Tuesday 20th July – Victorian High Country Flora

For our July meeting Robyn Tyson spoke on the flora of the high country, specifically a trip to Falls Creek in January. Chris and Glenys Long and Robyn attended an APS Keilor Plains weekend away. She spoke on the different EVC’s, showed photos of typical plants found in the different areas, and the shortness of the flowering season. The diversity of species and the special plants that only grow at that altitude that survive under snow.

Plant table – July

Plant of the Month – July

This Xerochrysum bracteatum is a long flowering plant and a bright spot in our garden during winter.

Don’t forget to send me photos of anything special flowering in your garden to have them featured in this section. Maximum size 1Mb please. Just mark the subject line Attention : Newsletter and send to morningtonpeninsula@apsvic.org.au Thanks

Plant of the Month – August

A bit of colour is always welcome during what is traditionally our bleakest month so we are very happy to have this Acacia drummondii ssp elegans stand up to the windy, wet weather and provide us with beautiful spikes of pale yellow.

Tuesday 17th August

AGM meeting held in August had contributions from members. Barry and Beth Wilson spoke of the transformation of their property in Mt Martha after relocating from their farm. They had lots of before and after photos. Here are a couple.

Removal of hedges and forming new garden beds.

When lockdown ends it would be good to see the Wilson garden in a garden visit.

We also heard from Georgie Rutter who lives in Mt Eliza, and we hope to visit her garden later in the year covid permitting. She spoke of the massive changes to their property, removing structures, driveways. These are fairly recent changes, she spoke of water issues and problem solving. The trial and error of types of plants, what has really worked and what has struggled to survive. Here’s a couple of photos.

Robyn Tyson also spoke on the experience of volunteer seedling growing through Tree Volunteers, which several other members had also been a part of. The trees are for the Koala Wildlife corridor being formed in Balnarring/ Somers to Cerberus. Species include several Acacias, Leptospermum and Melaleucas; Sue Tatton had grown Cassinias.  The trial involves special seed treatments, watering and getting enough sun, and the different growth rates depending on where they were grown. The average plant totals seemed to be in the mid 300’s.

August Plant Table

Here’s our virtual plant table for August. Hope you enjoy it.

Plant of the Month – September

We were very excited to see our Acacia glaucoptera flowering for the first time. We have it in a sheltered sunny position above a retaining wall.

Tuesday 22nd August

Member Ruben Buttigieg was our presenter for the September meeting via Zoom. We were spoilt with a lovely slideshow of part of a trip to SW Western Australia run by Friends of Cranbourne Botanical Garden which Ruben, Verena Reich, Ray and Eva Turner and Sue Tatton, amongst others, were lucky enough to participate in. This part of the trip centred on several excursions in the Esperance area. We were able to see a stunning array of flowers. Here’s a selection of photos from the presentation.

Finally some Hakea and Banksias seen on the road to Hopetoun.

September Virtual Plant Table

A lovely collection from members garden’s is available to see in the movie below. It left us wanting more.

Plant Sale 2022

Yes, planning is underway for next year’s Plant Sale. If you’d be willing to help a small sub-committee plan this important event please contact our Secretary, Jenny Bolger at morningtonpeninsula@apsvic.org.au

Next year’s Plant Sale will be held at a new venue (for us) – The Briars in Mt Martha on May 7th.

Discounts for APS Members

Whilst on the subject of great opportunities to buy native plants, our leader Robyn Tyson would like to remind you that there are a number of native plant nurseries in regional Victoria that offer discounts to APS members. Just take a photo of the label on the envelope of your next copy of Growing Australian which shows your membership number. For more details about the nurseries check out the following link

Nurseries & Public Gardens

That’s all for now.

Hope to see you at our next meeting which will be via Zoom on October 19.