Autumn 2011 botanic news Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Inc.

Historic Buildings in the RBG page 5 Autumn Plant Sale Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May from the president

Autumn has just arrived, and discuss nomenclature – the we look forward to some naming of plants, as well as relief ahead from the Summer all fields of botanical science, heat. I hope you all survived including research on plants, the stresses of Summer and algae and fungi. The Eternal managed to find a cool spot Order in Nature: The Science to rest and relax in over the of Botanical Illustration will holidays. Due to the good be a great opportunity to Summer rains and my absence present not only 30 of the for five weeks, my home country’s leading talents in garden decided to behave like botanical illustration, but will an Amazon jungle, and I am also display the diversity of looking forward to the coming Australian flora and landscape. cooler weather to regain For more information control. Our Growing Friends’ please see page 8 or visit the Nursery has had similar growth exhibition’s website: on their plants and is full to www.theeternalorderinnature.com bursting with stock, ready for The second exhibition The five Friends’ Scholarship winners for 2010. the Autumn Plant Sale to be held will be held later in the year Below, left to right: Dermot Molloy, Acting Nursery Co-ordiator; Ollie on Saturday 30 April from 10am during October and will feature Sherlock, Land Management Technician, RBG Cranbourne; to 4pm and Sunday 1 May from Eucalypts and natural history. Bottom, left to right: Trevor Gallagher, Aboriginal Programs Officer; Tim Wall, Horticultural Technician; Chris Jenek, Nursery Technician. 10am to 3pm. Please mark the Don’t forget to book quickly dates in your diary, and do for some of our popular remember that a market trolley Autumn Events, especially the is helpful for getting those walks and rambles, as these purchases home. seem to fill up fast. I look Our Botanical Illustrators forward to seeing many of you held a very successful at some of our Autumn Events exhibition last November, and will be looking in on some selling many paintings, of our volunteer groups and unframed works, cards and committees over the coming calendars. This year, the months. Friends will be holding two art We proudly congratulate exhibitions. The first will be our 2010 Friends’ Scholarship The Eternal Order in Nature: winners shown at right and wish The Science of Botanical them well with their projects. Illustration exhibition to Cathy Trinca be held from 18 July to 7 August in Domain House. This is timed to coincide with the XVIIIth International Botanical Congress at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in July 2011. The International Botanical Congress is held every six years, with the last in Vienna in 2005. What is significant about this event is that up to 4,000 scientists from around the world get together to

2 Botanic News | Autumn 2011 from the gardens and herbarium

Contents The Australian Garden at ‘journey of water’ from desert peas, kangaroo paws, the arid outback eastward macrozamias, correas, palms, Chelsea 2011 through rivers and gorges to eucalypts and more will all Historic Buildings 5 In less than three months the the urbanised coast. Red sand be there! Several rare and beauty of ’s plantlife and a white Salt Sculpture by threatened species collected Events 6 will be wowing visitors to the Edwina Kearney and Mark through our Victorian The Eternal Order in Nature 8 Australian Garden at the Stoner start the journey. Water Conservation Seed Bank Royal Horticultural Society’s first appears as a mound spring program, plus the new Illustrators 10 Chelsea Flower Show (24-28 flowing into a boomerang- Australian turf, are being May). Designed by award- shaped ‘river’ and then specially grown in England for Growing Friends 12 winning Melbourne designer re-appears as a cascade over the display. From the Members 13 Jim Fogarty, it is the first time rusted steel boxes reflecting All the plants are Australian an Australian display garden the iron-rich rocks of inland natives – but most have been Scholarship Report 14 has been allocated one of gorges. A lawn of Australian sourced from specialist nurseries Chelsea’s prestigious Main Microlaena turf symbolises in Britain and Europe. This has Book Review 15 Avenue sites. The garden will green valleys, and the journey avoided the necessity of sending Friends’ Calendar 16 promote international tourism ends at the sandy coast and a stock from Australia, with to and the Australian shady garden pavilion. consequent environmental and Garden, Cranbourne, ahead of More than two thousand quarantine benefits. A number the opening of its second stage individual plants from about of the species have not been in early 2012. 150 species will be celebrating shown before at Chelsea, and Inspired by the themes, the colours, diversity and the plants have been selected landscapes and artworks at shapes of Australia’s flora to reflect the geographical and the Australian Garden at – tiny daisies, striking large ecological variety of our flora Cranbourne, the Chelsea grevilleas, grasses and rushes, as well as to inspire British display follows a metaphorical eremophilas, vibrant Sturt’s gardeners to learn about and Front Cover: Interior of historic Rose Pavilion Back cover: Cumquats Photos: Jennifer Marshall

Concept design of the proposed Australian Garden at Chelsea. Photo: With thanks to Jim Fogarty

Autumn 2011 | Botanic News 3 from the gardens and herbarium

use more Australian plants in growth required controlling the Common Long-necked their own gardens. in January. RBG staff and our Turtle, which we already knew The bulk of the plant stock arboricultural consultants have about, but now Samantha is being carefully nurtured in examined the patch grafting Stapleton, a Monash research a nursery in Somerset. The applied to the ring-barking student, has also identified Snow Gums were unruffled wound, but it is still early days Murray River Turtles in the by Britain’s icy weather in for tissue healing. We will be Ornamental Lake. December and January, but the continuing to check the tree Additionally, staff and a PhD other plants were very pleased and its health – the signs are student from our Australian to be safely inside a heated encouraging so far, but it will Research Centre for Urban glasshouse. In February two still be months before we know Ecology, supported by Earthwatch containers were shipped from if it can survive. volunteers, are studying the small Melbourne with mudstone insectivorous bats that live in rocks, paving stone, red Working Wetlands the Gardens (and, indeed, many sand (from the Mornington other suburban areas). By mid- It was inevitable, I suppose – Peninsula!), furnishings and January their nine nights of live- as soon as we started a water other materials for delivery captures had caught 46 bats in project, it was guaranteed to our contractors who will the Gardens from three species to start raining, and it did! be building the garden. Three – Gould’s Wattled Bat, Lesser Creation of the biofiltering RBG horticulturists have been Long-eared Bat and Chocolate- wetland in the eastern end of selected to join the ‘build team’ wattled Bat. Radio-tagged bats Nymphaea Lake was delayed for the planting stages and to have been located roosting in by the rains last November and help staff the garden during one of the Garden’s pavilions, December, but the contractors the Show itself. And I suspect under the possum guard on a were able to undertake other many Friends and Melburnians palm tree, and in a melaleuca, works. The underground pipe- will somehow find their way an oak and a cypress pine. jacking and drilling (to avoid to Chelsea this year to also These native mammals are open trenches) have now been experience the beauty and virtually invisible to most of largely completed, including Above: This photo gives some sense delights of our garden. us because of their nocturnal pipeworks tunnelled for 100m of the size of the bats. The Australian Garden display habits – but it’s excellent to Below: Harp trap on the Oak Lawn. under Birdwood Avenue and It is a series of fine vertical wires at Chelsea is being supported by know that they’re living even in the Domain Reserve to link with a catching bag underneath. the Victorian Government and the centre of our city. The bats fly into the wires, are into the stormwater main momentarily stunned, and fall into Tourism Victoria, by major Philip Moors on Domain Road. Work is the bag. Many bats are caught in this sponsor Macquarie Group, Director and Chief Executive way in one night. now progressing on other by other sponsors including biofiltering wetlands in the Maxwell & Williams, R M Ornamental Lake. We are also Williams and the City of Casey, receiving Federal Government and by a number of generous funding for the next stage of individual donors. the project to enable treated water from the Lake to be used Separation Tree for irrigating the Gardens. Despite the serious vandalism inflicted in August, the Wildlife in the Gardens Photo: Rodney van der Ree Separation Tree produced Two new research projects have a flush of new foliage in uncovered some unexpected Spring. Summer’s heat has wildlife happily living in the been alleviated with regular Melbourne Gardens. We’ve all irrigation and monitoring seen the turtles basking in the of soil moisture levels, but sun in our lakes – but there are insect attack on the new actually two species present:

4 Botanic News | Autumn 2011 Historic Buildings

Historic Buildings in the Guilfoyle established a Museum down, and rebuilt, all in the Top right: Gardens House of Economic Botany and Plant early 1990s, it is a miniature Top left: Observatory Building Centre left: Plant Craft Cottage Royal Botanic Gardens Products Display that was once copy of the William Tell Chapel Centre right: William Tell Rest House described as the finest botanical on Lake Lucerne. Bottom: Carpenters’ Shed Visitors to the RBG are often museum in the Southern Ian Polmear Photos: Meg Miller surprised when they first pass Hemisphere. Nearby is the by buildings that were part of large National Herbarium the Old Melbourne Observatory that was constructed in 1934 which was established in 1861, following a donation from the decommissioned in 1944, and the philanthropist/confectioner site transferred to the Gardens Sir Macpherson Robertson in 1992. At the entrance is the to celebrate Melbourne’s Italianate designed house now Centenary. This building was known as Gate Lodge (1902) extended in 1987–89. which is the headquarters of Maintenance areas seldom the Friends of the RBG. It was contain buildings of special formerly home for the Assistant interest, but this is not so at Astronomer, James Mannix, the RBG. Carpenters still use who kept a cow, hens, bees and a large shed that was built grew fruit trees and vegetables in the 1850s, and there is an in the grounds until the 1930s. interesting Paint House in The oldest remaining which clerestory windows dwelling in the RBG is the have been used to provide Plant Craft Cottage, which was better lighting. Stables for the built in 1851 on the northern horses that pulled the lawn- escarpment overlooking what mowers until the late 1940s was then the course of the remain much as they were. Of . It was here that particular historical interest the Government Botanist, are sheds to the rear that were Ferdinand Mueller, and his prefabricated in London in two sisters, Bertha and Clara, 1848 using a very early version lived from time to time, and of corrugated galvanized iron from which Clara was married sheets. They were brought to in 1853. When Mueller was Melbourne by the 40th Army appointed as the first RBG Regiment and once housed Director in 1857, he moved officers who were sent to the into the newly-erected Gardens Eureka Stockade. Guilfoyle House to which a second storey acquired the sheds in 1875, and and detached kitchen wing they have been in their present were added in 1862–63 and location since 1890. They are 1872. This dwelling served as now used for offices. his office and residence until Overlooking the Central Lake succeeded is the Rose Pavilion that was first him in 1873. Guilfoyle moved erected as a bandstand in the the office to the newly-erected 1890s and renovated in 1994. F Gate Lodge in 1887 and Bordering the Lake is the Gardens House continued renovated William Tell Rest as the residence for all later House that Guilfolye had built Directors until 1991. in 1901 in honour of Charles A rear extension was made Joseph La Trobe’s Swiss-born to F Gate Lodge in 1892. Here wife, Sophie. Renovated, burnt

Autumn 2011 | Botanic News 5 events

Autumn Guided Visit Our damp and humid of the Growing Friends how Melbourne Spring and Summer it operates, and have the To The Growing have been magnificent for our opportunity to buy from a Friends Nursery gardens, but there is always wide selection of interesting Friday 18 March at 10.30am that bare spot to fill or a plant plants. With the good Summer Meet at Gate Lodge (opposite Shrine) which needs replacing. This is rains we have had, the COST: $5 MEMBERS ONLY also an excellent time to settle Autumn perennials are looking RSVP by Wednesday 16 March on plants in before the approach wonderful. enclosed booking form or download of Winter. It’s a good idea to bring one from the Events page on our Come along and join us some strong carry bags for website: www.rbgfriendsmelbourne.org for a delicious morning tea at your purchases. Bookings are essential as numbers Gate Lodge and meet with like- will be limited. minded garden enthusiasts. We will then wander down to the Nursery, hear from a member

Autumn Insiders’ Walk This is a repeat of our Spring original office, and in which he 2010 Insiders’ Walk which caused created a Museum of Economic Historic Buildings such enormous interest that a Botany and Plant Products. in the Royal Botanic large waiting list was created. Next we will visit the very Gardens In addition to its many interesting Maintenance area Tuesday 22 March at 10.00am significant trees, the RBG and then go on to the recently Meet at Gate Lodge has some interesting historic refurbished Volcano Reservoir COST: $15 MEMBERS ONLY buildings. As we set off, we site. After this we will see RSVP by Tuesday 15 March on will pass by several that were the William Tell Shelter, the enclosed booking form or download once part of the old Melbourne Rose Pavilion, and call at one from the Events page on our Observatory complex, some of Gardens House, which was the website: www.rbgfriendsmelbourne.org which were first occupied in Directors’ residence for about The walk will start at Gate Lodge where 1863. We will then call at the 130 years. morning tea will be served. Herbarium and F Gate Lodge, Book early as numbers are limited. which served as Guilfoyle’s

Gould’s Book of Plants This is a fascinating story of these botanical studies. Gould the convict artist, William had worked in London with the ILLUSTRATED TALK Buelow Gould, and his German lithographer Rudolph BY HAMISH MAXWELL- Ackermann. STEWART & ELEANOR CAVE exquisite botanical illustrations. He is famous for his series Hamish Maxwell-Stewart Thursday 24 March at 6.00 for 6.30pm of watercolours of fish is an Associate-Professor in the Mueller Hall, National Herbarium immortalised in Richard School of History and Classics COST: Friends & AGHS members $15 Flanagan’s book. at the University of Tasmania Non-members $20. Students $5 with The botanical images painted and is repeating the lecture he student card. by Gould while assigned to delivered at the November 2010 RSVP by Friday 18 March on the Colonial Surgeon James Annual National Conference of enclosed booking form or download Scott rank as the artist’s most the Australian Garden History one from the Events page on our accomplished, yet least known, Society in Launceston. website: www.rbgfriendsmelbourne.org work. The Queen Victoria Wine and savouries will be served Museum and Art Gallery, Note: This is a joint event with before the talk. Launceston, now holds 177 of Australian Garden History Society.

6 Botanic News | Autumn 2011 events

Autumn Fit Friends’ Ramble In 1849 James Jackson, a We will walk along lovely merchant, bought 71 acres of tree-lined streets looking at A Glimpse of Toorak land bounded by the present the history of some of the Streets and Gardens Malvern, Kooyong and Toorak large properties and significant Tuesday 5 April at 10.00 am sharp Roads. This area was fenced and houses on the way. There will Meet on the corner of Malvern and leased for farming. Then in the be the rare opportunity to visit Glenferrie Roads at tram stop 43. Catch tram 72 from the city or Camberwell or 1880s, Jackson’s paddock was one or two private gardens. tram 16 along Glenferrie Rd. subdivided into smaller blocks Morning tea will be at your Unlimited parking in Glenferrie Road. and several mansions were own expense at the café behind COST: $15 $25 Non members built. A generation or two later the Uniting Church in Toorak RSVP by Friday 25 March on many of these properties were Road. Afterwards we can walk enclosed booking form or download subdivided and new houses back to Glenferrie Road via one from the Events page on our rose in their place. Most of this another route or catch a tram. website: www.rbgfriendsmelbourne.org occurred in the 1930s and after We expect to finish our ramble Book early as numbers will be limited. World War II in the 1950s. at about 12.30 pm.

Autumn Talking Plants Shrubs are versatile plants A knowledgeable person will suitable for many situations talk to us and show a range of Versatile Shrubs and purposes. Due to their shrubs to illustrate cultivation Friday 29 April at 10.00am shape, form, height and width and cultural use. The discussion Domain House, Dallas Brooks Drive they can be put to practical or will include valuable growing Cost: $10 $15 Non-members decorative use to enhance any advice and there will be plenty RSVP by Monday 18 April on garden landscape. of opportunities to have your enclosed booking form or download Attributes of this group questions answered. one from the Events page on our website: www.rbgfriendsmelbourne.org include differing flowers, leaf colour, shape and form. Book early as numbers will be limited There are both evergreen and Refreshments will be served during deciduous varieties which can the morning. be used for hedging, screening and groundcover, all combining to provide seasonal colour.

Botanising In South Africa The south western corner of is home to more varieties of South Africa is renowned for indigenous plants than any other ILLUSTRATED TALK its biodiversity and for being similar sized area on Earth, and BY GARrY REID one of the richest areas for Namaqualand, a semi-desert Wednesday 25 May at 10.00 for plants in the world. Garry will area to the north of Cape Town. 10.30 am tell us about a trip he and his These two areas contain more Mueller Hall, National Herbarium wife Sue took to this part of than 1200 different bulbs, the COST: $15 $25 Non-members South Africa to study the bulbs greatest density to be found in RSVP by Friday 20 May on found there, so that they could enclosed booking form or download any area on the planet. understand how to grow them Garry will look at the land- one from the Events page on our website: www.rbgfriendsmelbourne.org better here in Australia. scape and the habitats and show They concentrated on two some of the plants found there. Morning tea will be served before areas: the Cape Floral Kingdom, A selection of bulbs from the talk. which, although it is the smallest Garry’s nursery will be of the six floral kingdoms, available for sale.

Autumn 2011 | Botanic News 7 the eternal order in nature:

Exhibition in Melbourne in July and August 2011 beautiful and accurate works Clearly, mounting this with their capacity to blur the important exhibition, to boundaries between art and showcase Australian excellence science. in botanical illustration, will We will also highlight some require substantial funding. key Australian historical figures The Friends are seeking in botanical illustration whose financial sponsorship to works have provided a rich cover the running costs of and important foundation for the exhibition including the the continued growth of this publication of the catalogue. discipline. Sponsorship Sponsorship is available in three categories which are Examples of early Australian work named in honour of three of In July 2011 the XVIII • Generate an awareness of which will be displayed in the Australia’s most renowned International Botanical botanical illustration as a exhibition. botanical illustrators: Congress will be held in means of documenting and Ellis Rowan sponsors: Melbourne and up to 4000 recording information, and From $3000 scientists from around the highlight the value of this Ellis Rowan (1848 – 1922). world will gather to discuss information in scientific Born and educated in all fields of botanical science, research. Melbourne, Rowan was a including research on plants, algae • Highlight botanical brilliant Australian naturalist, and fungi, and nomenclature (the illustration’s historical painter and illustrator, naming of plants). and ongoing contribution producing some of the The Congress, held every six to shaping and educating most powerfully arresting years, will provide a wonderful our understanding of flower paintings recorded in opportunity to showcase Australian flora. Australian art. She painted the depth and breadth of • Showcase the talent and more species of Australian Australian talent in botanical skills of scientific botanical and international flora than illustration and display the illustrators in Australia to any other artist of her era, diversity of Australian flora and the international scientific exploring the world to find landscape to an international community attending the exotic flowers, plants, birds audience. Congress, and the general and butterflies. Three of our botanical public. illustrators, Mali Moir, We have invited thirty of Louisa Ann Meredith Amanda Ahmed and John Australia’s leading botanical sponsors: From $2000 Pastoriza-Piñol, are curating an illustrators including Celia Louisa Ann Meredith (1812– exhibition of work by invited Rosser and Jenny Phillips to 1895). Author, artist and poet, artists which will be hosted by contribute a body of work Meredith’s observation of colonial the Friends to coincide with the which focuses on a particular life and study of bush flora and Congress. project or plant species. fauna provided material for her 7 The exhibition, The Eternal This series of projects will books between 1842 and 1891. Order in Nature: The Science provide an insight into the Her wildflower drawings won of Botanical Illustration, will methods and processes of medals in exhibitions in Australia be held in Domain House from botanical illustration, present and overseas. Historian Douglas 18 July to 7 August 2011. collaborative projects with Pike described her as ‘a poet in Please put this in your calendar botanists and offer the viewer feeling, an artist by instinct, a now as it will be a very special a better understanding and Above: Frederick Schoenfeld naturalist by force of circumstances, show. Lasiopetalum behrii. a keen botanist, and an ardent lover appreciation of the skills Below: Frederick Schoenfeld We hope the exhibition will: required to produce such Pomaderris biaurita of landscape scenery’.

8 Botanic News | Autumn 2011 the science of botanical illustration

Betty Conabere the Winter and Spring editions contact the Friends’ office sponsors: From $1000 of our quarterly magazine, on 9650 6398. Some of the Betty Conabere (1929 – 2009). Botanic News. A sponsorship Members who are organising Born in Alexandra, Victoria form is included in this edition. the exhibition are shown in and based in Mansfield, While sponsorship provides the photo below at our last Conabere was commissioned an opportunity to highlight meeting in 2010. by the Maud Gibson Trust involvement with this important Thea Clark in 1965 to produce 50 exhibition, individual donations paintings of Victorian alpine will also be very welcome plants for the State Botanical and will be acknowledged in Collection. Conabere Botanic News. was known and loved for her passion for painting Exhibition Publicity Australian plants and her We have set up a website for commitment to conservation. the exhibition, Conabere’s painting of www.eternalorderinnature.net Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. and a Facebook page; these niphophila has been chosen will be updated regularly with as the exhibition logo in interesting information about commemoration of her life the exhibition and the artists. devoted to botanical art. Exhibitions of this size Sponsors will be require a significant volunteer acknowledged, including their workforce to help with the corporate logos, in promotional organisation and staffing of material, on the website, in the the show. If you would like exhibition catalogue and in to become involved please Thea Clark, Mali Moir, Maurice Castro, Amanda Ahmed and Susie Brookes

Betty Conabere’s painting of Pimelea ligustrina The exhibition logo is detail from Betty Conabere’s painting of Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila.

Autumn 2011 | Botanic News 9 illustrators

Classes Botanical Illustrators Vale Beverley Graham You’ stamp; was commissioned to create a circular design Quarterly Meeting Term 2 will start in the week Members of the FRBG Melbourne featuring the Australian and State Tuesday 29 March at 10.00am for beginning Saturday 30 April. and Botanical Illustrators were floral emblems for Franklin Mint’s 10.30am in the Whirling Room. Classes will be held on Tuesday deeply saddened to hear of the Australian Federation Flora plate; Cost $5.50. Pay on the day. and Wednesday evenings and passing of Beverley Graham and her work is represented in Mali Moir, botanical artist in the daytime on Mondays, on 3 December 2010 aged 78. the State Botanical Art Collection and teacher of botanical Wednesdays and Saturdays Beverley joined the Friends housed at the Herbarium. In illustration, will give a talk (two sessions each day – 2.5hr), in April 1988 and was a 1999, Bev was presented with entitled ‘Beckler’s Botanical Thursdays (one 2.5hr session) foundation member of the a Certificate of Commendation Bounty’. She will describe a and Fridays (one 3hr session). Botanical Illustrators’ group. by the Society for Growing collecting and painting trip 2.5hr classes: $270 (incl GST) At the time the Botanical Australian Plants, Victoria, in to Menindee in celebration of Friends: $225 (incl GST) Illustrators’ group was formed, recognition of her promotion the one hundred and fiftieth 3hr classes: $315 (incl GST) there were few botanic artists of Australian flora in her water- anniversary of the Burke and Friends: $270 (incl GST) working in Melbourne or, colours. Bev was one of the first Wills expedition. Hermann For further information about indeed, Australia. In company botanic artists to have limited Beckler was the doctor and classes contact the Friends’ with Anita Barley (at the RBG edition prints produced. In fact, botanical collector on that office on 9650 6398. Melbourne), Jenny Phillips she was the only artist offering expedition. and Celia Rosser, Beverley prints at our first exhibition. Graham’s name was foremost With Lois Brunt, Bev set up as an exponent of botanical art. and ran the sales desk at early Whirlybirds Bev received training as a The Art of Botanical Illustration designer in graphic art, and her The Whirlybirds are a group of exhibitions. During our first silk screen designs and fabrics botanical artists who meet each few years, Bev was a frequent are included in the collections Corymbia painted by Marta Salamon Tuesday in the Whirling Room attendee at Whirlybirds meetings of the Australian National Studio. This group has been so where she generously shared Gallery and RMIT University. Beginners’ Workshop well attended another meeting her accumulated knowledge This early training is evident with Mali Moir is now being held on Thursday and imparted a deal of practical in much of her botanic work. 11, 13 and 14 April (Please note no mornings. advice. Bev’s output gradually While she occasionally accepted class on 12 April) At present work is being decreased as her health commissions to paint exotic 10.00am to 4.00pm completed for the Eucalypts deteriorated, but she was always flora, Bev was passionate about Cost: $272 Friends: $225 of the Royal Botanic Gardens. delighted to receive telephone promoting our wonderful This intensive course is an The exhibition will be on calls from her artist friends. and unique Australian native introduction to botanical art display in Domain House from A warm, generous and flora, with much of her output via pencil and watercolour. Saturday 1 October to Sunday immensely talented botanic adorning cards and stationery Students will begin to develop 16 October. artist with a delightful sense of produced by Pettis Studios. skills in outline drawing, If you are a botanical artist humour and a wicked throaty Amongst a wealth of other foreshortening, tonal work and a member of the Friends chuckle, Beverley Graham will achievements, Bev produced and rendering of surfaces, you are invited to select a be sadly missed by all who eight botanical watercolours for basic colour work and paint eucalypt to illustrate and join knew her. a Plant of the Month series in application. The workshop the exhibition. A list is in the Helene Wild Your Garden magazine; painted is an ideal way to learn the Whirling Room along with a beautiful floral bouquet for basics before enrolling in Term relevant information. A sample of Beverley’s wildflower Australia Post’s first ‘Thinking of paintings. Classes. A natural history exhibition The cost includes drawing is also being held concurrently materials, paint, watercolour with the Eucalypts Exhibition. paper and brushes and morning If you are interested in and afternoon tea. joining the group or exhibiting For bookings and further please contact Sandra Sanger information, please contact the on 9598 9532 for further Friends’ office on 9650 6398. information.

10 Botanic News | Autumn 2011 illustrators

Botanical Illustrators’ on the wonders to be found in budget, mainly by volunteers, following informal instructions the huge and ancient tip. as ‘impressive’. from a fellow enthusiast and Christmas Meeting Margaret Holloway The expeditioners showed using information from the artists’ trip to Ned’s described the general landscape, their photos, sketches and internet. The Hurdy-Gurdy is Corner at that time covered with paintings from the trip. Pam a traditional folk instrument Six of our members recently flowers (pigface) as far as the McDiarmid had 146 beautiful from the 12th century which journeyed to this Trust eye could see. The semi-desert photos of Ned’s Corner, shown has been described as a cross for Nature property in far was blooming due to recent on a continuous loop during between a violin and bagpipes. north-western Victoria to rain. Kaye Ellis focused on the our lunch. It has both drone strings and explore and paint. During our birdlife, including sightings of keyed strings, played by a Christmas meeting, we heard swans, apostle birds and their Pam’s Hurdy-Gurdy wheel turned by the right hand. an entertaining account of their mud-pot nests, and ring-necked As well as being a talented Pam made the lute-like body trip. Sandra Sanger and Joan mallee parrots. Nolda Beynon artist and photographer, Pam of her instrument from English Mason, who had previously told us about the Australian McDiarmid is an accomplished Ash from her own garden. The visited Ned’s Corner with a Inland Botanic Gardens, woodworker, with an interest soundboard is of King Billy group from RBG Cranbourne, which the group also visited to in music. She showed us the Pine, decorated with an ebony organised a return journey see many lovely examples of latest fruit of this combined inlay. Pam carved the head, focused primarily on painting. Eucalyptus illyarrie, E. torquarta interest, a Hurdy–Gurdy, and and even made the brass crank Sandra and Joan began by and E. woodwardii. This described how she made it, handle. After describing the describing the route to the vast garden is in NSW, between making of the Hurdy-Gurdy, 30,000 hectare property on the Mildura and Wentworth. It has Pam played us a few short tunes, southern banks of the Murray, semi-arid plants from all over including ‘Scotland the Brave’. 80kms west of Mildura, by the world and is undertaking Before beginning our 4-wheel drive. a project on plants suitable celebratory lunch, we said a big Many indigenous species are for saline environments and thank you to Judy Jarman, who found at Ned’s Corner, as well rising water tables. It also has has organised the Botanical as a beautiful Brachychiton. a famous collection of roses, Illustrators Quarterly Meetings The property, once a sheep and a summerhouse with a for many years, and wished and cattle run, has now been ceiling entirely covered with everyone the compliments of emptied of livestock, and gum nuts of many species. The the season. continuous efforts are made to artists strongly recommended a Roslyn Glow control rabbits and restore the visit to these gardens to anyone native vegetation. This work who finds themselves in the Below left: Artists in residence at Ned’s Corner. relies heavily on volunteers. area. They described the work Left: Pam with her Hurdy-Gurdy Several of the artists remarked carried out on a shoestring Below: The carved handle of the

instrument. Photos: Pam McDiarmid Pam Photos:

Autumn 2011 | Botanic News 11 growing friends

Autumn Plant Sale place every quarter. These are Growing Friends’ Tree in February 2010. The tree a good way to learn what the was planted in recognition Saturday 30 April Growing Friends do, how the Commemorative trees are of those who founded the from 10.00am to 4.00pm Nursery operates and what an important component of Growing Friends in 1988 and Sunday 1 May the Melbourne Gardens’ tree from 10.00am to 3.00pm plants are for sale. the wonderful contribution The next of these visits is on collection. The stories of a made since by the many others Nursery Open Days in 18 March when, because of the number of these commemorative who have worked so hard to Autumn cooler Summer, many of the trees and tales of those who ensure the group’s continuing penstemons and salvias will still planted them were featured on success. Many past and present Friday 4, 11, 18 & 25 March be in flower. page five of the last edition of members of the Group attended Friday 1 & 8 April Michael Hare Botanic News. the ceremony. Friday 27 May Convener, Growing Friends Last November a com- In his remarks at the between 8.00am and 1.00pm memorative tree of particular planting, Dr Philip Moors, significance to the Friends Director and Chief Executive On 19 November 2010, Gillian was planted on the Hopetoun of the RBG, paid tribute to all Kirk planted a tree, Pinus Gillian Kirk with Members of the Lawn by a founding member those involved in the Growing armandii, in the Hopetoun Friends. and first Convener of the Friends and in particular to Lawn to commemorate the Bottom: Penstemons available from the Growing Friends’ Nursery. Growing Friends, Gillian Kirk, Gillian and her late husband, contribution of the Growing Photo: Michael Hare who retired from that group Neil, who in addition to the Friends to RBG Melbourne. work they were both doing Melbourne’s cool and wet with Lydia Bartlett and others Spring and early Summer in starting up the Growing delayed the flowering of many Friends, were also Voluntary plants. But, as the weather Guides. Gillian was Convener warmed, the plants grew of the Guides in 1989-1990. rapidly and flowered profusely. The beautiful tree chosen We trust this is a good omen for the planting, a splendid for the Autumn Plant Sale. specimen of Pinus armandii, There are only two Growing was also of significance to the Friends’ Sales each year and Friends. It had been propagated only a small number of the in the RBG Melbourne Nursery plants on sale are flowering. from seed collected in Yunnan Therefore Friends are urged to Province in south-west China in visit the Nursery on the Open 1992 by horticulturalist Terry Days (as shown above) not Smyth, curator of the Gardens’ only to see the plants in flower Southern Chinese collection. but also to discover the range Terry’s trip to China was of plants grown there. funded in the main by a grant Alternatively, there are the from the Friends. Nursery visits arranged by the Janet Thomson Events committee, which take

12 Botanic News | Autumn 2011 members

New Members’ Welcome Friends’ Membership These businesses and organisations kindly offer Wednesday 16 March at 5.30pm Prize discounts to Friends on PRIOR presentation of their Mueller Hall, National Herbarium current membership cards, which are not transferable. Birdwood Ave, South Yarra Congratulations to Household The Gardens Shops at RBGM offer 10% discount on all Members’ purchases. Please join us for the New Members Eleanor and Paul Members’ Welcome! Invitations Schreurs, who won the Friends’ Terrace Tea Rooms, RBGM, offers Members 10% discount on all purchases. will soon be sent to all recently- Membership Prize offered for www.terracereception.com.au the last quarter in 2010. They joined Friends to come to our RBG Cranbourne - Australian Garden: Entry fee $7.35. Non-members $9.80. next ‘Getting-to-know-you’ live in Langwarrin and are gathering. Drinks and nibbles delighted with their success. National Gallery of Victoria offers 10% discount at the NGV shop and $10 will be served while you mingle The prize is a year’s free off NGV annual membership (new membership only). For membership and meet other new members. membership. enquiries contact 8620 2233 or email: [email protected] Learn about the Friends’ wide At the end of each quarter The Australian Chamber Orchestra is offering tickets at 10% discount to range of activities in a friendly in 2011, all Members who current Friends’ Members for its Melbourne Sunday Afternoon concerts. and relaxed atmosphere with have paid their fee by the date Book online, www.aco.com.au Remember to mention Friends’ membership conveners of all groups on printed on their first renewal when booking by phone. hand to provide information. notice will be eligible to win a Discounts are subject to change without notice. List is current at January 2011. Finish up with a special tour prize. The first draw in 2011 of the Gardens with an expert will be at the end of March. Botanical Creations Green-stay – innovative products for the landscape gardener, architect and Voluntary Guide. Be in it to win it – renew 122 Grange Rd, Glen Huntly Ph: 9571 9922 builder All those who have joined and be part of the draw when 10% off all plants www.green-stay.com.au the Friends since our last it’s your quarter! 10% discount on any garden products. Bulleen Art and Garden Welcome, and those who have Why Renew? Order on website or phone 1300 976 664. 6 Manningham Rd West, Bulleen already requested an invitation Mention Friends’ Membership. By renewing your membership www.baag.com.au Lister Teak Garden Furniture to a evening Welcome, will you give wonderful support 10% off plants, 5% off other goods (excludes 22 Industry Court, Lilydale automatically receive one. If you to the Gardens through the paving/retaining walls, tanks and turf) have not been able to attend Ph: 9735 4010 Friends. A loyal and supportive Cloudehill Nursery - Gardens - Restaurant Free 100-page colour catalogue of Cotswold a previous New Members’ membership has enabled the 89 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda Furniture Collection. Free delivery. Welcome and would like to Friends to provide over $1.6 www.cloudehill.com.au come this time, you are warmly million for projects in the 10% off plants only Peonies & Picnics - quality tools, specialised gardening books invited as well, so please call Gardens and Herbarium and give Collectors Corner (at Garden World) our office 9650 6398 and we’ll 8 Howe St, Daylesford other help where it is needed. 810 Springvale Rd, Braeside Ph: 5348 1882 make sure you are invited. Lee Tregloan, Convener www.gardenworld.com.au 10% discount. 10% off all plants, Collectors Corner only Membership and Marketing Sculptured Steel Custom Metalwork Friends’ Office Manager Virginia Henderson talking with RBGM Director Chris Cultivate Nursery, Florist & Gifts www.sculpturedsteel.com.au Cole and Vice-President Susie Brookes at the Council Christmas luncheon. Rear 91-93 Doncaster Rd, North Balwyn 10% off custom-made pieces www.cultivatenursery.com.au 10% off everything Sue Jarvis’ Gallery & Botanic Garden 24 Blackwood Lane, Gembrook Feldspar at Trentham B&B By appointment Ph: 5968 1567 via Daylesford 10% off artworks www.feldspargetaway.com.au Town and Country Gardens 10% discount off accommodation 1280 Malvern Rd, Malvern Garden of Eden Nursery, Cafe & Antiques Ph: 9822 9704 365 Ferrars St, Albert Park www.gardenofedennursery.com.au 24 Whitehorse Rd, Balwyn 10% off everything (cash) Ph: 9816 9300 5% off everything (credit cards) www.townandcountrygardens.com.au Glasshaus Nursery/Design/Florist 10% off plants over $20 only 52 Stanley St, Richmond Ph: 9421 4100 10% off plants and cut flowers

Autumn 2011 | Botanic News 13 scholarship report

‘Cradle of Creation’ While this seems to be a useful compared strike rate, strengths I have only mentioned a few registry, there are limitations: (like compatibility and of the speakers who stood out 2010 International it is a collation of information, hardiness), weaknesses such as for me, but there were many Plant Propagators not a verification system, and susceptibility to rot or disease, others who gave interesting Society Conference descriptions are not always and longevity of grafted plants. papers, some incredible nursery This conference was held in accurate. For example, there I learned a great deal about tours and a few social events Fremantle, Western Australia. I are at least three Correas sold rootstock/scion trials and that made the 2010 IPPS was one of 22 main speakers at as ‘Gwen’. look forward to putting that Conference truly fascinating. the conference which attracted Two speakers caused quite information to good use at One of the nurseries we about 200 participants, mostly a lot of discussion because Cranbourne. visited was Benara, a 400-hectare from the Nursery industry, they presented two different Digby Gowns and Pat wholesale production nursery. but also from Landcare and approaches to taxonomy. Courtenay, also from Kings Imagine that! A nursery bigger government organisations Botanist Kevin Thiele spoke Park, both gave wonderful than all of RBGC put together! such as AQIS (Australian about Cladistics, the phylogeny talks. Digby spoke about I made new friends and Quarantine and Inspection of flowering plants and why it breeding new plants and the contacts from South Africa Service). The theme of the makes sense to cluster plants work being carried out at and caught up with some 2010 conference was Cradle by following the genetics Kings Park. Many of us are IPPS members from Brisbane, of Creation. Fremantle was they share (the very similar familiar with plants that he Sydney and New Zealand. a fitting place to host such a Dryandra and Banksia were and his team have bred, like If that were not enough, I was program as it was a landing given as examples). In the Scaevola ‘Purple Fanfare’. Pat able to add on a week at Kings place for many of the convicts other corner of the ring was Courtenay told the amazing Park to take cuttings for Stage 1 sent from England who played botanist Alex George, who story of moving a 750-year-old and 2 of the Australian Garden, such a major role in the early advocates Linneaen taxonomy. Boab from the Kimberley to plus some interesting plants development of this country. He believes that Cladistics is a Kings Park. The tree not only that I hope will make their way The conference started off drastic re-clumping of plants survived its ordeal, but has into the Australian Garden! We with seed collection, storage based on too limited a selection since flowered! also spent time at GinGin and and record keeping. Then of target species, arguing that There was also a great deal Muchea collecting specimens. Rowena Long, of Kings Park, no vouchers were used or put of discussion about new strains I am so very grateful to the Perth, presented an update on forward for future reference/ of phytophthora after a paper RBGM Friends’ Scholaship smoke water which is used discussion; that only small presented by Kylie Ireland, a Program which enabled my to simulate the aftermath of amounts of DNA were used; PhD student from the Centre participation in the IPPS a bushfire to help indigenous and, among other things, that for Phytophthora Science and Conference and my study/work seeds generate. Previously, it Cladistics neither allows for Management. More discussion week at Kings Park. was believed that butenolide changes, nor does it make followed a BioSecure HACCP Cali Salzmann was the isotope responsible for teaching plant identification (an on-farm biosecurity Horticulture Technician, RBGC breaking dormancy of Australian very easy. I must admit that management system) report Friends’ Scholarship winner 2009 native seed. Rowena and her of all the arguments against presented by Michael Danelon, team have now identified classifying plants genetically, a NGINA (Nursery and Garden the element as karrikinolide teaching students plant Industry) Development officer, and the fact that it stimulates identification skills, based about the Myrtle Rust affecting germination at rates as low as on characteristics, tops the Australian natives. one part per billion. list for me. Morphological Lachlan Chilman, who owns Paul Carmen spoke about characteristics give a better and operates an IPM business ACRA, the Australian Cultivar picture of the relationship that rears beneficial insects, gave Registry Association, which was between plants. a very interesting talk, and we appointed by the International Amanda Shade, head of the actually visited his nursery (in Society for Horticultural Nursery at Kings Park, gave an the true sense of the word!) to Science to register cultivars interesting talk about grafting see the predator insects he breeds for Australian natives. ACRA Western Australian species on a large scale for nurseries and is located at the National and the variety of rootstock farmers trying to avoid chemical Botanic Gardens in Canberra. they have tested. Each trial spraying.

14 Botanic News | Autumn 2011 book review

Top: A very old seed cleaning machine at Kings Park. important garden plants. Middle: Modern reverse osmosis water-recycling unit. Kitchen Gardens provides Bottom: Muchea plant farm delivery truck. Left page – bottom: Kings Park’s famous Boab tree which flowered this year extensive and comprehensive information for anyone wishing to establish or enhance a kitchen garden. The information ranges from soil preparation to providing nutrition and watering, to information about particular vegetables, their growth habits and associated problems. Most importantly, it addresses how and when to harvest the produce and how best to store it. Citrus has been written with Ian Tolley OAM who is an internationally recognised Pruning for Fruit horticulturalist and an expert in citriculture. Bruce Morphett, Revised edition 2008 In this book is everything the beginner grower would want to Kitchen Garden – A know about different citrus Beginner’s Guide varieties, choosing plants, managing plants and providing Bruce Morphett, 2010 the correct nutrients for the best crops. Strangely there is no Citrus – A Gardener’s Guide mention of the citrus gall wasp Bruce Morphett and Ian Tolley, revised – increasingly prevalent here in edition 2009 Victoria – in the extensive and otherwise comprehensive ‘citrus Published by the Botanic Gardens of problems’ chapter. Adelaide The books are a good All three books RRP $19.95 size, which means it would In these three handy-sized be possible to hold one while how-to books, Bruce Morphett diagnosing a problem. The clearly demonstrates the know- production is glossy, the ledge he has acquired in his thirty information is clear and the years plus as a horticulturalist, illustrations informative. Each specialising in growing fruit book provides a comprehensive and vegetables and solving further reading list which horticultural problems. includes internet links. Pruning for Fruit is for Terri Kay the beginner, as well as the enthusiast. It clearly illustrates the when, what and how of maintaining good fruit size and obtaining quality and quantity cropping for a wide range of backyard fruits. All of which will ensure a full and productive life for these increasingly

Autumn 2011 | Botanic News 15 calendar botanic news

March BOTANIC NEWS is produced quarterly for Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Inc. 4 Growing Friends’ Nursery open 8.00am to 1.00pm 11 Growing Friends’ Nursery open 8.00am to 1.00pm which was formed to stimulate further interest 16 New Members’ Welcome 5.30pm 18 Growing Friends’ Nursery open 8.00am to 1.00pm in the Gardens and the National Herbarium and 18 Guided Nursery Visit to support and assist them whenever possible. 22 Insiders’ Walk 24 Illustrated Talk - Gould Patron Editor FRIENDS’ OFFICE 25 Growing Friends’ Nursery open 8.00am to 1.00pm Prof. David de Kretser AC, Meg Miller Virginia Henderson 29 Illustrators’ Quarterly Meeting 10.00am Governor of Victoria Editor.Botnews@frbgmelb. Marguerite Hancock org.au Karlene Taylor April President Gate Lodge Cathy Trinca Editorial Advisory 100 Birdwood Avenue 1 Growing Friends’ Nursery open 8.00am to 1.00pm Committee Vice-Presidents Melbourne Vic 3004 5 Fit Friends’ Ramble Janet Thomson Richard Kirsner Tel: (03) 9650 6398 8 Growing Friends’ Nursery open 8.00am to 1.00pm Susan Chandler Susan Brookes Fax: (03) 9650 7723 11,13,14 Botanical Illustration Beginners’ Workshop Christine Georgiou Email: 22 Good Friday Secretary [email protected] 29 Talking Plants - shrubs Richard Smith Committee Conveners Website: 30 Term II Illustrators’ Classes begin Treasurer Events www.rbgfriendsmelbourne.org 30 Growing Friends’ Plant Sale 10.00am to 4.00pm Maurice Castro Judy Trenberth Print Post Approved Immediate Past PP 345842/10025 May Botanical Illustrators President Edyta Hoxley A12827T Janet Thomson ISSN 08170-650 1 Growing Friends’ Plant Sale 10.00am to 3.00pm Growing Friends 25 Illustrated Talk - Bulbs Council Michael Hare Printed on 50 per cent Susan Chandler Australian recycled paper 27 Growing Friends’ Nursery open 8.00am to 1.00pm Membership and John Goodwin Printer Marketing Peter Kelly Printgroup Holdings Aust July Lee Tregloan Dr.Philip Moors Advertising Irwin Newman Volunteers 18 Eternal Order in Nature Exhibition opens Single DL and A4 inserts Marta Salamon John Goodwin will be accepted in

August Botanic News at a rate of $550 and $650 (including 7 Eternal Order in Nature Exhibition closes GST) respectively. For further information Note: The Friends’ Inclement Weather Policy states that Outdoor contact the Friends’ office Events may be cancelled and the Nursery will not open for Sales if 9650 6398 for details. the temperature is predicted to be 33ºC or above.

16 Botanic News | Autumn 2011