Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 1

Next Meeting

Saturday 1st July 2017

Not all Eucalypts are Gums but all Gums are

Eucalypts

REALLY ARE THEY

Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens at 1030am

At this meeting President John Knight will discuss the features which will

help you recognise which Eucalypt is which

Note that only Eucalypts found in the south east of NSW will be featured

The day will commence with a presentation showing how to arrange the various Eucalypts

into smaller groups using simple easily recognised features Now using a revised but

simple recognition key first developed by ERBGrsquos then employee Ryan Harris for the

BGANZ conference at ERBG in 2008 further dividing these groups to arrive at an answer

as to what Eucalypt it is that we are looking at

After lunch we will wander through the ERBG Arboretum looking at the trees growing

there and using the features discussed earlier use our new found knowledge to identify as

many trees as time and interest allows

Members are reminded to wear sensible clothing and shoes for wandering around the gardens

Bring your own morning tea and lunch or enjoy something from the Chefs Cap Cafeacute

Donrsquot forget to collect some flowers from your garden to discuss at our ldquoshow and tellrdquo segment

Newsletter 130

June 2017

Australian Plants Society

South East NSW Group

Contacts President John Knight johnonvista49outlookcom

Secretary Michele Pymble mishpymblegmailcom

Newsletter editor John Knight johnonvista49outlookcom

Corymbia maculata Spotted Gum and

Macrozamia communis Burrawang

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 2

Last Meetinghellip report by John Knight based on text provided by Dianne Clark

Photos borrowed from Diannersquos powerpoint presentation

My role at the Eurobodalla Rergional Botanic Gardens - Nursery Supervisor

The ERBGardens rely very much on the help of volunteers to function and we are limited in the number

of paid staff As Nursery Supervisor I work with 4 other staff members including the manager a

gardener a maintenance person and an apprentice and we all help each other We also have regular

volunteers that come in for either one or two days and help in the nursery There are also a multitude of

other volunteers who contribute in many different ways and are vital to the overall success of the

Gardens

The title of my job is Nursery

Supervisor and the aim of the

position is to work with the

volunteers to produce plants to

continue to expand the collections

on display in the Gardens for sale

in the retail nursery of the Gardens

including for the recently held and

very successful Easter sale for

Council and Community projects

and education programs We also

need to continue to collect seed and

maintain a viable seed collection

Of course conservation is also part of what we do

Although John described this place as lsquomy nurseryrsquo I very much see myself as a caretaker It was

interesting to read the book lsquoIn among the Gum Treesrsquo which provides a history of the Gardens

development and realize just how much energy and inspiration has gone into making the gardens what

they are today My aim is to keep that going and leave the place in better shape that when I came or at

least no worse

Before I describe what a Nursery

supervisor does Irsquod just like to point out

that this Nursery is special As are all nurseries connected with Botanic Gardens Yes we grow plant for

commercial purposes and for planting but we also need to follow certain guidelines to maintain the

integrity of the collection and to justify being called a Botanic Garden

Volunteers hard at work in the nursery

The book IN AMONG THE GUM TREES is a glossy publication by the Friends of ERBG detailing the history of the development of ERBG

It is available from the Gardens for just $40 and can also be mailed anywhere in Australia for an additional $1340

Details at wwwfriendserbgorgau

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 3

The key thing for me in maintaining our integrity as a Botanic Garden is record keeping It is vital that

labels are correct and numbers and records are maintained

In this organisation a plant is given an identification number when it is first collected and this number

stays with propagation material taken from those original wild plants It is sometimes difficult in any

garden to consistently know which plants are which especially when plants self-seed or are replaced over

time Mapping is a task that is constantly out of date It is this reason that the gardens maintain a

collection of potted plants that are kept in the Nursery The aim is to have each wild plant collected

represented in the garden in the Herbarium and either in the seed store or as a potted specimen

The other key distinction is that a commercial

grower would sort out the plants that sell well

and that are easy to propagation and concentrate

on those The propagators would grow

thousands of one plant over the years and know

exactly when and how to do it In this Nursery

we try to sell from a list of 200 different genera

and also grow rare and threatened plants that

may be difficult to propagate We also have a

staff of volunteer workers with varying

propagation skills

So what is special about the ERBG Nursery

For one the only plants collected and sold are those that are found in our region

Broadly the collecting region is defined by three river systems which flow through the Eurobodalla Shire

the Deua the Tuross and the Clyde Having moved up from Victoria I could answer that question in the

interview but I did not really know what it meant I am still learning

The current strategic plan states that one of our objectives is to grow and display plants of the region and

to increase and maintain our current collection This is what we plan to do It is important to know what

we have and to determine gaps in the collection either geographically or by lack of plant representation

To be a successful plant collector you need to be able to identify plants It is also important to be aware

of rare and threatened plants in your area We join in with the Herbarium volunteers when they go

collecting and gain from their experience

The Gardens collectors hold the necessary permits from National Parks and Forests NSW and

exemptions are made for Botanic Gardens to collect some rare plants under license

This job could be as big as you want to make it

Obviously with limited resources we are restricted as to what can be done Thatrsquos where collaboration is

going to become more and more important We already have a national botanic garden (ANBG) that

collects in our area and it is vital that we have a good relationship with them so that plant material and

information is freely exchanged ANBG has facilitated the formation of a group called the SE NSW

Bioregion Working Group and I attend quarterly meetings The structure of the group includes other

Botanic Gardens but also local members such as rangers environment people and local aboriginal people

It is a group that wants outcomes not just words

Volunteers looking after the potted collection Members might recognise Jo and Jenny who have been propagating at ERBG for many years

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 4

There has been a lot going on

at the Gardens

Planning is well underway for

a new Herbarium building to

be constructed next to the

existing office and Seed Bank

building This area is being

referred to as the Science

Hub

The existing building is to be

redeveloped with increased

space for retail activities and

a larger meeting room The

Plant Shop will be extended

to provide space for an

increased range of plants

This will present a challenge

for both me and the

propagation volunteers

Over the years I have found that one of the best way

to promote and therefore sell plants is to be able to

show people a well grown specimen We would like

to have a seasonal display of larger potted plants

that could be placed near the shop We will also be

developing a larger range of pond and wetland

plants There are plans to develop a garden area of

bush foods so we would need to have a range of

these available as well We are also trying to

increase the range of smaller growing Eucalypts

available for sale

The Nursery itself is also due for some changes I

am in the process of deciding how we can best use

the space and what facilities we might need

Members attending were generous in their applause and many questions followed Amanda presented

Dianne with a fine beverage thanking her on behalf of the group

Lunch followed a brief but entertaining ldquoShow and Tellrdquo session and Dianne then invited us to inspect

the nursery production area answering a plethora of pertinent questions from an interested audience

From here the group meandered up to the Arboretum and adjacent rainforest area with Dianne talking

enthusiastically about ldquoherrdquo plants and discussing plans for future redeveloping of the Acacia and

Eucalypt collections

So ended a fruitful day talking plants with plant people This is what the Australian Plant Society is

about

Proposed new Herbarium and Science building

Di discusses the nursery development proposals

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 5

In My Garden

A GARDEN IN TRANSITION the next stage

This is just a few notes following on from the APS group visit to our garden last month We enjoyed

having such a large group wandering about seeing what we had been up to and offering advice such as to

keep various things that I had been preparing to pull out as weeds

The rock wall I spoke about has been completed and truckloads of soil put in to fill the hole We now

have a walkway down to the back area of the garden that doesnrsquot involve steps or steep climbs Progress

We also have a new large area that needs planting out

To assist in that on a recent road trip to Melbourne we called at Heronswood (the Diggerrsquos Club garden

at Dromana) and Kuranga Native Nursery (in Mt Evelyn)

Heronswood is a beautiful garden overlooking the bay It is a lsquoformalrsquo style with lots of non-native plants

and we enjoyed strolling around admiring it The major ideas taken away from it were about view lines

and shade trees something we can work on here

Kuranga was a much more commercial operation with an extensive range of plants to choose from (see

their web page for a catalogue) We understand they will freight material to this area but we didnrsquot ask the

cost We did buy quite a range of plants from there including Persoonia chamaepeuce and P

chamaepitys Ziema littoralis Mentha australis and M diemenica Not sure if were taken by the plants

or their names but they all found a home in our garden and seem quite happy

Mentha or Native Mints are rarely grown these days but are accommodating little plants quite happy

to grow among other plants They do best in shade or semi-shade and are ideal to add interest to a fern

garden where their white or mauve flowers add

a little colour Plants will grow in sunny sites if

the soil remains moist but are rarely as happy as

plants in more protected sites These are good

plants to try your hand at propagating as

cuttings root readily and small suckers can be

transplanted Even easier Seed sometimes

germinates in the garden when there is a good

variety of small native bees around

A point of interest M diemenica is named for

Van Diemenrsquos Land (Tasmania) where the type

specimen was collected It also occurs in

Victoria South Australia and NSW

We will keep on the lookout for other

interesting plants to go in the new area and see

how it develops over the next year

The little garden at the front of the block has now had its perimeter path completed and work is about to

start on forming up the soil placing rocks and finding some more little treasures which we can hopefully

protect from those delightful but destructive Red-neck Wallabies which seem to delight in checking out

every new plant

Annie Hood and Geoff Gosling

Mentha diemenica also known as Slender Mint

Photo from ANBG website M Fagg

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 6

Committee news

Committee has received a request from member Jan Robilliard to support conservation initiatives for

Regional Forest Agreement

and culling of wild horses in Kosciuszko NP

The committee has considered the issues through email links at this stage and have agreed to

publish Janrsquos email in full Members are asked to consider how best the group should respond

ldquoI would like to see the APS SE committee both publicize these 2 issues in the newsletter and also the committee discuss the possibility of writing a submission to the NSW government especially Gladys B and Gabrielle Upton the Minister of the Environment Many of the members of this group have become passionate about Australian native plants by visiting the local forests national parks and by walking through the bush These areas have also played a big part in the success of ERBG where many of the seeds have been collected for propagation The 2019 Eden Regional Forest Agreement is one of the first to be renegotiated followed by all the others NSW government would like to rollover the existing agreement which means continued logging for woodchips for which there is no market Many buyers are sourcing cheaper woodchips from Asian countries who grow Sydney Blue Gums at a rapid rate The forests however will continue to be exploited resulting in loss of flora and fauna The Kosciuszko National Park is unique and should be protected Horses are a feral animal none of which have a place there The argument that they are part of our heritage and culture is being put forward by people with vested interests like Peter Cochrane and John Barilaro the Deputy Premier I think it is appropriate for our group to have a strong voice on these issues and so would like to suggest that the committee discuss these matters as a matter of urgency Thanks Jan Robilliardrdquo We the committee ask that you consider Janrsquos very pertinent comments and let our Secretary Michele Pymble know your thoughts Michelersquos contact details are in the committee list If you wish to contact Jan with your comments she can be reached on her email

ltjanandrob1969hotmailcomgt

2017 APS Get together at Coffs Harbour

September 2-3 2017

Details of this event were attached as separate documents (pdf) with last monthrsquos newsletter for

members information

The organising committee are keen that members intending to travel to Coffs Harbour for the meeting

should submit their application as early as possible to assist with catering arrangements

The committee has also negotiated a Discount Accommodation Offer at NRMA Darlington Beach

Arrawarra wwwnrmadbcomau

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 7

Darlington Beach Holiday Park have offered participants to the Conference discounted accommodation

of between 10-15 for the weekend September 1-3 with possible extension if you are staying on in the

area after the Conference

NRMA members will already receive a 10 discount however if a minimum of bookings are made by

NRMA members and non-members the 15 will apply to your booking

With multiple accommodation choice ranging from camping to cabins this Holiday Park is set in a

beautiful coastal wetland fronting Arrawarra beach a direct highway commute thirty minutes north from

central Coffs Harbour

To take advantage of this generous offer phone the Park on (02) 6640 7444 and choose Option 2 which

puts you through direct to Reception and confirm with reception staff that you are attending the APS

Annual Get Together Contact Beck Young and Pam Buckler

Members are also reminded that long serving Past President Bob Ross has been rewarded for his many

years campaigning for the conservation of Australian plants

Bob will receive his award at the APS Regional quarterly meeting at Coffs Harbour Members are

encouraged to join with Bob to celebrate his achievements at Coffs Harbour

Early bird bookings are now being received

Cottage for Sale

Well itrsquos more like a country estate with

a cottage and a couple of houses

Pete and Jenny John have decided to sell their lovely

acreage and are going to move into Narooma This is a

great opportunity for a nature lover who enjoys

Australian plants As Pete said ldquoall the hard work is

donerdquo

The text below is from the selling agent

HOUSE WITH NATIVE GARDEN FOR SALE

Originally the office for a staging post of the horse drawn

coaches that travelled the east coast road the 40 acre

property at 1044 Punkalla-Tilba Road (Glencoe) is

now two comfortable houses linked by a deck with a

garden of native plants and vistas of forest and paddocks

Just 10km from both Narooma and Tilba in opposite

directions Glencoe is within easy reach of shops and

other services

The original 1890 cottage has been extended over the

years to now include 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and

across the deck is a more modern 4 bedroom house built

in 2009 with a roomy kitchen and solar hot water system

The original coach office a quaint reminder of times when life wasnrsquot so rushed Says Jenny ldquoitrsquos still like that enjoying the seclusion but never too far away from the bustle of Narooma if thatrsquos what you likerdquo

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 8

A large shed with a 7Kw solar system

on the north facing roof which feeds

electricity into the mains grid is

screened from the house by a bed of

mixed native shrubs which provide

habitat for lyrebirds and various

honeyeaters and other small birds

There are two 90000l water tanks and

solar hot water

Please go to wwwbenbatecomau for

further details photos of the house

and setting and inspection

appointments

Future activities

The new committee has developed a provisional program of interesting meetings for the coming year

activities which will hopefully add to our knowledge of Australian plants

The preliminary program is as follows subject of course to variation

August 5 Landscape feature with designer Shane Doherty

September 2 Isopogons and Petrophiles Phil Trickett and Catriona Bate

October 7 Narooma property of Joan Lynch

November 4 Pruning Horse Island with Ray Brown Manager Grevillea Park Bulli

December 2 AGM and picnic day at ERBG Note that as we have successful in getting Ray Brown to

the November meeting the AGM has been postponed

It is time now for plans to be developed for next yearrsquos program Please put your thinking caps on

and help the committee to arrange a full year of events to both entertain and inform

If you have any ideas or comments on how we are travelling any of the committee would

appreciate your input

A venerable Kurrajong is a highlight of the garden and garden beds developed over the past 20 years are filled with an extensive variety of hardy Australian plants

As you can see below

the friendly wildlife are

happy to keep you

entertained

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 3

The key thing for me in maintaining our integrity as a Botanic Garden is record keeping It is vital that

labels are correct and numbers and records are maintained

In this organisation a plant is given an identification number when it is first collected and this number

stays with propagation material taken from those original wild plants It is sometimes difficult in any

garden to consistently know which plants are which especially when plants self-seed or are replaced over

time Mapping is a task that is constantly out of date It is this reason that the gardens maintain a

collection of potted plants that are kept in the Nursery The aim is to have each wild plant collected

represented in the garden in the Herbarium and either in the seed store or as a potted specimen

The other key distinction is that a commercial

grower would sort out the plants that sell well

and that are easy to propagation and concentrate

on those The propagators would grow

thousands of one plant over the years and know

exactly when and how to do it In this Nursery

we try to sell from a list of 200 different genera

and also grow rare and threatened plants that

may be difficult to propagate We also have a

staff of volunteer workers with varying

propagation skills

So what is special about the ERBG Nursery

For one the only plants collected and sold are those that are found in our region

Broadly the collecting region is defined by three river systems which flow through the Eurobodalla Shire

the Deua the Tuross and the Clyde Having moved up from Victoria I could answer that question in the

interview but I did not really know what it meant I am still learning

The current strategic plan states that one of our objectives is to grow and display plants of the region and

to increase and maintain our current collection This is what we plan to do It is important to know what

we have and to determine gaps in the collection either geographically or by lack of plant representation

To be a successful plant collector you need to be able to identify plants It is also important to be aware

of rare and threatened plants in your area We join in with the Herbarium volunteers when they go

collecting and gain from their experience

The Gardens collectors hold the necessary permits from National Parks and Forests NSW and

exemptions are made for Botanic Gardens to collect some rare plants under license

This job could be as big as you want to make it

Obviously with limited resources we are restricted as to what can be done Thatrsquos where collaboration is

going to become more and more important We already have a national botanic garden (ANBG) that

collects in our area and it is vital that we have a good relationship with them so that plant material and

information is freely exchanged ANBG has facilitated the formation of a group called the SE NSW

Bioregion Working Group and I attend quarterly meetings The structure of the group includes other

Botanic Gardens but also local members such as rangers environment people and local aboriginal people

It is a group that wants outcomes not just words

Volunteers looking after the potted collection Members might recognise Jo and Jenny who have been propagating at ERBG for many years

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 4

There has been a lot going on

at the Gardens

Planning is well underway for

a new Herbarium building to

be constructed next to the

existing office and Seed Bank

building This area is being

referred to as the Science

Hub

The existing building is to be

redeveloped with increased

space for retail activities and

a larger meeting room The

Plant Shop will be extended

to provide space for an

increased range of plants

This will present a challenge

for both me and the

propagation volunteers

Over the years I have found that one of the best way

to promote and therefore sell plants is to be able to

show people a well grown specimen We would like

to have a seasonal display of larger potted plants

that could be placed near the shop We will also be

developing a larger range of pond and wetland

plants There are plans to develop a garden area of

bush foods so we would need to have a range of

these available as well We are also trying to

increase the range of smaller growing Eucalypts

available for sale

The Nursery itself is also due for some changes I

am in the process of deciding how we can best use

the space and what facilities we might need

Members attending were generous in their applause and many questions followed Amanda presented

Dianne with a fine beverage thanking her on behalf of the group

Lunch followed a brief but entertaining ldquoShow and Tellrdquo session and Dianne then invited us to inspect

the nursery production area answering a plethora of pertinent questions from an interested audience

From here the group meandered up to the Arboretum and adjacent rainforest area with Dianne talking

enthusiastically about ldquoherrdquo plants and discussing plans for future redeveloping of the Acacia and

Eucalypt collections

So ended a fruitful day talking plants with plant people This is what the Australian Plant Society is

about

Proposed new Herbarium and Science building

Di discusses the nursery development proposals

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 5

In My Garden

A GARDEN IN TRANSITION the next stage

This is just a few notes following on from the APS group visit to our garden last month We enjoyed

having such a large group wandering about seeing what we had been up to and offering advice such as to

keep various things that I had been preparing to pull out as weeds

The rock wall I spoke about has been completed and truckloads of soil put in to fill the hole We now

have a walkway down to the back area of the garden that doesnrsquot involve steps or steep climbs Progress

We also have a new large area that needs planting out

To assist in that on a recent road trip to Melbourne we called at Heronswood (the Diggerrsquos Club garden

at Dromana) and Kuranga Native Nursery (in Mt Evelyn)

Heronswood is a beautiful garden overlooking the bay It is a lsquoformalrsquo style with lots of non-native plants

and we enjoyed strolling around admiring it The major ideas taken away from it were about view lines

and shade trees something we can work on here

Kuranga was a much more commercial operation with an extensive range of plants to choose from (see

their web page for a catalogue) We understand they will freight material to this area but we didnrsquot ask the

cost We did buy quite a range of plants from there including Persoonia chamaepeuce and P

chamaepitys Ziema littoralis Mentha australis and M diemenica Not sure if were taken by the plants

or their names but they all found a home in our garden and seem quite happy

Mentha or Native Mints are rarely grown these days but are accommodating little plants quite happy

to grow among other plants They do best in shade or semi-shade and are ideal to add interest to a fern

garden where their white or mauve flowers add

a little colour Plants will grow in sunny sites if

the soil remains moist but are rarely as happy as

plants in more protected sites These are good

plants to try your hand at propagating as

cuttings root readily and small suckers can be

transplanted Even easier Seed sometimes

germinates in the garden when there is a good

variety of small native bees around

A point of interest M diemenica is named for

Van Diemenrsquos Land (Tasmania) where the type

specimen was collected It also occurs in

Victoria South Australia and NSW

We will keep on the lookout for other

interesting plants to go in the new area and see

how it develops over the next year

The little garden at the front of the block has now had its perimeter path completed and work is about to

start on forming up the soil placing rocks and finding some more little treasures which we can hopefully

protect from those delightful but destructive Red-neck Wallabies which seem to delight in checking out

every new plant

Annie Hood and Geoff Gosling

Mentha diemenica also known as Slender Mint

Photo from ANBG website M Fagg

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 6

Committee news

Committee has received a request from member Jan Robilliard to support conservation initiatives for

Regional Forest Agreement

and culling of wild horses in Kosciuszko NP

The committee has considered the issues through email links at this stage and have agreed to

publish Janrsquos email in full Members are asked to consider how best the group should respond

ldquoI would like to see the APS SE committee both publicize these 2 issues in the newsletter and also the committee discuss the possibility of writing a submission to the NSW government especially Gladys B and Gabrielle Upton the Minister of the Environment Many of the members of this group have become passionate about Australian native plants by visiting the local forests national parks and by walking through the bush These areas have also played a big part in the success of ERBG where many of the seeds have been collected for propagation The 2019 Eden Regional Forest Agreement is one of the first to be renegotiated followed by all the others NSW government would like to rollover the existing agreement which means continued logging for woodchips for which there is no market Many buyers are sourcing cheaper woodchips from Asian countries who grow Sydney Blue Gums at a rapid rate The forests however will continue to be exploited resulting in loss of flora and fauna The Kosciuszko National Park is unique and should be protected Horses are a feral animal none of which have a place there The argument that they are part of our heritage and culture is being put forward by people with vested interests like Peter Cochrane and John Barilaro the Deputy Premier I think it is appropriate for our group to have a strong voice on these issues and so would like to suggest that the committee discuss these matters as a matter of urgency Thanks Jan Robilliardrdquo We the committee ask that you consider Janrsquos very pertinent comments and let our Secretary Michele Pymble know your thoughts Michelersquos contact details are in the committee list If you wish to contact Jan with your comments she can be reached on her email

ltjanandrob1969hotmailcomgt

2017 APS Get together at Coffs Harbour

September 2-3 2017

Details of this event were attached as separate documents (pdf) with last monthrsquos newsletter for

members information

The organising committee are keen that members intending to travel to Coffs Harbour for the meeting

should submit their application as early as possible to assist with catering arrangements

The committee has also negotiated a Discount Accommodation Offer at NRMA Darlington Beach

Arrawarra wwwnrmadbcomau

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 7

Darlington Beach Holiday Park have offered participants to the Conference discounted accommodation

of between 10-15 for the weekend September 1-3 with possible extension if you are staying on in the

area after the Conference

NRMA members will already receive a 10 discount however if a minimum of bookings are made by

NRMA members and non-members the 15 will apply to your booking

With multiple accommodation choice ranging from camping to cabins this Holiday Park is set in a

beautiful coastal wetland fronting Arrawarra beach a direct highway commute thirty minutes north from

central Coffs Harbour

To take advantage of this generous offer phone the Park on (02) 6640 7444 and choose Option 2 which

puts you through direct to Reception and confirm with reception staff that you are attending the APS

Annual Get Together Contact Beck Young and Pam Buckler

Members are also reminded that long serving Past President Bob Ross has been rewarded for his many

years campaigning for the conservation of Australian plants

Bob will receive his award at the APS Regional quarterly meeting at Coffs Harbour Members are

encouraged to join with Bob to celebrate his achievements at Coffs Harbour

Early bird bookings are now being received

Cottage for Sale

Well itrsquos more like a country estate with

a cottage and a couple of houses

Pete and Jenny John have decided to sell their lovely

acreage and are going to move into Narooma This is a

great opportunity for a nature lover who enjoys

Australian plants As Pete said ldquoall the hard work is

donerdquo

The text below is from the selling agent

HOUSE WITH NATIVE GARDEN FOR SALE

Originally the office for a staging post of the horse drawn

coaches that travelled the east coast road the 40 acre

property at 1044 Punkalla-Tilba Road (Glencoe) is

now two comfortable houses linked by a deck with a

garden of native plants and vistas of forest and paddocks

Just 10km from both Narooma and Tilba in opposite

directions Glencoe is within easy reach of shops and

other services

The original 1890 cottage has been extended over the

years to now include 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and

across the deck is a more modern 4 bedroom house built

in 2009 with a roomy kitchen and solar hot water system

The original coach office a quaint reminder of times when life wasnrsquot so rushed Says Jenny ldquoitrsquos still like that enjoying the seclusion but never too far away from the bustle of Narooma if thatrsquos what you likerdquo

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 8

A large shed with a 7Kw solar system

on the north facing roof which feeds

electricity into the mains grid is

screened from the house by a bed of

mixed native shrubs which provide

habitat for lyrebirds and various

honeyeaters and other small birds

There are two 90000l water tanks and

solar hot water

Please go to wwwbenbatecomau for

further details photos of the house

and setting and inspection

appointments

Future activities

The new committee has developed a provisional program of interesting meetings for the coming year

activities which will hopefully add to our knowledge of Australian plants

The preliminary program is as follows subject of course to variation

August 5 Landscape feature with designer Shane Doherty

September 2 Isopogons and Petrophiles Phil Trickett and Catriona Bate

October 7 Narooma property of Joan Lynch

November 4 Pruning Horse Island with Ray Brown Manager Grevillea Park Bulli

December 2 AGM and picnic day at ERBG Note that as we have successful in getting Ray Brown to

the November meeting the AGM has been postponed

It is time now for plans to be developed for next yearrsquos program Please put your thinking caps on

and help the committee to arrange a full year of events to both entertain and inform

If you have any ideas or comments on how we are travelling any of the committee would

appreciate your input

A venerable Kurrajong is a highlight of the garden and garden beds developed over the past 20 years are filled with an extensive variety of hardy Australian plants

As you can see below

the friendly wildlife are

happy to keep you

entertained

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 4

There has been a lot going on

at the Gardens

Planning is well underway for

a new Herbarium building to

be constructed next to the

existing office and Seed Bank

building This area is being

referred to as the Science

Hub

The existing building is to be

redeveloped with increased

space for retail activities and

a larger meeting room The

Plant Shop will be extended

to provide space for an

increased range of plants

This will present a challenge

for both me and the

propagation volunteers

Over the years I have found that one of the best way

to promote and therefore sell plants is to be able to

show people a well grown specimen We would like

to have a seasonal display of larger potted plants

that could be placed near the shop We will also be

developing a larger range of pond and wetland

plants There are plans to develop a garden area of

bush foods so we would need to have a range of

these available as well We are also trying to

increase the range of smaller growing Eucalypts

available for sale

The Nursery itself is also due for some changes I

am in the process of deciding how we can best use

the space and what facilities we might need

Members attending were generous in their applause and many questions followed Amanda presented

Dianne with a fine beverage thanking her on behalf of the group

Lunch followed a brief but entertaining ldquoShow and Tellrdquo session and Dianne then invited us to inspect

the nursery production area answering a plethora of pertinent questions from an interested audience

From here the group meandered up to the Arboretum and adjacent rainforest area with Dianne talking

enthusiastically about ldquoherrdquo plants and discussing plans for future redeveloping of the Acacia and

Eucalypt collections

So ended a fruitful day talking plants with plant people This is what the Australian Plant Society is

about

Proposed new Herbarium and Science building

Di discusses the nursery development proposals

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 5

In My Garden

A GARDEN IN TRANSITION the next stage

This is just a few notes following on from the APS group visit to our garden last month We enjoyed

having such a large group wandering about seeing what we had been up to and offering advice such as to

keep various things that I had been preparing to pull out as weeds

The rock wall I spoke about has been completed and truckloads of soil put in to fill the hole We now

have a walkway down to the back area of the garden that doesnrsquot involve steps or steep climbs Progress

We also have a new large area that needs planting out

To assist in that on a recent road trip to Melbourne we called at Heronswood (the Diggerrsquos Club garden

at Dromana) and Kuranga Native Nursery (in Mt Evelyn)

Heronswood is a beautiful garden overlooking the bay It is a lsquoformalrsquo style with lots of non-native plants

and we enjoyed strolling around admiring it The major ideas taken away from it were about view lines

and shade trees something we can work on here

Kuranga was a much more commercial operation with an extensive range of plants to choose from (see

their web page for a catalogue) We understand they will freight material to this area but we didnrsquot ask the

cost We did buy quite a range of plants from there including Persoonia chamaepeuce and P

chamaepitys Ziema littoralis Mentha australis and M diemenica Not sure if were taken by the plants

or their names but they all found a home in our garden and seem quite happy

Mentha or Native Mints are rarely grown these days but are accommodating little plants quite happy

to grow among other plants They do best in shade or semi-shade and are ideal to add interest to a fern

garden where their white or mauve flowers add

a little colour Plants will grow in sunny sites if

the soil remains moist but are rarely as happy as

plants in more protected sites These are good

plants to try your hand at propagating as

cuttings root readily and small suckers can be

transplanted Even easier Seed sometimes

germinates in the garden when there is a good

variety of small native bees around

A point of interest M diemenica is named for

Van Diemenrsquos Land (Tasmania) where the type

specimen was collected It also occurs in

Victoria South Australia and NSW

We will keep on the lookout for other

interesting plants to go in the new area and see

how it develops over the next year

The little garden at the front of the block has now had its perimeter path completed and work is about to

start on forming up the soil placing rocks and finding some more little treasures which we can hopefully

protect from those delightful but destructive Red-neck Wallabies which seem to delight in checking out

every new plant

Annie Hood and Geoff Gosling

Mentha diemenica also known as Slender Mint

Photo from ANBG website M Fagg

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 6

Committee news

Committee has received a request from member Jan Robilliard to support conservation initiatives for

Regional Forest Agreement

and culling of wild horses in Kosciuszko NP

The committee has considered the issues through email links at this stage and have agreed to

publish Janrsquos email in full Members are asked to consider how best the group should respond

ldquoI would like to see the APS SE committee both publicize these 2 issues in the newsletter and also the committee discuss the possibility of writing a submission to the NSW government especially Gladys B and Gabrielle Upton the Minister of the Environment Many of the members of this group have become passionate about Australian native plants by visiting the local forests national parks and by walking through the bush These areas have also played a big part in the success of ERBG where many of the seeds have been collected for propagation The 2019 Eden Regional Forest Agreement is one of the first to be renegotiated followed by all the others NSW government would like to rollover the existing agreement which means continued logging for woodchips for which there is no market Many buyers are sourcing cheaper woodchips from Asian countries who grow Sydney Blue Gums at a rapid rate The forests however will continue to be exploited resulting in loss of flora and fauna The Kosciuszko National Park is unique and should be protected Horses are a feral animal none of which have a place there The argument that they are part of our heritage and culture is being put forward by people with vested interests like Peter Cochrane and John Barilaro the Deputy Premier I think it is appropriate for our group to have a strong voice on these issues and so would like to suggest that the committee discuss these matters as a matter of urgency Thanks Jan Robilliardrdquo We the committee ask that you consider Janrsquos very pertinent comments and let our Secretary Michele Pymble know your thoughts Michelersquos contact details are in the committee list If you wish to contact Jan with your comments she can be reached on her email

ltjanandrob1969hotmailcomgt

2017 APS Get together at Coffs Harbour

September 2-3 2017

Details of this event were attached as separate documents (pdf) with last monthrsquos newsletter for

members information

The organising committee are keen that members intending to travel to Coffs Harbour for the meeting

should submit their application as early as possible to assist with catering arrangements

The committee has also negotiated a Discount Accommodation Offer at NRMA Darlington Beach

Arrawarra wwwnrmadbcomau

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 7

Darlington Beach Holiday Park have offered participants to the Conference discounted accommodation

of between 10-15 for the weekend September 1-3 with possible extension if you are staying on in the

area after the Conference

NRMA members will already receive a 10 discount however if a minimum of bookings are made by

NRMA members and non-members the 15 will apply to your booking

With multiple accommodation choice ranging from camping to cabins this Holiday Park is set in a

beautiful coastal wetland fronting Arrawarra beach a direct highway commute thirty minutes north from

central Coffs Harbour

To take advantage of this generous offer phone the Park on (02) 6640 7444 and choose Option 2 which

puts you through direct to Reception and confirm with reception staff that you are attending the APS

Annual Get Together Contact Beck Young and Pam Buckler

Members are also reminded that long serving Past President Bob Ross has been rewarded for his many

years campaigning for the conservation of Australian plants

Bob will receive his award at the APS Regional quarterly meeting at Coffs Harbour Members are

encouraged to join with Bob to celebrate his achievements at Coffs Harbour

Early bird bookings are now being received

Cottage for Sale

Well itrsquos more like a country estate with

a cottage and a couple of houses

Pete and Jenny John have decided to sell their lovely

acreage and are going to move into Narooma This is a

great opportunity for a nature lover who enjoys

Australian plants As Pete said ldquoall the hard work is

donerdquo

The text below is from the selling agent

HOUSE WITH NATIVE GARDEN FOR SALE

Originally the office for a staging post of the horse drawn

coaches that travelled the east coast road the 40 acre

property at 1044 Punkalla-Tilba Road (Glencoe) is

now two comfortable houses linked by a deck with a

garden of native plants and vistas of forest and paddocks

Just 10km from both Narooma and Tilba in opposite

directions Glencoe is within easy reach of shops and

other services

The original 1890 cottage has been extended over the

years to now include 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and

across the deck is a more modern 4 bedroom house built

in 2009 with a roomy kitchen and solar hot water system

The original coach office a quaint reminder of times when life wasnrsquot so rushed Says Jenny ldquoitrsquos still like that enjoying the seclusion but never too far away from the bustle of Narooma if thatrsquos what you likerdquo

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 8

A large shed with a 7Kw solar system

on the north facing roof which feeds

electricity into the mains grid is

screened from the house by a bed of

mixed native shrubs which provide

habitat for lyrebirds and various

honeyeaters and other small birds

There are two 90000l water tanks and

solar hot water

Please go to wwwbenbatecomau for

further details photos of the house

and setting and inspection

appointments

Future activities

The new committee has developed a provisional program of interesting meetings for the coming year

activities which will hopefully add to our knowledge of Australian plants

The preliminary program is as follows subject of course to variation

August 5 Landscape feature with designer Shane Doherty

September 2 Isopogons and Petrophiles Phil Trickett and Catriona Bate

October 7 Narooma property of Joan Lynch

November 4 Pruning Horse Island with Ray Brown Manager Grevillea Park Bulli

December 2 AGM and picnic day at ERBG Note that as we have successful in getting Ray Brown to

the November meeting the AGM has been postponed

It is time now for plans to be developed for next yearrsquos program Please put your thinking caps on

and help the committee to arrange a full year of events to both entertain and inform

If you have any ideas or comments on how we are travelling any of the committee would

appreciate your input

A venerable Kurrajong is a highlight of the garden and garden beds developed over the past 20 years are filled with an extensive variety of hardy Australian plants

As you can see below

the friendly wildlife are

happy to keep you

entertained

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 5

In My Garden

A GARDEN IN TRANSITION the next stage

This is just a few notes following on from the APS group visit to our garden last month We enjoyed

having such a large group wandering about seeing what we had been up to and offering advice such as to

keep various things that I had been preparing to pull out as weeds

The rock wall I spoke about has been completed and truckloads of soil put in to fill the hole We now

have a walkway down to the back area of the garden that doesnrsquot involve steps or steep climbs Progress

We also have a new large area that needs planting out

To assist in that on a recent road trip to Melbourne we called at Heronswood (the Diggerrsquos Club garden

at Dromana) and Kuranga Native Nursery (in Mt Evelyn)

Heronswood is a beautiful garden overlooking the bay It is a lsquoformalrsquo style with lots of non-native plants

and we enjoyed strolling around admiring it The major ideas taken away from it were about view lines

and shade trees something we can work on here

Kuranga was a much more commercial operation with an extensive range of plants to choose from (see

their web page for a catalogue) We understand they will freight material to this area but we didnrsquot ask the

cost We did buy quite a range of plants from there including Persoonia chamaepeuce and P

chamaepitys Ziema littoralis Mentha australis and M diemenica Not sure if were taken by the plants

or their names but they all found a home in our garden and seem quite happy

Mentha or Native Mints are rarely grown these days but are accommodating little plants quite happy

to grow among other plants They do best in shade or semi-shade and are ideal to add interest to a fern

garden where their white or mauve flowers add

a little colour Plants will grow in sunny sites if

the soil remains moist but are rarely as happy as

plants in more protected sites These are good

plants to try your hand at propagating as

cuttings root readily and small suckers can be

transplanted Even easier Seed sometimes

germinates in the garden when there is a good

variety of small native bees around

A point of interest M diemenica is named for

Van Diemenrsquos Land (Tasmania) where the type

specimen was collected It also occurs in

Victoria South Australia and NSW

We will keep on the lookout for other

interesting plants to go in the new area and see

how it develops over the next year

The little garden at the front of the block has now had its perimeter path completed and work is about to

start on forming up the soil placing rocks and finding some more little treasures which we can hopefully

protect from those delightful but destructive Red-neck Wallabies which seem to delight in checking out

every new plant

Annie Hood and Geoff Gosling

Mentha diemenica also known as Slender Mint

Photo from ANBG website M Fagg

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 6

Committee news

Committee has received a request from member Jan Robilliard to support conservation initiatives for

Regional Forest Agreement

and culling of wild horses in Kosciuszko NP

The committee has considered the issues through email links at this stage and have agreed to

publish Janrsquos email in full Members are asked to consider how best the group should respond

ldquoI would like to see the APS SE committee both publicize these 2 issues in the newsletter and also the committee discuss the possibility of writing a submission to the NSW government especially Gladys B and Gabrielle Upton the Minister of the Environment Many of the members of this group have become passionate about Australian native plants by visiting the local forests national parks and by walking through the bush These areas have also played a big part in the success of ERBG where many of the seeds have been collected for propagation The 2019 Eden Regional Forest Agreement is one of the first to be renegotiated followed by all the others NSW government would like to rollover the existing agreement which means continued logging for woodchips for which there is no market Many buyers are sourcing cheaper woodchips from Asian countries who grow Sydney Blue Gums at a rapid rate The forests however will continue to be exploited resulting in loss of flora and fauna The Kosciuszko National Park is unique and should be protected Horses are a feral animal none of which have a place there The argument that they are part of our heritage and culture is being put forward by people with vested interests like Peter Cochrane and John Barilaro the Deputy Premier I think it is appropriate for our group to have a strong voice on these issues and so would like to suggest that the committee discuss these matters as a matter of urgency Thanks Jan Robilliardrdquo We the committee ask that you consider Janrsquos very pertinent comments and let our Secretary Michele Pymble know your thoughts Michelersquos contact details are in the committee list If you wish to contact Jan with your comments she can be reached on her email

ltjanandrob1969hotmailcomgt

2017 APS Get together at Coffs Harbour

September 2-3 2017

Details of this event were attached as separate documents (pdf) with last monthrsquos newsletter for

members information

The organising committee are keen that members intending to travel to Coffs Harbour for the meeting

should submit their application as early as possible to assist with catering arrangements

The committee has also negotiated a Discount Accommodation Offer at NRMA Darlington Beach

Arrawarra wwwnrmadbcomau

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 7

Darlington Beach Holiday Park have offered participants to the Conference discounted accommodation

of between 10-15 for the weekend September 1-3 with possible extension if you are staying on in the

area after the Conference

NRMA members will already receive a 10 discount however if a minimum of bookings are made by

NRMA members and non-members the 15 will apply to your booking

With multiple accommodation choice ranging from camping to cabins this Holiday Park is set in a

beautiful coastal wetland fronting Arrawarra beach a direct highway commute thirty minutes north from

central Coffs Harbour

To take advantage of this generous offer phone the Park on (02) 6640 7444 and choose Option 2 which

puts you through direct to Reception and confirm with reception staff that you are attending the APS

Annual Get Together Contact Beck Young and Pam Buckler

Members are also reminded that long serving Past President Bob Ross has been rewarded for his many

years campaigning for the conservation of Australian plants

Bob will receive his award at the APS Regional quarterly meeting at Coffs Harbour Members are

encouraged to join with Bob to celebrate his achievements at Coffs Harbour

Early bird bookings are now being received

Cottage for Sale

Well itrsquos more like a country estate with

a cottage and a couple of houses

Pete and Jenny John have decided to sell their lovely

acreage and are going to move into Narooma This is a

great opportunity for a nature lover who enjoys

Australian plants As Pete said ldquoall the hard work is

donerdquo

The text below is from the selling agent

HOUSE WITH NATIVE GARDEN FOR SALE

Originally the office for a staging post of the horse drawn

coaches that travelled the east coast road the 40 acre

property at 1044 Punkalla-Tilba Road (Glencoe) is

now two comfortable houses linked by a deck with a

garden of native plants and vistas of forest and paddocks

Just 10km from both Narooma and Tilba in opposite

directions Glencoe is within easy reach of shops and

other services

The original 1890 cottage has been extended over the

years to now include 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and

across the deck is a more modern 4 bedroom house built

in 2009 with a roomy kitchen and solar hot water system

The original coach office a quaint reminder of times when life wasnrsquot so rushed Says Jenny ldquoitrsquos still like that enjoying the seclusion but never too far away from the bustle of Narooma if thatrsquos what you likerdquo

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 8

A large shed with a 7Kw solar system

on the north facing roof which feeds

electricity into the mains grid is

screened from the house by a bed of

mixed native shrubs which provide

habitat for lyrebirds and various

honeyeaters and other small birds

There are two 90000l water tanks and

solar hot water

Please go to wwwbenbatecomau for

further details photos of the house

and setting and inspection

appointments

Future activities

The new committee has developed a provisional program of interesting meetings for the coming year

activities which will hopefully add to our knowledge of Australian plants

The preliminary program is as follows subject of course to variation

August 5 Landscape feature with designer Shane Doherty

September 2 Isopogons and Petrophiles Phil Trickett and Catriona Bate

October 7 Narooma property of Joan Lynch

November 4 Pruning Horse Island with Ray Brown Manager Grevillea Park Bulli

December 2 AGM and picnic day at ERBG Note that as we have successful in getting Ray Brown to

the November meeting the AGM has been postponed

It is time now for plans to be developed for next yearrsquos program Please put your thinking caps on

and help the committee to arrange a full year of events to both entertain and inform

If you have any ideas or comments on how we are travelling any of the committee would

appreciate your input

A venerable Kurrajong is a highlight of the garden and garden beds developed over the past 20 years are filled with an extensive variety of hardy Australian plants

As you can see below

the friendly wildlife are

happy to keep you

entertained

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 6

Committee news

Committee has received a request from member Jan Robilliard to support conservation initiatives for

Regional Forest Agreement

and culling of wild horses in Kosciuszko NP

The committee has considered the issues through email links at this stage and have agreed to

publish Janrsquos email in full Members are asked to consider how best the group should respond

ldquoI would like to see the APS SE committee both publicize these 2 issues in the newsletter and also the committee discuss the possibility of writing a submission to the NSW government especially Gladys B and Gabrielle Upton the Minister of the Environment Many of the members of this group have become passionate about Australian native plants by visiting the local forests national parks and by walking through the bush These areas have also played a big part in the success of ERBG where many of the seeds have been collected for propagation The 2019 Eden Regional Forest Agreement is one of the first to be renegotiated followed by all the others NSW government would like to rollover the existing agreement which means continued logging for woodchips for which there is no market Many buyers are sourcing cheaper woodchips from Asian countries who grow Sydney Blue Gums at a rapid rate The forests however will continue to be exploited resulting in loss of flora and fauna The Kosciuszko National Park is unique and should be protected Horses are a feral animal none of which have a place there The argument that they are part of our heritage and culture is being put forward by people with vested interests like Peter Cochrane and John Barilaro the Deputy Premier I think it is appropriate for our group to have a strong voice on these issues and so would like to suggest that the committee discuss these matters as a matter of urgency Thanks Jan Robilliardrdquo We the committee ask that you consider Janrsquos very pertinent comments and let our Secretary Michele Pymble know your thoughts Michelersquos contact details are in the committee list If you wish to contact Jan with your comments she can be reached on her email

ltjanandrob1969hotmailcomgt

2017 APS Get together at Coffs Harbour

September 2-3 2017

Details of this event were attached as separate documents (pdf) with last monthrsquos newsletter for

members information

The organising committee are keen that members intending to travel to Coffs Harbour for the meeting

should submit their application as early as possible to assist with catering arrangements

The committee has also negotiated a Discount Accommodation Offer at NRMA Darlington Beach

Arrawarra wwwnrmadbcomau

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 7

Darlington Beach Holiday Park have offered participants to the Conference discounted accommodation

of between 10-15 for the weekend September 1-3 with possible extension if you are staying on in the

area after the Conference

NRMA members will already receive a 10 discount however if a minimum of bookings are made by

NRMA members and non-members the 15 will apply to your booking

With multiple accommodation choice ranging from camping to cabins this Holiday Park is set in a

beautiful coastal wetland fronting Arrawarra beach a direct highway commute thirty minutes north from

central Coffs Harbour

To take advantage of this generous offer phone the Park on (02) 6640 7444 and choose Option 2 which

puts you through direct to Reception and confirm with reception staff that you are attending the APS

Annual Get Together Contact Beck Young and Pam Buckler

Members are also reminded that long serving Past President Bob Ross has been rewarded for his many

years campaigning for the conservation of Australian plants

Bob will receive his award at the APS Regional quarterly meeting at Coffs Harbour Members are

encouraged to join with Bob to celebrate his achievements at Coffs Harbour

Early bird bookings are now being received

Cottage for Sale

Well itrsquos more like a country estate with

a cottage and a couple of houses

Pete and Jenny John have decided to sell their lovely

acreage and are going to move into Narooma This is a

great opportunity for a nature lover who enjoys

Australian plants As Pete said ldquoall the hard work is

donerdquo

The text below is from the selling agent

HOUSE WITH NATIVE GARDEN FOR SALE

Originally the office for a staging post of the horse drawn

coaches that travelled the east coast road the 40 acre

property at 1044 Punkalla-Tilba Road (Glencoe) is

now two comfortable houses linked by a deck with a

garden of native plants and vistas of forest and paddocks

Just 10km from both Narooma and Tilba in opposite

directions Glencoe is within easy reach of shops and

other services

The original 1890 cottage has been extended over the

years to now include 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and

across the deck is a more modern 4 bedroom house built

in 2009 with a roomy kitchen and solar hot water system

The original coach office a quaint reminder of times when life wasnrsquot so rushed Says Jenny ldquoitrsquos still like that enjoying the seclusion but never too far away from the bustle of Narooma if thatrsquos what you likerdquo

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 8

A large shed with a 7Kw solar system

on the north facing roof which feeds

electricity into the mains grid is

screened from the house by a bed of

mixed native shrubs which provide

habitat for lyrebirds and various

honeyeaters and other small birds

There are two 90000l water tanks and

solar hot water

Please go to wwwbenbatecomau for

further details photos of the house

and setting and inspection

appointments

Future activities

The new committee has developed a provisional program of interesting meetings for the coming year

activities which will hopefully add to our knowledge of Australian plants

The preliminary program is as follows subject of course to variation

August 5 Landscape feature with designer Shane Doherty

September 2 Isopogons and Petrophiles Phil Trickett and Catriona Bate

October 7 Narooma property of Joan Lynch

November 4 Pruning Horse Island with Ray Brown Manager Grevillea Park Bulli

December 2 AGM and picnic day at ERBG Note that as we have successful in getting Ray Brown to

the November meeting the AGM has been postponed

It is time now for plans to be developed for next yearrsquos program Please put your thinking caps on

and help the committee to arrange a full year of events to both entertain and inform

If you have any ideas or comments on how we are travelling any of the committee would

appreciate your input

A venerable Kurrajong is a highlight of the garden and garden beds developed over the past 20 years are filled with an extensive variety of hardy Australian plants

As you can see below

the friendly wildlife are

happy to keep you

entertained

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 7

Darlington Beach Holiday Park have offered participants to the Conference discounted accommodation

of between 10-15 for the weekend September 1-3 with possible extension if you are staying on in the

area after the Conference

NRMA members will already receive a 10 discount however if a minimum of bookings are made by

NRMA members and non-members the 15 will apply to your booking

With multiple accommodation choice ranging from camping to cabins this Holiday Park is set in a

beautiful coastal wetland fronting Arrawarra beach a direct highway commute thirty minutes north from

central Coffs Harbour

To take advantage of this generous offer phone the Park on (02) 6640 7444 and choose Option 2 which

puts you through direct to Reception and confirm with reception staff that you are attending the APS

Annual Get Together Contact Beck Young and Pam Buckler

Members are also reminded that long serving Past President Bob Ross has been rewarded for his many

years campaigning for the conservation of Australian plants

Bob will receive his award at the APS Regional quarterly meeting at Coffs Harbour Members are

encouraged to join with Bob to celebrate his achievements at Coffs Harbour

Early bird bookings are now being received

Cottage for Sale

Well itrsquos more like a country estate with

a cottage and a couple of houses

Pete and Jenny John have decided to sell their lovely

acreage and are going to move into Narooma This is a

great opportunity for a nature lover who enjoys

Australian plants As Pete said ldquoall the hard work is

donerdquo

The text below is from the selling agent

HOUSE WITH NATIVE GARDEN FOR SALE

Originally the office for a staging post of the horse drawn

coaches that travelled the east coast road the 40 acre

property at 1044 Punkalla-Tilba Road (Glencoe) is

now two comfortable houses linked by a deck with a

garden of native plants and vistas of forest and paddocks

Just 10km from both Narooma and Tilba in opposite

directions Glencoe is within easy reach of shops and

other services

The original 1890 cottage has been extended over the

years to now include 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and

across the deck is a more modern 4 bedroom house built

in 2009 with a roomy kitchen and solar hot water system

The original coach office a quaint reminder of times when life wasnrsquot so rushed Says Jenny ldquoitrsquos still like that enjoying the seclusion but never too far away from the bustle of Narooma if thatrsquos what you likerdquo

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 8

A large shed with a 7Kw solar system

on the north facing roof which feeds

electricity into the mains grid is

screened from the house by a bed of

mixed native shrubs which provide

habitat for lyrebirds and various

honeyeaters and other small birds

There are two 90000l water tanks and

solar hot water

Please go to wwwbenbatecomau for

further details photos of the house

and setting and inspection

appointments

Future activities

The new committee has developed a provisional program of interesting meetings for the coming year

activities which will hopefully add to our knowledge of Australian plants

The preliminary program is as follows subject of course to variation

August 5 Landscape feature with designer Shane Doherty

September 2 Isopogons and Petrophiles Phil Trickett and Catriona Bate

October 7 Narooma property of Joan Lynch

November 4 Pruning Horse Island with Ray Brown Manager Grevillea Park Bulli

December 2 AGM and picnic day at ERBG Note that as we have successful in getting Ray Brown to

the November meeting the AGM has been postponed

It is time now for plans to be developed for next yearrsquos program Please put your thinking caps on

and help the committee to arrange a full year of events to both entertain and inform

If you have any ideas or comments on how we are travelling any of the committee would

appreciate your input

A venerable Kurrajong is a highlight of the garden and garden beds developed over the past 20 years are filled with an extensive variety of hardy Australian plants

As you can see below

the friendly wildlife are

happy to keep you

entertained

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 8

A large shed with a 7Kw solar system

on the north facing roof which feeds

electricity into the mains grid is

screened from the house by a bed of

mixed native shrubs which provide

habitat for lyrebirds and various

honeyeaters and other small birds

There are two 90000l water tanks and

solar hot water

Please go to wwwbenbatecomau for

further details photos of the house

and setting and inspection

appointments

Future activities

The new committee has developed a provisional program of interesting meetings for the coming year

activities which will hopefully add to our knowledge of Australian plants

The preliminary program is as follows subject of course to variation

August 5 Landscape feature with designer Shane Doherty

September 2 Isopogons and Petrophiles Phil Trickett and Catriona Bate

October 7 Narooma property of Joan Lynch

November 4 Pruning Horse Island with Ray Brown Manager Grevillea Park Bulli

December 2 AGM and picnic day at ERBG Note that as we have successful in getting Ray Brown to

the November meeting the AGM has been postponed

It is time now for plans to be developed for next yearrsquos program Please put your thinking caps on

and help the committee to arrange a full year of events to both entertain and inform

If you have any ideas or comments on how we are travelling any of the committee would

appreciate your input

A venerable Kurrajong is a highlight of the garden and garden beds developed over the past 20 years are filled with an extensive variety of hardy Australian plants

As you can see below

the friendly wildlife are

happy to keep you

entertained

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 9

As we learned from Dianne at the last meeting there are some ambitious plans in train to develop

the infrastructure of ERBG

The Friends are always looking at ways to raise funds for the Gardens and in particular to

support the future developments

Their last ldquoMurder Mysteryrdquo

was a sellout and they are

encouraged to offer another

details of which are included

in the poster

Mark the date in your diary

and help the Friends get a

crowd along to enjoy the

entertainment

You can contact Heather

Haughton on 0425 704 555

or by email

hhaughtonidau

Not only is there a

theatre night but a

Trivia Night at

Moruya Golf Club

Saturday 19 August

645 for 700 pm start Restaurant opens at 530 pm Tables seat 10 Please get your group together

How to pay Table Captains are responsible for collecting entry fees of $10 per head and to pay the total in advance by 1048589 direct deposit to Friends BSB 641 800 Ac 2001 75567 Friends ERBG IMB Bank ref Trivia Table Captains then need to e-mail the bankrsquos receipt to Heather Haughton hhaughtonidau 1048589 cash payment please ask the Meet and Greet volunteer to phone your information to Jane Elek 0427 197 577 Jane will draw up the seating plan Fund-raising on the night includes a raffle and all proceeds contribute to the redevelopment of the Visitors Centre at ERBG

Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter 130 June 2017 Page 10

Smoke House Trial from April

I have reported previously that I have not had much success growing Billardiera from seed but when we

did the first trial of the smoke house I decided to sow some Marianthus erubescens (syn Billardiera

erubescens) seed collected from my garden plant

Well guess what These were the first seed to pop up after being treated with smoke for 30 minutes

during that first trial I now have about 20 seedlings to spread around among members some time down

the track I am still waiting for further positive results from the other seed treated that day

Other growers have reported similarly that seed is difficult so it seems there might be some germination

inhibitors at least in some species Having recorded good germination using our crude smoke house it

might be possible that smoke is of assistance in overcoming the inhibitors

Note to self Must keep experimenting

Marianthus erubescens Red Billardiera comes from the

heathy areas of south west WA and grows well in cultivation

In full sun and well drained soil it has proved a reliable plant

for many years Deep red flowers in small groups are borne

from winter to summer Cuttings are slow to strike but

vigorous regrowth produced by pruning heavily have been

more successful

In general plants in this group are pretty amenable to

horticulture but some growers have been rewarded by using

fertiliser high in potash in the months leading to flowering

As these plants are usually well behaved maintenance is not a

big issue Light pruning is certainly helpful in maintaining

vigour and older plants have been rejuvenated by heavy

pruning after summer but it is important to ensure the plants

are well watered before and after drastic actions to be sure they

will grow away quickly

COMMITTEE CONTACT DETAILS

President John Knight Ph 0434 674 347 redevelopment of the Visitors Centre at ERBG e johnonvista49outlookcom

Vice-President Geoff Gosling Ph 0438 286 382 e geoffgoslingbigpondcom

Secretary Michele Pymble Ph 02 4473 8587 e mishpymblegmailcom

Minute Sec Amanda Marsh Ph 0421 426 366 e mohippolygmailcom

Treasurer Mary Harrison Ph 0421 423 200 e maharr03gmailcom

Membership Jenny John Ph 02 4476 3576 e peteandjennyjohngmailcom

Publicity Jillian Peck Ph 0421 432 953 e jcpeck88gmailcom

Website southeastaustplantscomau