From the Editor

Front Page: Down ‘n’ Dirty volunteers Sandra and Joanne.

Back Page: Flower from the Couroupita guianensis, Cannonball Tree, in the Cairns Botanic Gardens.

In this issue:

• From the Editor - Page 2 • The Green Space update -

Page 3 • Supporting the Cape York Girl

Academy - Page 4 • The Green Space workshops - Pages 4-5 • Beach lovers - plants growing on the tropical shore - Pages 6-7 • Building bridges workshop -

Pages 8-9 • Great outcome for Jack

Barnes Boardwalk - Page 9 • The curtain rises - Pages 10-11 • Feathered Friends - Page 12 • Creating an instant tropical look in the garden - Pages 12-13 • Build it and they will come -

Page 13 • A caterpillar with a problem -

Pages 14-15 • Honeyeaters: a large family -

Pages 16-17 • Did you know - Page 16 • The world beneath our feet:

Part 4 - Rotifers - Page 18 • Sugarworld Gardens News -

Page 19

Editor - Volunteers Supervisor, Louisa Grandy Proof readers - Michelle Walkden Volunteers Jennifer H. Muir, Sandy Long Contributors - volunteers: Janice Pichon, Barry Muir, Jennifer H. Muir, Dr David Rentz AM, Tom Collis, John Peter and Fran Lindsay

2

Welcome, The vegetable growing season is upon us and the ‘The Green Space’ is growing quickly - the greens especially like this extra rain. Planting began in April and our volunteers, supporting this new space in Jess Mitchell Park, are receiving produce to take home - we love being able to give something in return for their efforts! ‘The Green Space’ is now open each week on Wednesdays from 9.30am-3.3opm and Friday afternoons from 1.30-3.30pm. Come and join us in the varied activities or pop along to see what we are doing. We’ve also been running workshops for our volunteers - ‘How to build a wicking bed’ and ‘How to work with gabion cages’. See photos Pages 4 & 5. Our volunteer numbers continue to grow with the latest fi gures showing 482 active members - that’s 100 more than the total at this time last year. We continue to create opportunities to develop our green spaces while developing connections amongst the community. Thank you for all your support.

Louisa

From left, Lee and Marilyn with Sarah, picking some greens for their dinner after volunteering in the garden.

The Green Space uPdate

Una building a bamboo supporting structure for the cherry tomatoes. Sarah Gosling in the Mandala Garden with the fi rst lot of plantings in May.

Rosemarie planting the fi rst tomato seedlings.

From paddock to plate in 3 weeks