Christmas Break-up

Saturday 8th November 2007,
Bus trip to the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens.

To those who were able to make the trip for our Christmas break-up, thank you for a most enjoyable day. We want to go back in the spring for another look around, but I wouldn’t worry about trying to have a BBQ again because of the “Flies’.

We wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy new year for 2008.

Many thanks to everyone that has helped get our newsletter printed and mailed out, another great year for our group.

LEADERS REPORT

Around the Garden

We are so lucky in Gippsland to have had such a great year in regard to rainfall in comparison to many other areas of Australia, some not so far away. What a nice drop we have just had to give us a great start into summer. Our garden is a picture at present (some might call it a jungle!) with many species continuing to flower. Most of the Grevilleas, my favourites, are still looking close to their best. At present our garden has a number of Xanthorrhea minor on display so I guess I am not the only one to think it has been a good season. I have not seen so many Xanthorrhea minor flowering in the district at once. At present they are to be seen every few metres on the road between Loy Yang and Churchill. These little plants hide away until late spring and then put on quite a show. I am sure that many residents of the area do not know that they even exist and are quite surprised when they discover them. Despite the lack of a visible trunk, when in flower they are almost as spectacular as their bigger relatives.

We have a variety of the miniature and large Anigozanthos species and they are also very impressive at present. There is such a range to choose from nowadays. Many of our Leptospermum species are in bloom and so is our Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton wax).

I am in desperate need of a shade house or shade table with an automated sprinkler system as the propagator is full at present doing both cuttings and keeping potted plants alive. Some of the unfortunate plants that were upended several times earlier this year have survived and are now in six inch pots; however I will need to wait for most of them to flower before I have any chance to tackle positive identification!

In regard to propagation—those of you with the expertise please don’t forget to strike some cuttings for Churchill early next year.

Col and I have been discussing our future requirements re potting mix and he is prepared to acquire a bulk load and store it in his shed (temporarily I am sure!) until members can pick it up. We will be organising a purchase early next year, so if you are in need of a new supply and are interested in “joining in” please let Col or I know.

Anigozanthos

Anigozanthos

Xanthorrhea minor

Last Meeting - Robert Brown on Grafting Grevilleas

Robert Brown's Garden Trip

Watching and listening to the responses of the members to the circulated samples was like watching children in a lolly shop; what a fantastic selection! I felt my puny assortment is hopelessly inadequate and marvelled at Robert and Norma’s strength in selling and leaving what is truly magnificent garden in the “hands” of strangers.

I could also see many members taking mental notes if nothing else when it came to Robert’s talk on grafting. He made it all look so simple and easy to do and I am sure some members will be “having a go” in the near future. As avid Grevillea fans, both Susan and I really enjoyed the follow-up visit to their garden and the hospitality provided. It was a very pleasant way to spend most of the day and was amazing to see so many varieties uncommon to Victoria growing in the one place. The garden, thirty years of hard work, is spectacular and a wonderful place to browse and enjoy.

Field Trip Number 2 with Warren

Field Trip Sennis Track

Calohilus Spp.

The field trip that followed Warren’s talk was so successful that many of us wanted a follow-up. We were not to be disappointed. Several members plus some visitors, I think from the Warragul Orchid Society, were once again impressed with the plants found. We all arrived at Seninis Track at 10 am with our camera, GPS and lunch in hand (I think?). There were fewer species located on this occasion however there were at least five additions to the first list. Among the discoveries were Caleana major, Calochilus paludosus, Chilglottis valida, Caladenia congesta and Diuris palustris (I think?). Hopefully Warren will at some time compile a list of “sightings” for us to include in the newsletter.

Once again we had lunch at the camping ground which unfortunately was very crowded, noisy, windy and dusty. Thank goodness the company was fine! Warren conducted a fascinating experiment to see if and what species of wasp was responsible for the pollination of specific plants. He had an instant response from local wasps however was surprisingly unable to repeat this at other locations. Thanks Warren for another great day.

Seeing as how it is shortly to be the “silly season” I have penned a new Christmas carol “My Twelve Days of Christmas” for you to sing over the festive season. For those who demand a challenge there is the purist’s version as well. Enjoy!

To all, just in case we do not catch up at Cranbourne, I wish you the very best for the Christmas/New Year season and hope to see everyone fit and well in 2008.

Plants in My Garden

By Mike Beamish

Gastrodia
procera

Species: Gastrodia procera
Family:Orchidaceae
Derivation:

Gastrodia: From the Greek gastrodes, meaning pot-bellied, referring to the inflated, stomach-shaped flowers.

procera: From the Latin procerus, meaning tall.

Common Name: Cinnamon Bells, Tall Potato Orchid
Distribution: Found in tall, wet sclerophyll forests and montane woodlands in Tasmania, the eastern highlands, the Otways and the Grampians in Victoria and similar habitats in the ACT and NSW. Soils are generally humus-rich, deep, well-structured loams.
Description:A leafless, saprophytic orchid that relies totally upon mycorrhizal fungus associations in the soil for its nutrient supplies. The flower stem can be up to 120cm tall, erect, robust, fleshy and brown in colour, with numerous sheathing scales. There can be up to 70 crowded, hanging, bell-shaped flowers to 25mm long, cinnamon brown in colour with white tips and interior. The flowers emit a strong spicy fragrance, particularly on warm days.
Opinion: I have to write about this plant now, because it is not one that I have planted in the garden, it is not supposed to be able to be cultivated and it may never reappear in the future. It does appear in the local woodlands at this time of year, so I can only presume some seed has blown in to the garden and decided my mulch-covered beds would make a good home. The fungi on which the plant relies must be present as well. I can’t imagine that the plants have always been there waitng for suitable conditions to flower, as their position on the western fenceline has gone through a few facelifts over the last couple of decades. Two plants have come up through the mulch, although one of them appears to have been damaged or bruised at the base of the stem and will probably abort. The other is photographed above and is obviously in the bud stage. Flowers should be open before Christmas.
When we purchased the block in the 1980’s, there was lawn (or, more accurately, mown grass and weeds) interspersed with scattered exotics and a single, tall gum tree. The gum fell over onto the house in the early 1990’s and was subsequently removed, as were all the exotics (from memory, there was a Cape Virgilia, a Photinia and a variegated pittosporum in that area). The grass was dug up, footpaths installed, garden beds built up with imported soil, plants planted and both imported and local mulch added. If the orchids were there previously, they would have to be pretty tough and grow up through perhaps 12 inches of added soil and mulch. I think it is much more likely, although still surprising, that they have moved in on the breeze.

Sources: Backhouse & Jeanes- The Orchids of Victoria
Sharr- Plant Names and their Meanings

2008 Program - Send in your Ideas and Views

Rainfall

How much did you get? If you measure the rainfall at your place please let Marg W. know so we can do our own rainfall chart. Wayne at Tanjil Sth. John at Traralgon Sth. Harold at Drouin. Mike at Boolarra, Carolyn at Trafalgar, and Brian at Morwell.

Twelve Days of Christmas

My Twelve Days of Christmas!

The Twelve Days of Christmas For The True Native Australian Gardener