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AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SOCIETY (AUSTRALIA) INC STUDY GROUP

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019

GSG NSW Programme 2019 02 | EDITORIAL Leader: Peter Olde, p 0432 110 463 | e [email protected] For details about the NSW chapter please contact Peter, contact via email is preferred. 04 | ACTIVITIES GSG QLD CHAPTER: – GREVILLEA MEETING AT GSG Vic Programme 2019 TAMBORINE – PETE’S HOBBY NURSERY Leader: Neil Marriott, 693 Panrock Reservoir Rd, Stawell, Vic. 3380 – HOME OF JIM & FRAN STANDING p 03 5356 2404 or 0458 177 989 | e [email protected] – HOME OF CHRIS NIKOLIC Contact Neil for queries about program for the year. Any members who would like to visit the official collection, obtain cutting material or seed, assist in its maintenance, and stay in our cottage for a few days are invited to contact Neil.| See page 3 for details of Easter Working Bee 19-23 April. 07 | GREVILLEA NEWS GREVILLEA SCABRIFOLIA GSG SE Qld Programme 2019 LUCID KEY NEW MEMBERS We gather at 09:30 for shared morning tea and a meeting at 10:00. We usually have a BYO lunch about midday. Visitors are always welcome. For more info or to (CALEY’S GREVILLEA) check venues etc please contact: Ross Reddick on 0405 510 459 or Denis Cox on (07) 5546 8590 as changes can occur.

Sunday, 30 June | IN YOUR GARDEN 09 venue: Pete’s Hobby Nursery, 10 Patrick Street, Lowood. DIFFERENT HYBRID?? Peter Bevan has a Native nursery across the back yard of several properties FEMALE PEACOCK CARPENTER BEE with several hundred varieties and he has also planted the now-famous ‘rail trail’ garden near his Lowood home. PRUNING MY UNNAMED HYBRID GREVILLEA subject: Pruning A NOVEL HOSE ATTACHMENT PLANTING Sunday, 25 August THE ART AND SCIENCE OF venue: Home of Denis Cox & Jan Glazebrook at 87 Daintree Drive, Logan Village. MAKING A HUGELKULTUR BED Daintree Dr is a circuit & has 2 appearances on Diamantina Dr and Jan & Denis are AMAZING BUG on the second corner. Please park on Diamantina. subject: Perfumed Grevilleas

Friday, 6 September 16 | IN THE WILD time: After midday WEDDIN COMMUNITY venue: Set-up for the ‘Wildflower Spectacle & plants market’ at the Mt Coot tha Botanic NATIVE NURSERY Gardens Auditorium. It would also be good to have someone to be present at the show on 7 & 8 to interact with the patrons. subject: Wildflower Spectacle & plants market

17 | SEED BANK Sunday, 27 October venue: Garden of Jim & Fran Standing at Mt Clunie Road, Mt Clunie (via Woodenbong, NSW). On the southern side of the Scenic Rim and against Mt Clunie National Park, see how our natives thrive in the cooler climes. 18 | FINANCIALS subject: TBA. EDITORIAL

A FEW WORDS FROM PETER Peter Olde, NSW

This Newsletter has been compiled by members with a little help from the GSG leader. There may have been some confusion as Christine indicated it was Victoria’s turn and then left for Bali. However, the matter has now been resolved. Victorians can get their articles ready for next year. The newsletter after this (114) is the responsibility of New South Wales members. What about trying to put an original article together or searching the internet on a particular species of interest. You will be surprised what you can find and it would be a great help to me. Hope you have been watching Gardening Australia, easily the best Gardening show on TV. A recent show was produced from the Illawarra Grevillea Park, Bulli and featured ‘Glorious Grevilleas’. Two of those listed as Ray Brown’s three favourites were bred by Richard Tomkin: Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’ and G. ‘Miami Pink’. His favourite is G. ‘Bulli Beauty’ which came up spontaneously in the Grevillea Park some time ago. The show was recorded at the end of 2018 and went to air on Friday March 29 2019 with a repeat on Sunday 31 March. At that time Ray was in St Vincent’s Hospital having his heart mended. He is back on track once again and you will be pleased to know, young and invigorated, after some mis-steps along the way, fruit exterior showing style attached such as a blood clot in the lung. Many of you expressed appreciation and enjoyed the feature. You can watch it on iView but I have downloaded a video of the segment which you can also download. Not sure how long it will be available, but I have a copy if anyone misses it. Glorious grevilleas https://abcportal-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/ baddeley_melissa_abc_net_au/EfWWEtvX5ZpGrkOHmuT KuFABFu02PNIw1tHvLlM5ClV-UA?e=DlZrTi (318MB) I am thinking of re-activating the New South Wales chapter of the Grevillea Study Group with some quarterly meetings and a few activities. I want to see some of the interesting Grevillea endlicheriana fruit cut open to reveal seeds species and forms out there propagated. Please contact me with expressions of interest and ideas for meeting times etc. If there is sufficient interest, we might start up next year. I want to make special mention of Mark Noake and his work so far behind the scenes. I do so in the hope that his efforts will inspire the efforts of others. Just ask me how you can assist. Mark has been photographing Grevillea fruits with the seed inside. You can see how the organs line up. These images are not seen too often in publication. I am attaching just two. They show the seed coat and the seed. The idea here is to photograph the fruits and seeds of every Grevillea species. A monumental but not unachievable task given fruit cut open to reveal seeds our numbers. CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 02 EDITORIAL

Mark has also been setting up a database to which we can link information on all the different species of Grevillea. At present I am trying to reference each species in the various treatments. A similar approach is taken on the AVH website but they have largely ignored references in the Grevillea Book which I find a bit insulting, especially given that we broke the mould that the McGillivray Revision would have deemed we follow. I am told that this is simply a matter of resources and will be fixed over time. In the meantime, references in the GSG newsletter will be taken up in the list I am compiling. Bernie Shanahan (2 categories) and Tony Cavanagh (7 categories) deserve great credit for continuing to update our index past Newsletter 100. The index to Newsletters 1–100 is available on the GSG website. Is there anyone who would be interested to assist Tony with indexing one or two of the categories as each newsletter is produced? It would be such a great help, to him and to me.

Grevillea manglesii fruit exterior showing style attached Illawarra Grevillea Park NEXT OPEN DAYS 2019 Mark has also scanned all the illustrations drawn by Collin Woolcock. These were made for the Grevillea Book but July 6 & 7, 13 & 14 never published. I am going to make them available (as pdfs) for a fee to interested members as a way of raising Opening hrs are 10am – 4pm money. Are there any illustrators out there who could Location assist voluntarily with illustrating species not already The Park is located at the rear of Bulli Showground, completed. There have been many new species recognised Princess Highway, Bulli. since the Grevillea Book and many more are proposed in Admission manuscript. Possibly an additional 100 species. This means also that the Grevillea Books need to be revised, a process $5 adults, children with adults are free that I have started but is not far advanced particularly as email [email protected] the Hybrid Book is taking priority. or visit grevilleapark.org

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 03 ACTIVITIES

GSG QLD CHAPTER Jan Glazebrook, Qld

Grevillea meeting at Tamborine His grafts, once completed, are placed on an east facing It was a grey, overcast day in February when we visited verandah where they receive morning sun. Here he can Alan Lee’s home at Tamborine for the first Grevillea Study keep an eye on the plants. Group get-together for 2019. After the grafting demonstration we inspected Alan’s We all had one eye on the sky for rain that might break the garden. Despite the drought, his plants looked like they record drought that South-east Queensland was suffering. were well settled in. And although there was not a lot in But even though a few drops fell, we would have to wait flower, we were able to see how he had established his before we would receive decent drought-breaking rain. plants. This is a garden that is well on its way to being an example of how grafted grevilleas should be used.

Alan and his family have been on their Tamborine acreage We then made our way to Alan’s shade house, where property for about two years but have already established we were able to purchase grafted grevilleas for a very a garden in the front section. In the back section, which reasonable price. His plants are a testament to his skill in slopes down to a small creek, he has established a nursery grafting. where he propagates and grafts Grevilleas After the meeting, Alan gave us a demonstration of his grafting technique. In preparing the rootstock, the top is removed, leaving only two , then any growth buds in the axils are removed. He uses a splice graft and uses Parafilm to completely enclose the scion from which the leaves have been carefully removed, ensuring no damage to the growth buds in the axils.

We then made our way to Alan’s shade house, where we were able to purchase grafted grevilleas for a very reasonable price. His plants are a testament to his skill in grafting.

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 04 ACTIVITIES

Meeting report of SE Qld Grevillea Study Group, Correspondence outward: Sunday 28 October, 2018 August meeting report sent 30/08; At Pete’s Hobby Nursery, 10 Patrick Street, Lowood Denis opened the meeting at 10:00. He thanked members 2019 meeting schedule sent 27/09; for attending & a big thanks to Peter & Carol for hosting us October meeting reminder sent 10/10; today. He also welcomed some visitors. Chris Nikolic’s details sent to Peter Olde; Attendance: 21 members & 4 visitors, as per the attendance book. Welcome email to Jessica Fealy, with meeting details. 2 of the visitors are colleagues of Alan at the native plant Ross moved acceptance of Inward & endorsement of nursery at Loganholme. Outgoing, Seconded Bev W, Carried. Apologies: 5 apologies, as per the attendance book. General business: Raffle: 1. A check on the NPQ website revealed no info page for GSG to update. GSG is a national group Raffle tickets were set at 50c today. 2. NPQ Xmas Region gathering at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Record of last meeting: Gardens, Australian Plant Communities area, on The record of the August meeting was sent out on 30th Saturday 1st December 09:30-14:30; BYO shared August. A reminder notice of this meeting was sent on Morning tea & BYO lunch. Hot water, tea, coffee, milk 10th October. & sugar provided. Gardens curator Dale Arvidsson will host the gathering. Business arising: Spring flower show & plant sale. 3. Denis reported a recent visit to Phil Vaughan’s nursery G. magnifica G.oligomera Denis reported that the GSG display was well done & well at which he saw a hybrid of & accepted by the attendees. that was ‘stunning’. 4. Alan Lee displayed some of his grafted specimens; Financial report: Treasurer - Bev Weir; G. nudiflora broadleaf (on G. robusta) Opening balance: $1316.77 2x grammatophylla (on G. robusta). Income: Raffle $29 These were placed in the raffle, with ‘winners’ to report back on their success. Bank interest: 03c Show and tell: Paid: $10 to host Beth presented a flower & foliage of a seedling Grevillea Current balance: $1335.80 from her garden. Bev moved acceptance; Sec. Chris R, Carried. It had a long, nicely cylindrical shaped flower of pink to Correspondence inward: red. Peter Olde. requesting Chris Nikolic’s contact details to The foliage was accepted by Peter to see what he could obtain a garden report for the newsletter. ‘make’ of it. Alan Lee. confirming hosting our February 2019 meeting; Discussion topic: Bill & Elizabeth Shepherd. Requesting removal from None today; off for a stroll along the Rail Trail plantings mailout list; for which Peter has been honoured by his local Council; the plantings run from the centre of town for several Peter Olde. Welcoming Jessica Fealy to GSG membership; hundred metres along the rail trail and bordering the town’s golf course fence. Starting as a one-man show, the Jane Fountain. ANPSA Study Group Coordinator plantings now attract some assistance from businesses newsletter; check GSG contact details OK; & the Council and some human resources from local Peter Olde. Thanks for our generous offer of funds to groups. GSG; Will advise when required. Close meeting: at 10:40. CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 05 ACTIVITIES

Meeting report of SE Qld Grevillea Study Group, Meeting report of SE Qld Grevillea Study Group, Sunday 25 November, 2018 Sunday 5 May 2019 At the home of Jim & Fran Standing at Mt Clunie At the home of Chris Nikolic at Tallegalla The meeting opened a little later at 10:15, as the treasurer Denis opened the meeting at 10:10, thanked members had tyre trouble on the way. Don’t you love those space- for attending & thanked Chris & Martin for hosting us. saver tyres!! Denis thanked members for attending & a big Weather was perfect, following 5-6mm rain on the thanks to Jim & Fran for hosting us today. Saturday. Attendance: 11 members & 6 visitors, as per the Attendance: 23 members & 3 visitors, as per the attendance book. attendance book. Apologies: 6 apologies, as per the attendance book. Apologies: 5 apologies, as per the attendance book. Record of last Mmeeting: The record of the October Record of last Meeting: The record of the February meeting & a reminder notice were sent out on 8 meeting was sent out on 28th February and because November. Ross moved they be accepted, Sec. Bev, the date for today’s meeting had been altered from the carried. regular last Sunday in April, another reminder notice was sent on 12th April. Ross moved the minutes be accepted, Business arising: N/A Sec. Peter B, carried. Financial report: Treasurer - Bev Weir; Business arising: N/A Bank interest: 0.03c Financial report: Treasurer - Bev reported the current Current balance: $1351.79 (I think!) financial situation. Bev moved acceptance; Sec. Chris R, Carried. Opening balance: $1367.82 Correspondence outward: Raffle income from Feb: $45 Only previous meeting report & meeting reminder. Donation to host: $10 General business: Bank interest: 0.03c 1. What to do for rust on leaves? Closing Balance: $1402.86 Eco fungicide (Potassium bi-carb), fortnightly. Bev moved acceptance; Sec. Jan, Carried. 2. What do you do to have the garden looking so good? Correspondence inward: PH 4.5 to 5.5 Garden lime/ hi N grass feed (no Phosphorous) From Nightjar Natives, offering to host a GSG meeting in Go Go juice the future. Neutrog Bush Tucker From Richard & Lana advising they would attend the May # Woodchip – keeps moisture in, but does take-up N; meeting with grafted plants for sale. #Mancozeb for fungals; Correspondence outward: #Prune to re-new; Previous meeting report & meeting reminder. # They planted wind-break to west, which provides a bit too much shade now; To Nightjar Natives, explaining all 2019 venues were in place. # We noticed lots of ‘Caper’ white butterflies in the Ross moved the inward be accepted & outward garden; endorsed. Sec. Ray, Carried. Show and tell: General business: Fran spoke about several Grevilleas – Tango, New Blood, 1. The next GSG newsletter requires input from Qld Raspberry Hooks, Lollypops, laurifolia. branch. Please get your articles to Chris Guthrie at [email protected] ASAP. Discussion topic: Extended garden crawl. 2. Nightjar Natives would be happy to host GSG for our April 2020 meeting. More details later. Close meeting: 10:50 CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 06 ACTIVITIES

3. GSG display at the September 7 & 8 ’Wildflower Garden tour: Spectacle & plants market’ at the Mt Coot tha Botanic Chris led the group around the gardens, passing around Gardens Auditorium. We discussed that our best bet is laminated enlarged colour photos, which showed the to display as many ‘colours’ of Grevilleas as we can find ‘then’ in October 2016, for us to compare with the ‘now’. at the time. If members have some potted specimens, The ‘then’ photos were taken after the ‘bulldozer’ had some Native plant fertilizer applied about 6 weeks out been through and much manual labour to remove the may promote some flowering. Jan has 30’ish home- Duranta, Murraya, Asparagus fern, Lantana, Mother of made pottery containers to display the cut flowers. millions, Mother in laws tongue, etc, etc, which left Chris 4. Richard advised that cutting material & stock received with a ‘clean slate’. New gardens are created by running- last winter and trialled by several nurserymen, had out a long garden hose until the required size & shape are generally been a failure, with the corresponding loss of achieved. The grass enclosed by the hose is then ‘treated’, time, materials & potential income. some garden soil is brought in and then the area is mulched heavily. Holes are generally drilled and the holes scarfed Plant sales: before planting. Plants are watered once or twice, after Richard of Changers Green Nursery had several dozen which reliance of watering is from the heavens. 90mm square pots of grafted specimens for sale; Show and Tell: Jan & Laylee both had Grevillea flowers to Dave & Catherine of Nightjar Natives had several show-off. Laylee’s specimen caused a discussion as to the ‘standards’ for sale; parentage of the plant, which proved inconclusive. Chris opened his ‘Smarty Plants’ Nursery, with good Discussion topic: Garden establishment; see Garden tour sales; (Chis & Martin also breed Australian Lowline cattle, above. Andelusion chickens and guinea fowls on their hobby farm). Raffle:Chris & Peter supplied some grafted items for the raffle, which saw ticket sales being very popular. Close Meeting: 12:05

SECTIONGREVILLEA NEWS

GREVILLEA CALEYI (CALEY’S GREVILLEA) Christine Guthrie, NSW

Grevillea caleyi is a medium to tall , with long in seed. Seed dispersal is low and predation is high, spreading branches, growing to a height and width of up therefore it is estimated that 8-12 years is required to to 4 m. The divided green leaves are covered in soft, rusty develop a sufficient seedbank to replace a population. hairs and are up to 15 cm long. The flowers, which open in late winter and spring, have a toothbrush-like appearance The Saving our Species program, funded by the NSW with up to 8 cm in length and are dark burgundy- government, is a statewide conservation program that red in colour. addresses the growing number of Australian animals and Australian native plants facing extinction. G. caleyi has Distribution is restricted to an 8 km square area around been assigned to the site -managed mangement stream Terrey Hills, approximately 20 km north of Sydney. It occurs under the Saving our Species program. Site-managed in three major areas of suitable habitat, namely Belrose, species are protected by locating them at specific sites. Ingleside and Terrey Hills/Duffys Forest within the Ku-ring- This allows critical threats to be managed and species to gai, Pittwater and Warringah Local Government Areas. be protected in the long term. Conservation Status of G. caleyi is Critically Endangered in both NSW and Commonwealth. There are a number of reasons for this endangered status including: • Killed by fire and relies entirely on seed that is stored in the soil for regeneration. • Generally seedlings do not flower and produce seed before 2-5 years of age. • Fecundity is low with only about 3% of flowers result

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 07 SECTIONGREVILLEA NEWS

GREVILLEA SCABRIFOLIA Email from Mark Noake to Peter Olde

I’ve attached an image of G. scabrifolia at Granite Falls. Needless to say, we did not sample the one pictured here. It took us some time to find the plants as there were only a handful of flowers, some bushes had none at all. We harvested some less than average material from along the track. It consisted of last year’s growth plus some new shoots about 53mm long, so it could well be that a trip in about a month’s time could provide better material. I’ve done 30 cuttings and PhilTrickett has done cutting Grevillea scabrifolia at Granite Falls. grafts so we should get a viable plant.

LUCID KEY Email from Mark Noake to Peter Olde

I’ve checked out the possibility of producing the Lucid key 1. I can programme the Access Db to do all sorts of which you asked me about last Sunday. things, including exporting the collected data in a form compatible with Lucid, and to generate with the same After downloading a trial version of Lucid Builder I think I data the web pages we spoke about so long ago. could produce a key. The biggest stumbling block will be the $550+ price tag on the software required to produce 2. Importing raw data into my Db, and cleaning it up, the keys. Non profit organisations can distribute the key reordering it, and all the other necessary pre-publication for free or can have it hosted on the web for no charge. stuff is so much easier and quicker than entering each I would propose that I continue to collect descriptions entity online with all the restrictions entailed. Resultant into my MSAccess database whilst playing with the trial text files can be uploaded into Lucid. software (limited to a small number of entries and with no facility to publish a key). The same process is involved in 3. Work can progress whilst the GSG is impecunious. both situations. What are your thoughts? Woolcock’s drawings will of My reasons for this suggestion are as follows: course take priority in order to finish that project.

NEW MEMBERS Email from Mark Noake to Peter Olde

We love to find out about our members, so feel free to Kevin Stokes from Toronto, NSW send a few sentences about yourself or your activities by I am a volunteer at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens near way of introduction. Newcastle where we have a good collection of Grevillea. I Masumi Robertson from Bruce, ACT would like one day to bring the garden up to scratch and include as many species as possible. My other interest is John & I have been members of ANPS Canberra for 30 photography and I try and present photos of Australian years. Our main interest is our native garden. We live in plants, as well as Grevillea, in a way that makes them Canberra where the soil is yellow clay and the climate is attractive for people to view and hopefully introduce them very cold to very hot. It is difficult to grow some of more to the beauty of Australian flora. In particular my interest is spectacular Australian native plant species, still we have in macro photography. I am also going to try (try being the a garden full of native plants, an abundance of birds and operative word) to do some grafting for the Gardens, the other wildlife (including a wallaby or two and some eastern trouble being, the time it takes to fit everything in, is far greys), and native bees in the area. I look forward to any greater than my allotted life span. I have been trying to get tips to grow Grevilleas (many do not cope well here), and an ID on an image I took. I’m not sure if anyone can help as new developments in Grevillea , new species the name I have is Grevillea myosodes which, according to (wonderful job Peter and Neil are doing!) and such. Flora Base is an invalid name but doesn’t offer a synonym. Is there anything in a previous newsletter about a name change for this plant?

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 08 IN YOUR GARDEN

DIFFERENT HYBRID?? Laylee Purchase, Qld

A few years ago, four seedlings came up in one of my predominantly grevillea areas. Now that they have flowered prolifically, I find it difficult to guess the parentage of one of them. It is the best hybrid to have come up here.

The other sister plant seems to be G. pinaster, with totally different foliage and flower.

The flower is similar to , but unlike G. stenomera, it flowers both within and on the outside the bush. When in bud, the styles appear to be red. When it opens out, the flower tends to be mid pink in appearance, quickly fading to a beautiful shell pink, and it is this colour that dominates the flowers. The styles are insipid pink with green tips so why they start out red confuses me.

I would be interested to know if anyone can assist in identifying the parentage of this plant.

The three stages are on show on the right. We all like to think we have something different and worthwhile when a seedling attracts our attention. This is one I really like and will propagate. In terms of identifying parentage, I attach this photo of a sister plant with similar foliage but an “also ran” flower.

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 09 IN YOUR GARDEN

FEMALE PEACOCK CARPENTER BEE Merv Hodge, Qld

Herein is a selection of shots of the Female Peacock Bee (Xylocopa bombylans). It makes a nest by tunnelling into soft wood such as the flower stem of the Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea species) or . Several females may use the same nest but most will guard the nest and one is the breeding female. Apparently, they are capable of stinging but are not aggressive and not known to sting. If one is caught in a hand it would most likely sting. The males are stingless. They are one of Australia’s largest Bees. Google “Peacock Carpenter Bee” for more information and photos.

Female Peacock Carpenter Bee on Grevillea ‘Dianne’s Blush’ flowers

Female Peacock Bee approaching flowers on Grevillea ‘Dianne’s Blush’

Female Peacock Carpenter Bee approaching Grevillea ‘Dianne’s Blush’ flowers

Female Peacock Carpenter Bee flying towards flowers on Grevillea ‘Dianne’s Blush’

Female Peacock Carpenter Bee on Melastoma affine

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 10 IN YOUR GARDEN

PRUNING MY UNNAMED HYBRID GREVILLEA Merv Hodge, Qld

One of my spontaneous Grevillea hybrids resembles Grevillea ‘Superb’ so I have not released it on the Nursery trade. Having a label made is expensive and that, with the indifference or ignorance of some nurserymen, it is inevitable that it will be sold as G. ‘Superb’, G. ‘Coconut Ice’ or G. ‘Ned Kelly’, or maybe even G. ‘Robyn Gordon’. My cynicism is really being realistic, based past experience. It is an attractive Grevillea but like all of its type, it eventually needed pruning. See further information below each photo. Note: Epicormic shoots are mentioned. They are shoots growing from epicormic buds which lay beneath the bark of a trunk or branch of a tree or shrub. Not all and trees possess this ability. Others can only reshoot from I pruned my Grevillea hybrid dormant buds in leaf axils i.e. as formed where a leaf attaches to a stem. Stimulation into growth of these buds occurs when the plant is damaged (or pruned) beyond that area.

Epicormic shoots appearing after severely pruning my Grevillea hybrid

Blue-faced on my Grevillea hybrid

Epicormic shoots appearing after severe pruning my Grevillea hybrid

Spontaneous hybrid similar to Grevillea ‘Superb’

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 11 IN YOUR GARDEN

A NOVEL HOSE ATTACHMENT Merv Hodge, Qld

I thought that you might be interested in seeing a gadget that I bought recently to replace my previous hose attachment. My old one was useful but I sometimes found it necessary to alternate fittings. This new fitting is simple to connect and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to operate it. Just rotate the ring to suite your hosing needs and squeeze the hand grip. My needs vary from place to place or even plant to plant. I have only shown 3 of the 8 settings. We depend on rainwater tanks so have to be careful with usage. As you can see, I try to make sure that I water plants Hose fitting, mist setting deeply by partly burying old 90 mm tubes (lengths of 50 mm poly pipe would do). This avoids run off and surface loss by evaporation. For large plants 3 or 4 might be best equally spaced around the plant for better moisture distribution and so encourage a more evenly distributed root system. You can even add fertiliser via these tubes; particularly useful if you wish to use slow release fertilisers which would be affected by hotter surface conditions. I prefer to give supplementary watering only to non- established plants. If plants are out of reach of the hose then a watering can is an option. The tubes are not set down plush with ground level to avoid debris from entering. Hose fitting, jet setting A plant germinated next to the roots of Dendrobium discolor in a large pot and I recognised that it wasn’t a weed and intended to remove it for repotting. Procrastination took over and it was left longer than desirable. By the time I got around to it, its roots were established among the orchid roots. I decided to use the jet setting of the hose fitting to see if I could remove the offending plant with as little damage as possible to either plant. I aimed the jet around the base of the plant while maintaining a slight pull on the plant. As you can see in the photo below the roots were mostly intact in spite of it being deeply rooted. I doubt that the orchid roots were significantly damaged, Hose fitting, shower setting certainly less so than using any other method.

Plant bare rooted by jet stream

Hose fitting, 8 settings CONTINUED >

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 12 IN YOUR GARDEN

Some responses to this article: In the past I have tried to use one of those hose fittings. However, it was not satisfactory here as the pressure build up is too great when some of the restricted settings are chosen, so that the hose busts off the tap or the fitting comes off the hose. Possibly your water pressure is not as high as it is here. I tried more than one such device, but gave up as it was too frustrating to have to frequently reconnect the hose. Possibly I should try again on the hose from the tank, but the pump here also gives a very good pressure. From Merv:

Hose fitting, jet setting I think that you need a new hose or at least have the hose fittings where it bursts replaced or tightened. Our house pump gives very good pressure and I have had to fix our hoses in the past for one reason or another. It may be a mismatch of those click-on fittings. If it is a problem bring your hose and the gadget to the next meeting and I or someone else will fix it I am sure. You should be able to turn off the hose at the nozzle end without any problem but keep it in mind the hose then builds up to maximum supply pressure so I would not leave it like that unattended just to be on the safe side. First of all where does it burst? • Does the Gadget pop out of the connection? If so you might have an incompatibility problem. They are not all the same even if they look so except for colour. It is 90 mm tube set in ground to water Grevillea masonii preferable, though not always necessary, to match male and female fittings of the same colour (in my case they are different colours but it works OK) • Does one of the hose connections part company with the hose? Try more muscle tightening the connection. It might need the assistance of pliers or similar tool. The fitting might have passed its use-by date and a new one might be advisable. • Does the hose itself burst? Definitely need a new hose. They should be able to withstand pressure of normal reticulated water supply. I have encountered all of these things in the past including O Directing jet into 90 mm tube rings wearing out or falling off. O rings are seen on the male connectors and are supposed to prevent leaking at the union. As stated fitting colour is also important for a good union The difference is more than just colour but a leaking union might be the only problem. I hope that I have been of some assistance. One respondent suggested cutting he bottom of plastic soft drink bottles and partly burying upside down to serve the same purpose as the 90 mm tubes that I displayed. Yes you could adapt a number of products for this. What about plastic 1 litre milk bottles? These products may not last as long as black pots though. You might have other ideas to mine and might share them with us. I have only corresponded with the Directing jet into 90 mm tube Grevillea Study Group and SGAP Logan River Branch on this (this photo took a bit of effort unaided) subject.

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 13 IN YOUR GARDEN

PLANTING GREVILLEAS Richard Tomkin, Qld

Facebook Page 28 Dec 2017. Do NOT tease the roots. Imagine the damage done to a root as it is pulled and twisted and bent and bruised! Cut This may sound somewhat presumptuous but here goes. off all roots that are deformed or are running around in a Planting Grevilleas into your garden may sound like circle from the pot bottom. Cut roots will regrow straight something we all know how to do but I’m going to go and quickly. 2 weeks. through it just in case there’s something that’s been Plant in the square hole with NO fertiliser in the hole!!! missed. Imagine how the nitrogen etc will be gassing up through There are TWO sorts of Grevilleas to plant. Grafted or the roots etc. Water in and allow to settle Ungrafted (the latter includes tissue cultured plants). NOW add some fertiliser and cover it and the surrounding There is a difference in planting techniques. soil with a good porous mulch. I like to water the next day Assuming Grafted plants have a good rootstock such asG. with seaweed. DO stake if you have to but allow the plant a robusta there will be a need to keep it moist for the first small amount of movement which will help it firm up later. 2–4 weeks or until good growth is achieved. With that in If the plant is a bit top heavy, prune some off and please mind I suggest planting at a depth that will allow a small avoid leaving that long lanky shoot with the flower bud on dam to be built around the plant at 10-15 cm out from it. “Ooh I’ll just leave it until it flowers” Yeah right. Then the stem. Watering is much easier and runoff reduced. If it there’s the next one or two just below it which will be just gets too wet just break the wall. as pretty so you leave those too etc etc until it’s 2m tall Cutting-grown plants need to have better drainage so plant and a single stem and wobbly. higher and so not build a dam unless you have sandy soil. Prune it off! Dig a SQUARE hole???? The best pots are square for a Happy growing!! reason. Roots will take the easiest way and love to go around and around so make it hard for them with corners. Post hole diggers are fine but DO square off the hole, if not then use a bar to deglaze the sides. I’ve seen shrubs pulled out of the ground after 3 years with a root ball the same size and shape as the post hole that it was living in. Poorly I might add.

AMAZING BUG Mark Noake, Qld

Mark Noake sent this photo recently taken by Ruth Pulford of this amazing bug on her Grevillea masonii. The bug has been identified as a Common Garden Katydid (scientific name: Caedicia simplex). It has the ability to change it’s colour to match the host plant, and feeds on flowers, pollen, leaves etc. This one really does pick up both the greens and pinks of the plant it’s on. For more information visit https:// australianmuseum.net.au/learn/ animals/insects/common-garden- katydid/

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 14 IN YOUR GARDEN

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MAKING A HUGELKULTUR BED – Melissa Miles TRANSFORMING WOODY DEBRIS INTO A GARDEN RESOURCE (taken from the internet)

Applicable on a variety of sites, hugelkultur is particularly well suited for areas that present a challenge to gardeners. Urban lots with compacted soils, areas with poor drainage, limited moisture, etc., can be significantly improved using a hugelkultur technique, as hugelkultur beds are, essentially, large, layered compost piles covered with a growing medium into which a garden is planted. Creating a hugelkultur garden bed is a relatively simple process: 1. Select an area with approximately these dimensions: 6 feet by 3 feet 2. Gather materials for the project: Fallen logs, branches, twigs, fallen leaves (the “under utilized” biomass from the site). Avoid using cedar, walnut or other tree species deemed allelopathic. Nitrogen rich material (manure or kitchen waste work well and will help to maintain a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio in the decomposing mass within the hugelkulter bed). Top soil (enough to cover the other layers of the bed with a depth of 1 – 2”) and some mulching material (straw works well). 3. Lay the logs (the largest of the biomass debris) down as Wooden debris will decompose faster, (and be transformed the first layer of the hugelkulter bed. Next, add a layer into a resource)when hugelkultur te chniques are employed of branches, then a layer of small sticks and twigs. Hugelkultur beds work best when they are roughly 3 Used for centuries in Eastern Europe and Germany, feet high (though this method is forgiving, and there hugelkultur (in German hugelkultur translates roughly as is no fixed rule as to the size of the bed. That is where “mound culture”) is a gardening and farming technique the “art” comes in!) whereby woody debris (fallen branches and/or logs) are 4. Water these layers well used as a resource. 5. Begin filling in spaces between the logs, twigs and Often employed in permaculture systems, hugelkultur branches with leaf litter and manure of kitchen scraps. allows gardeners and farmers to mimic the nutrient cycling found in a natural woodland to realize several 6. Finally, top off the bed with 1 – 2” of top soil and a benefits. Woody debris (and other detritus) that falls to layer of mulch. the forest floor can readily become sponge like, soaking up rainfall and releasing it slowly into the surrounding soil, The hugelkulter bed will benefit from “curing” a bit, thus making this moisture available to nearby plants. so it is best to prepare the bed several months prior to planting time (prepare the bed in the fall for a spring Hugelkultur garden beds (and hugelkultur ditches and planting, for example, in temperate northern climates), swales) using the same principle to: but hugelkultur beds can be planted immediately. Plant seeds or transplants into the hugelkulter bed as you would • Help retain moisture on site any other garden bed. • Build soil fertility Happy hugelkulturing! • Improve drainage • Use woody debris that is unsuitable for other use

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 15 IN THE WILD

WEDDIN COMMUNITY NATIVE NURSERY Peter Olde, NSW

In recent months I have paid a visit to Noel and Sharon The next step is to notify either the WCNN or Local Land Cartwright at Grenfell. Noel has long been a Grevillea Services whose contact details are on the front page of enthusiast and has planted out an indigenous garden near this publication. Please do not attempt to remove the his home on public land now managed by the Grenfell plant or any part of it. We are hoping that together we can council. I visited the Weddin Community Native Nursery, make a difference in preserving our local flora. Below is a managed by Noel and Dennis Simpson. It is a non-profit list of the plants that we have identified as disappearing: organisation run by volunteers. The plants are relatively Philotheca myoporoides or ‘Wax Flower’, Brunonia australis cheap and many of the plants that you can purchase are or ‘Blue Pincushion Plant’, Ricinocarpos bowmanii or ‘Pink not readily available elsewhere. Grevillea ‘Sharon’s Gold’ Wedding Bush’, Cyphanthera albicans or ‘Grey Ray Flower’, is available here. Noel and others are trying to rescue The Grenfell form of , Correa reflexa Prostanthera ovalifolia at Brundah Falls, of which George or ‘Native Fuchsia’, Kunzea parvifolia or ‘Purple Heath’, Althofer wrote so poetically in the Cradle of Incense, and Prostanthera ovalifolia or Brundah Mint Bush (Grenfell its many colour forms. These plants have been badly Form): Crowea exalata or ‘Waxflower’. smashed down and almost destroyed by feral goats. Only a few remain. The white-flowered one may have The Grenfell form of Grevillea lanigera is thought to be disappeared altogether. The area has now been fenced off synonymous with the form collected by Allan Cunningham, thanks to the concern of the landowner-farmer. But let me and named by Robert Brown, as Grevillea ericifolia. It was quote from the website blurb. collected by Cunningham west of Bathurst at Limestone Creek near the Lachlan River, from which area it appears ‘We aim to raise awareness of both our local residents now to have disappeared, following human and pest and visitors to our area regarding plants that are quickly disturbance and agriculture. Plants around Grenfell are disappearing from our region. These beautiful native known from very few locations, one of which Dennis species were once common in our local region and some Simpson relocated recently. I collected it in 2001 in forms of these plants have been found nowhere else. Sadly, Conimbla National Park, Barryrennie Drive, north-east it would appear that some have all but gone now. This is of Grenfell, along a bush track not far from the car park mainly as a result of predation and ground degradation but Noel tells me that it seems to have disappeared by feral goats, rabbits and pigs. Groups such as the from there. It appears to be the same form that occurs Weddin Wanders, Local Landcarers, Birding NSW and seed in Livingstone National Park, south of Wagga Wagga. The collectors from the Weddin Community Native Nursery collection at Limestone Creek is the most northerly point spend regular time roaming our local bushland and yet have of the distribution forG. lanigera. not been able to locate these once common plants. Many of the plants listed here are actually unique to this area. Some of these plants have been identified and registered by our local native plant elder Noel Cartwright. They have been given names which reflect their uniqueness to our local area. e.g. “The Brundah Mint Bush” and “Grevillia lanigera Grenfell form.” Often the only places these plants will be found now are deep in rocky crevices or on vertical rock outcrops where predators cannot reach. What do you do if you locate one of these plants? If possible, please take a GPS location of the plant or if you do not have a GPS then try as best you can to note any landmarks nearby and your general location so that it might be possible to locate the plant again.

Noel Cartwright, Dennis Simpson & Peter Olde at Grenfell

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 01616 SECTIONSEED BANK

MATT HURST: 37 HEYDON AVE, WAGGA WAGGA 2650 NSW PHONE (02) 6925 1273

Please include a stamped self addressed envelope. $1.50 + s.a.e

Grevillea aurea Grevillea magnifica Grevillea magnifica alba prostrate ssp magnifica Grevillea ramosissima ssp Grevillea manglesii ramosissima ssp manglesii (ltd) (ltd) Grevillea superba ssp abbreviata Grevillea floribundaex Grevillea triternata Coonabarabran (ltd) Grevillea wickamii (ltd) ssp aprica

Free + s.a.e

Grevillea banksii prostrate white Grevillea leucopteris Please note: seed from hybrid -substitute -cultivated plants does Grevillea banksii prostrate red Grevillea magnifica not necessarily come true to type. Grevillea banksii prostrate red Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ ex 1770 Grevillea glauca Grevillea ramosissima Grevillea juncifolia Grevillea johnsonii red flowers Grevillea stenobotrya Grevillea longistyla

Fresh stocks of garden seed are desperately needed as most species are almost out of seed. Can members asking for seed please give an alternative list in case some species are no longer in stock. It is preferred if requests are sent with a small padded post pack. It costs less to send at approx $1.50 per letter than padding an envelope at $2.00 each or more so the seed will survive the trip down the sorting rollers. It’s a good idea to send extra stamps with requests as extra postage is usually needed to be paid with almost every request. Leftover stamps would be sent back with your seed.

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 01717 FINANCIAL REPORT JUNE 2019 OFFICE BEARERS

Income LEADER Peter Olde Donations 20.00 140 Russell Lane, Oakdale NSW 2570 Interest 0.73 (04) 3211 0463 [email protected]

Total income $20.73 TREASURER AND NEWSLETTER EDITOR Christine Guthrie 32 Blanche Street, Oatley NSW 2223 Expenditure (02) 9579 4093 [email protected] Newsletter publishing $300.00

CURATOR OF LIVING COLLECTION

Total expenditure $300.00 Neil Marriott PO Box 107, Stawell Vic 3380 (03) 5356 2404 or 0458 177 989 [email protected] Bank account details CURATOR OF ILLAWARRA GREVILLEA PARK, BULLI The term deposit was terminated on 28/6/2018 and the balance of Ray Brown 18,955.99 was deposited in the 29 Gwythir Avenue, Bulli NSW 2516 current account. (02) 4284 9216

CURATOR OF SEED BANK Balance in current account 17/06/2019 Matt Hurst $4,306.78 37 Heydon Ave, Wagga Wagga 2650 NSW (02) 6925 1273

DONATIONS ONLINE CONTACT

1. President’s email address The newsletter is now free but groups are [email protected] encouraged to make an annual donation. Individual donations are always welcome. Direct deposits can be made into the Grevillea Study Group account. 2. URL for Grevillea Study Group website BSB: 112-879 http://anpsa.org.au/grevSG/ Account Number: 016526630 (St George Bank) To be notified of the latest newsletter, email recipients must Please notify the Treasurer of transfer by email be registered. Please ensure your email address is registered ([email protected]) and up to date and any changes are advised to Christine Guthrie at [email protected]

NEWSLETTER NO. 113 – JUNE 2019 18