Club Activities & Around the Members SEPTEMBER: We met at Kewarra at Dave & Brendan’s where the trees & shrubs have all grown well and the bromeliads are thriving. Members wandered around Bromelcairns the garden and were amazed when they saw Dyckia ‘Betty Farnhill’ aka ‘BB’ in Newsletter - 2008 # 5 spike! ---- small had formed in the centre of the cluster of large plants Cairns Bromeliad Society Inc. and were in flower, the orange bells appeared to be laughing at us. It was an P.O.Box 28 Cairns. Queensland 4870 amazing sight! No, Dave did not de-pup it! * With 13 good neoregelias entered in the mini show it was hard to judge but President Bob Hudson 0740533913 V-President Thomas Jones unlisted Brendan’s ‘Leopard’ was just perfect, with Darryl’s ‘Fandango’ a close Secretary Lynn Hudson 0740533913 second and a spider with web relegated Dave’s very rich ‘Burgundy’ to third. Treasurer Sharron Miller 0740322283 Excellent miniatures. ‘Well Done’ to each Entrant. Librarian Stuart Howe 0402832354 * We had a short discussion on neoregelias, then on varied topics as questions Editor Lynn Hudson 0740533913 arose and then the inevitable ingredients/ratio for ‘pot mixes’. Editor Assist. * We discussed the Show schedule and agreed on changes that include the BSI OIC Raffles Karen Stevens 0740361086 Member Concierge Barry Osborne 0740532047 definition of ‘flowering’ and for some genera to be more than one specimen. The Popular Vote Steward Karen Cross 0740545497 Schedule will be distributed next February. *Honorary Life Member - Grace Goode O.A.M.* * As Sharron had kept requesting a bus trip Bob suggested we go to Butler’s Life Member - Lynn Hudson Open Garden & visit Greg Oldano. Of course everyone agreed. ******************************************** * Brendan told us how he became involved with bromeliads. Aims of the Society POPULAR VOTE: To Promote and Develop Interest in Bromeliads through Friendship JUNIOR: Nil entries To Co-operate with similar Clubs throughout the World NOVICE: Tillandsia tenuifolia Grower – Elaine Asher ********************************************************** Neoregelia ‘Beauty to Behold’ Grower – Elaine Asher OPEN: Tillandsia seleriana lge fm Grower: Bob Hudson Membership Fee: $15 single, $25 family, $7.50 junior Country Member $25 Neoregelia ‘Leopard’ Grower: Brendan Leishman Meetings start at 1pm sharp first Saturday of the month. Please bring a cup and a Cryptanthus fosterianus Hyb Grower: Tony Scott chair. Mini Neoregelia MINI SHOW: st Library: All books & magazines borrowed are to be returned in good order to the 1 . Neoregelia sarmentosa Grower - Darryl Lister following meeting. If not on wait list, they may be rebooked. 2nd. ‘Aurora’ Grower – Nalda Wilson 3rd. ‘Chili Verde’ Grower – Karen Stevens Display/Sales: To participate, a member must be financial and circumstances Neoregelia MINI SHOW: permitting, have attended at least three meetings in the past six months. Where the st society is charged a stall fee - 20% of sales are deducted for club funds. No charge 1 . Neoregelia ‘Leopard’ Grower - Brendan Leishman nd venue & meetings - 10% of sales is deducted. All plants to be clean, free of disease, 2 ‘Fandango’ Grower - Darryl Lister named and price tagged. 3rd ‘Burgundy’ Grower – Dave Weston Show Plants: Must be the property of and in the custody of the entrant for the past three months. For Society Shows the entrant must be financial and have attended at least three meetings during the past six months.

Pens, Plant Tags & Pots: available at each meeting. Errata, errata! I writ it wrong in 2008 #4! Sorry Darryl Sack me, please! If reprinting article, wholly or in part, please acknowledge Author & Newsletter. First in the August vriesea mini show was the beautiful Any article will be emailed on request to [email protected] variegated Vriesea glutinosa grown by Darryl Lister Club Activities & Around the Members Guzmania & Vrieseas – August meeting ! Guzmanias & vrieseas are available in a varied range of forms and colours. OCTOBER: We were privileged to be invited to the prize winning garden of Some guzmanias have coloured and/or patterned foliage eg musaica, but the Carmel & Dave Peatey at Gordonvale. I forgot to pick up Karen but Sharron majority are green whereas vrieseas have many foliage patterns and a few talked Greg into going back – thank you Greg. Some members managed to different coloured forms, eg ospinae var. gruberi. Tissue culture has given us get lost on the way but we had a good roll up. I had often heard about variegated plants and hybridists have aimed for and succeeded in producing more Carmel’s bromeliads and all the ravings were deserved, as they are utterly colour in progeny. stunning, all massed together like a psychedelic cabbage patch. ! The majority of both of these genera have entire (no spines) soft, thin * We had visitors Sue & Ken Laurent from New Zealand and Bronya Cooper leaves and they need ‘soft’ care – they cannot tolerate Cairns summer sun; for who came with Linda. Sue said she learned a lot but Ken only came for the best results they need to be foliar fed and as they also feed through their roots, cup of tea - he had to wait until we went to Karen’s on the way home! they need a softer mix and respond well to a slow release fertilizer. The mix * New Members – Beryl Watson, Rita McKenzie & Bev Reaston. We hope must feed their roots but drain well. In our climate 10mil scoria for drainage, fine you enjoy your time with us, have lots of laughs and learn to grow your pine bark and a good potting mix works well in a 1/3 ratio. They enjoy a cool bromeliads as good as Dave & Darryl! home with a gentle breeze and good light. In habitat they grow in a vast range * Congratulations Christine & Stuart for entering the Novice Popular Vote of locations as seen in the list below. with well prepared plants. Don’t stop now just go for it! ! The inflorescence of most guzmanias rises above the foliage and is usually * Popular Vote voting was decisive and everyone envied Gail’s Aechmea formed in a star shape or a knob with the flowers among the bracts. The ‘Snowflakes’ with good reason. Gail said she had hung (not pegged!) it on the inflorescence of vrieseas is usually flat paddle shaped, rises above the foliage and clothes line - it had great colour and strong leaves in perfect conformation. can be simple or branched with yellow flowers. Both inflorescences maintain their Brendan’s ‘Alvarez’ inflorescence had just begun rising, the pink in the leaf coloured bracts for several months after flowering. Some of these two centre was vibrant, a really well grown plant. Marguerite also had grown genera self pollinate and readily set seed but the balance rely on offsets to capixabae very well and it was in flower – yellow flower bracts, blue petals maintain their survival. that turn red then black after opening. Yellow/green berries set after flowering. Pronunciation is easy – cap-iz-r-bay. Where some guzmanias originate * Aechmeas were discussed plus scale treatment and mixes. angustifolia! Costa Rica !! conifera North Peru & Ecuador * Bob led the decision on sizes/grouping of tillandsias for the Show. He danielii!! Columbia!! dissitiflora Costa Rica tempted members with some fine examples. minor!! Columbia & Brazil! musaica! Columbia POPULAR VOTE: sanguinea! Costa Rica!! zahnii! Costa Rica JUNIOR: Nil entries monostachia! Florida West Indies, Columbia & Venezuela NOVICE: Tillandsia lorentziana Grower – Stuart Howe Vriesea splendens hybrid Grower – Christine Stonnell OPEN: Tillandsia stricta hard leaf Grower - Bob Hudson Aechmea ‘Snowflakes’ Grower - Gail Taifalos Cryptanthus zonatus fuchsia Grower Tony Scott AECHMEA MINI SHOW: 1st. Aechmea ‘Snowflakes’ Grower – Gail Taifalos Where some vrieseas originate nd 2 . ‘Alvarez’ Grower – Brendan Leishman bituminosa!! Brazil ! carinata!Brazil rd 3 . capixabae Grower – Marguerite Sexton corcovadensis!! Brazil! chrysostachys! Columbia & Trinidad erythrodactactylon! Brazil! fenestralis! Brazil flammea!! Brazil! fosteriana! Brazil

gigantea!! Brazil! platynema! West Indies

How I became involved in Bromeliads, short story long.

Karen Stevens Aechmeas - October Meeting Bromeliads - I had always admired these exotic looking plants but thought Pronounced eek-me-a or ack-me-a this is widely varied in size shape and they were probably too hard for me to look after. Then my daughter gave me one colour. They belong in the subfamily of and evolved millions of years for my Birthday about 9 years ago. She said “Mum you should see this lady’s after the Pitcairnioideae and Tillandsioideae. As the youngest they are the least stable - house where I got it from, here is the address.” It was Lynn, so I went and had a hence are more variable, easily cross pollinate among their own genera and into other genera - forming a bigeneric. They range in diameter size from 8cm eg. racinae & look and then again, and again, and again, and I am still looking. I always see brevicollis to over a metre eg. blanchetiana, mariae-reginae etc. something that never caught my eye the last time. I think it's because nearly Most are tank bromeliads, the centre being a reservoir for food - water insects every month you have a different plant be it Aechmea, Neoregelia, Billbergia or etc. Mainly their leaves are stiff and have spines, I have always loved the stiff leaved some intergeneric that is in flower. They are all totally breathtaking, I love all of plants but then I saw the soft leafed Aechmeas weilbachii, carvalhoi, capixabae, lasseri, them, the spikier the better. filicaulis, miniata, fulgens the tiny racinae etc. and they fascinated me. These From going over to Lynn’s and joining the society, I started to get familiar inflorescences usually lean across the plant or are pendant. This habit has probably evolved as they grow in the canopy of the tree to protect their thinner leaves. These with certain genera being able to tell the aechmeas from the billbergias etc, then leaves have very small spines. The inflorescences appear quite delicate but have I came across a quesnelia and I said “Oh that must be an aechmea, looks like one, exquisite colours – as do all aechmeas and the shapes of the inflorescences are hugely similar shaping” I thought - but no. Then I saw an Aechmea fosteriana and I variable. The stiff leafed aechmeas inflorescence usually rises above the leaves. decided it must be a billbergia as it was long, tall, and tubular but I was wrong Berries form after flowering and if pollinated, the berry changes colour and the again! It went on like this for a while and then I really started to pay attention seeds reside in a sweet sticky substance. It is all about colour isn’t it? Firstly colour attracts pollinators (ants, birds, moths, bats, rats, etc) then later attracts the same seed and by listening and reading and of course obtaining as many different genera as distributors, both stages providing food. Human collectors are also attracted and also I could I began to see the differences that tell them apart. Like guzmania and continue the distribution both by plant and seed. vriesea are a good for example, both soft leafed - but nearly all guzmania, have Generally aechmeas offset on stolons, moving around the tree to secure a spot horizontal red barring on the leaf base. I've been told there are some that don't where it will get ample light and nourishment. This is why they wind around our pots have stripes. I can still get tricked sometimes unless it is in flower, like a young often pushing the mother plant over. The offset should be removed only when it has canistrum pup can look like an aechmea etc and Billbergia nutans the ‘Queen's formed roots, or half as tall as the mother, or is obviously strong enough to cope alone. To pot aechmeas I use 2/3 scoria, 1/3 fine pine bark and a good feed of slow Tears” as they call it, what’s that all about, doesn't even look like any sort of Billy release fertilizer. Yes the grasshoppers will eat the leaves, even the really tough ones. I know of - looks more like an Acanthostachys strobilacea hybrid or something. Yes they get scale, some more than others. Use ‘Chemspray’ brand ‘Antiscale’ and use But anyway I have just progressed from there and been in the society for as directed on the bottle. 10 years next year and still loving it. I have met so many wonderful people (they Growing aechmea seeds can bring amazing progeny as many are easily know who they are, no need to list them) seen so many lovely gardens and have so pollinated by deliberate or accidental means. Just growing the seeds of chantinii can result in many different plants – all desirable. Bob has aechmeas of many colours and many lovely plants." stripings plus XNeomeas of varied colours. Aechmeas can brighten our gardens, feed our souls and many can be quite damaging to our skin, yet we still just ‘must have them’ in our collections. I remember the very Wise Grace Goode telling me “bromeliads are stationary, they do not approach us, we approach them” - so it is our choice! A good choice is ‘yes, must have’. ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Imagination is every thing, the preview of what is to come” Einstein

Field trip to Greg Oldano’s at Innisfail Open Garden Scheme “Butler’s Pride” at Mirriwinni. Members asked if we could have a bus trip to somewhere – anywhere seemed to be the request, so Bob organized a trip to their favourite spot plus a look at Larry & Robynn replanting after the cyclone. To get to Butlers Bob had to get the bus across Butlers. We had not returned to either place since Cyclone Larry had devastated both. a rickety old bridge - oh I suppose it was solid but anyway I was a bit I was a little spooked when I entered Greg’s shade houses; as the last visit was to uneasy at first and I was nearly going to get off and walk, but my faith in help sort the plants from the twisted iron, shade cloth, upended pots etc. I told myself to our driver Bob aka"El Presidente"stood firm. It took a few goes to line up the be calm and looked around. It was a wonderful sight – healthy plants from many families bus but he pulled it off and he got us across and back again - he's a Legend. on racks, on the ground and in hangers. Any colour, shape or foliage texture we could I want a swimming hole in my backyard like Butlers - it was so relaxing ever desire was there to feed our souls and/or grace our own gardens. Members were entranced and really enjoyed learning and seeing many new well-grown plants. listening to the running water and wandering through the garden backdrop. It After lunch we loaded our booty and set out for Butler’s Pride. Cyclone Larry was just breathtaking, I could of stayed there all day. But then reality crept had utterly devastated this property 2.5 years ago but we beheld vibrant colour of crotons, back and it was time to board the bus for home, a great day. cordylines and bromeliads under a canopy of palm and native trees. We saw why the Butlers won the Judges Award in the 2008 Garden Competition - it was even better than Sharron: At the bridge I just needed a cigarette! before the cyclone and a credit to the perseverance and stamina of the owners. Jeff James: Wow, I thought I had died and went to heaven when I saw Greg’s Thomas Jones: As usual Greg's offered lots of little surprises everywhere we looked it was a pity that we could not get back to his house to see what he has mini neoregelias – and I could buy some! I wasn’t scared on the bus like Karen done there after Larry. Butler's was beautiful especially the large water but I was up the back! Thanks for a great time. feature down one boundary. That they are still thinking up new and replacement sections following Larry is impressive. The highlight to the trip Beryl: I am a new member of this happy group I really enjoyed the whole day in the was the 24 pt turn to get across the bridge and Karen's face on the first attempt to cross over. Thanks everyone for a great day. bus. I had been down the day before by car but this was a good chance to get to know members and to got to buy more plants! I got some beauties! Del & Sharyne: We had a good yack, really enjoyed the trip plus have some new plants! Ode to the Bus Driver by Sheryl J Cavanagh

Karen Stevens: For me it was another great day out in the happy world of Off we go to Butlers Pride bromeliads. I look forward to these trips seeing all new and old places again. The bridge was wooden and not very wide Greg's place is an eye opener with a vast range of genera around the place, Bob the bus driver said “I'll have a go” always looks great with all plants, not just bromeliads, grown to perfection Not a shake nor a quiver - the nerves did not show. Karen yelled “No Bob, no Bob, no you cannot go” and it is always a delight for us to catch up with him again. We are looking There was silence then the bus moved forward very slow. at WBC 2008 “Best in Show” M B Foster Award winner here! Tee hee. As usual Water to the left and rocks to the right the buyers weren't disappointed as Greg had" some good plants there for us Bob let Thomas out for his line of sight to buy and he is always generous and gives us a good bargain. He is always Sharon shifted from the edge to the middle free for a chat and lets us pick his brain about where did this come from and Beryl and Sheryl just sat with a nervous giggle how did u get that and can I have a piece of this or that," I'm sure we run Lynn and KC got out for the view him ragged. Maybe they were scared and looking for the loo

After some lunch it was on to Butler’s Open Garden that I thought Never will we forget that day at Butlers Pride was just magnificent – they have done a lot of work cleaning up and >>

How I Got Hooked Brendan Leishman Still Tripping Karen Cross: It had been a while since we had a trip away but good things come to those ! When I was living in the South East corner of Queensland years ago I who wait & it was worth the wait. It was great to be back at Greg's farm to see how well had always admired bromeliads however I knew next to nothing about them. I things have come together since the cyclone and he has made it bigger and better. It was Greg's birthday; we timed our trip very well again with lots of yummy cheesecakes to be was familiar with the ever reliable Neoregelia compacta and Billbergia pyramidalis. had after lunch, thank you Greg for having a birthday when we visit. One could always be assured to see the odd clump providing the odd splash of I always find other peoples gardens such a joy to visit, coming away with a head full of colour that they provide in their individual ways. ideas for my own gardens. Hats off to them the place looks wonderful, as we all know how ! In 2001 I made the move from Brisbane to Cairns, as I just had to live much work it takes to keep it that way. I really could sit under that jade vine all day in the Emerald Green Gem of the North. However during that time Cairns was watching the birds and insects enjoying it has much as I. Hey Bob, did anyone tell you that you are our hero for ever, You single handedly slew that bridge once and for all. I was experiencing unusually dry conditions but was far greener than the dry South waiting for the ugly troll to come out from underneath the bridge to see who was trip East that I had just left. trapping over his bridge as no bus had ever got over his bridge before this day, a goat or two ! I visited the Flecker Botanic Gardens where I saw several bromeliads maybe, but NEVER a big SUNBUS!! Thanks everyone for a great day and I hope to see that were more exotic and enticing than anything I had seen before. Aechmea you all next year for more enjoyable bromeliad adventures. mariae-reginae in full inflorescence especially caught my eye. Oh my, what a beauty! It was one of the first plants on my wish list that Lynn kindly gave to me after I joined the Cairns Bromeliad Society. ! In my earlier collecting days I collected like there was no tomorrow - needing to have any bromeliad that I did not already have. I soon discovered Kay Edington: I really enjoyed our bus trip. Well done Greg on getting your that bromeliads do grow and soon take up all available space, then just climb place back in order and making it ever better than before. I was glad Bob was over each other! our driver as he did a great job getting the bus and us over "that bridge" as I ! It was then I learned, as many collectors have told me that gatherers wasn't keen to do that long walk up to the gardens in the heat again. Butlers need to be a bit more discerning; I needed to collect plants that had a gardens were once again a wonderful place to visit, just to sit under the great characteristic or quality that sets them apart from the field. The plants I jade vine alone was worth going for. I look forward to maybe more bus trips choose to collect now have certain criteria before I make them part of my next year as we always have a great time with other members in the bus. collection. They either need to have good bright colour that many neoregelia Del Meehan: My first bus trip was an enjoyable day. I had been to Greg's place years ago I and billbergia exude; I have a soft spot for variegated and banded plants which realized as my mother used to live up the road. What an amazing assortment of brings some aechmeas in to the fold especially Aechmea chantinii and it’s many plants, Sharyne and I wished he had more neo's for sale! Bob really impressed us with his cultivars. I also find billbergia make good utilisation of space due to their driving skills getting the bus across the bridge. I have to say the Butlers are to be admired vertical growth habit. for sheer endurance, after seeing the photos of the devastation caused by Larry to their garden. I think I would have just cried and walked away! Their garden has changed ! I currently have a passion for Pitcairnia that keeps me occupied in slightly, there are bromeliads where there used to be impatiens, lots of Aechmea searching for new and different species and hybrids to add to my collection. blanchetiana which of course love the sun and not the tree cover. These don’t tend to have bright foliage apart from varying shades of green; yet Thank you to the club for organizing the day and also to Bob for his expert driving and Pitcairnia sanguinea provided a wonderful red foliage display. returning us safely. ! I don’t think I will ever loose my love of Bromeliads which have me entirely hooked, sometimes hooked in more ways them one - I have the scars to show for it. (Bob said to say, “Tillandsias do not have spines!) The driver may have the last say!

Bob: There are drivers and there are drovers.

!! ! Mixes!! ! ! ! ! ! ! There are not many plants that can be potted once ‘for life’. In Cairns most bromeliads can be potted just once - they can happily thrive and make offsets galore while residing in one pot. There are exceptions and the first is seedlings. Seedlings need to be potted-on to promote growth. When a bromeliad is potted or repotted it grows new roots. In habitat if they are dislodged they would grow new roots for security and they carry this habit into cultivation. The new roots actually force feed the plant. The other time I would repot a plant is when it is not thriving. Firstly I would check the throat to ensure there was no foreign matter lodged within. We use scoria, pine bark and potting mix. Other ingredients can be used and it is the grower’s choice to experiment with all ideas. There is a list in the Cultivation Megan & John Welch Notes. The ratio of ingredients is the winning mix and this ratio depends on many things. The mix used should depend on the plant’s method of feeding. Some feed FERtLIZERS * FUNGICIDES * WATERING SYSTEMS mainly through their leaves once the roots are established, whereas other use both their POLYPIPES * POLY FILMS * SPRAYING EQUIPMENT leaves and roots. The mix must drain well or your bromeliad will surely get crown rot. SHADECLOTH * PLANTER BAGS * PLASTIC POTS For neoregelias and aechmeas I use 1/3 fine grade pine bark and 2/3 10mil Cnr. Brown & Little Spence Sts. Cairns scoria. For guzmanias, vrieseas, cryptanthus, orthophytum, dyckia and intergenerics of Phone: 07 4035 2670 these I use 1/3 fine grade pine bark, 1/3 good potting mix & 1/3 10mil scoria. After potting I ensure the mix is thoroughly wet through and add fertilizer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I only use premium potting mix as I found I had too many weeds and considered it was in the cheaper mix. Karen S said she found the same and it was worth BROMELIADS & LOGS ABN 66 951 932 976 the extra few dollars to save the mess and weeding time. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Bromeliads & Tillandsias A man and his wife, now in their 60's, were celebrating their 40th wedding Bob & Lynn Hudson 47 Boden St. Edge Hill Cairns anniversary. On their special day a good fairy came to them and said that Phone: (07) 40533 913 email: [email protected] because they had been so good that each one of them could have one wish. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The wife wished for a trip around the world with her husband. Whoosh! Immediately she had airline/cruise tickets in her hands. Bromeliads 15 A&NZ Bromeliad Conference The man wished for a female companion 30 years younger… Whoosh...immediately he turned ninety!!! Gotta love that fairy! ‘ th ! ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Bromadelaide’ 10-13 April 2009 We needed the raffle tickets crumpled and Bill was helping & doing For details & Registration Form. a good job. When I told him it looked like he had done it before, he said “Yes, married to Elaine I am used to just chucking away $100 bills”! www.bromeliad.org.au/BROMADELAIDE2009.htm Elaine I hope he throws you a few for Christmas, you deserve them! Come to our conference. Learn from the experts. See new plants. Buy plants. Sell plants. Swap plants. Make new friends. Enter the Plant Show. Buy rare plants at auction. Ask questions. Have fun Store lots of memories to brighten your quiet moments.