Native Plants for NSW -
September 2022
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Caladenia cruciformis - Crucifix Spider Orchid (R Dimon) |
From the President
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Dear {Contact_First_Name},
In December 2018, John Aitken, Merle Thompson and I sat down in Merle's loungeroom and mapped out our vision of the conference. And now finally, it is upon us. It has been an enormous amount of work, and a credit to all our hard working volunteers. 40 people have put up their hand to assist as volunteers - we are very grateful to them. I'm delighted to announce that Andrew Knop, one of our members from the Central West, has joined the board. Andrew is an expert in regeneration of farming land and will bring practical insights on how we can better conserve native plants.
Andrew and his wife Jennifer hail from rural NSW near Dubbo. They recently hosted an APS tour exploring the themes of restoring and revegetating native woodland and grassland ecosystems.
Andrew has 30 years experience in seed collection, plant propagation and ecological restoration and looks forward to growing our societies engagement in ecosystem conservation and landscape restoration. Andrew said “I believe the health and vitality of our unique flora and fauna is each generations stewardship legacy to country. Jenny and I are thrilled to be able to share this journey with so many passionate, motivated and knowledgeable society members."
Heather Miles, President eNewsletter Contents:
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Australian flora conference 2022
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The Australian Flora Conference 2022 - Past, Present & Future
10 to 16 September 2022, The Pavilion Kiama, NSW |
The Australian flora conference is nearly here. With the support of a great team, the pre-conference tours will be kicking off in under a week, heading to Blue Mountains, Lord Howe and Pilliga and the Warrumbungles. The conference itself kicks off on Monday 12 September with a great line-up of speakers, as well as a plant sale on Sunday 11 September open to the public. Latest highlights: - A great turnout with 220 to 240 people attending on the various conference days.
- Strong interest in the Tuesday sessions - a series of chat rooms in the morning on a broad range of topics with an afternoon packed with goodies from the study group leaders.
- Alira Morgan, a young First Nations woman will be singing a Dreaming song she has written about Bombo Headland in the evening at the dinner.
- On Thursday, Costa Georgiadis will be hosting a panel of students from the local high school, primary school and university on their views of the future and native plants.
- And Dijana Damjanovic, one of our young members, will be facilitating a session with us all, about 'what now'.
We do hope to see you there. Tickets are still available.
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What our young people have to say - sharing their views of the future
On Thursday, 15th September Costa Georgiadis will facilitate a panel of young people on their views of the future of native plants, climate and the environment. The panel includes students from the University of Wollongong, Kiama High School, Jamberoo Public School and Kiama Public School. |
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Michael Gould
Michael is a student of Conservation Biology at the University of Wollongong, currently completing their final year of courses, with an aim to complete Honours.
They have a keen interest in the understanding and conservation of nature, and are passionate about native plants, particularly orchids.
Michael is involved with Bushcare locally in Puckey's Estate, North Wollongong, and is an active member of Illawarra Intrepid Landcare.
Michael is also a strong advocate for climate and environmental justice. |
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Phoebe Cartwright
Phoebe is currently a Year 6 student at Kiama Public School, who attends the High Potential Gifted Education program and the Visual Arts Gifted & Talented program at Kiama High School.
Phoebe has a passion for both Science and Visual Arts. She draws inspiration from the natural world for her art and loves learning about the environment.
Phoebe has a particular interest in fungi and the role they play in a healthy ecosystem.
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Amber Sweeney
Amber is a Year 7 student from Kiama High School interested in all wildlife and plants.
Learning about the environment is very important to her, as she is concerned about what the future will hold for the planet and environment.
Amber aspires to become an environmental activist in the coming years and is very interested in resolving ocean pollution and illegal fishing. She has participated in local contributions in events such as Stop Adani, Tree Planting, Climate Change marches and rubbish pickups.
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Joshua Askew
Josh is a student currently completing Year 11 at Kiama High School, studying the subjects of English, Mathematics, Biology, Geography, Business Studies and Woodwork.
He has a keen interest in the health and longevity of the Australian native environment and is especially passionate about the fields of bush regeneration and conservation. Josh has become involved in some personal bush regeneration projects both on his, and family members' properties, and feels that there should be more work like this being done around the country.
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Tessa Smith
Tessa is a student from Jamberoo Public School and is currently in Year 6. Her love of debating and public speaking, combined with a passion for knowledge about medicine, sparked her interest in how native plants can be used to heal and repair different parts of the human body.
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Aleita Dummett
Aleita is a Year 7 student at Kiama High School. She is already striving to achieve her dreams by helping her father, who is a WIRES volunteer and carer, to rescue and care for sick or injured native wildlife. She has attended multiple climate action rallies and has written emails to the former Prime Minister about taking serious climate action.
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Not able to attend the whole week? No worries! You can either book for the whole conference or individual days.
The conference program has speakers scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday and Friday are field trips to the surrounding areas and Sydney. The field trips are included for those who book a ticket for the whole week.
To join us, choose to book a ticket for the whole week, or select individual days of speakers, Monday, Tuesday or Thursday.
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Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden Walk & Talks
When: 9:45am Mondays Where: Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Gardens, 420 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives
Be guided by members of the North Shore Group of the Australian Plants Society on a walk in the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden to see and learn about our wonderful native plants as they come into flower. Program for September includes:
- September 5 Monday Fire and vegetation at KWG after 2021 burn
- September 12 Monday Weeds and Bush regeneration
- September 19 Monday Walk Only: Early Birds & Insects
More event details, including how to register here |
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Boongala native gardens open days
When: 10am- 4pm Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays from 2nd September to10th October 2022 Where: 76 Pitt Town Rd, Kenthurst Entry to gardens - Adults $5.00, Children Free
Enjoy a walk around 'Boongala Native Gardens' which displays a diverse collection of native flora from around Australia.
They will have a large range of native plants in gro-tubes & larger sizes available for sale.
A guided rainforest tour is available at 11am and 1.30pm daily at a cost of Adults $5.00, Children Free More event details here |
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Grevillea park open days
When: 3,4,10 &11 Sept 2022 10am - 4pm
Where: Illawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Garden, Grevillea Park Rd, Bulli.
$7 for adults, free for children.
The Park is at its peak in spring, so its a wonderful time to spend a few hours or a day in the park! The new sensory walk and information shelter will be open for the first time. The tropical grevilleas will be in full bloom, but explore the gardens and grounds and you will soon realise there is so much more to see.
Hundreds of natives will be available for purchase, including grafted grevilleas. A list of plants is normally published the week prior to opening.
More event details here |
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Grevillea floribunda (T Lea) |
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A bushpea and acacia understorey as described by explorer Oxley and King's botanist Allan Cunningham (A Knop) |
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Narromine Landcare/BCT Field day (note the date change)
When: 10:30am, 24 September 2022
Where: Merebone & Warrina, High Park Rd, Narromine.
Field day themes include:
- Revegetating woodlands;
- Building landscape resilience;
- Habitat stepping stones;
- Bringing the birds back;
- Getting climate ready;
- Low disturbance weed control techniques & tools.
Morning tea & hot lunch supplied.
RSVP to Craig Bennet (Lower Macquarie Landcare) on 0457 092 963 or cbennet@narromine.nsw.gov.au
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Plant Sales
North Shore Spring Plant Sale When: 9am-4pm, 4 September 2022
Where: Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, 420 Mona Vale Road, St Ives
There will be bargain plants, as well as beautiful, hand-made cards. Please bring your credit card (preferably), own packing boxes and used pots and tubes (for our future use). APS NSW Plant Sale
When: 10am-5pm, 11 September 2022
Where: Kiama Pavillion, 2 Bong Bong St, Kiama NSW 2533
We look forward to welcoming native plant sellers from the region. All welcome.
More details here
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APS NSW get together in the Southern Highlands When: 12-13 November 2022 Where: Exeter Village Hall, 10 Exeter Rd, Exeter NSW 2579 The Southern Highlands Group of APS NSW is hosting this year's weekend get-together.
They have organised a variety of exciting activities for the weekend, including talks from experts, garden visits and a plant sale on the Sunday. This will be a popular event and registration is essential.
More event details including program, costs and how to register: here |
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And finally, don't forget there is a full listing of all APS NSW events including district groups on our website here |
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IIlawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Gardens |
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Rainbow Lorrikeet in grevillea (M Swire) |
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On Friday 12 August, a number of members of APS NSW including Ralph Cartwright, Heather Miles and Michael Swire, along with around 50 invited guests, attended the official opening of the now re-named Grevillea Park at Bulli.
It is now known as the "Illawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Garden” The opening was conducted by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales, with the help of some local school children and she unveiled a plaque in the new covered picnic shelter.
For those not familiar with the park, in the 1980’s the Australian Plant Society, Grevillea Study Group, had a very large collection of rare Grevillea and other rare Australian plants that had huge horticultural appeal.
The gardens are one of the locations to be visited next month by delegates from the Conference in Kiama and they are sure to be impressed, the gardens are looking spectacular as spring approaches. Tickets still available. |
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This month, Heather Miles discusses creating a sustainable native garden.
Many people are already taking action to create a sustainable garden. You might be growing your own fruit and vegetables, composting, planting natives, introducing water into the garden and conserving water.
But more needs to be done, as so many of Australia’s unique ecosystems are under threat and many plants and animals threatened or endangered. Land clearing, development, weeds, feral animals and climate change are all impacting the health of our natural environment.
Heather shares the benefits native gardens have for sustainability, as well as 6 top tips for creating your own sustainable native garden. |
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Also.. our very own Harry Loots and his extensive suburban native garden was recently featured in an ABC article: 'The Australians who take care of our trees - and how you can too' |
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Conservation of Australian Terrestrial Orchids
At the Sutherland group meeting in July, Richard Dimon presented an incredibly fascinating and very practical talk on conservation efforts and methodologies for conserving listed threatened Australian orchids. He was a research assistant at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria and is now undertaking a PhD and working as a technical officer at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
Richard took us through all of the steps required to conserve and enhance populations of threatened terrestrial orchids, some of which are critically endangered and down to a few hundred individuals in the wild. |
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Thelymitra adorata (M Price) |
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Hakes myrtoides (P Kennedy) |
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Verna Aslin shares the latest insights from a number of our study groups. Catch up on what's happening in the correa, fern, hakea, eucalyptus, grevillea and wallum and coastal heathland groups. |
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Final words.. How well do you know your native trees? Take this ABC quiz to test your knowledge. |
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