Next Meeting

A Visit to the West Gippsland APS Group to hear a talk on ‘Native Succulents’ given by Attila Kapitany.

Date: Wednesday June 17, 2009
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: McMillan Campus of the Education Centre Gippsland, South Road, Warragul. Car pooling can be organised.

Leader's Report

Banksia spinulosa dwarf form

Banksia praemorsa

Correa reflexa Dutson Downs form

King Parrot

No meeting on the Thursday 11th June at Morwell. Our next meeting is a visit to the West Gippsland group to hear a talk on ‘Native Succulents’ by Attila Kapitany. ‘Plant Man Extraordinaire!’ is how Attila has described himself. An author of eight books specialising in succulent plants, with new book ‘Australian Succulent Plants’ just out this year and widely known for his extensive experience with rare and unusual plants and also an accomplished botanical photographer. We are looking forward to hearing this talk and catching up with our friends of the West Gippsland group.

So car pooling can be organised for those that need a ride to hear this speaker. Please let us know ASAP if you need a ride.

Request from APS Vic.

We have been asked as a group by the ASGAP 2009 Planning Committee for a donation of a raffle prize for the 25th Biennial Conference 2009 at Geelong, which will be drawn at the Conference Dinner on Wednesday 30th of September.

I have a photo of the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens – Australian Garden section that I think would be suitable as a raffle prize, I will bring it to our next meeting for inspection. If anyone has a photo or ideas of anything else that we could provide as a raffle prize please let me know.

Plants in our Garden

Alyogyne huegelli, the white flower form has just started its winter display while Banksia spinulosa Dwarf form, Banksia praemorsa yellow form and Correa pulchella ‘Pink Mist’ have joined the flowering show too. A form of Correa reflexa from Dutson Downs is showing off its long red bell flowers and Grevillea ‘Canterberry Gold’, Banksia paludosa prostrate, Correa calycina, Grevillea dielsiana and Grevillea baueri are all putting colour in the gardens around the house.

Remember to pay your membership fees for APS LV & APS Vic.

Looking forward to seeing you all at our combined meeting with the West Gippsland APS Group and I would like to take this opportunity to Thank them for their hospitality, from Wayne Wilkinson (APS LV Leader).

Plants in My Garden

By Mike Beamish

Correa
Dusky Bells

Species: Correa Dusky Bells
Family: Rutaceae
Derivation:

Correa:Named after Jose Francisco Correa de Serra (1751-1823), permanent secretary, Royal Academy of Sciences, Lisbon, Portugal.

From the Latin, axilla, meaning arm-pit, botanically referring to axillary, growing from the leaf axils.

Common Name: Dusky Bells
Distribution: Found in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
Description:A low, spreading shrub to 1 metre high by 2-3 metres across. Foliage is ovate to 4.5cm across, bright green on top and grey-green on the underside. Flowers are a deep pink colour, bell-shaped to 2.5cm long, appearing from autumn through winter into spring.
Opinion: My original plant died a few years back after surviving for a decade in heavy shade beneath the old blackwood and pergola on the southern side of the house. When it was young it was a terrific plant, flowering profusely every year and attracting every honeyeater in the neighbourhood. Towards the end it suffered from a bit of neglect, becoming leggy and dropping leaves. I’m sure I could have kept it going from cuttings if I had gotten around to it before the plant karked it.
My current plant arrived a couple of years ago, courtesy of Harold from one of our group meetings and has taken up residence in the front yard on the southern side of the bed on the northern fenceline. It has taken a little while to settle in, perhaps the dry or competition from the adjacent established plants has slowed it down, but it is now about a foot high and a metre across and beginning to put on its first real display of flowers. It has flowered sporadically over the last couple of years without achieving the wow factor of its predecessor. Fingers crossed it will continue to do the job expected of it.

Sources: Wrigley & Fagg- Australian Native Plants
Grieg- The Australian Gardeners Wildflower Catalogue
Sharr- WA Plant Names & their Meanings