October, 2006
photos on this page by Lloyd McRae and Mark Hursch (unless otherwise specified)Friends of VINC Wetlands News
by Mark Hursch
Those of you who have recently visited our nursery may have noticed some improved changes happening in the wetlands.
Since May, the newly formed Friends of VINC Wetlands have been actively removing weeds by the baleful to the point where we now have some lovely patches containing almost nothing but indigenous grasses and wildflowers! I have also been spraying some of the more persistent weeds with some frog habitat friendly herbicide between each of the monthly weed removal maintenance days.
These activities have not only enhanced the wetland’s appearance, they have also enabled some of the Poa grass seed to germinate for the first time in a long while – have a look next time you walk through the wetlands and you may notice the fine germinants near the larger tussocks.
Our group meets on the second Saturday of each month between 10:00am and 12:00pm. It consists of approximately 20 people, many of whom just attend occasionally if they have some spare time.
If you would like to become involved and have your name added to the "Friends" email list, please contact Mark or Lloyd during the week on 9482 1710 or vinc@vicnet.net.au. This way, we can keep you updated on all upcoming events and you’ll even receive our new Wetland Waffle newsletter too!
Stay tuned for regular updates in forthcoming newsletter editions.
Frog Mapping
by Triona Allen
Melbourne Water frog census is carried out twice a year, and the spring time count is starting now.
The wetter weather means the frogs are likely to be active, and therefore calling. The Frog census is conducted by people across Melbourne and beyond with a tape recorder (or something more modern). People tape calls in their area and send them into Melbourne Water. There, experts listen to the tape and identify the species. Frogs are an easy way of indicating the health of creeks, ponds, and rivers, as they require both clean water and clean land - with lots of plants to hide under and stay safe.
For more information see:www.frogs.org.au
www.melbournewater.com.au/frogs
Old Soil for New Seeds
by Elspeth Brock
Work has been going on at VINC to establish a new garden bed. As part of VINC’s sustainability policy the bed is recycling old soil from the ‘plants that didn’t make it’. Old pots accumulating spiders and weeds have been emptied for washing and reuse. The soil is then barrowed out to the new bed. The polystyrene boxes are also reused as many times as possible. They originally come from the fruit industry where, due to health regulations, boxes cannot be used multiple times. To help us with recycling please return only VINC tubes and boxes, in good condition, to the nursery.
The new garden be will be used as a seed bank and to provide cutting material. When collecting seed it is recommended at least 10-20 plants of a particular species are collected from to ensure continuing genetic diversity. The seed bank will be planted appropriately and species allowed to self-seed providing more individuals to select from.
Some species have seed that is difficult to source such as, Wattle Mat-rush- Lomandra filiformis and locally rare plant Emu-foot- Cullen tenax. These species will be planted to ensure seed can be collected and grown.
Tasman Flax lily- Dianella tasmanica is from damp schlerophyll forest but is tolerant of most conditions once established including dry periods and light snow. It has slightly wider, larger leaves than other Dianellas and blue flowers with yellow anthers. The fresh fruit of Dianellas must be soaked to remove fleshy covering from the seed. As the Tasman Flax lily is most commonly found in the foothills of the Kinglake/Dandenong ranges, the seed bank will enable seed to be monitored and collected with ease.
Native fuchsia- Correa reflexa and Australian Dusty Millar Spyridium parvifolium, are also from distant provenances, so will be planted for easy access to cutting material. The fresher the better for cutting material. When fresh, minimal nutrients and water is lost from stems before they are placed in the humid propagation igloo, which encourages tender new roots sprout. Native Fuchsia is a popular correa coming in two forms- green flowering and red flowering that has yellow tips. Australian Dusty Millar is a dainty shade-loving shrub with flannelly floral leaves. Keep an eye out for these species from the seed bank as they sprout up in retail.
Have a Spring-Fling with Ceramic Pots!
by Triona Allen
VINC now has a selection of coloured ceramic pots, already planted up with a gorgeous array of easy-care plants. These plants have been carefully selected to be low-maintenance, suitable for pots, and, of course, very attractive. The colour of the plant’s flowers and foliage contrasts and coordinates nicely with the coloured pot.
These pot-and-plant combos make a terrific gift idea (Christmas is getting closer) or why not put a pot or two on your porch, or in your courtyard.
Some of the species in pots are:
Stylidium
gramnifolium (Grass Trigger Plant). This plant has a long stem with clear pink ‘trigger’ flowers along it.
Desmodium gunii (Slender Tick-trefoil) An attractive succulent with stunning, large pink flowers.
Kennedia prostrata (Running postman) Everybody’s favourite, this plant has masses of bright red flowers that cascade of the edge of its pot.
Cullen parva (Small scurf-pea) A very rare plant with delicate, fine foliage, and small purple flowers.
Pelagonium australe (Austral Storksbill) A member of the geranium family, this plant has soft, hairy leaves and an attractive white and red flower.
Remember; to get in quick as we only have limited numbers of each species in pots.
See you soon!
HELP WANTED
Meadowbank Primary School in Broadmeadows is collecting specially marked Paul's milk caps. They receive 10 cents per cap and the money goes to funding their gardens program. So far they have created 7 garden areas since 2002, including a multicultural vegetable garden. You can deposit the caps at VINC.
Da Vinc Ode
On any Tuesday you'll find us there
Round the big bench, perched on a chair
Helen and Judy, Lisa and Anne
volunteers all in VINC's grand plan.
Bright days and dull will find us together
With Judy and Jess we're keen in all weather
Sharing a cuppa, some food and a laugh
Our hands in the dirt, learning the craft.
Look at that ligule, check out that node
It has to be Judy in didactic mode
What is this plant, come on we'll check it
Look at this awn, it's asymmetric!
Judy not there, no sweat says Jess
I'll manage you lot without any stress
Just when we think a treat's what we need
There's Jess with a grin and a tray of pond weed!
The plants are lined up, all in their classes
Shrubs and ground covers, sedges and grasses
All are important, not always in fashion
The weedy and reedy we pot them with passion
Forests of cuttings, trays of Lom longs
Sent on their way to the sound of birdsong
Discussion and laughter, plenty of chat
The day is soon over and that is that.
By Anne (Tuesday mob)
VINC Achieves SGA Certification
VINC gained certification as a Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) Certified Garden Centre in late 2005. You may have noticed the signs around the office and retail area. SGA is a not for profit association totally committed to achieving real, continually improving and easily understood environmental solutions for gardeners.
Being an indigenous nursery VINC pro-actively promotes the use of indigenous plants and sustainable products. Most VINC staff have undertaken the SGA Green Gardeners training. The nursery has adopted environmental best practice policies and practices and is audited annually to maintain certification.
SGA developed a rating system that rates all horticultural chemicals, fertilisers and mulches into low, medium or high environmental impact. Low environmental impact products are on display in the VINC office.
SGA have a free monthly electronic magazine ‘Cuttings’ and you can receive it by logging on to http://www.sgaonline.org.au. Their website includes loads of great gardening information on topics such as choosing plants, garden design, environmental protection, fruit and veggie growing, pest control, plant health, water conservation, soil health, weeds and wildlife.
You can financially support SGA by becoming a home gardener subscriber. SGA has developed an excellent Sustainable Gardening booklet for Darebin Council residents. Some other councils have also published similar booklets.