In this issue: Contents Monthly Meeting Recap - September... 2 October Meeting:... 4 Plant Profile:... 5 Upcoming Events... 6 Save the Date Next meeting: Wednesday, October 25, 7.30pm Plant Table and AGM - Dinner at Tabcorp at 6pm prior to the meeting, all welcome Photo Competition... 7 Contacts:... 9 Coming Up... Lots of other events, refer to pages 6 Don t Forget the Photo Competition! Entries Close Sat 18 November Upcoming Meetings: - November 22 End Of Year & Photo Comp 1 P a g e
Monthly Meeting Recap - September This month, we allowed Quentin Valentine of the Victorian Native Bonsai Club to make a huge mess of the place as he attacked a Huon Pine and brought it well and truly into submission with some very evil looking tools. The starting pot The pruning begins All wired up The finished product Quentin also brought in an amazing assortment of specimens and chuckled as we all gasped in horror when he said that bonsai is all about the design and form, not about flowers. Unless, of course, they were to become part of the form. We were shown some old varieties 2 P a g e
of Eucalypts, Acacia, Casuarina, Melaleuca and a Coastal Tea Tree with some very gnarly trunks, a flo e i g Leu opodu a d a d a f Ba ksia i i a g a gi ata. Plants are chosen for their ability to be cut back well, with new shoots coming back quickly and the leaves then becoming smaller. The potting mix consists of 2 parts of diatomaceous earth, 1 part orchid mix and 1 part coco peat. This ill gi e ou o sai s good d ai age plus good ate holdi g a ilit. Bei g i su h small pots, they require watering every day. 3 P a g e
October Meeting: This month will be our AGM combined with a Plant Table (no guest speaker). Quick reminder of the positions that will be up for nomination: The role of the President is to ensure that all responsibilities of committee members are being fulfilled, to chair meetings, and to brief the V/P when they need to fill in for the president. The role of the Vice President is to stand in for president when absent. The role of the Secretary is to maintain correspondence, record minutes of committee meetings and the AGM, to record any decisions made at general meetings, book venues, and communicate with all speakers. They need to ensure that speakers have the facilities that they require, and that they provide a brief description of their talk for use in the newsletter. The secretary also maintains communications with APS Victoria. The Treasurer receives all incoming money and pays all bills. Other responsibilities include preparing an audited financial statement for the AGM, and fulfilling the role of Proper Officer in regard to Consumer Affairs Victoria. The treasurer also fills the role of membership officer. All membership subscriptions are received by the treasurer who maintains the membership list, and follows up on slow renewals. Other committee members attend and contribute to committee meetings. All elected positions are elected for one year, and members may stand for reelection. No person may hold a specific executive position for more than 3 successive years. In addition, there are several appointed positions, including Webmaster, Newsletter editor, Plant Sale Organiser, and APS Victoria delegate. We need to have these positions filled if we are to remain a viable club. I encourage new members to be a committee member if you are unable to commit further. Please also bring cuttings, flowers or a potted plant to be included in the plant table. 4 P a g e
Plant Profile: This o th s featu e is a little diffe e t. On Sunday the 8 th of October, The Warrnambool and Hamilton district groups met for a guided tour through the Brisbane Ranges with Cathy and Ron Powers, and I tagged along. The weather was delightful as we stopped on the side of the oad a d dodged a s a d s akes sea hi g fo pla ts a d flo e s. (Do t o, the e were only a few snakes, and they were already dead). Orchids were certainly a feature for the day with many being spotted. Without more explanation, here is a sample of what we saw on the trek. 5 P a g e
Upcoming Events 8 October Warrnambool and District Group are coming to Melton and Bacchus. They will tour the MBG on the Saturday, then we have been invited by Cathy Powers to tag along for a trek through her part of the world in the Brisbane Ranges on the Sunday. 21 & 22 October - APS Ballarat District Group Spring Plant Show and Sales. From 10.00 am to 4.30 pm, at the Robert Clark Horticultural Centre, Ballarat Botanic Gardens. A display of flowers and foliage and a large range of plants for sale. Hand painted floral art, books sales and other stall holders. 27 28 October Bacchus Marsh Flower and Garden Show, held at The Public Hall, Main Street, Bacchus Marsh 28 October APS Echuca presents Native Flower Showcase at Echuca Uniting Church Hall from 9 am to 4 pm. Awesome display of Australian native plants of members of the Echuca Moama area. Plant sales, displays from Birds Australia, Landcare and Moama Botanical Gardens, and morning teas. Advanced Notice Plant Sale 2018: The date is Saturday 12th May. Geelong Plant Sale is Saturday 21st April, and Yarra Yarra Plant Sale is Saturday 28th April. APS Mornington will probably be Saturday May 5 th. Wildlife Photography Nora Peters Coinciding with National Bird Week 2017, Nora Peters presents this stunning photographic exhibition capturing wild birds and native wildlife seen around Melton. MELTON LIBRARY & LEARNING HUB 31 MCKENZIE STREET, MELTON 10 OCT - 6 NOV 2017 6 P a g e
Photo Competition The photo competition will be part of the November meeting. With Spring just around the corner, there should be no excuses not to get out into the garden when the bulk of the plants start showing off! The categories are: Whole Plant Single Flower/Flower Head Foliage 7 P a g e
Seed/Pod Garden Accessories/Visitors Participants are encouraged to enter up to two (2) photos per category, but nominate your first preference (in the case that there are a flood of entries and they need to be limited). Participants are to provide Christine their photos via email/usb/disk so they can be printed all at once and at the same size (~10 8 / A4), so please ensure the photos are of a decent quality. Photos to be submitted no later than Saturday 18 th of November. Voting will be conducted by popular choice on the night. A BYO/BBQ dinner will occur from 6pm at the cottage. Winning photos may be turned into a calendar available for purchase for $12 - $16 if there is enough interest. Orders will be taken on the night and they would hopefully be available before Christmas. G eat Ch ist as p ese t idea 8 P a g e
Contacts: Australian Plants Society Melton & Bacchus Marsh Inc. Incorporated in Victoria: A0026204P ABN: 68 053 689 781 APS Melton & Bacchus Marsh Committee 2016/17 President Christine Huf 0412 081 074 Vice President Russell Wait 0428 388 211 Secretary/Public Officer David Pye email: apsmeltonbacchus@gmail.com Treasurer Committee (vacant) Andrea Kellett, Lucille McCarthy, (vacant) Newsletter Editor Christine Huf 0412 081 074 email: c.phot.804@gmail.com All contributions to the newsletter are gratefully received. Please send a word document and photos to the g oup s e ail add ess. If ou ha e a uestio s, feel f ee to o ta t e ia e ail o pho e. I a also happy to research a subject for an article if you give me a topic you would like to see explored. Postal address: PO Box 946 Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340 Disclaimer: Any errors in this publication are by the editor. 9 P a g e