Friends News A Newsletter of the Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
Summer 2012
Volume 14 Issue 4
Featuring Seasons Greetings Plant Hunters and Plant Explorers
Tree Waratah Alloxylon flammeum
Featuring : A look at the Past ….developing the Future. Escape, Learn and be Inspired…... Honey Gem’ Photo: Peter Reilly
'Stop Press' Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
2012 Committee
a special announcement...
Gold Coast City Council is hosting a special lunch for the Friends volunteers after the Friends' AGM. The lunch is to thank and acknowledge the Friends' volunteers for their hard work and contribution this year and will commence at 11.30am at the Friends' Centre.
President Nick Bloor
CONTENTS
Vice President
Special Feature : Activities
Lyn Reilly
Patron
Pg 3
Gene Rosser
Secretary Mary Woods
Pg 4
‘..a Queenslander Garden’: Lyn Reilly
Pg 5
Plant Records: Kate Heffernan
Pg 6
International Group visits the Gardens: Peter Reilly
Pg 7
Herbarium News: Neil Morley
Pg 8
Education at the Gardens: Rana Baguley
Pg 9
Gene Rosser Speaks..: Gene Rosser
Treasurer Gareth Davis
Assistant Treasurer Elaine Swan
Archivist
President’s Report: Nick Bloor
Pg 10/11 Australian Plants: Lyn Reilly
Helena Kelso
Pg 12
Craft Activities - in the Friends Centre
Australian Plants
Pg 13
Secretary’s Desk
Pg 14
Occasional Happenings
Pg 15
Items for Sale
Pg 16
Towards the Future: Alan Donaldson
Peter Reilly
Education Rana Baguley
Friends Centre
* and other items of interest *
Elinor Cox
Herbarium Neil Morley
Membership Peter Reilly
Newsletter/Editor Noreen Swan
Webmaster Caroline Kelly
cover photo: The Queensland Tree Waratah – Alloxylon flammeum The photo shows why this plant is called a Waratah – the flower closely resembles the true Waratah native to NSW. Our Tree Waratah is a native of a small area in North Queensland on the Atherton Tableland. In its natural area it is classed as vulnerable, but in fact it is in little danger of being lost completely. It grows well from cuttings and is widely grown in gardens as far south as Sydney. In its native forests it can be 25 – 30 metres tall, and the old one in Gene’s garden would be up around this height. In an open garden position like the Horticultural Display Gardens it might not go above 10 – 15 metres. It flowers in late spring and summer and the ones in the Gardens are now showing why it is considered one of the most spectacular of Australia’s native flowering trees. Peter
The Botanic Gardens - an historical review Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 2
President’s Report Welcome to the final edition of Friends' News for 2012. Fitting with the theme of this edition 'A Historical Review' I have always found the end of the year a great time to look back and reflect on the past 12 months, in context with what was set out to be achieved. With this in mind 2012 has certainly been another successful year for the Friends. Along with a suite of successful community planting days and other activities such as Botanica Quest, walks & talks and maintenance mornings, our Friends' volunteers also found time to engage with a wide range of school and community groups throughout the year. All of these volunteer activities - equalling 5 full time staff have driven the continued growth and development of the Gardens and seen visitor numbers climb to over 200,000 per annum. A successful year indeed! It has been a terrific year to welcome a number of 'new' Friends’ onto the committee, working groups and volunteer roster at the Friends Centre. This has meant we can continue to expand the Friends' initiatives, programs and activities. So if you aren't already a Friends' volunteer I urge you to call in to the Friends' Centre or drop us a line to see how you can get involved and be a part of the very satisfying work we do here at the Friends.
Snaps from the past …...
Finally as I 'reflect' back on the past 9 years since our inaugural Planting Day in 2003, I can honestly say it has been a wonderful privilege to have been President of the Friends over this time. While I am eternally proud of our collective achievements, the clear highlight has been the dedicated, passionate and inspirational people I have had the pleasure to work shoulder to shoulder with. It has reminded me that what matters most in life is not the things I do or have but the people I touch and am touched by along the way. Warm regards Nick
Nick Bloor Founder/CEO Technigro 0411 348 6111
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 3
Rosser Homestead Garden a ‘Queenslander Garden’ Some elements include: The Mixed Shrubbery: an essential element of early Australian gardens, from a desire to have plants in bloom through every season. Kauri Tree corner: This section of the garden is sheltered by the giant Kauri Agathis robusta planted over 130 years ago (more below); a large spreading White Fig; a Franklinia axillaris (previously Gordonia axillaris) and the exotic-flowering Barringtonia calyptrata. The natural distribution of the Barringtonia is limited to Far North Queensland and PNG so it is unlikely this taxa would have been available locally. Unknown origin and date of planting. Combined with Gene’s more recent plantings of bamboo, Queensland rainforest trees and foliage understorey, this part of the garden has a sense of shadowy mystery. An informal Camellia hedge provides additional enclosure to this location. This section of the garden supports the view that a love of nature and plantsmanship was passed to Gene from her parents and through engagement in the garden as a child. Later the plantings were influenced by Gene’s extensive travel and exposure to different cultures, as well as her interest and love for Australian taxa. Other Major Trees: Numbers of significant mature trees remain that were planted in the 1860s. In historic context, these trees were planted just 35-40 years after the establishment of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement in 1825, and around the same time as the establishment of the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. The significant historic trees planted in the 1860’s include – Taxodium distichum, Swamp Cyprus, now a massive tree providing summer shade and letting in winter sun. The persistent leaf litter from the annual leaf fall has provided a rich source of humus for an extensive understorey of perennials. Three mango trees Mangifera indica were planted in the eastern corner of the garden during Robert Muir’s period (see Gene’s report on p ….ed). This species was introduced to the Queensland colony from 1823. Frangipani
Plumeria
rubra
subsp.
acutifolia
considered an essential plant in most Queensland gardens. It is reported that the Plumeria species first arrived in Australia with Torres Strait Islanders via visiting Polynesian traders who had imported the South American tree. Later, through the period of the late 19th century and early 20th century, Christian missionaries and Island labourers brought frangipanis into eastern Australia. Agathis robusta, (listed above) the Queensland Kauri is found in SEQ only at Fraser Island and nearby Maryborough, as well as in Far North Queensland. The Queensland Kauri is currently popular with Gold Coast City Council as a street and park tree. The Rosser Kauri (planted c1860s) is a notable tree, one of the most significant landmark trees of the GCRBG. Araucaria cunninghamiana – Hoop Pine Jacaranda mimosifolia –Jacaranda Elaeocarpus grandis Blue Quondong (c1860) a large buttressing tree with a rich carpet of Nephrolepis cordifolia and various bromeliads growing in the rich humus. Corymbia intermedia Bloodwood – almost hidden by the dense canopy and trunks of other trees. It is from the Aboriginal word for Bloodwood that the original Sugar Cane Plantation name ‘Benowa’ and subsequently the suburb name was derived. Melaleuca quinquenervia - Paperbark – a large specimen planted by Gene Rosser as a child in the NE corner. The tree would now be nearing 80 years old. The garden is being restored and recently the Garden History Society have offered a grant to help with this process. Most of these notes (prepared for the IDS conference) courtesy of Kate Heffernan in ‘Rosser Homestead Garden Report Jan. 2011’ Lyn Reilly
Note: We thought we would include this article because of its historical significance and as a prelude to the longawaited opening of the Rosser Homestead Garden and buildings to the public on a date yet to be announced…...ed.
was
Historic Garden ……. Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 4
Plant Records Over the past month a long overdue record of all the plants held in the Living Collection and the Horticulture Display Gardens has been occupying my waking moments. Using paper based records from garden layout sketches, soft copy in hard to find files in three different computers, and records of planting events compiled by Alan and also recorded by Peter, a close to complete excel spread sheet record of plant species has evolved. This is a record of all known surviving plants, based on Taxa with additional details such as natural distribution range, common name, and where time has permitted the Author who is credited with the up to date name has also been included. Another section of the document includes the initial planting date of each Zone and the groups who assisted with planting. This will provide an invaluable archival record. Whilst I have known all the records have been ‘somewhere’, there has never been time in the busy days preparing planting and creating interpretation, or in my own hectic family life to finalise this critical information base. By the time this Newsletter is published it should be near complete. For some time the HRG have been contributing to a more defined layout and numbering system of the Precincts, Zones and beds which make up the entire gardens. Hopefully an easy to interpret wall mounted map will be available in the Friends Centre soon! What a difference it will make! After much collaboration between the members of the first PCG, initially led by the gardens Master Planner Lawrie Smith, and later by the HRG, the Gardens were
divided into 21 Precincts. The centre piece of the regional Living Collection is The Mangroves to Mountains Transect, which is Precinct number 001! Each Precinct is then divided into Zones, and the Mangroves to Mountains Transect has 23, seventeen of which have been commenced and are growing! Some of the zones include The Freshwater Wetland, The Montane, The Gum Tree Corridor and 20 more! Gradually the number of regional taxa has increased and more species added as the landscape framework develops. The number of species of known provenance will gradually increase now that there is vegetation cover to improve their success. At the recent Blackbutt Community planting day quite a few previously unavailable species were planted. It has been a pleasant surprise to realise the total number of species represented both in the M to M and other Precincts. This includes regional species, Cultivars and plants from outside the south east region. Alan’s article elaborates on the Zones which will complete the Mangroves to Mountains but are yet to be commenced. Another important project is the botanic labelling. The data for 480 labels was completed some months ago, and recently the finished fabricated labels and the first batch of stainless steel spikes were delivered to the Gardens. What a difference these labels will make to visitors’ understanding, knowledge and pleasure when they walk through precinct 001, the Mangroves to Mountains Transect and other Precincts and Zones! Kate Heffernan
View to the Montane through the freshwater wetlands
View to the Friends Centre and Honeyeater Garden
Plant archiving ……….
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 5
International Group Visits Gardens In October a group visited us from The International Dendrology Society. This is a worldwide group whose passion is the study of trees in all their aspects www.dendrology.org Lyn and I are members and - together with a few other local and Brisbane members - we put together this year’s Australian tour. Of course, it had to include our wonderful, new, developing Gardens and provided a great chance for the delegates to meet a few local and like-minded people. Rana pulled together a team of Friends and provided lunch for the visitors. There were many favourable comments about the beautiful food, wonderful Gold Coast weather, and the view from our verandah.
the southern end of the boardwalk, is a Barringtonia calyptrata – Mango Pine or Cassowary Pine - native to North Queensland. If it does well it will be a beautiful addition to that part of the garden, reflecting the mature specimen in Gene’s garden ;the perfect place for a group photo.
We started with a walk through Gene’s historic garden where they were amazed at the size of the tropical species – most of which they were unfamiliar with. The group was mostly southerners and New Zealanders and this was outside their previous ideas of the Gold Coast. The walk continued down the hill through the Closed Forest Gorge, the Horticultural Display Gardens, and around parts of the Mangrove to Mountains collection to include the Gum Tree Corridor, Lilly Pilly grove, and Butterfly Garden. As is traditional, a tree was planted to mark the occasion of their visit. The tree, on the lake bank near
All in all it was a great day and appreciated by everyone. Our sincere thanks to all those Friends who helped make it happen. Peter Reilly
Barringtonia calyptrata – Mango Pine or Cassowary Pine
Barringtonia calyptrata – Mango Pine or Cassowary Pine
Friends volunteers preparing lunch in the Friends Centre ‘kitchen’.
The Barringtonia calyptrata – Mango Pine or Cassowary Pine - is planted
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 6
Neil Morley
The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Herbarium
Herbarium Coordinator
The Herbarium team have been very busy over the past months. While the living collection is understandably the most conspicuous area of the Gardens there are many people involved to maintain the Friends’ Centre, communication, education, committee and planting. The Herbarium group which meets on Tuesday and Saturday mornings have been involved in a number of herbarium related activities. Poul Slatten and myself attended the BGANZ Conference in Coffs Harbour and a group of us visited the Queensland Herbarium. Since Gold Coast is a Regional Botanic Gardens, we focus on SE Queensland and as such work, in conjunction with the Queensland Herbarium, in the study of Queensland Flora. While receiving more materials of acid-free mounting paper etc., we also deposited our first specimens into their collection. During that visit we were privileged to view a pressed plant specimen from Captain Cook’s voyage. The photo shows me holding such a specimen as a special treat. It also indicated to us that our work in the Herbarium could last with the GCRBG for many years. In addition to our pressed specimens of the Botanic Gardens species, we are to collect and establish a flora collection of SE Queensland. In order to collect plants from any area we are required to obtain the relevant
permits since all native plants are protected in some manner. We are working with National Parks staff to obtain these and National Parks Rangers have visited our Herbarium to inspect the work we are doing. They were impressed with our standards and will be processing the necessary paperwork in the near future. Our facilities are presently being utilized by two groups of TAFE Horticulture students who are enrolled in Certificate and Diploma courses. They have attended sessions on the collection, preservation and mounting of plant specimens and the Diploma students will be working on a collection of plants from the Closed Forest Gorge display which is near the front entrance. On completion, this work will be housed in the Friends Centre for the use of visitors and of course will contribute to the student’s assessment in their Diploma. Friends are welcome at any time, but particularly on Tuesdays and Saturdays to view the work we do which entails the collection, pressing, identification, mounting, labeling and storage of specimens. Our enthusiastic and friendly herbariumologists (sorry) but seems a good word, will willingly show you the work we do and share a cup of coffee. My sincere thanks to our volunteers that contribute to the work and camaraderie of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Herbarium. Neil
Esteemed coordinator
Hi Fellow Herbariumologists have his photo taken with a pressed specimen from A number of us went to the Queensland Herbarium last Captain Cook's voyage.-WOW!!!!! Tuesday 23rd October and in addition to everyone I thought I should at least share it with you. enjoying themselves and finding it very interesting, Happy Pressing Neil your esteemed Co-ordinator was LUCKY enough to Thought we’d share this with you - the readers too…...ed
1930’s - Rosser garden & the lagoon area
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 7
Education at the Gardens Enlightening Educational Experiences Rana Baguley Education Coordinator
Steps Along the Education Path …. As we reflect upon the time we have all been involved with Friends of the GCRBG, we can all see progress in many different areas of our Botanic Gardens. As a teacher my interest has always been in Education and in particular, Environmental Education so my agenda when joining Friends was to be involved with and promote educational activities. Towards the end of 2006, I made enquiries with Gold Coast City Council about finding a contact person who had a link with the GCRBG to talk about providing educational experiences. In October 2007, while walking through the botanic gardens, I came across an event, ‘Gardens Alive’ and a display from the Friends. This was the link I’d been looking for. I chatted with Friends finding out about the work in which they were involved. At the same event in 2007, the first Botanica Quest was held with around 120 children exploring and discovering lots of plants and animals in the gardens. Bonni Yee and her team developed and led the exciting ‘hands-on’ learning. After this event, I joined Friends and became involved with Botanica Quest as a school holiday program in 2008. Later in 2008, Kate Heffernan had an education forum. From this forum, I was asked to put forward a proposal for a pilot education program. In 2009, a pilot program
involving Benowa and Ashmore State Schools tested the viability of conducting lessons in the botanic gardens. The feed back from the teachers was very encouraging so the next stage was planned. In November 2011 the education program for primary school students, ”Education at the Gardens” was officially launched in readiness for the 2012 academic year. Educational opportunities present themselves regularly at the GCRBG. The Botanica Quests are well attended with all participants enjoying the opportunities to interact with nature either with the quests or the art and craft activities. Arbor Day has been celebrated for five years at the botanic gardens. This year there were nine schools from across the Gold Coast participating in the tree planting ceremony in the ‘Fruits of the Forest’ Bush Food Garden. Many of the students will return to the botanic gardens to show their families and friends how they helped ‘grow’ the gardens. Both Botanica and Arbor Day involve a great deal of organization and without the support of the Friends, the trainees and the maintenance staff, they would not be as successful or enjoyable as they are. As we look forward to 2013, the opportunities to engage both children and adults in learning about the botanic gardens are boundless. With the appointment of a curator, it is hoped that education about our natural world will be a priority and continue to grow from strength to strength. Rana
Exploring - Using the Senses - Botanica Quest & Education at the Gardens
Botanica Quest Supervision and Organisation…….. Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 8
Gene Rosser speaks …………. In the early 1920s John and Essie Rosser purchased land on Benowa Hill. This land was the site of the residence of Robert Muir, the owner of the first sugar mill at Benowa. In the August 7, 1971 edition of the Illustrated Sydney News the area was described in the following glowing terms. "From Mr Muir's house upon the hill you behold a portion of the river, whose banks are closed to the water's edge with an entangled mass of rich foliage, and no matter where you turn there is something to please the eye. The bright green plain patched with sugar cane, stretching along east and west; the margin belts of magnificent brush almost meeting but opening out again; the huge fig trees Ficus macrophylla; bean tree Castanosperum australe; rosewood Synoum glandulosum; the graceful fronds of the towering Bangalow palm, arching over or wafting to and fro; the background of distant mountains; and last, but not least, the men, horses, and ploughs at busy toil, helped to complete what might be termed a ravishing picture". By the 1920s the sugar cane had been replaced by dairy cattle and most of the scrub along the river had been cleared, but it was this view which drew John and Essie to Benowa, and the site greatly influenced the design of the garden they created.
The Bunya and Norfolk Island pines were planted by Muir, but the garden at the front was the beginning of the Rosser garden. The shape of the lagoon has been changed twice since 1986 when the GCCC decided to develop a Botanic Gardens on the site. A line of trees in the distance marks the bank of the Nerang River. The view to the south has changed over time. By the 1960s the dairy farms had disappeared and now the flood plain is just a sea of houses. The garden to the east of the house was usually a riot of colour in the spring. The B&W photo below was taken in the early 1930s - the Rosser children hard at work. As was the custom most of the perennial plants were gifts from friends. Many were probably grown from cuttings. Essie saved seeds from annuals and raised her own seedlings for the spring display. The garden was the source of cut flowers which were almost always on display in the home. Essie also took pleasure in giving flowers to friends. The garden was designed to complement the house. From almost every room there is a pleasing view. John and Essie created a tranquil oasis which I have been privileged to enjoy (on and off) for over 80 years. Gene
Rosser Family Album Photos……. Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 9
Needing no showy flowers were the delicate green Curly Sedge Caustis recurvata and Swamp Foxtails Baloskion tetraphyllum. We looked in vain along the path for the Flying Duck Orchids or the tiny endangered Acacia baueri we had seen some years before.
Australian Plants group go Wandering in the Wallum This month the Australian Plants Gold Coast group visited the wallum— in the wild and in a local garden. Wallum is an ecosystem of coastal south-east Queensland that extends into north-eastern New South Wales. ’Wallum’ was the name used by the indigenous people for the Wallum Banksia Banksia aemula—floral emblem of Gold Coast city and of our Gardens. Nowadays the word refers to the whole coastal heath community which once covered much of the coastal plain and is now mostly under urban development. The last remaining patch of wallum in public ownership on the Gold Coast is the Pine Ridge Conservation Park at Hollywell. From mid-winter to early spring the Conservation Park is a wildflower-lover’s delight with hundreds of tiny treasures clamouring for attention. Even in late September white flowers dotted the dark green—an occasional Wallum Heath Epacris pulchella, Tea-tree Leptospermum sp., Rice Flower Pimelea linifolia, a couple of Leucopogons with furry throats and a single Wedding Bush Ricinocarpos pinifolius.
Peter found the ‘Treasure of the Day’ by ploughing along an overgrown track. The rare Boronia safrolifera (above) was still safe in its secret habitat. The soil in Pine Ridge is deep, nutrient-poor, acidic and sandy. Evidence of its dunal origins is still seen where the banksias grow on the higher ground with lower swales between. The red leaves of the carnivorous sun-dews Drosera spatulata indicate the need for plants to supplement their nitrogen diet with insects. Seasonal changes in the water-table due to rainfall sometimes create swamps. We suspect that water lies here longer than it used to due to the heavy surface load of ash from a big wildfire in early 2002. Much study still needs to be done before these wallum plants will be seen in cultivation. Most of them appear to be dependent on specific mycorrhiza in the soil. Success of ‘rescues’ from the wild depend on sufficient root soil coming with the plant. By this stage we were ready for afternoon tea, so we repaired to the Reilly garden nearby. Fifteen years ago we began trying to grow as many local wallum plants as we could—but were stumped by the ‘mycorrhiza factor’. Most of the plants we rescued from development eventually succumbed.
Yellows were represented by bright in-your-face Glory Peas Gompholobium virgatum and a few pale Melaleuca nodosa (above left and right). Then there were the pale pink Trigger Plants Stylidium graminifolium and a couple of mauve Vanilla Lilies Sowerbaea juncea.
The four corners of our small suburban block are marked by trees—Banksia integrifolia and Melaleuca quinquenervia on the road-front and Pandanus tectorius and Casuarina glauca on the water-front. The bird baths under these trees encourage a variety of local birds, between 30 and 40 different visitors to date.
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 10
The spaces are filled by flowering shrubs with matrushes and dianellas lining the driveway. Peter has filled the ‘secret garden’ between the caravan and the boatshed with a great array of hoyas. Sometimes the brilliant crimson Hoya macgillivrayi is flowering at the same time as the powder-puff Lilly Pilly Syzygium wilsonii, but that day only the wilsonii was on show (below).
Series—Local Native Plants No. 4
Alchornea ilicifolia (Native Holly)
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae DISTRIBUTION: The native holly is found mainly in or near dry rainforest, along creek banks and gullies in coastal areas from Atherton in NQ to Illawarra, NSW.
Of Peter’s orchids on the waterfront, only the pots of Phaius australis showed the remains of a good flowering (below).
DESCRIPTION: This 5 metre shrub can form thickets. The alternate leaves are thick and leathery with a deep wavy margin and the teeth end in very small spines. The ovate to rhomboid shape is 2.5 10 cm X 2 - 7 cm. Inflorescences are spikes of flower clusters resembling lamb’s tails. Plants bear either male or female flowers. After flowering, a three-lobed capsule, depressed and globular, 6 - 8 mm, forms and changes from green to brown. It ripens September to November. CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION: It is a hardy, useful large shrub for general purpose screening. It tolerates a wide range of garden conditions except wet, poorly drained soil. It can be pruned and kept in a tub. The leaves can be used at Christmas time for decoration.
The small waterfront area was converted from the lawn of the ‘children era’ to a flower garden because it receives most sun. A few grevillea species and hybrids are thriving here above the yellow Billy Buttons and Melaleuca ‘Rocky Rambler’. Watering is done automatically—the bird baths from our tanks and the small garden plants from the spear pump.
It is easily raised from cuttings, but early growth can be slow. Seed must be sown fresh for best results. Text and photo: Graham McDonald (author Grow Natives on the Gold Coast: a practical guide for gardeners—available from the Friends Centre.)
Peter does the garden, I write the words. Lyn
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 11
CRAFT GROUP
with Elinor Cox
During this year a small number of people have gathered together to enjoy Art and Craft activities related to the Botanic Gardens. We number 8 members at the moment, meeting on the last Monday of each month from (10.00 – 12.00). Sorting out our ‘modus operandi’ and productivity has taken time but we are happy to report success with our first items for sale in Spring and our Christmas items about to go into print and production.
this week after many weeks of patient computer production by Noreen Swan. All items will soon be in the Display Area in the Friends Centre. All are welcome to participate in these activities. We hope to end the year with a lot of enthusiasm for a ‘follow through’ of our ideas in 2013.
Prices: Calendars
View our tiled pots for plants ($12) and oil painted bookmarks ($6) for sale in the Centre at the moment. Other items are soon to follow. Look out for pressed flower bookmarks and floral embroidery on linen. Our 2013 Calendars and Christmas Cards have gone to print
BOTANIC GARDENS CONFERENCES There have been a number of Conferences in the past months and many Friends have taken the opportunity to attend these and meet with Friends and staff from other Gardens. These conferences are an excellent venue to network and keep abreast with developments in other states and regions of this country. I have reported on the Friends Port Augusta Conference and at this time we agreed to host the 2014 Friends Conference in August. You will hear more about this as we progress along the time line and would encourage anyone who would like to be involved in its organization to please contact a Committee member. Rana reported on the BGANZ Conference at Maroochy Botanic Gardens where again a large number of Friends attended. Recently Poul Slatten and I attended another BGANZ Conference at Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens. This was
the NSW Chapter of BGANZ and attracted 50 people both professional Gardens staff and BG Friends. This went from 19th to 21st of October. Friday was devoted to a workshop on Pests and Invasive Species in Botanic Gardens. While, as members of the
Guided Tours……..
Bird Watching ……..
$12.00 ea 2 for $20.00 3 for $30.00.
Christmas Cards $2.00 ea
3 for $ 5.00
6 for $10.00
Herbarium team, we were hoping it would concentrate on herbaria. This was important for the Gardens as a whole. Peter Symes from Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, conducted the workshop and outlined the many aspects of this important topic. An overview of invasive plant problems with an historical background and case studies, understanding the key traits that increase weed risk potential and developing a practical approach to weed risk assessment were the main objectives of the day’s work. Workshop members were also required to present relevant problems from their Gardens and were sent home with tasks to return to Peter at the Melbourne Gardens. On Saturday numerous speakers covered a wide variety of subjects related to our work in Botanic Gardens. Jan Noble outlined the procedures followed at Huner Botanic Gardens which is completely Volunteered managed, Gwen Harden, author of Flora of NSW and books on Rainforest Plants, gave an update on her work on computer program for rainforest identification and Caren Taylor presented the programs of the education staff at Wollongong Botanic Gardens. The Fungi Kingdom, development of the Dubbo BG, planning at Mt. Tomah (campus of Sydney BG), history of Albury BG and a further talk by Peter Symes provided delegates with a range of topics to discuss. Tours of Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens, short presentations from other Gardens and further workshops allowed attendees to interact and ‘solve’ the many situations that involve a present-day Botanic Gardens. There was a very interesting walk and talk on Bush Tucker, an outline of the recent Japanese Garden built at Coffs and Poul and I understandably attended the Herbarium with Alex Floyd, the Curator of the Herbarium. A group discussion with the Coffs Harbour Events Manager, gave us many ideas on how to coordinate events which we could and should hold at the Gold Coast Botanic Gardens. Neil Morley
Craft Pursuits……..
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 12
F r o m t h e S e c r e t a r y ’s D e s k … . . Contact:
secretary@fgcbg.org.au
Annual General Meeting Here it is time for another AGM … this year seems to have galloped through the seasons! You will find with this copy of Friends News, the Notice of Friends Annual General Meeting on Sunday 25 November 2012 at 9.30 am at the Friends Centre. Nominations are invited for the executive positions on the nomination form enclosed. There will be a separate nomination form for the remaining committee positions available in the week of 5 November. New energy is always welcome and if you would like to contribute a more active role among the Friends, please consider nominating for the committee. I do hope as many of you as possible can be at the AGM and enjoy some socialising with the refreshments to follow. Remember, if you are unable to attend, we would welcome your proxy with your apologies. The proxy form (also enclosed) may be made out in favour of a Friends member who will be attending the meeting.
‘Jazz in the Park’ at the Botanic Gardens On Sunday 4 November, as part of Gold Coast City Council’s “Jazz in the Park” series, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens was the setting for this concert. If you were unaware of this event we will report on it in the next Issue. As the first event of this type to be held in the Botanic Gardens we will learn from this and adapt accordingly. This is the first collaborative event with the GCCC - the first of many. To be aware of events to be
0449 561 674
held in the Gardens follow the schedule on our website http://www.fgcbg.org.au or the Gold Coast City Council Schedule of Events.
Gardens merchandise, including the Friends 2013 Calendar and gift cards and books were on sale. This was both an opportunity to promote the Gardens and to raise funds to support Friends activities in the Gardens. Hopefully, many of you will be able to come and enjoy these new events in the Gardens and come and say hello to the Friends volunteers!
‘Around the Botanical World in 80 Slides’ – Wine & Cheese End of Year Party: Sat 10th November 5.30-8pm ($10.00pp) All Friends are invited to this end of year party at the Friends Centre! Our Friends who have been travelling are contributing images of gardens around the world to amaze and delight us all. Hope to see you there! Booking is essential. Please call 0449 561 674.
Friends 2013 Calendar and Gift Cards The Friends Craft Group has produced a beautiful calendar for 2013 and cards featuring our Botanic Gardens. Please consider Friends and the Gardens as the beneficiary of your Christmas-New Year gift and card purchasing. Calendars are $12 each, or 2 for $20, cards are just $2 each or 3 for $5, from the Friends Centre. Mary Woods
Hello Members: Australian Plants and Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens It's that busy time of year again - Spring leading into Summer and the Festive Season. I thought I'd pull all our activities together into one place so we can sync our calendars. Sunday 4th Nov
Jazz in the Botanic Gardens
Sunday 25th Nov
Friends AGM
Sunday 9th December Aust Plants EOY celebration Beth and Graham'splace 12 Pharlap Ave, Mudgeeraba, 4213, 11.30 for 12.00
1.00pm - 5.00 pm - Friends catering Saturday 10th Nov
EOY celebration Friends volunteers
Saturday 24th Nov
See you at something, Peter
Propagation day at Bonni's
Participation……..
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 13
MAINTENANCE and BEAUTIFICATION of THE GARDENS A very busy group among the Friends of the Gardens is the Maintenance Group. Formed following the initiative of Alan Donaldson, this group continues its work every WEDNESDAY MORNING (7am-9am). The work is continuous and especially necessary in these dry times. There is always watering, weeding, pruning and mulching to be done to keep the collection of plants thriving. Shirley, Gene, Alan and Dick (to name but a few) constantly work among the Australian Plant Collection around the Friends Centre in the Mangrove to Mountain precinct. Recently Joan and Elinor have extended the maintenance to include the Rose Garden in the Formal Horticultural Display near the Sensory Garden. By doing
a little regularly, like pruning, de-heading, weeding and mulching the roses are responding to this care and rewarding us with a most colourful display during Spring. Keep watching as new plantings are added to the rose garden and it continues to add beauty to the surrounding area. If you think this could be your hobby, to regularly add a little but often to the garden by "simply scratching in the dirt” and weeding please join us any Wednesday - new members would be so welcome. To contribute to the beauty and growth of the Gardens is very satisfying personally and so rewarding to all who enjoy such pleasant surroundings. Elinor Cox
Elinor & Joan working in the rose garden - Photos: Graeme Cox
2013 Newsletters
In time for Christmas Festive Season & New Year
Please Note: Deadline for each issue is the last week of the previous month - articles can be held if submitted earlier.
Merchandise for Sale Calendar - 2013
Autumn edition: February 24th
Cards - Seasons Greetings Tree Ornaments
Winter edition: May 27th
Pot pourri bags
Spring edition: August 27th Summer edition - (needs to be out prior to the AGM)
Bookmarks Books for children
October 28th
Botanical Books Regional planting guides * See page 12 for information on Craft Group activities A heartfelt ‘thankyou’ from Wendy Lamp’s daughter Lola to the team at the Botanica Arts/Craft workshop thankyou Lola….ed
Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 14
BOOKS for Sale
MERCHANDISE for Sale
Prices shown have been discounted for Friends members. Grow Natives on the Gold Coast: a practical guide for gardeners by Graham J. McDonald. Published by our Australian Plants Group. Includes: soil types of the Gold Coast; solving problems associated with each soil type; choosing the best natives for your area; creating a garden which supports local wildlife. $12.00 Mangroves to Mountains (Rev. ed.) A great field guide to the identification of over 2 200 plants from SE Qld. By Glenn Leiper, Jan Glazebrook, Denis Cox & Kerry Rathie. Published by the Logan River Branch, SGAP (Qld Region) Inc. Full colour. $50.00 Create More Butterflies: A guide to 48 butterflies and their host plants for SEQ and northern NSW. Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke. Includes photos of caterpillars; getting started with butterfly gardening; wild butterfly locations and much more. A publication of Earthling Enterprises. $27.00
Friends Golf shirts Green. Poly/cotton. $10.00
Cap
$15.00
Commemorative Friends thermos cup Stainless steel inside & out.
$18.00
2013 Calendar
$12.00
(2 for $20.00 3 for $30.00 etc.) Cards (Seasons Greetings)
$2.00
Poisonous to Pets: plants poisonous to dogs and cats by Nicole O’Kane.
$32.00
Micky’s Music: A picture story book about a soldier crab seeking his true self amid coastal casuarinas and mangroves Written by Lynette Reilly. illustrated by Sharon Dye, published by Greater Glider. $10.00 Dictionary of Botanical Names compiled and illustrated by Don Perrin.
$14.00
Birdwings New Home: A pair of Birdwing Butterflies experience trouble and joy as they move house, seeking new friends and a place to live’. Picture story book by Lynette Reilly, illustrated by Lois Hughes, published by the Friends. $15.00 Available from the Friends Centre or contact secretary for packing and postage details
Cards Seasons Greetings 2013
General Information to contact Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
Calendar
Postal Address: PO Box 5653 GCMC QLD 9726 Location:
232 Ashmore Road Benowa 4217
Secretary:
secretary@fgcbg.org.au Mobile: 0449 561 674 Friends of the
Treasurer:
treasurer@fgcbg.org.au
Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
Membership Officer: membership@fgcbg.org.au Visit our Website :
http://www.fgcbg.org.au
Promotional Involvement…….. Friends News / Summer 2012
Page 15
TOWARDS the FUTURE As we near the tenth year of Community Plantings, we are now at the point in our history where we can look back with pride at our achievements in the Mangroves to Mountains Transect Collection. Several significant planting projects are still required if the total concept of the Mangroves to Mountains is to be realised. For this Newsletter I would like to take a look forward and outline the objectives of these projects. With commitment from Friends and GCCC this work could be accomplished in three to five years within the framework of regular Community Planting Days and special event planting such as Arbor Day. Firstly, a strategy and a schedule needs to be determined on where to start the next stage. It could be to either create the start of the Transect at the Mangroves on Lake Rosser, or alternatively, complete the link to the end point of the Transect at the Closed Forest Gorge.
overcome with proper planning. We have the alternative of building these collections as formal gardens or reproducing a natural looking landscape. As these future Mangroves to Mountains elements will be located near the Biodiversity Centre and World Gardens there is merit to a formal approach. This would make the construction of raised beds with imported sand and artificial water tables of varying depths easier. The 2012 National Tree Day Planting near the veteran Blackbutt, marked the commencement of the link between the Montane and Closed Forest Gorge Collections. The opening up of this area now allows the development of gardens in both directions. Towards the Montane there is an area earmarked for Wet Sclerophyll, with the canopy already established. A challenge here will be establishing an understorey under mature trees.
In the other direction, starting from the Blackbutt Forest, The creation of a Mangrove Collection, Dune System a rainforest is planned, leading through the existing Collection, Wallum/Heathland and Banksia Woodland will Araucaria Forest and ending the Mangroves to Mountains require detailed design and construction elements. With across the link road at the Closed Forest Gorge. The the added difficulty of plant sourcing and propagation of removal of woody weeds such as Camphor laurels, wild hard to obtain plants, these collections should be olive and weeds such as Mistflower will firstly need considered a long term project. confronting. The Rainforest Collection will require overhead irrigation. Having had the experienceThe of working withalmost the Australian new building complete -July 2009 ‘Friends News’ Plants Group on construction of the successful Wallum With the provision of appropriate pathways, visitors will be able to walk the entire Transect from either end. The Garden at Gold Coast and Hinterland Historical Society Mangroves to Mountains has an exciting future! As far as I Garden, I understand the difficulties of establishing this know, the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens will have type of collection. However, our Mangroves to Mountains the only regional collection in Australia laid out in a Collection will not be complete without a Wallum/ continuous circuit. Heathland. There are added challenges in establishing a Mangrove Collection and Dune system, but these can be
Alan Donaldson
Wallum Gardens at Gold Coast and Hinterland Historical Society
Many thanks to the Gold Coast City Council for its assistance in the printing of this publication. PO Box 5653 GCMC QLD 9726*** Email: info@fgcbg.org.au *** Web: http://www.fgcbg.org.au *** Ph: 0449 561 674*** 232 Ashmore Road Benowa