types of litter in NSW include cigarette butts, takeaway drinks and food packaging, plastic, glass, cardboard and paper. In fact the first piece of plastic ever made still exists and will for 1000 plus more years.

Cigarette butts are a major contributor to the problem with billions of cigarette butts littered annually in Australia. Cigarette butts are toxic, they contain 43 known carcinogens and leach chemicals into waterways within an hour.

Where there are no plants on a stream bank, or the shore line has been changed, erosion can easily occur. Soil may wash away slowly, or in steeper areas, large chunks of bank will be cut away by fast-flowing water. Many stream banks in the Tuggerah Lakes Catchment are degraded and suffering from erosion. Restoring them with riparian vegetation helps stabilise the soil, preventing erosion.

Central Coast Council has installed Gross Pollutant Traps (GPTs) (pictured) at many locations across the catchment. The aim of these structures is to help reduce the amount of sediment, pollutants, organic material and rubbish entering the waterways.

As stormwater moves along, it picks up whatever is in its path. It collects pollutants such as chemicals, oil, pesticides, fertiliser, litter, and organic material, like leaves and grass clippings, which end up polluting our lakes and affecting the overall health and water quality of the estuary.

As seagrass plants die or shed leaves, they are blown onto shore. The dead seagrass and floating macroalgae (wrack), and saltmarsh plants dry out, decompose and become part of the foreshore soils, creating a nutrient-rich habitat for invertebrates.

This is part of a natural process and provides food and habitat for many animals, like crabs, as well as protecting the foreshore from erosion. Seagrass wrack is so important to estuaries like Tuggerah Lakes that, under the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994, limits have been imposed on the amount that is allowed to be collected. There is an assumption that there is an increase in the quantity of “weed and wrack”. In fact “Weed and wrack” have not been expanding in the lakes since the 1980’s.

Wrack collection is prioritised based on competing demands around the lakes. These include the levels of public use, benefits for environmental health, accessibility and seasonal patterns of accumulation due to wind patterns throughout the year.

Photos by Nick Carson.

This article was first published in the May issue of the Central Coast Australian Plants Society NSW newsletter.

Beautiful new photos of Ian Cox' garden, by Kevin Stokes

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 28 May 2018 09:04:52 GMT

We are very lucky to have such talented gardeners as well as such talented photographers. Here are some beautiful images taken by Kevin Stokes, of Newcastle Group, of the garden of Ian Cox that a number of us visited on the weekend.

Bush garden

Grevillea maccutcheonii

Grevillea buxifolia

Grevillea angulata

Grevillea infundibularis

Lepidozamia peroffskyana

Eremophila glandulifera

New life members, Warren and Gloria Sheather

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 27 May 2018 09:06:13 GMT

Armidale nominated Warren and Gloria Sheather for life membership and it is with delight that the members of the Australian Plants Society NSW approved that nomination.

Warren and Gloria have been long term members of the Society, first joining the Blue Mountains group and then moving to Armidale in 1977. Warren held multiple positions over the coming 30 years where Warren took a position in the Dept of Botany at the University of New England.

Warren and Gloria have continually promoted Australian plants, contributing articles to newspapers and newsletters, hosting radio shows, being guest speakers, and running their own website with stories of their own Australian native garden and plants.

Warren and Gloria developed over 300 plant profiles which are found on this website, and continue to add new profiles.

Congratulations to Warren and Gloria.

Meet Angela Speering, our newest life member

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 27 May 2018 08:52:11 GMT

At the Australian Plants Society NSW AGM on 26 May, Angela Speering was awarded life membership of the Society.

Angela and her late husband, Geoff, joined the Society back in 1975. Angela and Geoff have been active contributors to the Newcastle Group over many years, as plant propagators, holders of committee positions, assisting in organising conferences and events and teaching propagation.

Angela leads the Wetlands nursery propagation and management team. The nursery provides valuable funds to the District Group and offers a wide range of plants to the wider Australian plant community, the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens and the Australian Flora Foundation.

Angela is a delight to be around - helpful and encouraging and always positive.

Thank you to Newcastle group for nominating Angela for life membership. The Society is delighted to award Angela life membership.

Photo by Kevin Stokes:

Congratulations to our new life members

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 27 May 2018 08:46:19 GMT

APS NSW was delighted yesterday to approve the life membership of Angela Speering of Newcastle Group and Warren and Gloria Sheather of Armidale Group.

Picture by Kevin Stokes, showing Angela on the left, Warren in the middle and Gloria on the right.

Showcasing Goodeniaceae, at the FJC Rogers Seminar 2018

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 10 May 2018 01:17:39 GMT

Here is the latest update on the FJC Rogers seminar in Victoria, 20 and 21 October, being run by two APS Vic groups. Looks to be a fascinating roundup of speakers and gardens. For more info, click on the newsletter link.

FJC Rogers May newsletter

Flora of Australia updated online database

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 10 May 2018 01:07:02 GMT

Jan from Coffs Harbour has brought to our attention the updated Flora of Australia database. It's fast with over 14,000 plant profiles and more to come.

Here's the link: https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa

Flora of Australia is available on a new digital platform that makes Australia’s plant taxonomic information more accessible and user-friendly. It has information on the names, characteristics, distribution and habitat of Australian plants—14,000 profiles are already available online, with more on the way.

While the main audience is botanists, Flora of Australia will also be useful for conservation and land managers, government/policy makers, researchers and members of the community with an interest in Australian plants. The new digital Flora of Australia was a joint project of the Australian Biological Resources Study, the Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria and the Atlas of Living Australia. A huge thank you to taxonomists in Australia and New Zealand for a monumental collaborative effort.

Visit to Ian Cox' garden - coming up on 26 May

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 04:43:00 GMT

Our next AGM is on 26 May, hosted by Parramatta and Hills Group. One of the pre-AGM attractions is a visit to the garden of Ian Cox.

Ian tells us that the two hectare bush block is geologically situated just below the Wianamatta shale on Hawkesbury Sandstone, hence the soils are nutrient deficient, shallow and very rocky. The natural part of the property is botanically diverse.

Plants include banksias, scribbly gums, grevilleas, hakeas, leptospermums and smaller heath plants such as boronias, epacris, tetrathecas, flannel flowers, lambertias and pea flowers. A lot of regeneration is taking place now as the bush was subject to a hazard-reduction burn two years ago.

The garden contains sun-loving plants like grevilleas and eremophilas and also features a fern garden. Ian says they attempted not to disturb the natural bush, and constructed gardens only around the house and part of the drive. They also tried to blend the garden into the bush surroundings.

The garden provides many rewards with the wildlife it attracts. Every day you see birds – mainly small ones like wrens, finches, robins and honeyeaters. Other visitors are welcome too, like wallabies, bandicoots, diamond pythons, green tree snakes, geckos, frogs, water dragons, lace monitors, and the occasional echidna.

To find out more about the garden visit, see here.

Farewell to Noel Rosten

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 22:33:44 GMT

As many members may know, Noel Rosten of North Shore Group was tragically killed on 26 February when hit by an out of control 4WD while checking the letter box.

His wife, Rae, sent some of his most recent bird pictures as a farewell.

Thank you Rae and thank you to Noel for your wonderful contribution of bird photos over the years. We will miss you.

Illawarra Grevillea Park Open Days

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 09:00:33 GMT

The Grevillea Park is thrilled to be celebrating its 25 year anniversary and is holding a series of open days in the coming month.

For more information, click here: Grevillea Park Autumn Open Days 2018.pdf

A great chance for a few hours in a lovely garden.

Callala Creek Reserve boardwalk, by Leslie McKinnon, Nowra Group

HEATHER MILES — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 02:38:22 GMT

On a beautiful autumn afternoon last weekend, we headed off to Callala Bay to seek out the Callala Creek Reserve boardwalk. The boardwalk has been recently reopened after being damaged by fires at the end of 2016 and sits between Callala Bay and Callala Beach taking in the Callala Creek salt marsh. The walk consists of constructed recycled plastic boards and areas of open bush paths. The boards allow visitors to walk through the Sepp14 wetland without causing damage to the wetland itself.

This small area contains a number of different vegetation communities including Swamp Oak floodplain forest dominated by Casuarina glauca, where the graceful sprays of Dendrobium teretifolium (Bridal Veil orchids) can be found in early spring.

Examples of both Swamp sclerophyll forest and Bangalay sands forest are traversed. They are good examples of these coastal communities that have come under threat from housing developments and village expansions along the much sort after coastal areas south of Sydney. The understorey in the wet forested areas is thick and impenetrable with a dense mat of fine leaved sedges and ferns interspersed with a range of delicately flowering plants that scramble for sunlight.

Flowering their little heads off were Goodenia ovata (Hop Goodenia), Lobelia alata and Atriplex hastata (a foreigner often mistaken for a native). Tiny white daisies flowers of Lagenifera stipitata popped up their little heads. Shots of the purple fan flowers of Scaevola aemula drew attention amongst the sedges. The midstorey was dominated by Melaleuca ericifolia (Swamp paperbark) with the occasional Melaleuca styphelioides.

The walk follows along the edge of the salt marsh on the banks of Callala Creek. From here you can see through to the back of the hind dunes along the edge of Callala Beach. The area is dominated by River Mangroves (Aegiceras corniculatum) nearer to the water’s edge. The open mudflats carry sparse vegetation of Saltworts, Samphires and Seablites. Their plump little leaves giving a salty tang when popped in the mouth. It was low tide and soldier crabs scuttled about on the open sandy mud ducking down tunnels when surprised. All four of the vegetation communities present are listed endangered in NSW. 

Just a word of warning for anyone heading out on this fascinating little walk, don’t forget to wear long pants and sleeves or the mozzies will have a feast on you! Our chief mozzie attractor had decided to have a swim in the lovely Callala Bay with a friend instead of joining us on the walk so I was elevated to top mozzie meal, thank goodness for the long pants but gee they loved my ears! With precautions taken this is well worth the hour or so walk to really get immersed in these special coastal plant communities.

Leslie McKinnon

For more information about the Nowra Group, see here https://www.austplants.com.au/Nowra

Bush recovering after fire

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 04:39:41 GMT

Last week, I joined some other volunteers on the Curra Moors track in the Royal National Park for some track trimming activities. This track goes through a lot of the burnt areas from the January fires which 'destroyed' over 2,000 hectares in late January.

It is not destroyed at all, but springing back to life with a vengeance. Most of the native trees are re-sprouting from epidormic buds on the trunks or from the base. The new growth is often pink or red. Very photogenic, as you can see.

Birds could be seen back in the area, along with a goanna and evidence of both lyre birds and echidna. Lots of fungi, too.

The grass trees are all looking very pretty after their dead leaves were removed by the fire.

March gathering by Jan Williamson, North Shore Group

HEATHER MILES — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 21:39:31 GMT

Three members of APS NSG went “on holidays” and ventured to Loftus on the balmy Saturday morning. We arrived just in time to join Rhonda leading the group on the guided tour of the beautiful Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve.

As with Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Gardens, the initial development of this area as a native reserve was due to the foresight of keen conservationists some fifty years ago. Conditions have changed over the reserve’s life and plantings are reflecting these. For example, the rainforest area is no longer as cool and shady so the plants that once thrived are struggling, so other plantings are now occurring. Sutherland Shire Council and APS Sutherland Group have recently undertaken some major improvements of the Reserve.

At the meeting in the afternoon, the speaker, Geoff Doret, (Greenweb Officer at Sutherland Shire Council) presented How to Create a Wildlife Habitat at Home. Geoff has a challenging, yet rewarding job helping to implement biodiversity policies. His passion was obvious. He commented that some species are very commonly used as they are well adapted to urbanisation. These are important because it is through the common species and the wildlife that they support that the average person has contact with the natural world.

The habitat requirements and behaviours of the animals and plants affects the success rates of their existence, their survival and ability to prosper. Due to a decrease in habitat there has been a decrease locally in the numbers and diversity of small birds, frogs, reptiles, microbats and invertebrates. Usually the aggressive species are the more successful. Geoff stressed that a multilayered habitat is required and touched on the importance of ground level features (such as mulch, leaves, rocks and twigs), tree hollows and water features (ponds and creeks). He commented that pruning up, i.e. leaving a gap between the tree canopy and lower vegetation often helps.

Connected corridors and “stepping stone” gardens are extremely important for maintaining biodiversity. Good biodiversity has many health benefits including better air and soil conditions, pest control and the value of property also increases.

Some of the practical ideas that Geoff suggested were:

Creating “stepping stone” gardens.
Installing nest boxes- consider what your target species is as the box size and design varies accordingly.
Prune trees in a way that can maintain any hollows present or create a hollow.
Frog ponds can be any size and made from anything. Remember that frogs need a means of getting in and out of the “pond”. Plantings of strappy leafed plants, e.g. dianella, lomandra, nearby are recommended.
Plants with smaller flowers such as westringia and some hakeas attract smaller birds, while plants with larger flowers such as the larger grevilleas encourage larger birds. Interlocking, smaller spiky plants favour smaller species.
Native bee hotels: most species are solitary and require single holes with <10mm diameter. Suitable materials include terracotta or PVC pipes filled with bamboo stalks, mud with drilled holes or logs with multiple holes drilled in them.
Include rocks in the landscape.
Mass plantings are encouraged.
Provide bird baths: position out in the open a bit to protect the birds from predators.
Solar lights can be used to attract nocturnal insects. In simple words- provide HABITAT http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Outdoors/Environment/Plants-and-Bushland/Greenweb http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Outdoors/Environment/Plants-and-Bushland/Native-Plant-Selector

Text and first image: Jan Williamson; other images: Heather Miles

Updating security on the Wild Apricot website

HEATHER MILES — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 23:17:50 GMT

Dear members,

We have received advice from Wild Apricot, who host this site, that certain browsers will no longer work when making payments.

Changes are being made to comply with the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) which has mandated that all credit card processors must retire version 1.0 of an encryption method called TLS (Transport Layer Security).

To comply with this directive, and ensure the highest standards of security and data integrity, Wild Apricot will stop supporting TLS versions 1.0 and 1.1 on March 12, 2018, but will continue to support TLS version 1.2. Some older browser versions do not support TLS 1.2, so visitors to your Wild Apricot site may have to upgrade their browsers if they want to make payments on this site.

Below is a list of browsers versions that support TLS 1.2 and higher. Members are encouraged to check their browser version against this table.

If any questions, please contact secretary@austplants.com.au

Browser	Minimum supported version	Notes
Google Chrome	Version 38 or higher	Recommend using latest version
Internet Explorer	Version 11 or higher	Version 8-10 can be configured to support TLS 1.2 when running Windows 7 or higher
Microsoft Edge	Any version	All versions support TLS 1.2
Firefox	Version 27 or higher	Recommend using latest version
Safari (desktop)	Version 7 or higher	Use OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or higher
Safari (mobile)	Version 5 or higher	Use iOS 5 or higher
Opera	Version 50 or higher	Recommend using latest

Visit to Boongala Nursery by Kevin Stokes

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 06:59:35 GMT

A small group of Newcastle members had a very pleasant visit to Boongala Nursery run by Mal and Jenny Johnston in Kenthurst, Sydney.

This garden and nursery has been an institution for many years for those interested in Australian plants and is well worth a visit.

There are several walks through the grounds including a rainforest walk.

A large range of plants are for sale, including some grafted Eremophilas, some of which disappeared into the back of my car with lightning like speed. One of my favourite plants was among them, that being Eremophila mackinnleyi. This impressive Eremophila is to be seen to great advantage at the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens at Port Augusta (along with with many other Eremophilas and small Eucalypts).

Some of the other plants seen at the Nursery are attached.

A zoo of trees - visit Eucalyptus Arboretum, Currency Creek, South Aust, by Kevin Stokes

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 06:36:28 GMT

Ever seen a 'zoo of trees?'

Kevin Stokes from Newcastle Group is fascinated by eucs and suggests a visit to the Currency Creek Eucalyptus Arboretum in South Australia can be a rewarding experience.

He says, "Perhaps the best way to introduce the arboretum is by using a summary from the web site: http://www.dn.com.au/Currency_Creek_Arboretum.html

'The main purpose of Currency Creek Arboretum (CCA) is research into Australia's dominant natural group of plants, the eucalypts (genera Angophora, Eucalyptus and Corymbia).

Currency Creek Arboretum was established and is managed by Dean Nicolle and is largely self-funded. The arboretum has the largest collection of Eucalypt species in the world, with over 900 species and subspecies (and over 8000 individual plants). This is almost double the number of Eucalypt taxagrown on any other one site elsewhere. Major plantings continue most years.'

Eucalyptus is a quintessential Australian genus, along with Corymbia and Angophora, and are of enormous interest from many points of view not least of which is taxonomy.

The distribution of Australian Eucalypts is interesting in itself and why are there so many species? Eucalypts are small shrubs to large trees and occur over most of the country, although are sparsely occurring in arid areas and are absent from rainforests. They provide a panorama of forms and flower colours and form.

If you are not familiar with the Arboretum or website and are interested in the Eucalypts a visit to the site will be rewarding.

Included are a few images of Eucalyptus Kevin has come across during his travels.

APS VIC Seedbank available to NSW members

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 06:12:27 GMT

The enterprising David Drage of Northern Beaches recently wrote to APS VIC to see if NSW members could purchase seed from them.

Chris Long, the APS Vic President has let us know that they are happy to provide to APS NSW members on the same conditions as apply to APS VIC members. These conditions are found in the attached document and are basically a maximum of six packets of seed per quarter.

There will be no cost to APS NSW.

Attached are a pdf of the seed bank listing from the VIC website and also a pdf of the insert from the latest Growing Australian.

Chris and the committee from APS VIC look forward to helping their NSW colleagues with their seed requirements, believing it is important to help each other where we can.

Thanks to David Drage for his initiative and to the generous Victorians!

Seed List - Mar 2018

APSV seed bank list Mar 2018

Next APS NSW gathering and AGM at Cherrybrook, 26 May

HEATHER MILES — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 07:28:13 GMT

The day's program is now set for 26 May, hosted by Parramatta-Hills Group.

Location is:

Gumnut Community Centre Gumnut Place Cherrybrook, NSW

10am - 12noon: Morning activities

Choice of a visit to Ian Cox's beautiful garden or a scenic and relaxing bush walk.

Ian Cox's garden: 5 Ivy Place Kenthurst (off Jones Road).  
Bush walk with Jennifer Farrer: Meet at the end of Trevor Lane Cherrybrook, which runs off Purchase Road. The walk leads to an extensive stone outcrop which overlooks Pye's Creek, where the large expanse of sandstone is a fun place to explore. The route passes through typical Hawkesbury sandstone vegetation -which includes Banksia serrata, Corymbia gummifera and Eucalyptus haemastoma. More Banksias such as spinulosa, oblongifolia and marginata form the understorey. The main attraction of the walk in May when there isn't much flowering, will be the scenic outlooks experience along the walk.

1 - 3pm AGM and Gathering, Gumnut Community Centre, Cherrybrook

1-1.30pm Annual General Meeting. The agenda is on page 31, Native Plants for NSW, January 2018 or on the Society's website at www.austplants.com.au

1.30-3pm Talk: When is a Grevillea a Hakea?

The guest speaker is Peter Olde. Peter is a Life Member of APS NSW, recipient of the Australian Plants Award at the ANPSA Biennial Conference, Canberra 2015 and the leader of the Grevillea Study Group. He is an excellent and entertaining speaker who will discuss the current state of play regarding the relationships between the two genera. Peter will also discuss some of the new cultivars of Grevilleas and is always keen to share his jnowledge of grevilleas with us.

There will also be Australian native plants available for sale. See here for more information.

https://www.austplants.com.au/event-2752097?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=5%2F24%2F2018

A touching story about a Lemon Tree

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 06:07:04 GMT

Not a native, I know, but a lady recently reached out to us via our Facebook Page.

She sent us some pictures of a lemon tree in the back yard.

The story goes that in February of 2017, her brother had planted a lemon tree in his back yard.

Tragically, in October 2017 aged just 39, he passed away in a house fire which also destroyed the yard.

However within about a month the family noticed some new growth in the pot.

She wanted to know if it was a weed or the tree re-shooting. The image on the left was taken just before Xmas.

This new life became very significant to the family because it was almost the only thing that survived the fire.

Looking closely at the two images below, I was able to inform her that it was indeed the tree re-sprouting, but from the rootstock below the graft, so the growth is very wild and very unlikely to get any lemons from it if she leaves it. The thorns also look pretty vicious.

I love a sunburnt country...but I wish it would rain

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 10:35:45 GMT

Here's an article I recently wrote for GardenDrum, about the impact of the lack of rain on my garden in the Hunter Valley. Since writing, we've had about 60 mis, and so we'll see what might recover, though I think a few of my long lived plants are gone!

My predominantly native Hunter Valley garden is feeling the pressure of no rain. While it looks quite beautiful in the misty morning, the mist hasn’t translated into rain. And it looks spectacular in a lightning storm, but alas, still no rain!

In the last 12 months, we’ve had less than 80% of the 10 year average and virtually no rain since the end of October. Combined with a long run of very hot days (over 40 degrees) and the garden and landscape are browning off big time. It’s not all that pleasant walking on crunchy grass!

My rural garden generally survives on just rainfall, with very occasional watering, but given the water tanks are so low, hand watering is not an option.

All this means that while some plants in the garden are thriving, other areas are looking very ratty indeed with a few of the long-established trees and plants going to the big mulch pit in the sky.

Microclimates of course are a critical element of what survives and doesn’t. In my predominantly clay soil on the top of a hill, those areas with a touch of moisture are in reasonable shape, but in other areas with full sun and no water flow, the ‘soil’, if we can call it that, has gone rock hard.

So what’s going well and what’s not?

The callistemon don’t realise there’s a water shortage. Callistemon ‘Little John’ is looking fabulous and putting out a flush of brilliant red colour and dense grey-green foliage. Ditto with Callistemon citrinus ‘Endeavour’, with its vibrant red flowers and vigorous growth. A hedge of these in flower look wonderful brightening up the otherwise grey-green (and brown!) look of the garden.

To read the full article and see what's died (!@#$%), click here: https://gardendrum.com/2018/02/15/i-love-a-sunburnt-country-but-wish-it-would-rain/

Success with growing flannel flowers, by Elsie Bartlett

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 10:01:47 GMT

Elsie from the Central Coast group is a whizz as propagating and growing flannel flowers. Here are her secrets!

Growing Flannel Flowers

Several people have asked me recently to write down the methods I use to grow flannel flowers.  I have had some success with them so here is my story.

Some years ago we had the Flora Festival which was held annually at the exhibition grounds at Kariong. In those days, Madeleine Leonard of Sandstone Natives supplied us with top quality flannel flowers. She would send us more than a hundred and they would sell out on the first two days of the Festival.

In 2012 Madeleine retired from growing plants to pursue a different career which was the same year as the Flora Festival folded. However, she sent down all her flannel flower growing gear as well as fresh seed and instructions for us to grow them ourselves.

Our first efforts proved to be quite dismal with about a 98% failure rate but we persisted. Back then the seed was first rubbed through a sieve and several different potting mix combinations were trialled. A lot germinated but most were lost at the pricking out and potting up stage. With the Flora Festival no longer in existence, those that survived were planted out into the garden. I’d left the seed trays sitting in the sun while waiting for more to germinate and after 6 months, no more seeds were germinating, so I emptied the potting medium into an empty potting mix bag and set it aside to use for something at some later date.

Six months or so later, I potted up some plants into larger pots and used the set-aside-potting mix to top up the pots. Flannel flowers started emerging in these pots a few weeks later and I successfully pricked out and potted up about 40 seedlings. At that stage the potting mix with the treated seed in it was well over 12 months old.

Over the last three or four years I’ve learned a lot and go close now to having a 90% success rate.

My seed preparation method

Rub the seeds around a large 30cm wire strainer. (This large wire strainer is available at the Red Dollar Shop at Erina Fair for a couple of dollars).
Then empty the seed into a container, cover with water with a few drops of Wetta Soil added and leave overnight. The Wetta Soil helps to break down the protective coating around the seed and this hint originated from Maria Hitchcock, leader of the Waratah and Flannel Flower Study Group.
Tip them back into the strainer to drain and leave to dry. When dry lay the seed into the potting medium. I have had more success recently sowing the seed into a large round daisy bowl. I use a mix of equal parts of standard potting mix, coir and sand and add some perlite.
Water with a little Seasol, smoke water or Seed Starter.

Important Points

Seed needs to be fresh, no older than 6 months.
The seed will start to germinate after about 30 days but can still germinate after 12 months so don’t give up on them.
Seed will only germinate when conditions are favourable.
Seed will not germinate if the temperature is higher than 30 deg.
Seed that I put down in August 2016 started germinating in June 2017, 10 months later.
Flannel Flowers are heavy feeders so fertilise regularly.
Madeleine used the ‘rubbing the seed through a sieve method’ only and she grew the most amazing flannel flowers.

I have just sown a lot of seed into two daisy bowls. I have one sitting in full sun and the other in the shade so will see which one is more successful.

Good luck!

Elsie Bartlett

This article first appeared in the Central Coast Group's February 2018 newsletter. For more information on Central Coast Group, please visit the website. Click here: https://www.austplants.com.au/Central-Coast

APS South Australia Plant Sale for those travelling to Adelaide!

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 01:39:10 GMT

The South Australian branch of the Australian Plants Society is having their Autumn plant sale and expo in April.

The expo and plant sale are featuring Edible Australian Plants.

The event is being held at the Adelaide Showgrounds on the weekend of 21 and 22 April, starting at 10:00am each day. Admission is by gold coin donation.

There will be South Australian grown plants, books for sale, free soil pH testing, advice, workshops, children’s activities and more!

Workshops include:

· Linda Hoffman: Growing and cooking with wattle seed

· Dr Maarten Ryder: CSIRO Native Food Trials

More information is available on the SA website or by contacting John Fleming, Publicity Officer at: publicity@australianplantssa.asn.au

Update on ANPSA, by President, Riitta Boevink, President

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 22:55:48 GMT

Dear members,

At the recent ANPSA conference in Tasmania, it was decided to provide regular updates on ANPSA, so people better understand its role in growing and conserving native plants. Here is the first such update, an introduction to what ANPSA does, from President, Riita Boevink.

ANPSA is the acronym for Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) Inc., our national body.

Because the individual member societies are fully autonomous, the role of ANPSA is largely an advisory one. The main practical roles are to support and administer the Study Groups and to organize and determine the nominations for the Australian Plants Awards. Other roles include supporting member Societies in achieving certain objectives, such as conservation issues, which are becoming more important to member societies. The recent Biennial meeting voted to discontinue the appointment of delegates to the board of ACRA (Australian Cultivar Registration Authority). The main rationale for this decision was the perceived changes in the operation of ACRA, making it less useful for members of ANPSA member societies.

The ANPSA website http://anpsa.org.au is expertly managed by Brian Walters. To quote the Webmaster’s report for the Biennial meeting, the main activity in 2017 has been setting up newsletter archives for existing and closed Study Groups with the aim of making the work of the Groups more accessible. The website is a fantastic resource and we need to express our appreciation for the work Brian is doing. Most Study Groups now have their newsletters available to read on the ANPSA website.

The Biennial meeting, associated with the biennial ANPSA conference, is the main forum in which delegates from the member societies can meet face to face to discuss issues and vote on motions. These provide very valuable opportunities to get to know representatives from other parts of Australia and to identify common issues as well as to understand differences in our large continent with different climates and plants. Other meetings throughout the two-year interim period are conducted by teleconference. Each member society has two delegates to represent them at the Biennial meeting. The delegate from your Society will take issues raised at state level to the national body. If your group has concerns with a national or state focus, then your Society will send these concerns with the delegate to a national (ANPSA) meeting. Delegates will then report back to the member society.

The executive members are elected at the Biennial meeting (normally from the conference host-Society) for the following two years.

The new executive members elected in Hobart at the 2018 conference are:

President: Riitta Boevink, Australian Plants Society Tasmania (anpsa2018@gmail.com)

Vice President: Ben Walcott Australian Native Plants Society Canberra

Vice President: Margaret Matthews, Wildflower Society of WA

Secretary: Mary Slattery, Australian Plants Society Tasmania

Treasurer: Rosemary Verbeeten, Australian Plants Society Tasmania

Study Group Leader: Jane Fountain, Native Plants Queensland.

Corymbia ficifolia 'Summer Red' (grafted), Hunter Valley, photo Heatther Miles

Stunning macro shots by Kevin Stokes

HEATHER MILES — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 02:43:46 GMT

One of our Newcastle members, Kevin Stokes, is a stunning macro photographer. Check out these beauties!

FJC Rogers Seminar on Goodeniaceae on 20 and 21 October 2018

HEATHER MILES — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 07:24:10 GMT

The 12th FJC Rogers Seminar which will be held in Horsham and hosted jointly by the Australian Plants Society Grampians Inc. and Wimmera Growers of Australian Plants Inc., on behalf of the Australian Plants Society Victoria Inc.

The Seminar will focus on the wonderful Goodeniaceae family, with Saturday presentations, plant and book sales, dinner and speaker, followed by Sunday garden visits and plant sales.

Regular updates will be provided by contacting the organisers with registrations from 1 April 2018.

For more information, see the newsletter:

More information can be obtained from Royce Raleigh (03 53836200) at fjcrogersseminar2018@gmail.com

Native Bees being attacked

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 23:50:23 GMT

Sutherland group in Sydney has regular working bees (No pun intended) at the Council-run, Joseph Banks Native Plant Reserve at Kareela, in Sydney's southern suburbs.

This is a little known gem of 100% native plants, including a large patch of native sandstone bushland, as well as more formal plantings.

It also has a native bee hive and one of our sharp-eyed volunteers, Leonie Hogue recently saw what she thought might be robber bees trying to steal the honey.

It turns out they were a species of sand wasps, hovering outside the hive and trying to pick-off the native bees as they flew out to forage. They then feed their prey back in their nests to their young.

Pretty hard to photograph, as it all happens so quickly, but I tried with a short video available on the Sutherland Facebook page via the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/APS.Sutherland/

Seeking feedback on Eremophila forrestii

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 11:45:27 GMT

The Eremophila Study Group is one of a number of Study Groups within the Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Their aim is to further knowledge about the cultivation, propagation and conservation of Eremophila, commonly known as emu bushes.

One of the plants being profiled is Eremophila forrestii. Dr Lyndal Thorburn, of the Eremophila Study Group, has developed a short survey to gather information about the horticulture of Eremophila forrestii. This includes any sub-species (if known) or hybrids grown and any information about propagation, how long they live in the garden and where they grow best (or what kills them). The survey will take around 6 minutes to complete.

Lyndal is looking for members to complete the survey by 26 January if possible.

The survey is now closed.

Birds in our January gardens, photos by Noel Rosten

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 04:04:10 GMT

Here are the visitors to our garden this month - the King Parrot, Powerful Owl, and Eastern Spinebill.

Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow, champion of Top End native plants, story courtesy Mark Henley

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 10:03:17 GMT

Mark Henley (Newcastle Group) has shared the great work being done by Top End birdwatcher and natural history and cultural guide, Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow.

Denise is hoping to raise funds for the local Darwin River Volunteer Bushfire Brigade, through the sale of the increasingly rare tropical cypress, Callitris intratropica. While this tree is declining in numbers in the Top End of Australia it is thriving on Denise' property where there are several specimens over 20 metres tall. Hundreds of smaller specimens are growing under powerlines and need to be removed. The trees for sale are 1 to 2 metres tall, either as Christmas trees or dug up and replanted (details below).

Denise' property has a large range of diverse fauna and flora including over 90 bird species, the moth Opodiphthera carnea, a moth rarer than the Atlas Moth. This diversity may be representative of properties throughout the Berry Springs/ Darwin River area. Yet, the role of their volunteer fire brigades in saving their fauna and flora has received little attention. Denise says that their place has nearly gone up in flames on three occasions this year, one because of some bloke using a grader on a stinking hot day, another caused by an arsonist, and the third by the powerline breaking. Thank goodness for the firies who turned up on time.

Denise has made a significant contribution to her local area plants and indigenous people.

She was elected to Darwin City Council in 1981 on the platform of conserving mangroves and evidence-based policy. Bagot Aboriginal Reserve was within her ward and discovering the residents had no representation she set out to win their trust. The president, a very fierce Larrakia woman called Mrs. Thompson, told her to catch a water python as a test of her resolve. This entailed four hours in a lake inhabited by large estuarine crocodiles. The Indigenous women were horrified when Denise was then threatened with prosecution, and to protect her, they adopted her.

Denise began guiding in 1983 with most of her clientele being well-educated, well-travelled Americans who heard of her by word of mouth. As biological consultant she has conducted fauna surveys in the remote Top End, often solo.

At the request of her adopted Aboriginal sisters, Denise helped establish an appropriate tourism project on their country, Baby Dreaming, in western Arnhem Land. Elders also decided to make their prized hunting waterhole a sanctuary for birds. The sensitive visitation enhanced the status of women and families.

Denise has worked as a wildlife and Indigenous adviser to television, including on programs like the BBC’s Deadly 60! In 2000 she was contracted as an interpreter/transcriber on the Lonely Planet’s Guide to Aboriginal Australia.

Her book Birds of Australia’s Top End has been described as winning ‘top honors’ (American Birdwatcher’s Digest), and ‘impressive’ (American Birding Association’s Winging It). Her autobiographical Quiet Snake Dreaming is used for literacy projects in European educational institutions and cross-cultural awareness courses. American author, Jonathon Franzen, said this book gave him ‘great insight’ into the lives of Aboriginal Australians. Indigenous people including Leon, a Tiwi Islander, have said the book will be good for bringing people together (Sept. 2013).

Another of Denise’s books, Fauna of Kakadu and The Top End, has been a “core text” of the University of NSW’s summer school since 2000.

In 2009 Denise was invited to speak in the US on conservation, wildlife of the Top End, and Indigenous issues and tourism, giving 33 lectures in 2 1/2 months.

Denise has recently finished her PhD on American couples who travel internationally to watch birds and is travelling to Lismore next week for her graduation ceremony! The PhD has sparked a lot of interest, having been downloaded nearly 190 times in 30 different countries. Denise finds that amazing!

To support Denise's drive to raise funds for the Fire Brigade while saving the Callitris, any Southern-State APS members who would:

Like to buy a tree for a friend or relative in the NT
Know someone in NT who might like to buy one, or
Like to make a donation to help out the Darwin River Volunteer Bushfire Brigade,

please contact the Darwin River Fire Brigade Treasurer, Beverly Shuker, on shukerfarm@bigpond.com. The photo above shows Denise with MLA Gary Higgins, who with his staff member, Tasma, kindly printed off the posters advertising the Callitris for sale.

Denise can be contacted on goodfellow@bigpond.com.au.

Thanks Mark, for the wonderful introduction to Denise.

A stunning native garden in Toowoomba, courtesy Des O'Connor

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 09:28:04 GMT

Des and Marie O'Connor recently visited the stunning native garden of Gordon and Maria Reynolds in Toowoomba. This garden was awarded the Grand Champion in the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers festival, a huge, annual festival.

The garden was characterised by little grass, only avenues of plants!

The local Chronicle magazine says:

….its colourful avenues delight at every turn, setting a new standard of excellence in Australian native gardening. See more information from the Chronicle here.

Beautiful birds by Noel Rosten - Grey Fantail, White-throated Treecreeper, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 09:06:45 GMT

Gathering at Ku-Ring-Gai Wildflower Garden

HEATHER MILES — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 09:17:19 GMT

We had a wonderful gathering at Ku-Ring-Gai Wildflower Garden hosted by Barry Lees and the North Shore Group last Saturday, 18 November.

We started with a bush walk around the garden, which in many areas is showing the impact of a tough, dry winter, followed by heavy rains. While most of the flowers are finished, we found some wonderful surprises.

This was followed by a fascinating talk by Bronwen Roy, a PhD student, who is studying the impact of viruses on honey bees and the potential impact on our own native bees. More information on the talk will come in the next Native Plants for NSW journal.

Pictures in order:

Multiple cones of Banksia robur
Dicksonia antarctica in the fern house
Blandfordia, Christmas Bell, arising from a rocky outcrop
Ceratopetalum gummiferum, NSW Christmas Bush

Grass Trees by Penelope Sinclair, Armidale Group

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 06:21:27 GMT

Grass Trees, Xanthorrhoea spp.

I have always been fascinated with Grass Trees and they are such an iconic emblem of our bush. Those of you who have travelled to and from Inverell and Guyra via the Ensmore and Tingha Roads will have seen some great specimens (see left) along the northern section of this route which winds among the hills and crosses Paradise Creek and the Macintre River in its upper reaches.

In September Eric and I joined the Inverell Bushwalkers for an outing to the Paradise Creek area where we saw some magnificent specimens, all of which must be quite ancient.

Some, then relatively small, were included in the well known art work “Bailed Up” which Tom Roberts painted on Paradise Station in 1895 (see below).

Grass Trees grow only in Australia and occur in all States, growing in heaths and dry forests. There are over 30 species in all; locally, in the Armidale region, our common species are X. johnsonii and X. glauca. They are closely related to the Lomandra spp.

'Xanthorrhoea' means 'yellow flow' in ancient Greek and refers to its resin. This resin was much prized by Aboriginal people, being used as a glue or as a coating/waterproofing material. The early settlers also found it extremely useful, as a glue, a varnish, polish and a coating of tin materials. It was used in the sizing of paper, in soap and perfumery and even in the manufacture of early gramophone records.

Nowadays, Grass Trees are becoming much prized as garden plants and many of our members will have one or more in their garden. They are extremely slow growing, estimated to grow 1-2cm per year, though it varies between species and conditions. A 5 metre tree could be 200 - 600 years old.

One suggestion from an old timer for ensuring garden survival is to add 1 cup of brown sugar to a bucket of water and apply monthly for the first 2 years. This, he claimed, helps feed the mycorrhiza in the soil which are critical for Grass Tree survival. Unfortunately grass trees are threatened by the root rot disease Phytophora cinnamomi. In a garden setting, scale infestation can be a problem and this can be managed (with difficulty) by repeated applications of white oil.

Some species will branch if the growing point is damaged. The stem/trunk is built from accumulated leaf bases, cemented together with resin. The trunk is hollow and nutrients move up inside via aerial roots.

The close up picture of the trunk (below) shows how hard and furrowed it can be. One species X. acaulis which is found west of the Divide in the Piliga area, does not develop an above ground trunk.

Most Grass Trees are able to survive fire as the growing point is below ground level where it is protected by the outer trunk.

Fire will also promote flowering and blackened trunks, topped by short skirts of leaves may have multiple flower heads rising above them. One suggestion for gardeners is to pour smoked water into the Grass Tree centre to promote flowering.

Flower spikes which can grow to 2-3 metres are magnificent; the multiple small flowers, full of nectar, are mobbed by insects and birds.

The specimens observed by us on our walk through the paddocks are all old giants. Young plants are destroyed by grazing animals, cattle sheep and feral goats.

Grass Trees are protected in reserves and national parks but are at risk by clearing and harvesting from the wild. Harvesting from the bush is regulated and legally harvested plants will have certification.

Transplanting is difficult with a high failure rate. Young, seed grown plants can be purchased from nurseries. Just be patient.

Stunning images of birds in the garden, by Noel Rosten

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 23:09:06 GMT

Thanks to Noel Rosten, from the North Shore Group, for sharing these beautiful images.

New Holland Honeyeater

Yellow Robin

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Fruit Bat video

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:23:42 GMT

I know this is nothing to do with native plants, but rather native wildlife that is essential to the long-term health of our forests and is now a threatened species.

Walking home a couple of days ago, I heard an unusual squeaking sound which turned out to be a very cute, baby grey-headed flying fox.

I phoned WIRES and they came and collected it very quickly.

A 2 month old baby, according to the rescuer, dropped by it's mother during the night and was quite weak. Still strong enough to be difficult to remove from the railings and it had good lungs to make all that noise.

Luckily a dog or cat didn't get it during the day.

My reason for posting here is that the video I took has gone viral. It has been shared over 100 times now and I'm getting friend requests on Facebook from as far away as Japan, Mexico, USA and Canada to name a just a few !

I'm unable to load the video on this site, but if you'd like to watch it, (it's only 19 seconds), use this link to go to the APS Sutherland Facebook page and view it there: Cute baby bat video

More pics from our Coffs Harbour Gathering

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:38:26 GMT

Over 130 people attended our quarterly gathering at Coffs Harbour in September. Here are some of the beautiful plants and vistas on show.

Alloxylon flammeum, Tree Waratah

Beautiful reflections in the river

A bit of paradise on the morning beach walk

Kookaburras greeting the morning.

Orchids in the bush

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 03:32:51 GMT

This is Cymbidium suave, or Snake Orchid, usually found in stumps and in forks of gum trees but this one was at ground level, so got some easy pictures. Apparently, once the pods turns brown the kernel can be eaten raw and has a similar taste to peanuts. The juice from the stems was once used as a glue and applied directly to wounds (particularly burns).

Everyone knows the Sydney Rock Orchid, Dendrobium Speciosum, but more unusual to find one with seed pods on it. These were growing in full sun on an exposed rock shelf in the Royal National Park, Sydney. Tough plants.

Wedding Bush a winner in WA

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 05:57:02 GMT

We recently received this picture from Bruce Duncan, who runs an olive farm in Mokine, Western Australia (Clackline Valley Olives). He reports that thanks to the information about plants on our APS NSW website, he’s been able to identify a plant in his yard. This Ricinocarpus pinifolius is certainly extremely happy! Thanks Bruce.

Burrendong Botanic Garden & Arboretum Positions Vacant

GLENDA BROWNE — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 21:17:44 GMT

Burrendong Botanic Garden & Arboretum Positions Vacant

Burrendong Botanic Garden & Arboretum Botanic Garden Manager – full-time Horticulturist – full-time Maintenance Officer – Part-time (3 days per week)

Burrendong Botanic Garden & Arboretum in the NSW Central West is situated 20 minutes from Wellington and is midway between the regional cities of Orange and Dubbo. Set near the shore of Lake Burrendong this 167 ha botanic garden is one of the largest regional botanic gardens in Australia and is home to a unique and diverse collection of Australian flora.

Due to a recent restructure the Burrendong Arboretum Trust is seeking to fill three newly created positions – Full time Botanic Garden Manager, Fulltime Horticulturist and a part time Maintenance Officer.

To be successful in these positions applicants will need to be good communicators, motivated, able to work independently and as part of a team.

For full Position descriptions and to apply contact the Burrendong Arboretum Trust Secretary Emily Falson at emilyfalson@yahoo.com.au

Applicants must address all selection criteria and include a full resume with three referees

For additional information contact Trust Chairman Michael Anlezark at michaeljanlezark@gmail.com or phone 0412 376 965.

Applications close October 2, 4pm

Awabakal Nature Reserve - Dudley Wildflower walk. Newcastle Group

COLIN LAWRENCE — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 04:41:21 GMT

Sunday September 10, Groups will start at intervals 10.00-10.30, finishing by 12.00 midday
Celebrate Spring with us in a slow walk through the wildflowers of the coastal heath.
Enjoy the beauty of the blooms against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Local
experts will help with identification and ecological information.
All welcome, all ages. Fairly easy walking along sandy tracks. Bring a hat and a drink.

Plant ID Workshops

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 01:00:20 GMT

Teresa James workshops

1. Flora of Agnes Banks Nature Reserve

Saturday 16 September (9.00 am to 12.00 pm)

Details: The morning includes group plant identification exercises. Some notes will be provided.No previous knowledge is required.

Cost: $50

2. Plant identification walk at Scheyville

Sunday 17 September (9.00 am to 12.00 pm)

Details: Enjoy a spring-time morning walk in Scheyville National Park through endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland. No previous knowledge is required, beginners most welcome.

Cost: $40

Contact Teresa on t.james@optusnet.com.au

Newcastle Group Plant Sale Sat 9th Sept

MAREE MCCARTHY — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 23:59:47 GMT

Hunter Wetlands, Shortland 10-3pm Sat 9th Sept.

Newcastle Group Spring Plant Sale!!

Education Carpark.

Annual Get-Together, Coffs Harbour

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 08:11:33 GMT

Nearly 130 members and visitors attended a very informative series of lectures and garden visits around the district over the weekend.

Lovely weather, friendly, welcoming and very knowledgeable people to talk with.

Here are some photos from the weekend. Rainforest is so hard to capture on film, but wonderful to walk through.

Kakadu Adventure

RALPH CARTWRIGHT — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 02:25:45 GMT

I took a trip about this time last year to Kakadu National Park which had many items of interest, both flora and fauna. (All photos included here were taken by myself.) This is a summary of the talk that I gave to the Sutherland group of APS recently. Check out our District Group page.

I did the trip, over six days and five nights, through Kakadu Walking Adventure which can be found here at this website: http://www.worldexpeditions.com/Australia/Trekking-Hiking/Kakadu-Walking-Adventure.

The first location we visited was Fogg Dam which was built as a water source for a failed rice growing project in 1956. It is located on the Adelaide River floodplain between Darwin and Kakadu and covers over 1,500 hectares and is now known as the Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve. It features monsoon and eucalypt forest, open scrubland, melaleuca woodland, floodplain and open water which attract significant numbers of birds, reptiles, mammals and marsupials.

The dam has had a history of weed invasion and an aquatic weed harvester was brought to the dam by the local friends group. It was brought in to control an invasive rush, Eleocharis sphacelata (a native species but considered a weed in this situation). The plan was to use low-risk prisoners trained up to operate the machine and the expectation was that it would work full time, 5 days a week, all year round to clear the weeds and open-up the waterways again. The removed biomass was to be used as a saleable item. Unfortunately, it didn’t work very well. The resulting biomass was too low in nutrients to be viable so the scheme ran out of money to buy fuel. Also, the weeds proved too tough for the machine, which was used as more of a floating bulldozer to push the weeds to the edge where they could dry out and later be burned. The dam was a great place for bird watching.

Plants seen there included Nymphaea violacea and Nymphoides indica (Water Snowflake). The flowers of this Nymphoides are white with yellow centres. Flowers of Nymphaea voilacea range from blue, to mauve to purple to white and sometimes pink. Both species are used by Aboriginal people for food, using both the root-stock and seeds which are ground to make flour.

Most of the rivers have Alligator in the name, as that is what the early explorers believed they were seeing. They were of course much more dangerous crocodiles and we saw several on our trip.

Other plants seen included Clerodendrum costatum, a Lamiaceae member which has a bright red calyx surrounding the developing fruit. It is a common small to medium shrub often found in monsoon vine forest margins.

Bossiaea bossiaeoides (resembling a Bossiaea) is a leafless but cladodenous (having modified stems) pea-flower which might make an unusual rockery plant in sunny gardens. The Traditional Owners use it as a calendar plant. It indicates the season that honey is available in bee’s nests.

Banksia dentata is the only Banksia species growing in the tropical North and also up into southern New Guinea. It is a gnarled tree to 7 m. Flowering over the cooler months, it attracts various species of honeyeaters. It is one of the 4 Banksia species collected by Banks in 1770. The local aborigines used the old seed cones to transport fire as they would smoulder for up to two hours. It re-sprouts after fire from a woody lignotuber.

Hibiscus sabdariffa was observed. Despite being well known in Australia, this is actually a species of Hibiscus native to West Africa and, therefore, a weed. Several plants were seen in various locations including around car parks and alongside tracks. Our guides suggested that they were grown from seed discarded from jam sandwiches!

The walk took in a rock formation called Boo–rong-goy, but is commonly mis-called Nourlangie Rock. It is the site of several wonderful world-class rock-art galleries. We did a very interesting 10km circular walk through a range of different vegetation types with many unusual rock formations. In several places, the walkers were rewarded with spectacular views out over the savanna plains and woodlands with Arnhem Land in the background.

The tropical savannas are well known for their termite mounds and there were some quite enormous examples, including the largest one in Kakadu (in terms of mass). It is still active and is known to be at least 40 years old which means the Queen has been alive for that long and has been pushing out eggs all the time to keep the mound growing and healthy.

Other species of note observed were Grevillea dryandri, G. heliosperma and G. angulata. Several other Hibiscus included H. symonii and H. leptocladus.

The Kapok Tree or Cotton Tree was a very interesting specimen. With its bright red flowers up to 20 cm in diameter! It is a native but also extends north into the wet tropics.

The area is home to 3 species of pandanus including Pandanus aqauticus.

Asteromyrtus symphyocarpa or Liniment Tree (pictured) is another plant with a very striking flower. The aboriginies used the leaves for a variety of medicinal purposes and in 1982, it was investigated by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research with members from the CSIRO and the Uni of NSW for its commercial applications.

Xanthostemon paradoxus and Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon Gum) of which the hollow branches were used to make didgeridoos. Other eucalypts included E. miniata and E. phoenicea.

Calytrix exstipulata was common in the area and was successfully used to flavour the lamb roast for dinner one night. We also came across the cycad Cycas lane-poolei – one of the few Australian Cycas species.

I finished my talk by highlighting an insect, Leichhardt’s Grasshopper, which spends most of its lifecycle on a Lamiaceae member, Pityrodia jamesii. This plant has small, hairy and sticky leaves which are described as very aromatic, a mix of mint and tea tree oil to taste. Leichardt’s grasshopper, named after the explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt, who was the first European to describe them in 1845, have arresting aposematic markings to deter predators.

Their interesting life cycle begins as a grub underground feeding on the roots of this plant. As they emerge to feed on the leaves, they make their way further up the plant eventually to mate and then lay eggs at the base of the plant - to start the cycle all over again.

A great adventure, highly recommended.

The Powerful Owl, by Marion Payne

HEATHER MILES — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 04:39:16 GMT

Menai Group's April speaker was Lisa Harvey speaking on her Honours project – to fit tracking collars to Powerful Owls to enable research into habitat in urban Sydney.

The Powerful Owl is Australia’s largest apex nocturnal predator owl, it is present along the Eastern Coast and is listed as vulnerable in NSW.

The owl is a territorial obligate hollow nester, 60cm in height with a wingspan of 140cm, it is estimated Sydney has 50-60 pairs with approximately 10-12 additional single birds.

The Powerful Owl Project was initiated by Birdlife Australia in 2011. This project is a citizen science project investigating breeding success, habitat use and diet of Powerful Owls in Sydney and the Central Coast. Lisa’s research extended this project to find more information about habitat use and diet and to compare home range sizes of the Powerful Owl in areas of varying degrees of urbanisation across Sydney.

To succeed, GPS transmitters with a weak link harness designed to fall off after a number of weeks were attached to 3 females & 2 males. Suitable trees with reasonably clear surrounding foliage had to be located to enable the slinging of a net, raised with the aid of a bow and arrow, to trap an owl responding to the call of a female, male or even a young owl.

The owls were fitted with transmitters and tracked during the breeding season throughout the Sydney region. The GPS GSM transmitters enabled remote access to data via the mobile phone network. GPS fixes were first recorded ½ hourly then switched to hourly throughout the tracking period. Lisa showed the results of the main areas tracked, multiple home range trips with the owls in Balgowlah Heights, Bonnet Bay, Menai, Centennial Park and the Botanic Gardens.

The availability of vegetation may affect home range size, the variations found were: Botanic Gardens approx. 650ha, Centennial Park approx. 300ha, Bonnet Bay approx. 220ha, Balgowlah Heights approx. 110ha, Menai approx. 20ha.

Greenspace is an important element to habitat. Different types of greenspaces were used such as structured gardens in the Royal Botanic Gardens and natural bushland in the Sydney Harbour National Park at Balgowlah. Overall 85% of GPS locations were recorded in greenspace, dwelling density within an owl’s home range varied between 0.43 & 6.26 km2. Balgowlah had approx. 80% greenspace, Bonnet Bay approx. 60%, Botanic Gardens approx. 90%, Centennial Park approx. 95% and Menai approx. 99%.

Collection and dissection of owl regurgitate assisted in determining the diet consumed by the tracked owls and also other known pairs throughout Sydney. Of the 74 pellets analysed, prey items were identified from bone fragments, hair and feathers.

The GPS results in the Sydney region showed the common ringtail possum rating approx. 35% on the scale, the flying fox approx. 15%, rats approx. 15%, birds approx. 14%, common brush tail possum approx. 10%, sugar gliders approx. 3%, rabbits approx. 3% and unknown mammalians approx. 3%.

What is the future for urban Powerful Owls? Prey is unlikely to be a limiting factor due to the abundance of key prey items such as the Common Ringtail Possum and Common Brushtail Possum. Habitat loss, especially the loss of old trees capable of producing large hollows for breeding is likely to be a significant concern. Other issues include human-wildlife conflict, with the Powerful Owl being susceptible to car strike and collisions with buildings. In highly urbanised areas, the owls may have to fly further afield to find greenspace and because of the risks associated with urban areas, greenspace design in cities could help reduce this risk.

Future projects will entail research into hollow availability and characteristics of greenspaces.

The dedicated teams tracking, monitoring, researching and sharing their findings on these magnificent owls is greatly appreciated by all – we thank Lisa, Birdlife Australia, The University of Sydney, The City of Sydney and the Royal Botanic Gardens for their generosity.

Insect or bee hotel – I have made one and so can you, by Jeff Howes

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 11:39:36 GMT

During a recent trip to Europe, I noticed a lot of quite large, home-made bee ‘hotels’. On my return, I undertook a bit of research and I found some excellent information on different home-made ‘hotels’ in the EU and UK.

After looking at all the pictures on that site, I decided to make one myself, to hopefully provide a home to our native solitary bees and other insects as they are important pollinators and pest controllers in gardens. They need to be encouraged as tidy gardens, lawns and lack of dead wood, mean less and less habitat for them.

The technical details of my ‘hotel’ are as follows:

The back of the hotel is the same as the front.
The three drill diameters used to drill the wood were: 3.3mm, 6.5mm and 11mm. Depth of the holes were the drill length.
The sections of timber are old chemical free pine or Oregon.
The upright branches and the branches in the 50mm diameter plastic tubes were from the weedy Lantana plant. The soft core of the horizontal branches, were drilled out but not the vertical branches.
The ‘hotel’ sits on a 200x50 hardwood base.
I sited the ‘hotel’ in my garden so it receives dappled morning sun and full afternoon sun. Not ideal, as apparently it should be in a position that receives full sun, as the bees only become active around 18oC and above. A position that receives full sun is not possible in my northern Sydney suburban garden due to neighbouring trees.

A few unanswered questions:

Will it work? Time will tell and apparently it can take up to 12 months to weather and lose its ‘newness’ before the tenants decide to call it home. Then again, there may be no native bees or other small insects to use it.
Should it be higher off the ground?
If it does not work, will it be the home to ants (hope not)?
Should it have a night light for those ‘guests’ returning back late (just joking).

Growing Australian Rhododendrons, by Jeff Howes

HEATHER MILES — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 11:32:41 GMT

While rhododendrons are very popular plants in Australian gardens, there are only two species that we can truly call our own.

They are both Vireya Rhododendrons - rainforest species found in mountainous tropical areas of SE Asia, New Guinea and North Queensland. These species are members of the Erica family, which has a fairly small representation in Australia.

Rhododendron lochiae was long thought to be the only Australian member of the genus, but in 1995 it was realised that there was a second and separate species which was named Rhododendron notiale.

Rhododendron lochiae grows naturally in north-eastern Queensland. Growing to 1.2m, this shrub has stiff foliage and reddish young stems. The flowers are spectacular, rosy-red bells which are borne in summer and autumn. It is slow-growing.

Rhododendron notiale is different from R. lochiae in that the shape of the flower tube is curved rather than straight. See a picture. Stems of Rhododendron notiale are not red like those of Rhododendron lochiae. R. notiale is indigenous to north Queensland.

Vireyas are popular garden plants and will grow as far south as Melbourne provided they are protected from frost. Rhododendron lochiae has been hybridised with various other species to produce a number of garden plants such as ‘Tropic Fanfare’ and ‘Arthur’s Choice’.

Both these native rhododendrons and the cultivars, require a sheltered position in a shaded location. They require acid soil, high in organic matter. In their rainforest homes they often grow as epiphytes wherever they can find sufficient light. They can be grown successfully in pots in an orchid-growing medium. Pruning lightly after flowering and pinching out young plants will help to produce compact specimens.

Propagation is relatively easy from cuttings.

One ‘Must Know’ Principle of Gardening by Jeff Howes

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 10:57:21 GMT

For many years, I have been growing native plants, reading gardening books, listening to garden gurus, advising people on what native plants to grow in their gardens and listening to other people’s gardening problems. During this time, I have concluded that there is only one important garden principle that one must try to follow to succeed in your garden that that is:

Do not fight your site.

The plant’s natural growing conditions must closely match your site to maximise results. Failure to do this results in plants that grow far below their best and eventually require removal.

Your site’s environmental factors will determine how successful a plant will or will not grow. Try to accurately assess theses important factors:

Amount of light – full sun, no sun, morning or afternoon, shady etc.
Soil types -- heavy clay, sandy or somewhere in between.
Soil water retention -- evenly moist, boggy or does it dry out quickly due to root competition from nearby plants.

Once you have assessed your site, the following are examples of mismatching conditions:

Trying to grow a plant that needs full sun in a shady position -- you will have a plant that grows weakly, flowers poorly and is susceptible to scale. Not a good look.
Trying to grow a plant that needs a shady/dappled light position in a full sun position -- the plant will at best wilt, because it is too hot, and at worst burn and die.
Trying to grow a plant that needs a moist position in a dry position -- you will need to continually water it just to keep it alive.
Trying to grow a plant that needs a dry position in a moist to wet soil -- you will need to provide additional drainage or add soil to raise the planting position.
Not selecting plants for the correct soil type. Plants that grow naturally in lighter, sandy soils often do not have a strong enough root system to establish themselves in heavy, clay loam. To grow a plant in this situation requires it to be staked and watered often. Conversely, plants that grow naturally in heavy clay loam, will establish in any soil as they usually have a stronger root system and are more adaptive.

Over the years, I have seen many examples of plants deciding their most suitable position in your garden, especially if they self-seed i.e. moving away from a sunny dry position to a more suitable shadier and moist position.

If your site does not suit the plants on your ‘wish list’ then all is not lost. Plant them in a suitable size pot. This way:

They can be moved around to maximise sun and shade requirements.
You can provide the right soil and water requirements.

To conclude --- know your site and learn to live with its limitations.

By Jeff Howes

Jeff Tips – What I learnt trying to grow our native plants, by Jeff Howes

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 09:41:26 GMT

For many years, I have been growing native plants and have picked up tips and tricks along the way. Here is a summary of some of my learning.

1. Planting under gum trees

To maximise your success in getting your plants to grow, plant them as close to the trunk as possible. The reasons you do this are:

There are very few tree feeder roots to rob your plant of nutrients andmoisture.
During rain, a lot of water runs down the trunks of the tree and hence towardsyour newly planted plant

2. A great screening plant

If you need a great screening plant that is not too tall (three metres), not too wide (one and bit metres), grows in sun, grows in shade, is drought hardy when established and has coloured new growth…Then select Acmena smithii variety minor. You will find it at all good nurseries.

3. Poor performers

Be ruthless with plants that do not perform in your garden. There are far too many new and exciting plants to try, so dig out the underperformers and consign them to the bin.

4. Group your plants

To get the best out of your plants group those needing like-conditions together. Low water requirement together, shade loving plants together, moisture loving plants together. Basic, but vital.

5. Forget the spring flush

Design your garden so you have plants that flower at different times of the year and not only at spring. There is no better way to beat the winter doldrums than to see a patch of colour on a cold day – try Croweas or Correas.

6. Native plants are just plants

Just a reminder – they are no different to any other plant, they need watering, fertilising and pruning to grow them at their best.

7. Hardy orchids

I have found that Dendrobium kingianum and D. delicatum grown on rocks and logs, above ground, in dappled light to full sun are tough near drought tolerant plants (water only every two to three weeks) AND they flower beautifully in spring – try some.

8. No feeding – not true

Do not be afraid to fertilize your native plants and orchids during the warmer months when they are growing. Use any fertilizer labeled suitable for native plants. Your plants will look much better and healthier for it.

9. If it's native it will grow anywhere – not true

We have well over 20,000 plants growing in Australia and they are growing in deserts, along the coast and up to the Alps. When selecting plants for your garden, choose ones that naturally grow in similar conditions to yours, this will increase your chance of successfully growing them.

10. Treated pine logs

If you are constructing retaining walls and steps, use treated pine logs rated H4 as this is suitable for in-ground applications. The H3 rated logs are only suitable for above ground applications as they have a lower level of preservatives.

11. Prune bottlebrushes to increase next year’s flowers

When the flower has finished, and before new growth has commenced, cut the top 2/3’s off the flower. This will encourage multiple shoots from the remaining 1/3, each of which will produce a flower for next year. Well worth the effort.

12. Pots

If you have soil that is too heavy to grow plants like Boronias, buy a large plastic pot, cut the bottom out of it pace this on the ground (loosen the soil first) then fill the pot with potting mix and plant your plant. Finally mulch well the soil around the base of the plant. The advantage of this method is eliminating the need to repot the plant every two years or so.

13. Habitat gardening

Think about habitat before you plant/dig/remove logs and rocks etc. Apart from planting native plants, you will also be creating a habit style garden where native plants will play a part of the food chain for any animals and insects etc. That is why it is important not to remove any rotted stumps/fallen timber (unless a nest for white ants) and puddles in your desire to obsessively tidy up. You should be aiming for retaining a wide diversity of habitats.

Because you do not want to end up with a jungle, you will need to selectively hand weed or mow at the appropriate time as well as prune….all part of becoming a habitat gardener, more so if you use indigenous plants.

14. Landscaping

Think of the site when you are landscaping and the existing biodiversity. In paved areas water must be allowed to percolate downwards, therefore no mortared joints. Use raised wooden decks rather than concrete for areas close to the house and boardwalks rather than paths. For areas away from the house, try to create bird habitats, leaving dead trees if they contain potential nesting sites.

15. Reduce the impact of Pied Currawongs

Three things you should be doing:

Reducing the amount of plants (native and introduced) with berries as this is a major source of food for Currawongs
Stop artificial feeding
Plant dense and spiky shrubs to provide safe nesting and hiding spots for smaller birds which the Currawongs prey on.

16. Long flowering mint bushes

Prostantheras are not renowned for their long flowering time – unfortunate, given how attractive they are in flower. Two that I find to flower for nearly a month are: Prostanthera ’Poorinda Ballerina’ and Prostanthera phylicifolia. The second one also grows and flowers well in shade. Both are hardy and only grow to a meter tall.

17. Kangaroo Paws, Anigozanthos

Anigozanthos species are promoted as drought hardy. If yours are just sitting there looking unhappy and not flowering, it’s likely because they need a lot of water in winter (especially the taller flowering forms that flower in spring only). This is what they receive in their original habitat – the south western corner of Western Australia. For the smaller flowering Bush Series that flower all year round, it is best to give them less winter watering than their taller cousins. After flowering they all need to be cut back hard to the ground and cut leaves removed. It is rumoured that some growers actually mow them with their lawn mower – effective but a bit extreme.

18. Birds in the garden

When I observe the limited amount of birds that my garden attracts, I am always fascinated that such a large bird as the King Parrot can eat very small seeds from plants such as Baeckia crenatifolia and Crowea Festival to name a few.

19. Two excellent hardy grassy type plants to grow

Lomandra ‘Tanika’. This plant has attractive fine green leaves, is very hardy and only grows to 50 cms. Mine are growing in very dry situations and only get a burst of mid day sun, with dappled light for rest of the day. Talking to some “gardening industry” people, the only maintenance appears to be lifting them every five years and dividing them up and starting again.
Poa australis. This is a very attractive small grey-green grassy clump whose flower seed heads appear above the plant in spring to summer. It is hardy in all situations and the only maintenance is again to divide them after flowering which is very easy to do and results in many more plants.

20. Pretty and local to Sydney

If you are after a long flowering plant, look no further than Ricinocarpos pinifolius or as it is more commonly known - the Wedding Bush. A local to Sydney, it starts to flower in August then rests with the odd spot flowers and then starts flowering again more heavily in November/December. The showy 2.5 centimetre five petal white flowers stand out well against the attractive green linear leaves. This plant is very hardy. My plant is about 1.8 metres tall and is in a well drained position protected from the westerly sun.

21. Severe pruning

Last year some of my Crinum pedunculatum, or Swamp Lily, which were growing in a very dry situation were looking a bit scrappy so I cut them down level with the ground and forgot them. In place of each plant I now have three very healthy plants that flowered at Christmas for me. So do not hesitate to resort to this type of “pruning”. Incidentally while this plant has the common name of Swamp Lily it is very hardy and will survive and flower well in situations which are dry and receive only dappled light – a great accent pant if grouped in clumps of three or five.

22. Snail baits

Be careful when using snail or slug baits as most commercial products contain metaldehyde which, when exposed to water, quickly breaks down to a harmless alcohol. (Fresh metaldehyde is toxic to slugs, snails, birds, cats, dogs, elephants, rabbits, humans and many more other creatures great and small)

23. Benefits of rain

I have often wondered, especially in drier times, why plants look and grow much better after rain than when they are hand watered. After surfing the wide world of the net I found that rainfall contains small quantities of dissolved nitrate and ammonia, which are forms of nitrogen, hence the growth spurt.

24. Repotting

I am sure we have all read the freely available advice about repotting pot plants into larger pots. The advice is along the lines of: “Only pot into the next size pot up or maybe the next two sizes of pots”. An example of this would be to pot on a plant growing in a 150 mm (6”) pot into a 200 mm (8”) or 250 mm (10”) pot size.

I have found this to be quite true because the potting mix can remain quite wet if there are no plant roots to take-up the excess moisture. This is especially so if the plant is potted on late into the growing season and growth has slowed. In this situation, the roots can rot and you lose the plant. There are exceptions of course, like plants with a strong and quick growing root system (e.g. Prostanthera species). However, as a general guide follow this rule and you will increase your success when repotting plants.

25. Do not repot pot plants on to quickly

it is best to wait until growth slows and roots appear out of the drainage holes. Another sign will be when the plant needs daily watering in summer.

26. Ponds work to attract frogs (in my opinion)…..

If you install a pond you will quickly attract (stripped marsh) frogs.

27. Dendrobium beetles

If you do not have these beetles that originated in Queensland on your Dendrobium orchids read no further and count yourself lucky.

If you do read on …. these orange and black beetles grow to about 10 mm long and can fly. In summer months, the adult beetle eats the new leaves of orchids. They then lay eggs in the soft, new stems and the larva a soft white maggot like grub hatches, then eats and destroy the stem and growing tip. At their worst, they will destroy all the new seasons’ growth on your orchids.

You can control by spraying an insecticide when you see them. The easier and more challenging way is to sneak up on them (there is always two of them), place your hand slowly below the leaves being eaten by the buggers and then, with your other hand try to grab them – if you miss, they will hopefully drop into your other hand as their defence is to drop to the ground when disturbed, now crush them.

28. Pruning rainforest shrubs

Over the years I have noticed that many of my smaller growing rainforest plants such as: Acmena species, Syzygium species and Archirhodmyrtus beckleri, flower and set seed around the months of December and January.

After this they start to grow strongly until about April. During this time of strong growth, I have found it to be the best time to prune (as severely as you like) as they quickly recover and look good again. Thinking about this, it is logical that this happens, as these are the months when Sydney gets it most rainfall and humidity.

29. Soil

When you are preparing new beds or refreshing existing garden beds, it is best to not import 'garden soil' from another property as there is every chance you could be importing trouble:

The soil could have been heavily limed or
Had added fertilizers high in phosphorous – thus making it unsuitable for native plants especially those that belong to the Proteaceae family (Grevilleas and Banksias to name a few).
There could be many micro-organism that may have harmful effect on your plants.

The best option is to work with what you have got and improve your soil with your own home made compost. If you need large amounts of new “soil”, obtain it from a reliable supplier and make sure it is suitable for native plants.

30. Yellowing of new leaves

Sometimes when I plant new Grevilleas or Banksias, they do not perform well and their new leaves are yellow. This is often a sign of phosphorous toxicity in native plants. Once phosphorous is present in the soil it takes a long time to leach out. So to lock-up the phosphorous and prevent the plant taking it up, water the plant with Chelated Iron as per the directions on the packet. At the same time, I usually water the plant with some trace elements just in case the soil is lacking in one or more of the minor elements.

Watch for the new growth – it should be healthy green. If this treatment does not work the first time do it again in two weeks’ time.

This treatment will not change the colour on old leaves.

31. Kentia palm

This slow growing palm originates from Lord Howe Island. It is a very popular plant for indoors, because when young they do not need much light. In their natural environment, they do not receive much light when young as they are growing under existing mature palms – it is only as they mature that they need more light.

32. Healthy soil

Your soil contains millions of different types of micro-organisms and one of their roles is to maintain soil fertility by recycling mineral nutrients essential for plant growth. This is a good reason to use a good layer of mulch over the soil. As the mulch breaks down, with the aid of these many micro-organisms, the soil is enhanced and over time the soil fertility builds up.

As Australian soils are often deficient on phosphate, out native plants make use of a specialised group of fungi called mycorrhizal fungi which attach to the roots and enhance the uptake of moisture and soil nutriments from the soil to the plant tissue. These fungi are also crucial to many orchids especially those without any leaves – they often need the right fungus to supply their nutriments.

33. Lichen

If you have rocks in the garden and sometimes roof tiles, covered with lichen (a living collaboration between algae and fungi) – congratulations as it is a good sign that you have healthy air low in airborne pollutants.

34. A few landscaping tricks

I have found that plants look much better when grouped together, especially in odd numbers – three of five ore the best numbers.

For best results select plants that will grow well in the chosen area and group plants with similar water and cultural requirements in the same general area of your garden.

35. Lawn alternatives

Save water and fertiliser by replacing lawn grass with groundcovers which do not require mowing or edging such as Dichondra, Pratia or Microlaena stipoides.

36. Adding nitrogen to the soil naturally

Chose Acacia, Senna, Casuarina, Pea flowers and other Australian legumes.

37. Choosing flower colours

Australia has more native plants than any other country in the world and there are a huge range of colours to choose from. We are particularly fortunate to have an abundance of blue coloured flowers.

Colour helps to create moods. You can use a colour wheel to choose colour harmonies or just go for a riot of colour – the choice is all yours and will be reflected in the character of your garden.

When choosing flower colours it is important to remember:

Warm colours – red, pink, orange and yellow, give a sense of fun and activity; they tend to come to the fore ground and thus appear larger.
Cool colours - blues, greens and some blue-violets, give a feeling of space and serenity; they tend to recede from the eye and can appear smaller.
Neutral colours - white, grey and black. Grey is an excellent “linking “colour, be careful with white and black, both can appear as “holes” or spaces in a colour scheme. Both work well as highlighters of other colours.
Limit the amount of contrasting colours. They are high impact so use them sparingly to create a focal point in your garden. Use more of the harmonious colours. They lie next to each other on the colour wheel; they relate to one another and do not clash.

38. Cut flowers

Helen Moody advised me of the following … and it works.

There are three basic rules few simple to maximise vase life of native plants.: Keep them cool, watered and fed.

Cool: pick them in the cool of the day and place them straight away in a bucket of water, out of the sun. Keep arrangements away from heaters, draughts and air conditioners.
Watered: ensure buckets and vases are clean, top up as necessary, strip leaves that would be underwater, re-cut stems at an angle underwater.
Fed: add two teaspoons of sugar per litre, after first adding half a teaspoon of bleach. Adding a pinch of citric acid or a teaspoon of vinegar to each litre of vase water acidifies the water as plant stems take up acid water more readily than neutral of alkaline solution.

39. Limited life of dwarf kangaroo paws

The dwarf kangaroo paws such as Bush Pearl and Bush Ranger are only good for about three years. After that they do not flower as well and should be replaced.

40. Pruning hard

To keep Philotheca (Eriostemon) myoporoides looking great and flowering prolifically, prune 50% off the shrub after flowering.

41. The advantages of using tube stock

They are economical and cheap to buy.
They adapt quickly when planted out.
They only need a small hole to be dug when planting.
If the tubes are a square section, the roots run straight down and they should be easy to remove from the pot. Sometimes it the plant is pot bound then the tube will need to cut away to minimise root disturbance.

Many Thanks to Tharwa Nursery for reminding me of this.

42. Psyllids

Lillypillies are the name adopted for Acmena and Syzygium and a few other related plants. They are generally hardy and pest free. However when grown in dappled light or shady areas some of them are particularly prone to being attacked by Psyllids – a small insect that gets into the leaf and produces tiny “bubbles” on the surface – it can create quite bad distortion of new growth and looks unsightly.

Some of the lillypillies are resistant to it. Resistant ones are:

Acmena smithii var. minor and its cultivars ‘Hot Flush’. ‘Allyn Magic’, Hedgemaster’, ‘Minipilly’ and ‘Dusky’
Syzygium luehmannii and its cultivars such as ‘Royal Flame’ and ‘Little Lucy’
the hybrid Syzygium ‘Cascade’. Syzygium paniculatum dwarf doesn’t get it very much.

However all the cultivars of Syzygium australe suffer badly from the pimple psyllids.

Treatment consists of cutting off the damaged growth. The other method is to spray with a systemic insecticide. However this is not always effective as the insect is often gone when you notice the damage. If you have plants that are attacked, it is best to remove them and replace with forms that do not suffer from Psyllids.

By Jeff Howes

Creating a small water feature using recycled resources by Jeff Howes

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 09:00:34 GMT

I have a north-facing front courtyard at my house, in the northern Sydney suburb of Westleigh. In this courtyard, I have a large (about 5 tonne) imported sandstone rock that has many native Dendrobium kingianum and D. speciosum orchids growing on it even though it receives full afternoon sun. I should be more correct and call them Thelychiton kingianum and T. speciosum, as they have been recently renamed.

As I always wanted a small pond/water feature, I created a dry creek bed leading from the rock to a small stainless steel 47 litre laundry tub.

To make it all appear ‘natural’ I did the following:

Sealed the drain hole and lined the tub with some black butyl rubber sheeting
Overlapped the edge of the pond with some bush rock that I had in my garden
Placed some ‘lucky’ type stones from the rock to the pool, to create a dry creek bed ‘look’
Added a layer of fine 5mm gravel to the bottom of the pond and then placed a small pot of a native aquatic plant on the bottom to give the fish somewhere to hide and add some oxygen into the water
Installed a small electric pump and timer to run the pump from 9am to 5pm seven days a week. The sound of running water is very pleasant and relaxing and it also helped add oxygen to the water
Added some native snails that breed quite prolifically, to help clean the pond
Introduced four or five Pacific Blue-eye native fish to stop any mosquitos breeding.

Benefits of native fish

I have had no mosquitos and this is a result of the fish and the splashing water from the pump on the pool surface making life all to difficult for them.

The Pacific Blue-eye fish have coped well with the fluctuating summer to winter temperature swings that one must expect in such a small volume of water. I feed the fish every second day or so in summer and only once a week in winter when the water is colder and they slow down.

Pacific Blue-eye fish (Pseudomugil signifer) are an Australian native species that occur in coastal streams along the eastern coast of Australia from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

They are particularly suited for garden ponds and aquariums as they are carnivorous. They help control mosquitoes by feeding on the larvae and more importantly are frog friendly as they do not tend to eat tadpoles.

They are about 5-6cm long and fully grown in 6 months.

Do not use the introduced Gambusia affinis, a cold-tolerant strain of mosquito fish, as it is a predator that poses a devastating threat to the native frogs and fish in our waterways.

The outcome

It took only a few weeks for my first Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peroni) to appear and it even find a mate, judging from all the eggs contained in the foam raft floating on the water surface and resultant tadpoles.

This pool is now five years old and the only problems I have had is a build up of some sort of green strand-like weed in summer when the pool receives the afternoon sun and the water is warmer.

As for maintenance, I change the water very six weeks in summer and a bit longer is winter. When I change the water, I add the required amount of chlorine and cholamine remover (available form pet shops) to ensure the fish survival.

Overall, a great success for me as it looks great, sounds great, is a watering point for local wildlife and is quite low maintenance.

Jeff Howes

The Australian snail – a true friend indeed, by Jeff Howes

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 08:44:06 GMT

A few years ago I had quite a few native snails in one part of my northern Sydney garden and now they are gone. A pity as the species I had was carnivorous and fed on the introduced garden snails (Cantareus asperses, which are from Europe).

I have no idea where they came from or where they have gone. Maybe it is because I now have no introduced snails in my garden and as a result no food for the native snails anymore.

Keep an eye out for them if your garden backs onto bushland as they are the ‘good guys’ and deserve to be encouraged.

Some snail science

Australia has about 2,000 species of native snails and slugs, none of which cause problems to garden plants. Some are even carnivorous, feeding on introduced garden snails.

A snail’s body consists of a foot, a head with a mouth and tentacles, a shell and a coiled visceral mass (the snail’s organs), which is contained within the shell. Most land snails have a blood vessel lined body cavity which functions as a lung so they can breath air.

Snails are hermaphrodites; they are equipped as both a male and female but it still takes two to mate. After mating, small clear or white eggs are laid in a moist position.

Jeff Howes

Establishing Australian Thelychiton (Dendrobium) orchids, by Jeff Howes

HEATHER MILES — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 00:37:42 GMT

I have been gardening using native plants for nearly thirty years. And for six years I opened my garden three times for the Australian Open Garden Scheme. My aim was not to show my garden off but to show people that you can successfully grow native plants in suburbia and to promote the Australian Plants Society.

What I find interesting when I talk to the visitors is comments like, “When you go to most open gardens you know nearly all the plants that are used – only the site and method of use changes. With a native garden, you do not know most of the plants!”.

So I am asked many questions like, “How you I grow them?”, “Which ones do I use?”, “What can I use in my garden?”

I start off by saying that there are over 20,000 native plants in Australia that are growing from the coast to the desert. You need to select the ones that will grow in your microclimate and local conditions such as:

• How much sun is present

• What type of soil is it? Well drained or retains water?

One of most frequent question I receive is how I manage to grow Thelychiton kingianum and Thelychiton speciosum orchids on my rocks and ‘apparently’ in the ground.

These orchids are really very hardy and many are killed by too much kindness and water. In fact, they can endure extreme desiccation and flower best in full sun to one quarter shade.

To establish them on large rocks, obtain some aerial shoots that have been removed from existing orchids or cut off clumps with three or four pseudo-bulbs and hold them down with small rocks (or even tie them down with old stockings) and then surround them with plenty of old leaf litter.

Use an open friable litter that does not hold too much moisture and drains well. Keep the orchids moist (not wet) until new growth commences and then only water occasionally and apply more mulch as they grow.

To appear to get them growing in the ground, (which they won’t), place a few 50 mm thick paving blocks on the ground and follow above method. In no time, they will multiply and reward you with flowers. Liquid fertilizer can be applied monthly during spring and summer at 1/2 strength but they generally get enough nutrients from the decaying leaf litter.

Jeff Howes

A few words on colours for a cottage garden, by Jeff Howes

HEATHER MILES — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 12:14:37 GMT

The idea of a cosy cottage garden, with herbaceous borders of annuals and perennials against a backdrop of shrubs and (maybe) a small tree or two, is becoming popular again especially as gardens become smaller.

Remember, plants that self-seed in a garden can easily become weeds in nearby bushland. By introducing native plants, especially local (i.e. indigenous) species, you will reduce your garden’s weed potential and make it more attractive to flora and fauna.

The principles of colour

Australia has more native plants than any other country in the world. There are many low growing annual and perennial Australian plants and shrubs that can be used in a massed display to create a cottage garden. There is a huge range of colours and we are particularly fortunate to have an abundance of blues to choose from.

You can use a colour wheel to choose colour harmonies or just go for a riot of colour – the choice is all yours and will be reflected in the character of your garden.

Colour helps to create moods. When choosing flower colours it is important to remember:

Warm colours – red, pink, orange and yellow, give a sense of fun and activity; they tend to come to the foreground and thus appear larger.
Cool colours – blues, greens and some blue-violets, give a feeling of space and serenity; they tend to recede from the eye and can appear smaller.
Neutral colours – white, grey and black. Grey is an excellent ‘linking colour’, but be careful with white and black. Both can appear as ‘holes’ or spaces in a colour scheme. Both work well highlighting other colours.
Limit the number of contrasting colours. They are high impact so use them sparingly to create a focal point in your garden. Use more harmonious colours. They lie next to each other on the colour wheel and so relate to one another and do not clash.

By Jeff Howes