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AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SOCIETY

CANBERRA REGION (INC)

Journal Vol. 19 No. 03 September 2017 ISN 1447-1507 Print Post Approved PP100000849 Contents ANPS Council — members needed 3 ANPS Council in the City Janet Russell 4 Would you like the opportunity to be on Council? Three for your Garden Ben and Ros Walcott 6 ANPSA 2018 Conference — Hobart 9 Members are needed for our 2017/2018 major job that also needs to be filled Large Masumi Robertson 10 Council. is that of Membership Secretary. The Winter Getaway in the Tropics, Lakefield Nat Park Roger Farrow 14 person doing this job does not have to Every year at the November AGM, we Terra Australis Garden at the National Arboretum Ben Walcott 26 be on Council but should manage our vote in a new Council when all Council Flowering in the snow in the Brindabella Mtns Lucinda Royston 30 membership database and mailing lists. positions are declared vacant. Our Open Gardens Canberra 31 Constitution allows for 12 members to A minimum of six council members Illawarra Park Jeanette Jeffrey 32 make up our Council with 11 of these is required to make a quorum and a Visit to Oakey Creek Bob Nader 35 being elected and one is ex-officio. The minimum of six Council meetings are Snapshots from the Gail Ritchie Knight 39 past President is automatically a member required each year for the Society to Study Group Notes Brigitta Wimmer 40 of Council as an ex-officio member. operate legally. The day and place of Council meetings is up to the Council to For Sale — Snowy Mountains Cottage 42 The Executive comprises five positions: ANPS Canberra contacts and membership details inside back cover decide. •• President None of the Council roles are onerous Cover: rubida, Red-stemmed Wattle — a large dense or •• Vice-President Photo: Andy Russell, taken at Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park and the other members of Council and •• Secretary ANPS are there to support and assist. It •• Treasurer can be very rewarding to be involved Journal articles The deadline dates for submissions are 1 February (for •• Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. in the running of the Society and March edition), 1 May (June), 1 August (September) The Journal is a forum for the exchange of members' There are also six positions of Councillor. ensuring its continued success. ANPS and others' views and experiences of gardening with, and 1 November (December). has existed for more than 50 years and propagating and conserving Australian plants. Send articles or photos to: Council is responsible for the control and has a deserved reputation for providing management of the society — without it All contributions, however short, are welcome and Journal Editor quality information about native plants ANPS cannot legally exist or operate. may be accompanied by photographs or drawings. Gail Ritchie Knight as well as the plants themselves. The editor reserves the right without exception to edit 1612 Sutton Road This year a number of Council members Please seriously consider nominating all articles and include or omit images as appropriate. Sutton NSW 2620 will not be standing for re-election someone or being nominated for a Submit photographs as either electronic files, such e-mail: [email protected] and we will have vacancies including position on our next Council. We will as JPEGs, or prints. Set your digital camera to take tel: 0416 097 500 President, Vice-President, Secretary elect our next year’s Council members at high resolution photos. Please send JPEGs separately Paid advertising is available in this Journal. Contact and several Councillor positions. So it the Members/Annual General Meeting and not embedded in a document. If photos are too the Editor for details. is crucial that members come forward on 9 November 2017. large to email, copy onto a CD or USB drive and send and nominate for a position on our next Society website: http://nativeplants-canberra.asn.au You can talk to any Councillor for more it by post. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed Council. Printed by Elect Printing, Fyshwick, ACT information. envelope if you would like your prints returned. If you http://www.electprinting.com.au/ All the Council members and other Nominations can be made before the have any queries please contact the editor. members who take on roles, tasks and AGM by contacting: responsibilities in ANPS are volunteers. Original text may be reprinted, unless otherwise indicated, provided an acknowledgement for the source is given. Permission to reprint non-original material and all drawings must be obtained from the copyright holder. The views and opinions expressed ANPS could not function or exist the President, Lucinda Royston in articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Society. without our members volunteering. One Ph 0429 133 449.

Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 3 Species in the City

Words and photos by Janet Russell When we moved to our apartment in Constitution Avenue we were living in a different environment from the one we moved from. Our garden in Aranda had and an understorey of native shrubs, grasses and forbs. Azolla filiculoides Convolvulus angustissimus We are now not far from Mt Ainslie but St John’s Church is our neighbour and On the opposite side of the Avenue I our immediate environment is almost we can observe the comings and goings found some more Australian Bindweed totally made up of exotic trees, many of people marking the celebrations growing out of cracks in the pavement, of them Oak trees. We do overlook Lythrum salicaria of the various stages of life from our and further along the road in Campbell three Southern Blue Gums, Eucalyptus balcony. At times the sound of ringing on one of the new C5 buildingsites, globulus bicostata to the north of the bells or the solemnity of bagpipes also there was a particularly splendid apartments. They are not a local tree but permeate our consciousness. There was floriferous specimen being supported have been extensively planted around once a grassland on the property that by a fleabane weed over a metre tall. has since degraded. Earlier this year I Canberra including Anzac Avenue. Since then, the St John’s grassland and found various remnant species on the the grassy bank has been weeded and We started to explore Commonwealth edge of the grassland that spilled over tidied up and the building site has been and Kings Parks, first around Nerang to the grassy, weedy bank to the road. Pool. I can’t help myself, I spent time excavated and building begun. The looking to see what native plants, birds Amongst other species, I found the tidying up is part of beautifying the and wildlife there were in what I saw Yellowish Bluebell, Wahlenbergia luteola, Avenue and side streets. Landscaping was an alien environment. Scambled Eggs, Goodenia pinnatifida has been progressively done along Dysphania pumilio and Australian Bindweed, Convolvulus Constitution Ave and is yet to be I did find some native plants. There were angustissimus. finished. numbers of Epilobium hirtigerum, Purple that is not shared by others. Cumbungi, Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, Dysphania Typha sp also grows on Nerang Pool and If any of the readers would like to take pumilio, and Portulaca oleracea. I do not other watercourses in the Parks. a stroll down Constitution Avenue from like to suggest that some native plants London Circuit past Anzac Parade and A rather attractive native Water Fern, are worthier than others but the latter the C5 development in spring, they can Azolla filiculoides was growing further two would be difficult to market as check out the landscaping of native east in the more protected waters of a horticultural specimens. graminoids, forbs and shrubs that have channel in Kings Park. Once the cooler been planted by the ACT Government. I The water , Purple Loosestrife is weather came this plant disappeared. enjoy this walk and am looking forward the pin-up although I am rather fond of On a different scale, the River She-Oak to the spring flowering. There are also a the Epilobium species because of their Casuarina cunninghamiana subsp. couple of cafes in Campbell where you attractive silvery pods which are cunninghamiana, such an elegant tree, can pause awhile and if you are lucky often more conspicuous than the flowers. has been planted along part of the Lake you will catch the antics of the twenty or This may be an idiosyncratic affection Burley Griffin shore. Azolla filiculoides so King Parrots in the trees opposite.

4 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 5 In our garden, we underplanted the young Banksias with Eremophila ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ which thrives in the partial shade and climbs up into the lower branches. There is an attractive contrast between the grey of the Eremophilas and the green of the . Moderately fast growing and hardy in frosty climates like ours, the plants are growing in heavy clay soil along one edge of our natural pond in full sun. The plants have many flowers which seem to last for months on the bush. The flower spikes are large, almost as big as B. ‘Giant Candles’ but the plants are much more vigorous. In our garden Three Banksias for your Garden B. ‘Giant Candles’ does not thrive and Banksia 'Bulli Baby' (above and below) becomes very chloritic which no amount of Iron Chelate or other Banksia 'Yellow Wing' supplements seems to cure. By Ben and Ros Walcott Each summer, we remove all the Photos: Ben Walcott old flower heads but otherwise There are many attractive Banksias leave the plants alone. They do for the garden. Many species such as get some additional water during are quite large as are the summer and we use a small some of the such as Banksia amount of slow release native ericifolia ‘Red Rover’. Other cultivars are fertiliser in spring and autumn. relatively small and low growing such So far we haven’t pruned the as ‘Birthday Candles’ plants and have let them form and ‘Coastal Cushion’. It is often useful to their natural rather open shape. have a plant that is intermediate in size Banksia ‘Yellow Wing’ is a very between these extremes and we have successful low maintenance plant found three such plants that work well in our garden. in our garden. A second plant is Banksia ‘Bulli Baby’ on even a quite small plant. It prefers Banksia ‘Yellow Wing’ is a cross Banksia 'Yellow Wing' which is a of a sunny to partly shaded position in between Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ x nana which was originally found in well-drained soil although it is growing B. spinulosa (Carnarvon Gold) ‘Birdwire’, autumn to winter and are very attractive the Bulli area. It has fine linear bright well in our rather heavy clay. It is in full developed by Austraflora Nurseries in to spinebills and wattlebirds. The shrub green leaves and spectacular orange/ sun although among other plants and . It is a medium rounded shrub has a rather open habit which allows the red spikes during autumn and winter. is about two metres high and upright (1.8m x 1.8m) with fine foliage and flower spikes to be very prominent and These flower spikes can be up to 20cm in shape. It is narrower than B. ‘Yellow large golden -rich flowers from allow a view through the plant. long and are produced in large numbers Wing’ and much more upright.

6 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 7 ANPSA 2018 Conference — Hobart Grass Roots to Mountain Tops

Hobart Waterfront — Business Events

The Australian Native Plants Society () Inc. (ANSPA) Program Banksia spinulosa 'Honey Pots' (above and below) National Biennial Conference, An excellent program of speakers: in conjunction with the ANPSA A J Swaby Address, Conference dinner, Finally, the third is Banksia spinulosa Biennial Meeting and Seminar, is Reception at Government House, Royal th ‘Honey Pots’. This plant was originally being held in Hobart, Tasmania in Tasmanian Botanical Gardens 200 year, developed in Victoria in 1999 and January 2018. excursions to local plant communities has been available for many years in and members’ gardens, Study Group Dates focus and of course, socialising with old a number of nurseries. While some and new friends. sources suggest it is a “dwarf”, in our Sunday 14 January Seminar and Biennial Meeting garden it is at least 1.5 m high and wide. Key Dates It is thriving in fairly heavy clay soil Monday 15 to Friday 19 January King Island Tour closed in full sun with exposure to frost and Conference Early-bird registration closed winds. It is relatively fast growing and is Highlights 15 December standard registration closes quite a dense shrub. It flowers profusely Pre- and post-Conference tours on with gold flowers with bright red styles. King Island, Bruny Island, alpine and Registration The flowers have a very strong honey than other cultivars such as Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’, other plants can be rainforest areas of the Tasmanian Registration is open. Follow the links on scent hence the name of the plant. established among them. They flower mainland and Hobart and Environs the ANPSA website Home page including National Parks and World All three of these banksias are great profusely during the winter months http://anpsa.org.au to the Biennial garden plants particularly where there which provides nectar for the birds and Heritage areas. Conference website. is limited space. Because they are taller pleasure for the gardener.

8 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 9 branches are covered with small white flowers even in the summer heat, late November to early December for us. The flowers attract many insects: bees, Large Shrubs butterflies, beetles and hundreds of hover flies. It is a very hardy screen plant. It has gone through a couple of name changes from virgata, to pluriflora and now to pluriflora. Today B. virgata is Words and Photos by Masumi Robertson This is a very hardy wattle, found locally not an Australian plant, it occurs only in in Nature Parks and National parks. The Large shrubs are woody plants from . Banksia spinulosa shrub is covered with fragrant yellow 2.5m to 6m in height. They are great ball flowers in spring. It is definitely Banksia ericifolia cover through to small to large shrubs. screening plants, but they may become drought, cold and clay hardy. We have Flower colour of this species is variable leggy if left unattended. Some of them cut back our 20-plus-year-old plant and and a form with black styles is very may be too large in smaller block it grew back well rejuvenated. striking. The best known cultivar is gardens in Canberra. Some large shrubs ‘Birthday Candles’ but other smaller size could be used as small trees especially There are many large wattles in this cultivars are worth a try. when pruned into a single trunk. , many are hardy, but care should be taken which plant to use since some Callistemon citrinus I chose 10 hardy, large shrubs from our are known to spread by and book. They are good starting plants suckering. Some of these are becoming for a new garden to establish some weedy in our bush. They include, but are protection for smaller, more delicate not limited to, A. boormanii, A. iteaphylla, plants. A. longifolia and A. vestita. Acacia rubida Babingtonia pluriflora This is one of the most reliable Banksias, originating from the eastern side of our continent. Unlike those from WA, it is more tolerant of our clay soils and Phytophthora. Our plants are about five metres high and wide after 30 years. Its orange flowers in winter are a favourite source for the many nectar feeding This red bottlebrush is hardy and very birds in our garden. There are several adaptable; it can be pruned often to be smaller medium shrub size cultivars and a formal hedge, or left to grow up to different flower colours. be a small tree of five metres high with a single trunk. The plant flowers best Banksia spinulosa when spent flowers are pruned keeping Our plant has been pruned every few Another hardy banksia, usually much the plant bushy. Its main flowering is smaller than B. ericifolia; our plants are in spring with lots of large red brushes years to keep it dense and about two less than two metres high after more covering the plant, and it often flowers metres high. Left as is, it will grow than 20 years. There are many different again in autumn. One of its cultivars, to four metres high. Its weeping forms; plant sizes range from ground ‘Splendens’ (also known as ‘Endeavour’)

10 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 11 has lots of large, bright red flowers and The plant flowers for a long time from is only two metres high. There are forms spring into autumn; the new growth with other flower colours. One of the is followed by well-displayed red smallest ones is ‘White Anzac’. toothbrush flowers, frequented by our nectar feeding birds. The whole plant; Goodia lotifolia red new growth, attractive leaves and red flowers serve well as cut flowers too. Our original plant died leaving a gap of over five metres diameter, but left a chance layered (rooted) branch which has now grown up and is flowering well.

Hakea macraeana feeding on its abundant nectar. Our Pomaderris intermedia plants were planted in autumn-winter, This is the yellow flowering Pomaderris watered in once and left on their own. on Black Mountain, often seen from Many of the Wednesday Walkers would Belconnen Way in spring. The shrubs have heard of Ros’s battle with this plant grow up to 3 m high and are covered Lots of cheerful yellow pea flowers on her block. They are hardy in their with bright yellow flowers. Pruning after cover this very hardy shrub from native habitat, as well as many garden flowering to remove spent flowers will September to October. Our plants are situations, but can become invasive in keep this handsome large leaved plant remaining smaller than two metres disturbed soils. We have not seen any looking good. It is one of several species high. We expect the plant will grow volunteers in our garden, however. found in the ACT region and it’s flowers taller with more moisture, but it still Another favourite is K. ambigua. are very attractive. flowers well in a dry site with very little summer watering. It is a relatively open One of several hardy, white flowering shrub for us. from the east. Unlike the WA species, these eastern Australian species Grevillea ‘Poorinda Peter’ are reliable and hardy. This large shrub becomes covered with fragrant, white flowers in spring. The needle like leaves are not as sharp as they appear and the slightly weeping branches are very attractive. We find it relatively quick growing and good for small birds. Kunzea ericoides A very hardy local species, it can form a dense hedge when pruned often, or grow up to three metres high and two This quick growing Grevillea is a metres wide. Its small white flowers favourite hiding place for small birds, cover the plant in summer, about such as finches and wrens. The dense December for us, and insects move from growth is also useful as a nesting site. our Babingtonia pluriflora to this Kunzea, Olearia tenuifolia, a rare plant, Mt Majura Nature Reserve; Photo: Brigitta Wimmer

12 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 13 Winter Getaway in the Tropics Jacksonia thesioides Lakefield National Park Hibbertia sp.; Note the asymmetric stamens

Catfish Waterhole

Words and photos by Roger Farrow recognised from their temperate counterparts but others are more Wire Lily, Tricoryne anceps Most of you know that Christine and exclusively tropical such as Dischidia I spend our winters at our hideaway and . Melastoma affine is an Native lasiandra, Melastoma affine, in the Daintree rainforest. One of our interesting shrub as its flowers exhibit showing two types of stamen favourite spots to visit is Lakefield heteranthy (two types of stamens). The National Park to the north, a tropical anthers are poricidal (pollen released savanna woodland dotted with lagoons through terminal pores) and are buzz that are fed by a network of channels pollinated by native bees. and rivers during the wet season. The park is accessed from Cooktown across the rugged Battlecamp Range, a road that is now thankfully largely sealed. Before we climb the range, the road crosses Isabella Falls, a great place to stop for morning tea and observe a wide range of plants that flower there in winter. Species in the genera Banksia, Hibbertia, Hovea, Jacksonia, Leucopogon and Tricoryne, are easily Isabella Falls Button orchid, Dischidia nummularia; Not an orchid Leucopogon ruscifolius

14 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 15 increasingly churned up by feral pigs searching for water lily bulbs. Scattered trees of the freshwater mangrove, Barringtonia acutangula, grow in shallow water but most of the water surface is covered with giant waterlilies, Nymphaea gigantea, whose individual blooms last only a morning.

Wedge pea, Gompholobium pinnatum Climbing the Battlecamp Range Golden Parrot tree, the keel to gain access to the pollen The climb up the Battlecamp Range bearing anthers. reveals extensive views over a rugged country that the miners had to cross After descending from the Battlecamp from Cooktown to reach the Palmer Range, the road crosses the flood plain River Goldfields. During the right season, of the Norman River and enters the you may see the spectacular orange- National Park. The first lagoon worth flowered gum, Eucalyptus phoeniceus, visiting is Horseshoe with its abundant in this area. This is normally only seen birdlife, although the margins are Giant water lilies, Nymphaea gigantea in the Kimberly but there is a local occurrence in the Battlecamp Range.

Mistletoe, Dendrophthoe glabrescens

Eucalyptus phoeniceus Another spectacular but widespread Bloodroot, Haemodorum coccineum plant is the Golden Parrot tree, Grevillea Haemodorum coccineum, and a wedge pteridifolia, that is a parent of many pea, Gompholobium pinnatum, among garden hybrids. The spectacular mistletoe, the grasses. You will notice that the keel Dendrophthoe glabrescens, may be seen of this Gompholobium is reversed to hanging from some of the eucalypts. a dorsal position with the flags below. In the understorey you may get a This allows large carpenter bees in the glimpse of the scarlet of the bloodroot, Xylocopa to land and push back Horseshoe lagoon with freshwater mangrove

16 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 17 Depending on the amount of late rains and timing of the visit, moist table drains on the roadside are often a good source of small herbaceous plants in the Park.

Xenostigia tridentata Young Corypha palms lining farther lagoon bank Xyris pauciflora

The road north through the park passes New Laura and Lakefield ranger stations and a series of lagoons and watercourses that support gallery forest. The White Lily Lagoon and the misnamed Red Lily Lagoon (actually a Pink Lotus Lagoon) are renowned for their displays of aquatic plants and birds. However, a series of unusually dry wet seasons over the last decade has adversely affected the flowering of Ectrosia leporina Unknown Lotus nelumbo. This is the only lagoon to be protected from pig damage by a boundary fence.

Corypha palm in fruit The Corypha palm, Corypha utan, is a dominant tree of the gallery forests along the watercourses. It is monocarpic, that is, it grows for many decades and only flowers once, producing many thousands of fruits, and then dies. The leaves senesce as the head of flowers develop giving the palm a totally different appearance. Fringe Lily, Thysanotus chinensis White lily lagoon

18 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 19 My favourite spot in the Park is Hahn Upstream the river is very shallow Crossing, where the road crosses a rock as it spreads over the rock bar in a bar on the Kennedy River. Downstream picturesque setting of floating and bog is a series of deep waterholes lined by a plants, dominated by the snowflake thin strip of gallery forest, dominated by water lily, Nymphoides indica. Melaleuca, Elaeocarpus and Buchanania.

Limnophila sp. with a sugar bag bee visitor (Tetragonula sp)

Kennedy River, downstream waterhole Same spot; Photo: Christine Kendrick

Sundew, Drosera sp.

Water Primrose, Ludwigia octovalvis

Arnhemland Quandong, Elaeocarpus arnhemicus, Satinwood, Buchanania obovata (cauliflorous)

Red Lily Lagoon covered with sacred lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, showing seed pods

Carpet of snowflake upstream of the crossing. The river is flowing over a shallow rock platform and Snowflake, Nymphoides indica Lobelia ?douglasiana safe to wade.

20 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 21 Turning west the road crosses the vast plain of Nifold, a treeless grassland characterised by large magnetic termite mounds. Its lack of trees is attributed to its cracking black clay soils. The route leaves this grassland and enters paper bark seasonal swamp, dominated by M. cajuputi, grass-trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, and a range of herbivorous plants. In wetter areas, Hibiscus forsteri there are trigger plants and lobelias, among others.

Native Water hyacinth, Monochoria australasica ?Commelina sp.

Euvolvulus alsinoides

Paperbark seasonal swamp with grass-trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii

Trigger Plant, Stylidium sp.

Paperbark, Melaleuca cajuputi

Mounds of the grass-feeding magnetic termite, Amitermes laurensis, at Nifold Buchnera tetragona

22 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 23 Low Lake, one of the largest expanses of water in Teucrium sp. the Park

Kapok tree, Cochlospermum gillivraie, flowers & fruit

Frogsmouth, Philydrium lanuginosum

Lobelia ?douglasiana is my token wattle, A. calyculata, an Caldesia oligococca attractive small, white-flowered species The next place worth a visit is Saltwater seen at Isabella Falls. There are also Creek which is notable for a stand of many species of plant that flower in the Kapok trees, Cochlospermum gillivraie wet season (December to March) when (Bixaceae) growing on the wooded Poricidal anthers of Cochlospermum flowers the Park is closed. slopes away from the creek. This small There are two more lakes worth visiting, This concludes my botanic tour tree loses its leaves in winter when its Low Lake and Sweetwater. These are of Lakefield National Park and its large golden flowers emerge and are approaches. Isabella Falls and the succeeded by fat green pods which surrounded by paper barks and gallery Battlecamp Range can be visited on produce the fluffy kapok-like seeds. forest. a day trip by 2WD from Cooktown. It was collected by Solander on the The lakes contain yet more waterlilies Seeing the remainder of the park Cook expedition and is shown in Banks' and waterside plants, including the involves camping with a 4WD vehicle Florilegium. The pollen is shed from unusual Caldesia, growing in shallow (tent, camper-trailer or off-road Acacia calyculata, Isabella Falls the anthers through terminal pores, water, and the frogsmouth, Phylidrum caravan), preferably taking 3–4 days called porocidal anthers, that are lanuginosum. The latter grows along I have not mentioned the many species to cross the Park to Musgrave. There almost certainly vibration stimulated, the shoreline, a plant that occurs all the of eucalypt and wattle that are found is accommodation just outside the probably by large bees, but this needs way down the east coast to Nowra and in the park, nor the rainforest trees and northern end of the Park at Lotusbird investigation. beyond. shrubs found in the gallery forests. Here Lodge.

24 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 25 Terra Australis Garden at the National Arboretum Canberra

By Ben Walcott Parklands among many other botanic gardens, is leading the design team. The National Arboretum in Canberra Native plant expert Angus Stewart is features 100 forests of rare, endangered helping out while we and others, will and symbolic trees from around Australia and the world. It has become a provide local knowledge of what will national tourist destination even though grow in Canberra on that site. We think many of the trees are still young but two this is a wonderful opportunity to not of the forests are nearly 100 years old. only show the public how attractive More than 44,000 trees from over 100 native plants can be but to encourage countries are growing across the 250 more people to use them in their own hectare (618 acre) site, making it one of gardens. the world’s largest living collections of The draft plan for the garden should rare, endangered and significant trees. appeal to all regions of Australia as The National Arboretum is in the there will be representative plants process of creating a ‘Gallery of Gardens’ from most areas. The garden design which is a chain of seven gardens concept takes the basic form of the spread along a hillside from the main Australian continent; the oval garden Visitors Centre. These gardens have represents the island coastline and the been developed to raise awareness of, sweeps across the continent from north-east to south, or pay tribute to, a range of Australian Events Terrace — Illustration of the Gallery of Gardens with the Terra Australis physically expressed in an appropriate charities and community groups Garden at the most southern end through a garden. landform. The Australian Native Plants Society Within this geographic form, the crossing the ‘Great Divide’ to experience The design also incorporates three (Australia) (ANPSA) has secured one design philosophy is to create and of these gardens, the ‘Terra Australis interpret selected environments and a representative selection of the flora of distinct geological formations of Garden’, as a wholly native plant garden plant communities of Australia that are the ‘regions’ traversed. The ‘Great Divide’ basalt, sandstone and granite, plus featuring attractive modern cultivars known to be suitable to withstand the is represented on the plan in dark yellow a waterway (shown in dark blue) of and hybrids of Australian native plants. rigours of the Canberra climate. for the gentler slopes and brown where a coastal river system flowing down The proposed design for the garden The intent is to invite the viewer to they are steeper. Similarly, the perimeter through a sandstone ‘gorge’ to a pond is an oval shape about 30m x 19m, ‘explore’ the by pathway recalls the voyage of discovery that is suggestive of east coast bays and surrounded by a hedge. Lawrie meandering along the central pathway and exploration around the coastline by harbours. In the centre is an ephemeral Smith, who designed the Roma Street from north to south (or vice versa) many mariners. dry lake (shown as a light blue oval).

26 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 27 The letters show six different is attractive and has the necessary Australian plant communities that ‘wow’ factor. This means that seasonal will be represented, some using the rotation of some plants will be actual plants where they will grow in advisable/necessary to enhance the Canberra’s climate and others, such as overall aesthetic and complement the the tropical zone community, in a more permanent specimens. As the garden’s figurative or sculptural way: design process continues, it may be simplified to ensure that the end result Rather than only growing species plants, is appropriate as a public garden. it is important to present to the public through this garden the continuing The Arboretum will hire a full-time research and development process with gardener who will maintain the gallery Australian native plants. New selections of gardens as well as the event terrace and cultivars are regularly released gardens. This will be done initially commercially and this garden provides in consultation with volunteers but an ideal opportunity to establish and ensures that maintenance is ongoing promote some of these ‘new plants’ and doesn’t depend on volunteers. — at least those that are likely to be ANPS Canberra Region has been very successful in this location. generous in their support and the The garden should demonstrate in each other regions of ANPSA have as well. of the zones a pleasing combination We hope that the tenders will go out in of colours and textures to ensure that September and that construction can at all times and seasons the garden start in November.

Planting plan 1 — A general plan of the Garden with some indicative planting Solanum cinereum (detail), Uriarra Road Reserve; Photo: Brigitta Wimmer

28 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 29 We had a lovely drive in the sun to Description: Spreading shrub, mostly see our beautiful bushland in snow. 0.2–1.5 m high Summer or winter, a visit to the Brindabellas is always worthwhile. Leaves narrow-oblong to oblanceolate Lloyd’s verdict — snow didn’t feel like or ± linear he thought it would! usually pinkish at base and green to cream above Flowering: winter/spring Location: Grows in moist rocky places, in light to heavy soils

Flowering in the snow in the Grevillea lanigera flower Brindabella Mountains

Bush scene at Mt Franklin carpark Lloyd and others in Mt Franklin carpark The next gate to Mt Ginini at Mt Franklin Words and photos by Lucinda Royston carpark was closed, as was the track up It was a lovely, sunny, Canberra winter’s to Mt Franklin. Here there was enough day so we thought we’d go up to the snow for the other people to make a snow in the Brindabellas. Only a short one-metre-tall snowman and for Lloyd drive of an hour or so to Mt Franklin and to experience a snowy environment for Lloyd, who has lived all his life in the the first time. It was a picturesque scene November 11th & 12th 10 am–4pm western plains of the Riverina, had never of snow gums and shrubs in the snow October 28th and 29th 10 am–4pm Pillans Garden seen the snow. with the whiteness of the snow and Yellow Box — Spring Range 30 Aspen Rise, Jerrabomberra NSW the sunshine really brightening up the From the Brindabella Road we turned Planting of this large all-native garden landscape. 447 Spring Range Rd, Spring Range NSW onto Mt Franklin Road and got as far as began in 2003 — today there are over 'Yellow Box’ comprises about a hectare Bulls Head where the gate across the It was the sight of Grevillea lanigera 1000 individual species, including many (ha) of a great variety of densely planted road was locked. At least there was a bit flowering though that was a treat — acacia and grevillea species, making for native plants on an elevated rocky knoll. of snow still left under the trees and in the lovely grey-green leaves and fat a spectacular spring display. One section spots out of the sun. Luckily though as red flowers standing out in the white The garden, started in 1997, includes of the garden has been developed as a we had a cup of tea the Ranger arrived snow background and against the many meandering, pleasant paths dry ‘rainforest’ gully using species with to open the road, letting us and another white and grey trunks of the snow gums taking visitors to many garden sections, glossy, dark green leaves. group through to Mt Franklin. It was a (Eucalyptus pauciflora). It is a lovely including vegetable beds and an drive through snow-covered landscape native plant and one to grow in your orchard. The 19 ha property, featuring Members of Open Gardens Canberra and along a snow-covered, gravel Mt garden. It is on the ANPS Plant Label some native pastures, also includes free (membership $25/year, non- Franklin Road that was slippery from the database and appears regularly at our Landcare shelter belts on its perimeter. members $8) melting, wet snow. Plant Sales. Refreshments available. www.opengardenscanberra.org.au

30 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 31 Prostanthera Study Group. Many plants have clear name plates but still many do not and while we were there, people were tiptoeing on the beds to try to catch site of a label or left wondering what the beautiful yellow grevillea putting on such a show was called. Plantings show how native plants can be used in a domestic garden setting. Grevillea ‘Marmalade’ is used as a screen at the front of the Park, , G. banksii and G. ‘Royal Mantle’ are displayed as ground covers, rockery subjects or standards.

Illawarra Grevillea Park Grevillea 'Royal Mantle' — standard

Grevillea cultivars

Words and photos by Jeanette Jeffrey café and fencing. A Visitors Centre is planned. They are in the process of What does an ANPS Study Group do putting the planting list of each garden with its expertise and propagated bed on their website — and we all know material acquired over many years? how much work is involved in that! Grevillea 'Marmalade' — used as a large screen Well the ANPS Grevillea Study Group Colin and I enjoyed a July morning there started the Illawarra Grevillea Park on one of their 12 Open Days each year. at Bulli. The Botanic gardens, at both There is a terrific range of as and Canberra, realised the value well as Banksias, Correas, Westringias of their scientific collection and helped and Prostantheras to enjoy. One of the with approaches to the Wollongong City aims of the Park is “to encourage the Council for land at Bulli. appreciation and study of native plants”. Work began in 1983 and the park There are examples from all states, many opened in 1990. It continues to be run grafted on to root stock which tolerates by volunteers (regular working bees on heavier, wetter soil and higher humidity. Mondays). Some of them have been ‘wild’ sourced. The Park has significant infrastructure The Park has also become a repository of raised garden beds, paved walkways, for material from the Westringia and 'Ruby Red'

32 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 33 Visit to Oakey Creek

A mixed planting Planted avenue of mixed Eucalyptus species

G. ‘Bulli Beauty’ is a cultivar Words: Bob Nader; Photos: Bill Willis condition. The property had not been properly fenced and there was erosion that arose from a seedling On 13 June this year, members of ANPS on the creek and a profusion of broad- within the park. It was Canberra Daytime Activities Group and officially launched at a July Garden Design Study Group visited leafed weed and African lovegrass. 2005 Open Day. Bob Nader’s garden in Wallaroo, NSW. Consequently there was a lot of work Following is his garden story. An interesting range of to do. We started off expanding the natives is available for sale In May 2003 we moved to Oakey Creek, garden around the house by planting deciduous trees, a common practice on Open Days. Unfortunately four months after the devastating on properties such as this one. Cedric none from the propagation bushfires in Canberra. ’The Rivers’, the Bryant, whom I have known for many work of the Study Groups. property we had been leasing on Uriarra Crossing, was engulfed in the most years, visited us a few times and Unfortunately, on a visit severe firestorm. Luckily, we survived, recommended to plant trees in clumps. to the Park, there is no trace of a Grevillea 'Honey Gem' along with our seven horses and four of You will notice that trees have been connection to the Society or the our five dogs. planted in groups of fours and fives The Illawarra Grevillea Park is just around the farm. Study Groups. This seems to be a lost off the Pacific Highway, behind Bulli The previous owners of Oakey Creek opportunity to promote membership Showground and the next Open Days had built the house and completed The native plantings started reasonably of our society or even awareness of a are the weekend of September 2nd, 3rd some basic landscaping. Apart from that early in combination with soil con- group to contact for further information. and 9th, 10th. It is well worth a visit. the property was in a fairly run-down servation. The creek was very eroded

34 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 35 eucalypts and wattles along the top need to be carefully planted and kept three borders of the property. well mulched. We also continued planting native I have recently started working on shrubs and trees in the area in front of the garden on the western side of the the house on the eastern side. It had house. The first job was to remove a originally been excavated to build up gigantic Banksia Rose which took up a the garden around the house. There was considerable amount of space and was a rocky hollowed out area there so I had also impacting on the integrity of the a few loads of soil and mulch delivered guttering and foundations of the house. to improve that area of the garden We then planted out the area with a before proceeding to plant various variety of beautiful natives which is to natives. me the icing on the cake. These plants had to suffer through Along with improving our quality of life many years of severe drought; however, we are also attracting more species of they were resilient and somehow native birds and animals. The creek area survived. Through experience, I have which was originally very barren, now learnt that for plants to thrive in this has a resident population of wombats country, which is mainly granite, they and is a real pleasure to walk through.

Acacia species used in creek restoration and you can still see areas to this day of and fenced off the road to the house, fairly deep erosion gullies. In those days planting trees on both sides of the they used to ‘batten down’ the banks laneway. which entailed getting a bulldozer in and flattening the banks and filling in Next we created tree-lanes, in particular the erosion gullies. This practice was on the north-eastern, eastern and largely unsuccessful as after heavy rain south-eastern boundaries of the the gullies reappeared. property. This included a remnant After contacting Soil Conservation, I stand of eucalypts on the north-eastern was advised that the best approach side which now displays regrowth. We would be to fence the area off and sometimes have picnics there in the let nature take its course. We began summer. by very generously fencing off the After speaking to Leon Garry, (ex creek. I met Damien who, as you know, has a nursery with some very fine Mayor of Yass), who had developed plants for sale. Damien had a small a technique of self-seeding trees, I group of tree planters available and contacted Greening Australia who we started planting trees along the consequently implemented this creek. I improved the paddock fencing technique to sow trees including Poa species used in creek restoration

36 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 37 The creek now retains more water and More recently, we have reticulated we now have permanent billabongs water to dam areas and other areas with waterbirds and frogs galore. with recent tree plantings around the Snapshots from property. We now have a secure water set-up on the property including an 8,000 gallon- Since the recent ANPS visit to our the Atherton an-hour bore which reticulates water property, which we very much to troughs in the paddocks and to the appreciated, we have had some Tableland garden around the house. All the dams extensive landscaping completed are fenced off to provide a haven for including the installation of a pond and Photos: Gail Ritchie Knight native vegetation, wildlife and birds. fountain.

Eastern Spinebill feeding on Banksia spinulosa (Hairpin Banksia), Herberton

Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on Grevillea Moonlight, Herberton

Bob Nader (right) talking to DAGs

Basket fern, Gillies Lookout, Danbulla

Ficus virens Cathedral Fig Tree, Danbulla; Ian Tranter (centre), Mike Shihoff (right) admiring an Allocasuarina nana about 500 yrs old Millaa Millaa Waterfall

38 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 39 •• From Your letters Grevillea Study Group •• Subscriptions Newsletter 107, June 2017 Study Group Notes •• Future Newsletter Themes •• GSG Programmes for 2017 — Vic, •• Eremophila calorhabdos NSW & SE Qld By Brigitta Wimmer, Study Group Liaison •• Other flowers from last summer •• Eremophilas in Hanging Baskets •• Editorial Officer, ANPS Canberra Region •• Battered bottletree soldiers on •• Grafting survey •• Obituaries • •• Errata •• Acacia Study Group • A buttress-rooted kurrajong •• About the Study Group •• Grevillea News Newsletter 17, July 2017 •• Seeds available •• In the Wild • Garden Design Study Group • From the Leader Eremophila Study Group •• In the Garden •• Welcome Newsletter 11 May 2017 Newsletter No 99 •• Seedbank •• From Members and Readers •• Contents Letter from the Editor •• Leaders Comments •• Financials •• Acacia phasmoides •• What’s New in the Study Group •• Correspondence: •• Acacia granitica •• New members •• Diana Snape & Flannel Flowers •• Acacia spirorbis ssp spirorbis •• Leavings •• Anita Dwyer Study Group Newsletter 13 June 2017 •• Acacia glaucoptera and A. bifaria •• Website •• Liz Bartholomeusz •• Maria writes •• Acacia nicholsonensis •• Eremophilas in the News •• Jill Mitchell •• From the members •• Acacia wollarensis •• Update from Pinery Fires •• Congratulations and thanks! • •• Telopea trials •• Australian Botanical Links to Uruguay •• Eremophila calcicola • Report of meeting • •• GDSGQ Meeting notes May 2017 •• Growing Flannel Flowers • Weedy in the news •• Horticulture •• Books •• GDSGQ Correspondence •• •• Propagation •• Seed Bank •• GDSG Residential Garden Design •• Sylavan Grove Native Garden •• Eremophila glabra Canning Stock • •• Checklist of Telopea species and • Study Group Membership Route •• Garden Design Workshop varieties Brachychiton and Allied •• Chimeras •• GDSGQ Meeting notes July 2017 •• Drawing Garden plans with Word •• Checklist of Actinotus species and Genera Study Group •• How to tell if you have a chimera varieties Newsletter 45, June 2017 •• Distinguishing chimeras from •• Canberra Garden Visit •• Flowering patterns for 2016–2017 hybrids •• Treasurer’s report •• Red Peduncles •• Eremophila chimeras •• Index •• A few assorted images — B. sp. •• How to create a chimera Ormeau, B. grandiflorus, B. Mt White •• Uses of a chimera •• Climate etc. •• Eremophilas in Sydney — the effects •• Welcome to new (& returning) of flooding rains members •• Open Garden at Lyn Barfield’s Newsletter 46, late June 2017 •• Events •• Flowering patterns for 2016–2017 •• Sydney meeting •• flowers last summer at •• meeting Beachmere •• ESG Gathering 8–10 Sept 2017 •• New unflowered hybrids •• Victorian meeting Mangroves, Cowie Beach, Cape Tribulation, Qld; Photo: Gail Ritchie Knight

40 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 41 Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc. The aims of the Society are to foster the recognition, conservation and Membership Fees cultivation of Australian native plants. Single or family memberships are the same price. For Sale Meetings are held at 8 pm on the second Thursday of each month, Basic membership including Bulletin and Journal — $35 ($18*) February to December, in Canberra. Visitors are always welcome. Full membership including Bulletin, Journal and Australian Day and weekend field trips to locations of outstanding botanical Plants — $50 ($33*) interest are organised on a regular basis. Life member subscribing to Australian Plants — $15 The Society publishes a Bulletin in all months except January, and this * Concession rates apply to pensioners (Centrelink), full-time quarterly Journal in March, June, September and December. students and unemployed. Website: nativeplants-canberra.asn.au Membership Secretary: Ros Walcott 02 6161 2742 [email protected] Council Other useful contacts President Bulletin Editor Lucinda Royston Anthony O'Halloran 02 6231 6067 [email protected] [email protected] Study Group Liaison Officer Vice President Alison Roach Brigitta Wimmer 0401 669 878 [email protected] [email protected] Propagation aid sales Snowy Mountains Secretary Glenn Pure Vacant 66 Crozier Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902 cottage nature retreat, Talbingo NSW 02 6231 6457 Booksales I have a Snowy Mountains Treasurer Murray Dadds cottage nature retreat in Talbingo Ben Walcott NSW that I am hoping to sell in 02 6161 2742 43 MacLaurin Cres, Chifley ACT 2606 the near future. In the yard I have [email protected] 0404 870 447 planted an extensive food forest Assistant Secretary/Treasurer [email protected] (ie berry plants, fruit and nut John Carter trees, veggie beds and heaps of Public Officer 02 6231 7055 herbs), mixed with native plants (for Associations Incorporation Act purposes) [email protected] to attract native birds and insects. Jounama Dam and the mountains in Paul Meier Other Council Members 7 Robert Lewis Crescent, Gordon ACT 2906 The house has two bedrooms, one the North and West. Geoff Butler 02 6294 6601 (h) bathroom and one enclosed car space, At the moment, I am looking for Philip Fradd with room for more in the driveway. expressions of interest from keen Greg Quinn All Society correspondence to It is heated via the wood stove in the gardeners and people who genuinely Ros Walcott The Secretary lounge area and has two decks — one care for local wildlife. Bill Willis ANPS Canberra Region (Inc), PO Box 217 of which boasts stunning views over Mary Ormay Ph: 0415 629 924 Peter Woodbury Civic Square ACT 2608 Back cover: , flower developing, Australian National Botannic Gardens; Photo: Helen Brewer

42 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 Journal, Australian Native Plants Society, Canberra Region Inc — September 2017 43