DIARY OF EVENTS: 27th March - Speaker, John SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN Sherwood talking on his trip to Lake Warrnambool & District Group Inc. Newsletter Mungo March 2015 No 402 31st March - Committee Meeting— Correa reflexa ‘Grannys Grave’ to be held at Berrys

24th April - Neil Marriott speaking Incorporation No: AOO1312OX ABN: 51672752196 Web: www.warrnambool.org/sgap about the new WAMA Native Hi members, Botanical Garden planned for Halls Something to think about! Should Warrnambool & District SGAP have its own Facebook page? I can hear you all groaning Gap. at the suggestion! But maybe we are all making a huge mistake! Facebook is actually a great way to make contact with people, especially the younger generation, the very ones we want to join our group! I am a member of an Australian Native 28th April - Committee Meeting—to Plants Enthusiasts Facebook group! This is a closed group (by invitation only but any member can recommend someone) be held at Artis’ and I find it a great way to make contact with people from all over Australia who are showing an interest in native plants. Members are roughly categorised into two groups, those like me who are APS members and those who join to find out 22nd May - AGM speaker TBC about native plants from people like us. I believe this is a great opportunity to get new members for APS but are we letting this opportunity slip away! Posts can be made by any member and this basically consists of a photo of a native with a 26th May - Committee Meeting TBC comment. It can be a request for help to ID a plant like I did last week. I put up a photo of a from Swan Reserve which I had assumed to be B. spinulosa but as Paul Kennedy pointed out to me had a very different leaf structure. It didn’t 19th August 7.30pm at HIRL at take very long for Cas Liber (Banksia Study Group Leader) to respond that it was indeed a B. spinulosa but a special form Hamilton. Hamilton Group has in- called B. spinulosa “Carnarvon Gold” (the Queensland Carnarvon!) . He pointed out that this plant could in fact end up as a vited us to attend their meeting new species given its differences to normal B. spinulosa. This proved to be a great source of information and it went to all where Cathy Powers will be 350 group members and if “shared” in an open group would be spread much further! Of course Facebook can only work if we had a number of members (at least 10) registered so that information we put up speaking on diversity and distri- could be distributed widely, if only one member is registered, it goes nowhere! We could promote our meetings and speak- bution of native orchids. ers etc. and put up photos of interesting plants, anything that would create interest to show that we do exist, something that we have struggled to do. It is easier than putting on a floral display and can be repeated as often as we like, and it is FREE! ‘Plants of the Great South West’, APS Vic already have a Facebook site but it has limited use due no doubt to few of our members using it. How many mem- book covering the bers of our group are Facebook members? Please let me know or if you are interested, I can show you how it works. plants of South West Victoria available from Don’t forget to bring along specimens to our meetings for our display table, this shows people what we can grow here in Kevin Sparrow at Warrnambool and helps us promote our native plants through our newsletter. Don’t forget to come to the RSL at 6.00pm for [email protected] dinner. Hope to see you on Friday 27th. Cheers, Kevin or Ph: 55626217 $20 each The Warrnambool & District SGAP holds meetings on the 4th Friday of each month at the Mozart Hall Warrnambool at 8pm. Next Meeting: Friday 27th March from 8.00pm Speaker, John Sherwood speaking on his trip to Lake Mungo, Don’t forget to come to the RSL for Dinner at 6.00pm Society for Growing Australian Plants - Warrnambool & District Group March 2015 Newsletter

February Display Table—by Kerry Artis Kevin Sparrow’s (right) bears large, yellow is 25 years old and over 20 foot tall. It flower cones and always seems to started to flower in February and by the have a flower on it in June Preece’s time it has finished it will have had over garden. Ricinocarpos glaucus 100 flowers. It bears cylindrical, orange Wedding Bush (right) was covered in flower spikes up to 18 cm long and the un- flowers in December and is still flow- opened flowers are greyish, giving the ap- ering, June is going to give it a good pearance of an acorn. This is Kevin’s prune. Pandorea jasminoides favourite Banksia. Callistemon ‘Pink ‘Charisma’ has variegated leaves, is Champagne’ is just starting to flower, not as vigorous as Pandorea jasmi- Chorizema varia has been grown from a noides and grows in Queensland and cutting and is a rare plant which has grown NSW. Correa redex is a cross be- brilliantly in Kevin’s front garden. Temple- tween reflexa and decumbens and is a tonia retusa has grown into a tall shrub. treasured gift from the Hamilton group Kevin displayed many other plants as well and Correa ‘Marion’s Marvel’ (below) including Goodenia ovata in the prostrate is a cross between backhouseana and form, Billardiera ringens, Eremophila reflexa that can reach 2m high by 3m wide in a well-drained, shady site. It bears glabra, Eremophila maculata, Banksia pink, bell-shaped flowers with lime green on the tips. pectinata has pale burdettii and Correa ‘Green Dream’ pink flowers, fern like leaves and is a spreading plant. Mike Halls brought along three Marilyn Berry showed Grevillea

Grevilleas. G. ‘Ned Kelly’ which is ‘Caloundra Gem’ which has a short doing well, G. ‘Robyn Gordon’ is flowering period but really gorgeous 25 years old and needs pruning but has been watered this summer and flowers, Crowea exalata flowers for a is flowering very well and G. ‘Billy long time with the colour varying from Bonkers’ has started to flower and deep pink buds to pale pink flowers will continue for a long time. that fade as they age. It has star shaped Templetonia retusa Cocky’s Tongue flowers and can be grown from cutting (left) is starting to flower and is well or seed, likes well drained, mulched adapted to Warrnambool soil. This soil and is good used as a cut flower. plant is a rounded, spreading shrub growing to 2m high by 3m wide, Ricinocarpos pinifolius Wedding Bush has large, red or orange pea-flowers, is long flowering with abundant white sometimes yellow, is resistant to flowers, likes well-drained, mulched salt spray and likes good drainage soil and is hardier than most other and full sun to half shade. Ricinocarpos once established.

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Report on Last Meeting—John Sheely Curator, Warrnambool Botanic Gardens by Kevin Sparrow

At our last meeting, John Sheely, of Warrnambool Botanic Gardens gave us Some of the achievements of the past few a great presentation on his achievements over the past 8 years since he took years are: on the position of curator in 2007. One of John’s changes to the gardens  Removal of the old Cypress Arch to was to do away with the old signs that told people what they could not do reinstate intended views of the palm avenue there with signs that welcomed people to the gardens and encouraged them despite a concerted public media campaign to enjoy what the gardens have to offer. They have also installed great new to save it. perimeter signs featuring a stylised tree and these present a modern look to  Mulching of existing specimen trees the gardens. John and his dedicated staff have also cleared the lower limbs and shrubs to conserve moisture. from the cypress trees on the western boundary which provides a really  Collection of Lone Pine seed cones inviting and welcoming view to people travelling past and this is reflected so trees could be propagated and distrib- in the numbers of uted throughout the community. The exist- people now using the ing Lone Pine is in poor health and nearing gardens. These are just the end of its life. In anticipation of this, 2 a few of the changes young trees have been planted so we can that John has initiated have a Gallipoli Pine in the future. since he came to  Establishment and maintenance of a Facebook page to help create Warrnambool. interest in the gardens. Items of interest and news are regularly uploaded onto the site which now has a strong following. The Botanic Gardens in  Developed a close association with Warrnambool South West TAFE in which apprentice’s commenced in the 1850's with a Crown Grant of ten acres near the mouth gain much needed practical experience of the Hopkins River. The poor soil coupled with the notorious south- within WBG. westerly winds forced its abandonment after some years. Charles Scoborio  Planting out, mulching and tree was the first curator and Scoborio Reserve is a reminder of this early but guarding of significant pines within the unsuccessful struggle to create a botanic garden in the city. In 1866, the “Pinetum”, a section at the western end of present site was selected and at the time was described as a “Howling wil- the gardens . derness heavily timbered with a dense undergrowth of scrub, ferns and tus-  Cleared one of the islands in the lake socky grass. Quite a difference to the spectacular gardens we have today! to remove woody weeds and replant with In 1877, Council commissioned William R Guilfoyle to design an appropri- suitable specimens. ate layout for the gardens. Guilfoyle had succeeded Baron von Mueller as  Establishment of a waterwise garden the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne in 1873. Today, the complete with interpretive signage to gardens are still referred to as “Guilfoyle Gardens” and this is reflected in encourage the public to conserve water the way maintenance and improvements are carried out. within their own gardens. 3 Society for Growing Australian Plants - Warrnambool & District Group March 2015 Newsletter

Report on Last Meeting—John Sheely Curator, Warrnambool Botanic Gardens (Continued)

John and his staff receive great support from the Friends of Warrnambool Botanic Gardens and they have been very prominent in helping to gain many of the improve- ments over past decade. A recent removal of an old shed revealed the location of the original well constructed in 1883 and the friends are co-ordinating a project to feature this well and are seeking funding for it.

Last year, the Swan Reserve Garden came under John’s control on a twelve month trial and we look forward to Swan Reserve becoming an annex to the Botanic Gardens.

We had a great evening last month with John’s talk creating lots of interest and questions from the audience. We thank John for his talk and the effort he went to for us.

Please submit your articles for the newsletter by the end of the second week of the month President: Bob Artis, Brown St, Allansford. 0417 321225 Vice President: John Sherwood. 26 McConnell St, Warrnambool Secretary: Marilyn Berry, Tooram Road, Allansford. 3277. Phone: 55651562 Email: [email protected] Treasurer: Mike Halls, 127 Rooneys Rd, Warrnambool 3280 Phone: 55626519 Email: [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Kevin Sparrow 35 Swan Street, Warrnambool. Phone: 55626217 Email: [email protected] Publicity Officer and Librarian: Dorothy Mattner. Public Officer: John Sherwood. Phone: 55628064 APS Reps: vacant , History Book Coordinator: Joyce Sparrow. Other Committee Members: Kerry Artis

Warrnambool & District SGAP is a District Group of the Australian Plants Society (Vic) All members are required to also be a member of APS Vic. 4 Society for Growing Australian Plants - Warrnambool & District Group March 2015 Newsletter

Hoyas Do Set Seed By Kevin Sparrow Bring Back the by Aggie Stevenson GHCMA A few weeks I noticed what looked like Thistle Down (seed) underneath The Glenelg Hopkins CMA is announcing a very exciting new project that is just begin- one of my Hoya australis hanging baskets and was puzzled to work out ning on the Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP) Bioregion. Bring Back and what it was and how it got there. Turns out it was seed from my hoya Save the Sheokes is a community driven project which will focus on three key species that plant! I found it hard to relate the seed as coming from the cluster of are rapidly disappearing from the VVP, these being: hoya flowers but then noticed a seed pod still attached to the plant that (Silver Banksia) had split up the middle and had opened up to release the seed! All the Allocasuarina verticillata (Drooping Sheoke) Bursaria spinosa (Sweet Bursaria) years I have been growing hoyas, I have never seen this happen before. I wonder what the pollinator is?? Anyone know?? I have since planted The general aims of the project are to: the seed and now have seeds germinating. You learn something every - Map where these species used to occur day! - Map where these species still occur - Conduct genetic studies on individual populations to determine genetic health and viability - Establish seed orchards for these species for future seed collection

At a meeting of community members and some academics we discussed who has a good knowledge of where these species occur and it was agreed that groups such as Field Natu- ralists, Landcare, Friends of Groups, SGAP etc would be good places to go in search of people who may have a wealth of knowledge that they would be happy to share. That is why I am including you; it may not be yourself but a member of your landcare group that you think could have some valuable information that we should know about. If so, please could you pass this onto them. The workshops will be held at the Lake Bolac Boat Shed on Tuesday 31st March. I will send out a more formal invite with details about what to bring and where to go, but if you could please lock this in that would be wonderful.

For now, if you could have a think about other people who have a good knowledge on past and present locations of Banksia marginata, Allocasuarina verticillata and Bursaria spinosa and let them know about the workshop that would be great. Also start going through the vaults and find all that precious hidden data you’ve had stashed away for a rainy day! If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to call on the numbers below. I will need to know who is coming for numbers and catering, so please keep in touch. If you are unable to attend but have some information, again, please call and we’ll arrange another way of getting this info. Phone: 03 5571 2526 or 0427 786 243

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Glenelg Hopkins CMA Community Connections by Jared Obst Hello and welcome to the first instalment of Glenelg Hopkins CMA’s ‘Coastal Connections’ email for 2015.

I hope everyone has had a safe, enjoyable and productive start to the year. I know a lot has been happening throughout our coastal region along with some great activities and engagement opportunities on our doorstep! I think this may be the biggest list of items I’ve collated for my ‘CC’ email, here is a quick summary;

Yambuk Lake, Waterway Action Plan The Yambuk Lake Waterway Action Plan (WAP) is now complete & has enabled the CMA to gain an up-to-date understanding of the system, identify local issues affecting landholders and develop positive actions which will contribute to the on-going management of this system. Study findings are driving a strategic on-ground works program, with funding opportunities now available for land managers. Please refer to the following attachments for findings and how to become involved; Yambuk Lake WAP, Summary report Yambuk Lake WAP, Incentives for landholders

Yambuk Lake Litter Clean-up Day As a direct finding and priority action of the Yambuk Lake WAP, the CMA is coordinating a Litter Clean-up Day at the Yambuk Lake estuary on Tuesday 17th March. This will bring a range of local groups and land managers together to address this issue, including the Yambuk Angling Club, Parks Victoria, Basalt to Bay LC Network and the Green Army. All volunteers are welcome, meeting at the Yambuk Lake boat ramp @ 10am.

CMA Coastal Stewardship Program It is with much excitement that I introduce the CMA Coastal Stewardship Program 2015. This program will establish land management agreements with private landholders to protect high value coastal vegetation throughout our coastal region, while also compensating landholders financially for managing threats to the sites. I am about to begin a range site assessments in relation to this project; if you are a landholder or know of someone that may be interested in such opportunity please contact me directly.

CMA Coastal Community Grants We are all well aware of the increasing threat litter accumulation poses to our fantastic coastline and waterways. Fishcare Southwest delivered a very success ful ‘Beach and Estuary Litter Dispersal’ project through our 2014 Coastal Grants program to help engage and educate our community on this matter. As part of the project, they recently produced and posted a great YouTube clip which can be viewed here FCSW Litter Project; please spread the word! The Glenelg Hopkins CMA will officially open an Expression of Interest period for our 2015/16 Coastal Community Grants in July this year. The program will focus on community engagement, education and the delivery of on-ground actions which contribute to the health of our regions estuaries, wetlands and coastal vegetation. Please however contact me directly at any time regarding potential concepts or project ideas.

Climate & Weather Outlook, BoM Like myself, I’m sure a lot of people are scratching their head over our recent ‘summer’ weather, let alone what the future autumn months will bring. The Bureau of Meteorology have just released their ‘Climate & Water Outlook’ for March-May 2015; please refer to the following link for details http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/video

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Glenelg Hopkins CMA Community Connections by Jared Obst

Bligh Forestry Mulcher Tim Bligh from Bligh Vegetation Management (BVM) in conjunction with the Basalt to Bay Landcare Network recently hosted a free demonstration of some new machinery capable of revolutionising future weed control efforts in our coastal region. Those hard to access species, such as Gorse, African Boxthorn & Spiny rush (just to name a few…) are now on the radar! Please refer to the Mirror Bush Treatment attachment for images of this machinery in action.

Western Regional Coastal Plan 2015-2020, Draft for review The Western Coastal Boards Draft Western Regional Coastal Plan is now available for public feedback. This is a key management document for our coastal region and identifies challenges at a regional level, provides direction on how the coast will be managed into the future and proposes actions to address issues. I encourage all readers to review this document; it can be found here on the Board's website and is available for comment until Friday 20th March 2015.

Mulloway Research Angler Program, NGT Lauren Veale from Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT) is currently undertaking a very interesting community driven research program on Mulloway. This fish is a highly prized recreational species and some very interesting information has been obtained to date. Please refer to the attached newsletter or website link for more information & how to become involved http://natureglenelg.org.au/first-newsletter-released-on-mulloway-research/

Estuary Update Last but definitely not least, recent weather patterns and the lack of spring rains in 2014 has resulted in all estuaries in our region now being closed – which is the first time all systems have been closed at the one time since May 2012. A full summary of conditions can be viewed at the Estuary Update attachment.

In closing, if you have any questions relating to the above items or know of anyone that may be interested in receiving this email, please just let me know!

All the best, Jarred

Victorian Native Bonsai Club The Victorian Native Bonsai Club will host the 4th Symposium on Australian Plants as Bonsai in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne on April 11th and 12th 2015

If you would like more information on the program, contact Kevin Sparrow on Phone: 55626217 or [email protected]

Or more information can be found at: http://www.vicnativebonsai.com.au/

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Phone: Alison 0418 825 625 Timandra OPEN GARDEN

82 Windham St, [Princes Hwy thru town]

Narrawong, 3285

Sat 18th & Sun 19th April, 10.30am to 4pm

Owned and designed by Timandra Design & Landscaping 2014 Landscaping Victoria Award Winners

Timandra is a large garden covering 1 acre. It is broken into 3 distinct areas all with a different theme. When open as part of Open Gardens Australia, the response of visitors to the garden was overwhelming. www.timandra.com.au

The garden is steep and so is not suitable for pushers or the disabled. Teas will be available. Gate proceeds are for Portland District Health [PDH]. Adults $5 per person; children under 16 free.

8 Society for Growing Australian Plants - Warrnambool & District Group March 2015 Newsletter