Running Postman AUSTRALIAN PLANTS SOCIETY MELTON & BACCHUS MARSH INC

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1 Running Postman AUSTRALIAN PLANTS SOCIETY MELTON & BACCHUS MARSH INC OCTOBER MEETING Overview by Cathy Powers Owen Gooding, Team Leader - Vegetation Management from CFA Victoria, was our guest speaker for the meeting. There was so much information, relevant to plants, garden design, bush fires and why all those components are combined in the book Landscaping for Bushfire. We were all most fortunate to receive a copy of this - no reprints due to the lack of funding. The book contains valuable information to assist us in understanding the reason for landscaping to minimize effects direct contact radiant the of flame and heat on a house during bushfire. Using the a Points to remember: appropriate design principles and plant selection can increase the likelihood of a house surviving a bushfire. Well-placed vegetation with low flammability may actually help protect a home. Photo from Forest News website Maireana sedifolia (Pearl Bluebush) Owen described bushfire behavior and suggested that the three major factors that influence bushfire behavior are topography (flat or sloped), weather conditions (wind, temperature, humidity) and vegetation (amount, arrangement, type). I am sure we were all impressed with video the clips regarding the embers and how they move within the cloud. Thank smoke you Owen for an informative presentation! Create defendable spaces and keep flammable material away from places of refuge. Every plant will burn given the right set of circumstances. CALENDAR EVENTS th November REMINDER for all members: Our venue for this meeting is the home of Norris & Lucille McCarthy. See September newsletter for details. 92 Carrolls Lane From 6.30pm onwards BYO everything including Salads & water provided. December no meeting nd January Bullengarook Meeting: See details page 5 November 2013 Newsletter No 131 1

2 Photo from : anbg.gov.au website A U S T R A L I A N P L A N T S S O C I E T Y M E L T O N & B A C C H U S M A R S H I N C SPOTS TO VISIT NOMENCLATURE DARWINIA HUNTER REGION BOTANIC GARDEN By Graeme Woods; photo by Ros Driving home via the Pacific Hwy Ros and I visited the Hunter Gardens at Hexham 15 kms north of Newcastle. These gardens are featured many times in the Grevillea study group newsletters as they contain many rare plants. During our visit I saw Grevellias that I had never seen "In the flesh" before, so now I am determined to chase them up and increase our numbers. Heather received great help from Peter Olde and Neil Marriot and the gardens at their peak contained 80% of all the known Grevilleas. Whilst we were there a large group of photographers were busy snapping away - they certainly had plenty of choice!! The late Heather Clarke collected most of the plants on display including Grevilleas from New Caledonia - rarely seen anywhere else. A plaque has been erected in memory of Heather Clarke and the gardens are a wonderful tribute to her dedication. The dictionary says this means a set or system of names or terms, especially those used in a particular science or art (botany would be one of those). What s in a name? Homoranthus Photo from Australian Native Plants Nursery, Ventura, California (website) There are about 28 species in this genus. The derivation of the name comes from the Greek, homos, which means the same (of the one kind) and anthos, a flower, referring to the regular characteristics of the flowers. This genus is closely related to the genus Darwinia and belongs to the Myrtaceae family. They are listed as shrubs but some, like Homoranthus flavescens has symmetrical form and a spreading, almost semi-prostrate, habit. This species is described as having pale yellow flowers and makes a wonderful container plant, especially for bonsai. The Genus - Darwinia While investigating Darwinia species I discovered that the genus is named after Dr. Erasmus Darwin. He was an English physician and poet, father of the great naturalist, Charles Darwin. Darwinia citriodora is one species we can grow without grafting. The best use of this plant is for its foliage because it is lemon-scented and virtually pest-free. Jean and Alan seem to have a knack for growing this genus (grafted plants especially). If you want to try these, remember that drainage is important because Darwinia do not like wet fee, even the grafted forms. They do like sun to semi-shade and lots of mulch to keep the roots cool. Creative landscaping at Malalucca Station on the road to Muwillingah Darwinia species (grafted) 2

3 NEW VICE PRESIDENT DID YOU KNOW? Vice President Graeme Exciting news Graeme Woods has been appointed to the position of Vice President until the 2014 AGM. We all know him as our meeting greeter and of his expertise in Grevillea identification but he will also be a great contributor to our management team. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Welcome to our new members: (I would have included a photo but missed the opportunities) Andrea Kellett joined at our last meeting. Ben Courtice Christine Levy Both joined when we participated during the Darley Mini Plant Expo. Grafted Grevilleas FAIRHILLS NURSERY Fairhill Road, Ninderry Qld By Graeme Woods, photo by Ros Ros and I visit Fairhills each year and always manage to find something different to buy; image our surprise on entering the nursery this year to be greeted by numerous posters telling of the advantages of "GRAFTED GREVILLEAS". The nursery has been taken over by a chap named Hans who has begun producing grafted plants by the hundreds and selling them at the very low price of $ We told Hans about our arrangement with Kuranga and that we would be willing to send cuttings to him to give buyers a wider range of plants and to spread our rarer varieties around and help in the conservation. We recommend a visit to Fairhills as they sell many interesting plants and it is also handy to the famous Ginger Factory so you can combine both in the one town. INFORMATION FROM FAIRHILL WEBISTE: Why Grafted? Grevilleas have been grafted for a long time and primarily to provide plants for gardens that won t grow in soils outside their own habitat. The advantage for the gardener The advantages of using Grevilleas grafted onto Silky Oak are quite profound. The plants will grow well in almost any type of soil including areas that waterlog. They are more tolerant to the vagaries of our weather, tolerating prolonged wet and prolonged dry periods much better than all of our flowering Grevilleas growing on their own roots. General fertilisers can be used without the fear of phosphate toxicity. Most forms are bushier when grafted, our experience is that they require less pruning. Overall the plants are stronger, much more tolerant of adverse weather conditions and, potentially, a longer lived plant. (Grevillea banksia below) The basic principle in grafting is getting good contact between the cambium of the scion and the root stock plant. From the ANPSA website. We will have a presentation on creating standards at our May 2014 meeting. 3

4 GARDEN FOR INTEREST Allocasuarina muelleriana male plant (Slaty Sheoak) Weeping Myoporum (Myoporum floribundum) 4

5 January 22 nd The January meeting is our 2014 plant sale preparation day. We all arrive at Barb & David s place in Bullengarook starting at about 5.30pm. Provided that the weather cooperates, we can enjoy each other s company and move hundreds of Hakea seedlings to larger homes (bigger pots). It is a wonderful social evening, some washing pots while others get their hands dirty. I m not sure what these two are doing but being in charge is not it. Details: Address 1220 Bacchus Marsh Road Bullengarook Time 5.30pm untill finished followed by BYO meal (if desired) Contact Cathy for directions if needed. CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2014 January Potting up of Hakea plants Feburary Grasslands April Ken Walker on native bees Prepare for Bushfire Season Clear ground fuel from underneath plants. Prune plants with low-hanging branches. Remove flammable objects from your defendable spaces. Remove any fine, dead material in or around plants (dead plants too). Replace or cover organic mulch with non-flammable mulches. Keep plants well hydrated. A FREE Wyndham City Event Sunday 1 December am to 4pm Victoria State Rose Garden at Werribee Park I am looking for volunteers to help promote our group during this event. There will be other APS groups as well as APS Victoria represented and the event is called Rose & Garden Show. Please let me know if you can volunteer an hour or so. OUR WEBSITE: Excursion to the High Country APS Keilor Plains have invited our members to participate in their planned 2014 ALPINE TRIP DATE: 24 th 27 th January 2014 WHERE Falls Creek, Howman s Gap YMCA COST: 3 night s accommodation and 9 meals = $232 per person OR 2 night s accommodation and 6 meals = $152 per person There will be a mix of easy and moderate walks. The Victorian High Country has its springtime in January so the wildflowers will be stunning and the related insect & bird life just waiting for your viewing pleasure. If you are interested, contact c.clarke12@optusnet.com.au or if you don t have , let me know and I can give you phone contact details. APS Keilor Plains has a wellknown reputation for organising events such as this. It is the Australia Day weekend so if you have nothing planned try this! QUOTE OF THE NEWSLETTER If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased. ---Katherine Hepburn 5

6 Surprises in the Garden Good Year for Yellow By Cathy Powers There is no doubt that the Moorabool Shire takes asset protection very seriously. This was certainly a surprise but not in my garden, thank goodness. What I did have in my garden were at least 50+ plants of the orchid Diuris sulphurea. There have been some plants flowering previously but this was obviously a good year for the species because they flowered in great numbers, including outside the fenced area. Diuris sulphurea Australian Plants Society Melton & Bacchus Marsh Inc. Incorporated in Victoria: A P ABN: APS Melton & Bacchus Marsh Committee 2013/14 President Russell Wait Vice President Graeme Woods Secretary Cathy Powers apsmeltonbacchus@gmail.com Treasurer Norris McCarthy Committee: Julianne Diwell, David Pye, Lucille McCarthy Cathy Powers Newsletter editor URL for relevant internet websites: Website: APS Victoria website : ANPSA website: All contributions to the newsletter are gratefully received. Please send a word document and photos to the group s Gmail address. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by , snail mail or phone. Postal Address: P.O. Box 946 Bacchus Marsh, Victoria 3340 MEETINGS: 4 th Wednesday of the month except July and December (doors open at 7.30pm) VENUE: Dunvegan Cottage, Willows Historic Park Cnr Reserve Rd & Nixon St, Melton Melways: 337 C9 6