Welcome to our September newsletter. Much as there are things to be done in the garden at this time of the year some days we just have to retreat to the warmth of indoors as we move from Winter into the unpredictable Spring weather, so here’s some reading for those inclement days. Many thanks to those members who have sent me reports and photos whilst Karen and I were away in Japan for our youngest son’s wedding in April/May/June. As well as a wonderful wedding we also spent time exploring Japan and South Korea, much of it in amazing gardens and National Parks.

Note – Featured image is Gastrolobium celsianum (formerly known as Brachysema sericea) – Swan River Pea.

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April Meeting – Leon Costermans – Influence of Soils on Vegetation

Leon spoke about the geological evolution of the Mornington Peninsula and its influence on native vegetation. His excellent presentation included a number of interesting local specimens and how they survive in different soil conditions in original locations vs our gardens. It was one of our best attended meetings ever.

April Plant Table

We had a variety on the April Plant Table, especially quite a collection of banksias.

April Excursion – Moorooduc Quarry

Robyn Tyson reported on this excursion which was not held on the advertised date but slightly later-

Five of us went to the Moorooduc Quarry on a glorious autumn day.

This reserve is a Mornington Peninsula shire park, opposite Balcombe Park that used to be the tip, and before that maybe something to do with the quarry, as holes usually get filled up with rubbish.

Discussion on natural revegetation and lack of a Friends group resulting in weed infestations.

The rock walls are high, Ordovian rock, according to Leon Costerman’s book, 144 million years old. The uplift lines are easily seen, caused by the two fault lines colliding, some sediment striations.

Noticeably there was little topsoil, but Eucalypts had found cracks and crevices to put their roots into.

Peregrin Falcons soared above our heads checking us out, their roosting sites plainly visible on the rock face.

We did the 1,000 steps up and down the sides, investigating the lookouts – suburbia backs onto the quarry at the top and the weeds were more evident.

Some notable plants – Bursaria in seed, Pandorea pandorana climbing up the trunks of several Eucalyptus species. A clumpy little Dianella, not in flower, flower stalks close in amongst the leaves. Of course the walk ended with a cuppa and a chat.

April Plant of the Month

Our leader, Robyn Tyson was proud to share these photos of a new Eremophila that she has planted in a pot in her garden that is coming into bloom. It’s Eremophila ferricola.

Annual Plant Sale – May 2

Rob Powell, our Plant Sale Co-ordinator reported-
Our first time inside at Peninsula Community Theatre.
It went very well and only took one hour to set up, because there were lots of
volunteers. Clean up was much the same. A huge thank you.
Growers were generally happy although some prefer outside and some
thought there weren’t many customers. There were approximately 300
compared to 450 at the Briars in 2025. No record was kept for last year when
we got rained out. They were all very appreciative of the hospitality drinks and
munchies.
We made a profit which was helped along by Eileen donating quite a few
plants. Ross sold some Banksias, Robyn some bags and Katrina some leather
wear. Book sales were well up on last year as well, it all contributed.
All in all it was a success and will only improve in time as advertising improves
(the committee has a few ideas) and people get used to where we are.

May Meeting – Jordan Crook – Formation of National Parks

Jordan’s talk was attended by about 24 plus members including some new members. He talked on the history of the beginnings of National Parks in Victoria from the two original ones at Wilsons Prom and Mt Buffalo. He discussed which governments declared more. When she was Premier, Joan Kerner virtually doubled the amount apparently. He also mentioned the problems of getting the latest ones gazzetted, including how they are prioritised, surveys that are needed and their environmental value. These are all factors that are considered.

May Plant of the Month

Our Corymbia ‘Wildfire’ was flowering as we headed away in late April and is still flowering now in July so I am happy to make it Plant of the Month for May. Even though it has lost the main upright branch in a wind storm it stands about four metres high and gives a magnificent display which bees and lorikeets adore.

May Excursion – Bunyip State Park – Labertouche Caves area

The last excursion was a great success with 13 people. The Epacrids were in full flush and much enthusiasm generated for a rerun later in the year when more species will be in bloom. This is a very special place. A handful of photos taken by Katrina are attached. The cave is still on the list to view.

June meeting – Adrian Marshall – Maintaining Native Grasslands

Adrian gave an excellent presentation via Zoom to a large group of over two dozen members. He used both local and other locations around the Melbourne metro area and country Victoria to show work being done to maintain and/or resurrect important native grasslands. His photos showed a wide range of what grasslands can look like. He also spoke of their importance to our fauna and insects.

June Virtual Plant Table

Click to start the video of our June Virtual Plant Table. Thanks to those that shared photos from their garden and thanks to Verena Reich for creating the slideshow.

June Plant of the Month

We were pleased to come home from Japan and South Korea and find our Eucalyptus pauciflora flowering. Also enjoying the many layers and shades of bark on the tree’s trunk.

July Meeting – Rebecca Akmentins – Nature Strip Planting

For winter this was a well attended meeting. Rebecca gave an informative presentation of the research she did for her PhD regarding resident preferences for Australian native trees as nature strip trees. Sadly local councils can over ride residents’ preferences when nature strip trees are selected. I was pleased to see reasonably high interest in native plants within the interviewed group.

July Plant Table

Lots to see on our July Plant Table. Here’s a sample.

Here are a few of the usual winter suspects.

This one was a nice surprise.

July Plant of the Month

Winter is Correa time so here’s one of our favourites – Chef’s Hat Correa (Correa baeurlenii). Our one sits beneath a Banksia occidentalis and enjoys dappled sun.

July Excursion

July 26th was one of a number of days that the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservancy set aside for tree planting. This was the date that our group suggested members could join in. Four of our members attended the koala tree planting on the Sunday, all plants were put in, but they ran out of stakes and guards, it was understorey planting below trees that had been planted quite a few years ago.

A Nature Strip Project

Rebecca Akmentins’ presentation prompted Robyn Tyson to send me some photos and the story of how she renovated her grass on her nature strip and turned it into an extension of her garden.

‘My nature strip, which is 25mx 3m, faces south, started its overhaul pre covid, when I hand dug up the grass, we then gravelled.  The native grasses came up and I then proceeded no dig raised garden beds. Starting near the driveway then around power pole. The far end was next with the Corymbia ficifolia going in from a big pot. The next garden bed has been in about 2 years under a Tristania, and the new garden bed is replacing an old straggly one. There are a lot of Eremophilas and low growing things, the council wants a 600mm space at the kerb and the postie needs to get to the letterbox. There is enough space for cars to park off my narrow court.’

Position Available

After 11 years as editor of our newsletter I am looking for someone else to take on the role after the next AGM. In the meantime I am happy to train someone in what’s involved during the preparation of the next newsletter before I retire. Feel free to talk to me, (Mark Allison) at our next meeting or send an email to- morningtonpeninsula@apsvic.org.au, marking it Attention : Newsletter editor

August Plant Table

Thanks again to Verena Reich for creating another virtual Plant Table to coincide with a Zoom meeting.

August Zoom Meeting – Dr Greg Moore – Some Trees are Significant

Dr Greg Moore gave an informative and passionate presentation on the importance of canopy trees, entitled Some Trees are Significant, All are Important. A large number of members joined in from the warm comfort of their homes. Greg discussed threats to trees and their importance as climate change inpacts us all. Near the end of his presentation one of Greg’s slides resonated with me. It was where he referred to the 3:30:300 rule for urban planning. From our homes we should be able to see 3 trees. We need to live in a place where the canopy cover is 30% or greater and we need to live within 300m of a treed green space. It’s just as well Spring is a good time to plant a tree!

August Plant of the Month

A sign Spring is coming in our garden is when our Thomasia purpurea is in bloom with its masses of delicate pale purple lantern flowers. It is a small under storey plant standing about 50 cms high and wide.

September Meeting – Yvonne Duke – Butterflies and Butterfly Gardens

Yvonne Duke spoke at our Saturday 20th meeting at a special afternoon time and day of the week for our September presentation about Butterflies and Butterfly Gardens. About 20 members were in attendance. As part of her presentation she even had a display of plants with butterflies that are likely to be attracted to them.

For those interested in attracting more butterflies to their gardens here’s a helpful document that Yvonne kindly provided. Just click once on the document to be able to scroll through and read it.

September Plant Table

Thanks to Barbara Huggins-Sachs for the Plant Table photos as I was otherwise engaged on the day of this meeting.

September Plant of the Month

After only a few years since being planted we were delighted to see our Eucalyptus pressiana starting to flower. Best of all we almost saw a couple of flowers actually opening up from their pods. Its’ flowers are some of the more impressive sized Eucalypt flowers.

Remember, if you would like to showcase a beauty from your garden just send a jpg/jpeg file of it to our email address, morningtonpeninsula@apsvic.org.au , marked, Newsletter Editor. If possible reduce the size of the file to approximately 300k please.

For your diary-

Our next excursion is Sunday 27th September to the Wonthaggi Desal Plant to walk the trails around it.

Our AGM will take place at 7:30pm at the October meeting on October 20th at Benton’s Square Community Centre.