‘ of the Great South West’, book on plants of South West Victoria AUSTRALIAN PLANTS SOCIETY (SGAP) $20, available from Kevin Sparrow at Warrnambool & District Group Inc. Newsletter [email protected] SEPTEMBER 2017 No 430 Ph: 55626217 Correa reflexa ‘Grannys Grave’ www.facebook.com/warrnamboolsgap Like us on Facebook

Incorporation No: AOO1312OX ABN: 51672752196 Web: apswarrnambool.org.au EDITORIAL Hi members, Looking at some of the plants in our garden, it looks like spring has sprung! Unfortunately the weather is not encouraging us to get out in our gardens very much with the constant rain we have had over the last couple of weeks. As I grow a lot of plants in pots, I have had to move quite a few of them under cover even into shade just to help them to survive all this rain. Many of our dryland type plants don’t like to be too wet, and its surprising how the water content will build up in the pots to the point where the plants start to die due to root rot. You would think that excess water would simply drain out of the holes at the bottom without affecting the plants too much. Of course much of it does but I have also noticed that pots also retain a lot more water than normal due to the constant rain, and they don’t get a chance to dry out at all. Group Visit to Melton Botanic Last March, I put in cuttings of Mike and Liz’s Chamelaucium x Verticordia hybrid called “Paddys Pink”. I have Gardens and Brisbane Ranges had a great strike of these so I will bring along some plants for sale at the meeting on Friday 22nd. This is a great so don’t miss out on getting one. Saturday 7th/Sunday 8th Oct.

On Sunday 24th September, we will be having a look around Jenny Emeny’s property at Wangoom. Jenny inher- Can’t get accommodation? ited the property from her father, John Adams who was one of our early members. John was a man way ahead of his time, planting trees back on his land long before anybody else thought to do it. I remember him telling us about Why not make it a day trip on the remnant River Red Gum trees that were there so I am keen to photograph and GPS them. Remnant Red Gums Saturday 7th? Meet at the never actually existed in Warrnambool so these are likely to be the most southern stand of them. Meet at the Hopkins Falls Car Park at 10.00am. gardens at 11.00 - 11.30 for a free guided tour. That’s about all for this month, hope to see you at our Members Night on Friday 22nd, Don’t forget to bring some- thing for the Display Table. If you would like to attend the meal with our speaker, come along to the RSL at 6.30pm. Cheers, Kevin.

We wish to acknowledge the Maar people as the traditional owners of the land on which we live and pay our respects to their elders past and present.

Next Members Night Friday 22nd September 8.00pm: Geoff Lay speaking on “Fungi” Australian Plants Society - Warrnambool & District Group September 2017 Newsletter

Group Diary Of Activities 22nd September - Geoff Lay speaking on “Fungi” 24th November - Members Night speaker John Sherwood, Speaking to us on Tasmania’s 3 Capes Walk 24th September - Walk on Jenny Emeny’s property at Wangoom. Meet at Hopkins Falls Car Park at 10.00 am 28th November - Committee Meeting at Halls at 5.00pm

26th September - Committee Meeting Artis’ at 5.00pm 9th December - Xmas Breakup at Halls, from 12.00 noon

7/8th October - Trip with Hamilton Group to Melton Botanic 23rd December - Bunnings BBQ Gardens and Brisbane Ranges. Meet at Melton Botanic Gardens at 11.00am for a free guided walk. 20th January - BBQ Lunch at Mattners, Cudgee. From 12.00 noon Followed by a garden walk. 27th October - Members Night, speaker, Michelle Casanova will be talking on wetland plants. Michael will be showing off his new wood fired pizza oven.

28th October - Visit to local Naringal Reserves.

31st October - Committee Meeting at Mattners at 5.00pm

14th November - Open Day (Tuesday) of Rail Reserve at Woolsthorpe hosted by Basalt To Bay Landcare Network

Please submit your articles for the newsletter by the end of the second week of the month President: Kevin Sparrow Phone: 55626217 Vice President: Bob Artis, 9 Gavin St, Warrnambool. Phone: 0417 321225 Secretary: John Sherwood. 26 McConnell St, Warrnambool Phone: 55628064 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] Public Officer: John Sherwood. APS Reps: vacant, Group Historian: Joyce Sparrow. Supper Organiser: Liz Halls. Other Committee Members: Kerry Artis, Michael Mattner. Sue Sherwood, Dorothy Mattner The APS Warrnambool & District holds meetings on the 4th Friday of each month at the Mozart Hall Warrnambool at 8pm.

APS Warrnambool & District is a District Group of the Australian Plants Society (Vic) All members are required to also be a member of APS Vic. 2 Australian Plants Society - Warrnambool & District Group September 2017 Newsletter

Coastal Walk in Warrnambool by Jenny Emeny Thanks Warrnambool APS for having me as guest speaker on the Warrnambool Coastal Vegetation Management Plan, and for coming along for a walk at the Flume the next day. We found a few areas of interest, and saw the results of the Reveg the Flume project by the Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network . Kevin also took us way off-track in search of the Grannies Grave Correa, which five year old Olivia described as ‘the best walk I’ve ever been on’ and asked ‘can we do that walk again?’. We didn’t find the Correa, but we did get to see a side of Warrnam- bool’s coastal vegetation that people don’t always see (at very close proximity)! Thanks to everyone that came on the Friday night and the Saturday walk, and to Kevin for leading the search. Warrnambool APS do the best walks!

Editor: Photo right: “We’re saved!” After being lost in the bush, we finally managed to find our way out. Photos below: Olivia Emeny found some Grape Hyacinth. John Sherwood pointing out the rare (for Warrnambool) Pultenaea tenuifolia that we found.

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Coast Wattle Taking Over Our Coast by Kevin Sparrow

Last week, Joyce and I went back to the Correa Grannys Grave location for an- other look and to work out why we could not find them the first time. Seems we turned off the track a fraction early and I became confused by the thick vegetation. This time we did find them, (see photo of fenced area and plant below) not very many though and all were small. We also looked for the Coast Bitter-bush (Adriana quadripartita) which has always been along the Promenade Walk in that area. Unfortunately we were not able to locate even one of them. It shows what damage has been done to our remnant native plants due to the excessive growth of plants like Coast Wattle (Acacia longifolia var. sophorae) (photo bottom right, this is just one plant) and Italian Buckthorn.

Correa reflexa “Grannys Grave” is our groups floral emblem, we have been “asleep at the wheel” and have allowed it to be almost lost!

Earlier on our walk, we found rem- nant species, Pultenaea tenuifolia (page 4) and Scaevola albida (below)

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Display table Report by Kerry Artis Mike Halls has two plants of magnifica, one being 6 feet high, and they are flower- ing beautifully. Boronia heterophylla ‘Lipstick’ is hot pink in colour and makes a beautiful cut flower, coccinea Red Banksia is 30 years old and has brilliant red, short, cylin- drical spikes up to 8cm long. It is a variable shrub that can grow from 1.5m up to 4m high. Heath Banksia is flowering profusely with orange spikes to 30cm long, is very hardy in most situations and makes a good screen or hedge plant because of its dense habit. Mike’s other plants were Eucalyptus caesia ‘Silver Princess’, Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’, Lechenaultia biloba and Hypocalymma angustifolium.

Kevin Sparrow showed a number of native orchids which he loves to grow, Pterostylis nutans Nodding Greenhood, Pterostylis curta Blunt Greenhood, Pterostylis ‘Harold’s Cutie’, Corybas fimbriatus Helmet orchid, Chiloglottis truncata and Chiloglottis platyptera. You need to water these now while they are up and then they will die down again in the summer and pop up again next year. Kevin also brought along a number of Eremophilas, all with different coloured foliage, through the various greens to silver grey. There are 2 different types of flowers, one is tubular and pollinated by birds and the other type is pollinated by insects. Eremophila maculata is easy to grow from cutting and Kevin showed a cerise pink and a yellow one. Others were brevifolia, nivea, scaberula, subfloccosa subsp lanata, glabra with yellow buds and cream flowers. Chorizema varium is a very pretty plant and Prostan- thera calycina strikes very easy from cutting. Other plants on show were Thryptomene calycina, , , Pandorea pandorana ‘Golden Showers’, Chamelaucium ciliatum, Derwentia perfoliata, Hardenbergia violacea in both purple and lavender, coriacea, , Thomasia purpurea, Melaleuca blaeriifolia, Dryandra praemorsa in the pink form and a Hovea species.

Editor: Photos: Above right is Eremophila maculata yellow form. This one is pollinated by birds, the stamens depositing the pollen on the birds head when it goes looking for nectar which is then transferred to the next flower. The bottom one is Eremophila scaberula which by its flower shape, is pollinated by insects. The lower petal is a great landing strip for insects.

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Hakea oleifolia found growing at Surfside Caravan Park by Kevin Sparrow Recently, Joyce and I walked through Surfside Caravan Park in Warrnambool and were surprised to find an unusual hakea in full flower which turned out to be a Hakea oleifolia or Olive-leaf Hakea from southern . I was intrigued to find out how it got there. Turns out it was propagated by Warrnambool City Council employee Pat Medley who collected the seed and grew them until eventually planting them out at the Caravan Park many years ago. Photo: Pat proudly showing off the result of his labour.

Description The Olive-leaved Hakea (Hakea oleifolia) is a tall shrub or small tree with upright growth habit. It has light green oblong lanceolate leaves with a leathery texture. The leaves are crowded and some have irregular teeth. White scented flowers are produced in dense clusters at the base the leaves. The main flowering is in spring. The fruits are oval and woody with a small beak or horn near the tip. Each fruit contains two winged seeds in common with most .

Height 4m - 9m Spread 3m - 6m

Wildlife Interest - attracts birds

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Plant of the Month APS Victoria Diary of Events Eremophila subfloccosa subsp lanata September 16th & 17th Wangaratta - APS Victoria Quarterly Gathering and AGM

September 23rd & 24th Bendigo Native Plants Group Australian Flower Show, Kangaroo Flat Primary School, 60-80 Olympic Parade.

September 23rd & 24th Angair Wildflower & Art Weekend. Anglesea Memorial Hall, McMillan Street, Anglesea. 10am - 4pm. www.angair.org.au or 5263 1085

October 7th & 8th APS Grampians Group Pomonal Native Flower Show, Pomonal Hall.

October 21 & 22nd APS Ballarat District Group Spring Plant Show. Ballarat Botanic Gardens 10am - 4.30pm

NOVEMBER 25th & 26th Common name: Dense Felted Emu Bush APS Ballarat host quarterly gathering at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

JANUARY 2018 Hobart Tas Origin: WA and SA ANPSA Biennial Conference Conference Theme: “Grass Roots to Mountain Tops”. Flowering: Usually in Spring and Summer. Dates:12-20 January 2018 Venue: Hobart – Wrest Point Pre-post conference Tours: A selection of tours are being planned to King Description: Eremophila subfloccosa is named after its dense Island and to alpine and rainforest areas of the Tasmanian mainland. covering of hairs which gives it a grey appearance. This subspecies Information: http://www.apstas.org.au/conference.html grows to around half a metre (18”) in height x a metre or more (4’) in To receive updates email [email protected]. diameter. The flowers are usually a clean yellow color, but green flowered forms also occur. Plants are very bird attracting, usually OCTOBER 20th & 21st 2018 honeyeaters which feed regularly from the flowers. Plant in a well FJC Rogers Seminar – Goodeniaceae drained site in full sun. Great plant to grow in a pot or tub. Co-ordinated by Wimmera Growers of Australian Plants and APS Grampians. Propagation: Strikes easy by cutting without misting. Contact email [email protected] or Royce Raleigh,

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Plant Sale at Colac Pomonal Flower Show

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Coastal Connections by Jarred Obst Hello and welcome to the July/August 2017 edition of Glenelg Hopkins CMA’s ‘Coastal Connections’ email.

Spring has technically arrived, but what an amazing snap of winter weather experienced across our coastal region this week!

Seasonal Weather After a record breaking dry June, winter really kicked into gear during July and August as several low pressure systems battered our coast- line. August in particular was very wet, with above average rainfall saturating much of the Glenelg Hopkins catchment. Surface water across our region is now plentiful, seasonally dry wetlands are brimming with life and stream-flows are peaking across many systems; all essential components of our regions seasonal water cycle! For a snap of recent and the future climate and water outlook, please refer to: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/video

Estuary Update As expected, recent rainfall has directly influenced the dynamic nature of our regions estuaries with all systems open and flowing strongly to the sea. This said however, large swells and tide events earlier this week held back large volumes of stream-flow, resulting in accentuated wa- ter levels across all estuaries in our region. Water levels have now receded with the passing swell, however this highlights the power of the southern ocean and the dramatic influence it can have on our estuaries.

Recent activities & Upcoming opportunities It’s great to see that the winter weather hasn’t dampened the spirits of our regions volunteers; here is summary of some recent activities and future opportunities;  EJ King Park Restoration Project  Congratulations to Warrnambool Coastcare/Landcare and the Warrnambool Water Ski Club for their efforts delivering the EJ King Park Revitalisation Project.  This project has transformed a high value section of Hopkins River estuary through community engagement, weed control and on-going revegetation efforts.  CMA Environmental Achievers Awards  The CMA Environmental Achievers Awards have recently acknowledged the efforts of individuals and groups that contribute to integrated catchment management in our region.  Congratulations to all finalists and award winners; it was also great to see such a strong coastal contingent! http://ghcma.vic.gov.au.ascet.co/news/article/glenelg-hopkins-cma-awards-environmental-achievers 9 Australian Plants Society - Warrnambool & District Group September 2017 Newsletter

Coastal Connections by Jarred Obst  Merri River Instream Habitat Works  Instream fish habitat will be further enhanced in the Merri River through an initiative lead by the new Ozfish South West Victoria group.  These works build on previous restoration and rehabilitation works un- dertaken on the Merri River by various groups and agencies over several years. A big congratulations to everyone involved; please follow this link: https:// ozfish.org.au/resnagging-the-merri-river/ and refer to the attached article for further information.  Estuary Watch Victoria celebrates 10 years  Estuary Watch is a citizen science program which has been monitoring estuary health in parts of Victoria for over 10 years!  To celebrate, an estuary photo competition is being held to showcase the diversity of estuaries in Victoria. Everyone is encouraged to participate; please follow this link: http:// mailchi.mp/de627dadc783/ew10yrs_photocomp?e=7b0bff5881 for more information.  Orange-bellied Parrot Winter Surveys  Opportunities still exist for volunteers interested in OBP surveys, with the third winter count due to occur this weekend. For information on how to become involved, please refer to the attached document or follow this link: http://natureglenelg.org.au/orange- bellied-parrots-are-calling-for-volunteers/  Nelson Coastcare Community Information Event  Nelson Coastcare are convening a community engagement and information morning in Nelson of Thursday September 21.  This event with host speakers from several local agencies to promote and engage the community on key management activities occurring in the area.  Port of Warrnambool Master Plan – Have your say  The Warrnambool City Council are currently seeking community input regarding the Port of Warrnambool Master Plan  Points of interest include boat launching facilities, parking, pedestrian amenity and fishing facilities. Please follow this link: http://www.yoursaywarrnambool.com.au/port-warrnambool-master-plan

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