MULCH
Much Useful Learning Concerning Horticulture VOL.22 No.1, January, 2016 Castlemaine & District Garden Club Inc.
Wollemia nobilis Wollemi pine
Castlemaine & District Garden Club P.O. Box 758, Castlemaine 3450 [email protected] http://castlemainegardenclub.wordpress.com
COMMITTEE Wollemia nobilis
President Judy Uren 5470 6462 Vice-president Judy Eastwood 0417 149 251 Secretary Sally Leversha 0437 683 469 [email protected] Treasurer Alan Isaacs 5473 3143 Committee Members Marion Cooke Jan Gower Heather Spicer
Sue Spacey Wollemi Pine: Kew Gardens Newsletter Editor Tom Comerford 5470 6230 Wollemia nobilis is a conifer in the [email protected] plant family Araucariaceae. The Webmaster discovery of the Wollemi Pine in Judy Hopley 5472 1156 1994 created great excitement in the [email protected] botanical community due to its
resemblance to conifer fossils like Dillwynites and Agathis jurassica.
Wollemi Pines are restricted to approximately 40 adult and 200 juvenile Wollemi Pines growing in the Wollemi National Park of New South Wales, 200 km north-west of Sydney. The rare nature of the I really look forward to Monday Wollemi Pine has seen it listed as morning—it gets me back to work endangered.
The Wollemi Pine is a tree, which about striking the Wollemi Pine is can grow up to 40 m in the wild with that cuttings taken from the top of a trunk diameter reaching up to one the tree will produce a vertical metre. The bark of the tree is bubbly growing plant, whilst cuttings taken in appearance, chocolate brown from the bottom of the tree will colour in colour. It is monoecious, produce horizontal growth. meaning that each plant has both Wollemi Pines can be grown male and female sexual outdoors in most climates of reproductive cones. These cones Australia. Given the size of adult appear at the end of branches, the trees it is not recommended for female cone always growing above small yards unless it is grown in a a male. The Wollemi Pine has two pot. In the first couple of years it types of branches, one that grows should be grown in half shade upright looking like a trunk arising however after this time period it can in most cases from the base of the be grown in full sunlight. Sandy soil tree, and another that grows with good drainage is laterally and bears sessile leaves. recommended. Be wary of One amazing characteristic of the waterlogged soil, either through Wollemi Pine is that of every plant over watering or poor drainage. growing in the wild has the exact Watering should be increased in the same DNA, making the species summer months especially when the even more special. tree breaks (opens it new leaves) The cultivation of the Wollemi Pine around November-December, is similar to other conifer species. although this may vary depending Plants can be grown from seed or on your location in Australia. The struck from tip cuttings. If growing Wollemi Pine can handle frosty plants from cuttings then a strong conditions and in the wild breeding hormone is recommended occasionally has to cope with (5,000-10,000 gms/litre) to promote snowfalls. The tree can be fertilized root growth. Striking plants can be once a year with any general placed in cells or tube pots filled fertilizer such as Aquasol. Fungal with river sand. Most plants will infection can occur, especially take six months to strike but this is Phytophthora, this is more likely variable depending on type of stock when grown in a pot. plant, season, and growing The Wollemi Pine was first released environment. Once the plant has to the general public in 2006. struck, pot it in a standard conifer mix (70-80% pine bark; 20% river Adapted from Wollemia nobilis sand) and water it in accordance to W.G.Jones, K.D.Hill & J.M.Allen the time of year. An interesting note to pick and in the morning it was PRESIDENT’S bare. They stripped the apricot as MESSAGE well, but I didn’t mind that so much as it was the first year it had hardly
any fruit. The nectarine tree is full of fruit so I have netted it and we will see how that fares. My grandchildren are very disappointed that there will be no plum and raspberry jam this year. I would like to wish everyone and their families a Happy New Year and may it be safe, healthy and as Greetings from the very hot hill in productive as you wish it to be. Castlemaine. The weather does Until next time. remain a fascinating subject even Judy Uren though it is summer and we are living in central Victoria we still remain surprised at how hot and dry it is. The upside of the hot weather is you get to do all those things you have put off all year as you potter in the garden, such as cleaning cupboards, sorting out your wardrobe, mending and in my case finishing off a number of quilts that have been awaiting my attention for some time. My garden and many around Castlemaine appear to be faring quite well with the heat and so far I haven’t lost anything, however the tomatoes are not doing very well possibly because of the humidity, but the roses have been wonderful. The Cockatoos are doing nicely, also. They managed to strip my We sit in other people’s gardens, plum tree virtually overnight. I had why not in our own been watching the plums, had Mabel Osler: A Gentle Plea for Chaos decided tomorrow would be the day (1989)
OUR HISTORY
2016 20 YEARS AGO Applications close Monday, 23rd January 1996 February 22, 2016 Club Gathering in the Botanical Enquiries and application forms: Gardens: 5470 6230 Office Bearers Conditions of the Bursary award President: Jenny Howe Vice President: Leanne Farrell the student is a resident of the Mount Secretary: Barbara Maund Alexander shire or is apprenticed in Treasurer: Lachlan Anderson an horticultural activity within the Public Officer: Jean Lorenz Mount Alexander Shire Committee: Sue Grimes, Dianne the award is given on merit and Thomson subject to interview the award money must be used to purchase reference materials not to 10 YEARS AGO offset fees the award of the Bursary is for the January 2006 current year Floral Inspiration: Elaine applications for the award must be Speight made annually. Award winners may A teaspoon of dried jasmine re-apply. flowers, shaken into a 110gm preference may be given to a first year packet of oolong tea leaves, makes student/apprentice an aromatic drink, perfect when the recipient of the Bursary will served with scones filled with lilac provide a report of their year’s jelly and cream scented with progress at the completion of the geranium leaf. Spice up a barbeque academic year. with aromatic red roses petals; It is anticipated that for 2016 the simply snip off their bitter white Bursary amount will be $500. bases and sprinkle them over lamb kebabs before grilling.
JANUARY 2016 FEBRUARY 2016 26th General Meeting Botanical 23rd General Meeting Gardens: Speaker- Katie Finlay MA Fruit Be there from 6.30pm. Gardens New Year Get together Sun28th – visit to MA Fruit Gardens Botanical Gardens BBQ Area Subscriptions due! Bring your own food & drink Fri 12th Committee Meeting And don’t forget a chair Sue Spacey’s (And a table) if you have one. 11th MULCH deadline
MAY 2016 JUNE 2016 24th General Meeting 28TH General Meeting Speaker- Barry Lacy- Bonsai 6PM Fish ‘n Chips 25th – Visit to Barry’s Garden Castlemaine O/N trip 30th May & 1st June to Hospital Auditorium Cranbourne Gardens & Cloudehill Speakers Jo Wedgewood & Pam Dandenongs Adams Prep for Spring, worm RSVP 26/4/16 farming&pruning- visit to garden 12th MULCH deadline TBA th Fri 10 Committee Meeting Sally Leversha’s 16th MULCH deadline
SEPTEMBER 2016 OCTOBER 2016 27TH General Meeting 25TH General Meeting Speakers: Speaker: Richard Lay Irises Judy Uren & Heather Spicer Visit to Richard & or Harvey Jacka’s “Establishing new gardens” October Weds 26th Gary Sobeys 10 am car pool Octopus -Tuesday 6th Sept “Orchids”- Butterfly House ASQ Kyneton Daffodil Festival & lunch to Fri 14th Committee Meeting follow Alan Isaac’s 15th MULCH deadline 13th MULCH deadline
Friday 28th SHOW PARADE
MARCH 2016 APRIL 2016 22nd General Meeting 26th General Meeting Speaker- Neutrog- fertilizers Speaker: Lynne Kelly – “Spiders” 23rd- Visit to Burnley Horticultural Sat9th – Car Trail- Lambley Nursery College –Julie-Anne Webster Car pool Octopus 12.30pm- afternoon tea RSVP 17th Isaacs Fri 8th Committee Meeting 10th MULCH deadline Jan Gower’s 14th MULCH deadline
JULY 2016 AUGUST 2016 26THAnnual General Meeting 23RD General Meeting AGM Speaker: Dianne Thomson Speaker: Damien Kelly- Birds. Composting, propagation & pruning Rose Pruning Demonstration at prep for Spring SallyLeversha’s or Botanical Gardens Fri12th Committee Meeting date TBA Judy Eastwood’s 14th MULCH deadline 11th MULCH deadline
NOVEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 2016 22ND CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 6.30pm for 7.00pm. Venue TBA Nov 25th Maryborough Garden Club Merry Christmas hosting Interclub get together & Safe & Happy New Year. Sunday 6th GARDEN MARKET DAY 10th MULCH deadline.
NEW YEAR FEBRUARY RESOLUTIONS DIARY
Marie Harrison, an Keep up watering Master Flower Show Trim summer-flowering shrubs Judge, instructor of as they fade horticulture for Take softwood and semi- National Garden hardwood cuttings Clubs, and a Master Gardener made Watch out for fungal diseases the following resolutions. Do they Order spring flowering bulbs match with yours? Spray apple and pear trees with I resolve to wear sunscreen and carbaryl every three weeks to protective clothing when I work in protect against codling and light the garden. brown apple moth I resolve to reduce my Prune buddleias heavily when dependence on chemicals in the they have finished flowering garden and choose pest-resistant Prune large hydrangeas to half- plants size when they have finished I resolve to water deeply and flowering infrequently to develop deep roots. I resolve to make my garden more attractive to wildlife: to grow plants which attract birds, bees, and butterflies which help pollinate my flowers and vegetables. I resolve to learn more about gardening from books, newspaper articles, and magazines. To subscribe to a couple of good PLANT SEEDLINGS OF: alyssum, gardening magazines, and make use delphinium, dianthus, broccoli, of the horticulture books in our cabbage, celery, leek, silver library. beet I resolve to enjoy my garden PLANT SEEDS: candytuft, more - to spend more time looking Canterbury bell, cornflower, rather than working. To stop English daisy, Iceland poppy, obsessing about perfection and linaria, lupin, stock, beetroot, learn to live with a garden that cauliflower, lettuce, onion leaves a bit to be desired. parsnip, radish, spinach TOP TEN TIPS FOR 7. If diseases are a problem, spray GROWING ROSES before symptoms arrive in the spring
8. Dead head regularly except those that set hips 9. When pruning be sure to cut out dead, diseased and, very importantly, old growth 10. Look at your roses regularly both to appreciate their beauty and to check for disease
(by Michael Marriott of David Austin Roses)
1. Careful choice of varieties – is fragrance important; health; shape of flower; shape and size of plant? 2. Wise choice of planting position – roses do not like too much competition at the roots and all like at least a few hours of sun Rose Quiz a day, especially in the morning. 3. Thorough soil preparation – mix When pruning roses you should in plenty of organic matter before always: planting. a. Make an advance deposit at the 4. Good watering – roses will stay blood bank healthier, grow more strongly and b. Hire a neighbourhood kid you flower more freely if they are don’t like watered regularly and deeply. c. Wear spouse’s gorse –clipping gloves and body armour 5. Regular feeding – repeat
flowering roses are hungry Grafting is defined as: feeders; the organically based a. What politicians do when they fertilisers are the best. run short of cash 6. Mulch well – help to conserve b. Cultural payoffs known as Arts moisture, keep the roots cool and and Crafts feed the soil and hence the roses. Hybrid is: SAVING SEEDS a. the opposite of lobrid b. How birds greet each other At the annual Show Parade in 2015 c. The plant that results from we were able to hand out over 600 crossing two distinctly different packets of seeds. Now is a good species time to begin the process of saving seeds for this year’s event. All Humus is: forms of seed are welcome – a. Something amusing or funny annuals, perennials and vegetables. b. When the air is moist and muggy and you wake up covered in mildew
A deadhead: a. Perfectly describes your last date b. Perfectly describes the competitor who beat you in the last floribunda show It is of great help if you can ensure When staking you should always: that the seeds have been separated a. Wear a black cape from their husks. Christobel Comerford is our point of contact b. Light the barbeque 5470 6230 c. Make sure someone else holds the stick while you hold the In every gardener there is a child hammer who believes in The Seed Fairy. Robert Brault A picket is: a. An unhappy jobbing gardener carrying a sign and refusing to work b. What you along to do to another rosarian’s prize bloom c. A lethal type of decorative fencing useful for supporting rampant roses
COMING EVENTS DISCOUNTS
26 January: Government House Melbourne 2-7 February: RBGV Summer Members are reminded to continue Discovery Tour Melbourne to support the businesses that 18 February: GGRG Warragul support us in the form of discounts: Gardens Revisited 19 February: U3A Friday Garden You will need your 2016 Group membership card for 19-21 February: Seymour identification
Alternative Farming Expo 2016 All Stone Quarries (ASQ) 21 February: Melbourne Club 5% off gravel, mulch etc. Melbourne 15% off pots and plants
Beard’s Hardware 10% on most garden related products Gardens Etcetera 21-25 Main Street Maldon Tel: 5475 233 Discount of 10% excluding items on consignment and sale items www.gardenetcetera.com.au Sociana’s ‘The Green Folly’ 10% discount Stoneman’s Bookroom 10% on all purchases over $10 Taylor Brothers 5% on garden related products
Gardening is a matter of your MULCH is printed with the enthusiasm holding up until assistance of your back gets used to it. LEGION OFFICE WORK Author Unknown
NEXT MEETING
26th General Meeting Botanical Gardens Be there from 6.30pm. New Year Get together Botanic Gardens BBQ Area Bring your own food & drink Bring a chair and a table, if you have one
: Castlemaine & District Garden Club Inc. ***********************************
The Castlemaine & District Garden
Sender P.O. BoxCastlemaine. 758 3450 Club meets at 7:30pm on the fourth
Tuesday of each month from February to October at the Wesley
Hill Hall, Duke Street, Wesley Hill.
Membership of the Club is open to all and costs $20 a year per household ($25 if you want a paper copy of Mulch mailed to you). Mulch (in colour) is available via email on
request. Subscriptions are payable at the beginning of each calendar year. New members are very welcome. The Club distributes this monthly newsletter to all members and other like-minded organisations.
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