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TRANSCRIPT
MULCH
Much Useful Learning Concerning Horticulture
VOL.22 No.6, June, 2016
Castlemaine & District Garden Club Inc.
Crepe Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica x L. fauriei 'Zuni'
Castlemaine & District Garden Club
P.O. Box 758, Castlemaine 3450
castlemainegardenclub.wordpress.com
COMMITTEE
President
Judy Uren 5470 6462
Vice-president
Judy Eastwood 0417 149 251
Secretary
Sally Leversha 0437 683 469
Treasurer
Alan Isaacs 5473 3143
Committee Members
Marion Cooke
Jan Gower
Heather Spicer
Sue Spacey
Newsletter Editor
Tom Comerford 5470 6230
Webmaster
Judy Hopley 5472 1156
VISIT TO BURNLEY COLLEGE GARDENS.
There will be a bus trip to Burnley Horticultural College on Wednesday,
24th August. Places are limited, at a cost to members of $15. This will
include the cost of the guided tour, which will commence at 11.30 a.m.
Call Sue Spacey, 5470 5834 to register your interest.
THANK YOU
Thank you Helen Morris for inspiring me to find a photograph of the Crepe
Myrtle tree.Helen sent me two brochures from Flemings Nursery advertising
a new range of Crepe Myrtle trees classified “India Summer”. Given their
growing habits, Helen thought they might be of interest to you.
The crepe myrtle pictured on the front page is one of the range.
EDITORIAL
This is the penultimate edition of MULCH that I am editing. In the light of
the appointment of a new editor I wish to make some observations that I hope
those of you who read MULCH might consider and if acted upon may make
the task of finding a willing editor for the next two years easier.
For me the task of producing MULCH has been both a pleasure and a
frustration. I was bitterly disappointed when the Committee decided not to
have a coloured front page, particular when the cost of the colour had been
borne by private contribution and never cost the Club a cent. My lack of
understanding of the reasons for that decision took away much of the
enjoyment of associated with the task of producing MULCH, making it more
of a chore to be completed by the middle of each month. Similarly the
rumoured comments that MULCH is seen as “elitist” have been hurtful.
Through lack of perseverence, brought about to a degree by the above, and
my natural aptitude to prevaricate, my attempts to find a editorial sub-
committee failed.
Hence the ability to allocate tasks such as “Welcome to New Members”,
“What to do in the Garden This Coming Month”, “Meet your Committee”,
“Book Review’ has not been possible. I am grateful to Judy Hopley who now
provides me with copy from the Website relating to the guess speaker for the
month. I must also thank Judy for producing MULCH when I have been on
holdiay.
Thank you also to the following members who have contributed articles
during the two years I have been Editor: Christobel Comerford (2), Marion
Cooke (1), Penny Garnett (2), Elaine Geraghty (1), Juliana Hart (2), Philip
Hopley (2), Judy Hopley (5), Helen Morris (1), Peggy Munro (9), Lana
Osterfield (1), and Sue Spacey (2). I very, very much appreciated your
contributions.
As you can see this is not a great number of contributers given it represents a
23 month period and a membership of over 80. It is, however consistent with
what has happened under past editors, where the articles and commentary
have been largely contributed by the editors themselves.
One final observation and then I shall become positive and forward looking.
In my time as Editor I can remember only six people have commented to me
about MULCH:
one asked that I include the names of the gardens shown in “do you know
this garden?”,
another asked if a particular garden was the one she thought it to be,
another asked if she could pay for the coloured front page,
another could I take a class in showing how to make plant boxes as depicted
in an article in MULCH,
one thanked me for the work put into the 30th birthday edition, and
the sixth said how much she enjoyed receiving MULCH
This paucity of comment led Christobel, who proof reads MULCH to
comment “I wonder how many actually read it.” My thoughts exactly.
In my mind the question arises do we need to receive MULCH each month.
Is there an alternative? I believe so. I can envisage a MULCH similar to its
current format printed quarterly – in March, June, September and December
that does not include the Minutes and the Financial report. In the every other
months a double sided A4 sheet folded to A5 size would surfice: the front
showing the Agenda for the Meeting and inside the Financial Report (1 page)
and the Minutes (2 pages). It would be the responsibility of someone other
than the Editor to produce this document.
To make the point as you will notice that in this edition with the exception of
the front page, our obligation to sponsors and the contact information, I have
chosen to include only material that has been forwarded to me for publication
or I have asked to include by the Committee. I have done the minimum in
what can be time-consuming display.
Finally, the Editor is a volunteer undertaking a sizeable task. I believe it is
emcumbent on the Committee establish a sub-committee to assist the Editor.
Thank you for the Editorial freedom given to me and my best wishes to the
in-coming Editor
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greetings once again from a very wet and cold rocky hill in Castlemaine. As
the saying goes be careful of what you wish for. Along with many others I
wished for some rain and cooler weather and that is what we have got. I am
not complaining but I think I am developing cabin fever every time I go
outside to do something in the garden it starts to rain again.
Winter does have its own magic with many trees with leaves changing
colours, other trees already bare and looking very sculptural against the winter
sky. The jonquils are starting to flower, and pink nerines, grevilleas,
camellias, lavenders and correas are just beautiful and this is just in my
garden. Every season brings its own joy.
A lovely day was experienced by all who travelled to Cranbourne Botanic
Garden on 31st May. It was a most beautiful day weather wise and it was
wonderful to see how the gardens had developed over the last 8 years since I
was last there.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at MAH auditorium on the 28 June for
our traditional fish and chip night, though these days it could be Pizza or
noodles even a hamburger and chips. While enjoying your dinner of choice
please give thought to speakers for 2017 as planning day will be coming up
very soon
Until next time Judy Uren
MAY 2016 MEETING
At our May meeting we were lucky to hear two speakers discuss the benefits
of plant propagation
Firstly, a very brief outline from Pam Adams on propagation, she handed out
some notes on whip and tongue graft and a very handy chart on when and how
to take cuttings from different groups of plants. Because time didn’t permit it
would be really worthwhile to have Pam back soon to share her knowledge
and expertise on grafting methods.
Our second speaker was Jo Wedgwood, again on plant propagation and worm
farming.
Jo’s property at Winters Flat when she bought it was just trees and bare
garden. Today though it is to quote her “a well-furnished garden”, evolving
over the years by trial and error.
Jo Wedgwood
By propagating industriously and dividing and redividing she has created a
low cost and delightful sanctuary. She likes to fill spaces with non-invasive
plants that grow well and then selectively replace many of these with more
interesting varieties. She has also used raised beds and terracing to create
space and varied structure in the garden. She develops both sun and shade
spaces within her garden.
When propagating Jo buys in a large quantity of commercial potting mix and
mixes this with river washed sand and her home compost. Pots also sit in trays
to retain water, so that they are properly saturated to minimize air pockets in
newly propagated cuttings. She makes sure there is a rich layer of soil/
compost at the bottom of each pot so that new seedlings and cuttings have a
rich diet when their roots form. She does not use root powders or honey for
new cuttings.
Jo presented many slides of her garden and discussed re the various species
of how she divides them and when. She will peg down the plants with new
runners to help them settle into the soil more easily so as not to be disturbed
by wind etc.
Jo’s worm farm is homemade and sits raised on a shower base, which works
very successfully. She gives the worms all he kitchen left overs and cardboard
etc. but does not include onion and citrus. The resulting castings and worm
tea are the only fertilizer she puts back into her soil.
A garden that I would encourage all our members to visit!
Notes: Judy Eastwood. Photo: Philip Hopley Judy Hopley
BUS TRIP TO ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS,
CRANBOURNE
It had been a very frosty night prior to our early morning trip for
Cranbourne. There were 16 people with their hats, scarves, coats & gloves
setting off for our adventure on our 22 seater bus.Of course it was not far
down the road when we needed a coffee and toilet stop at the Calder Highway
station. Re-fueling with a lovely warm coffee, followed by Sue Spacey’s
famous ginger and date cake! Poor Sue- she & Mike weren’t even able to
make the trip - but she was so kind to provide for all of us. Thanks Sue!The
weather was magnificent! Warm, Sunny & no wind. We couldn’t have asked
for a better day. Some of us had already been to the gardens, but there were
a few who had not. It didn’t matter either way because it is one of those places
which never ceases to amaze you.
A totally native garden with a central desert area. The landscaping and
garden architecture is stunning. There were mass plantings of native plants,
some forming hedges and others just showing the magnificence of group
planting.
A lovely lunch at the cafe and then the trip home was wonderful. A great
turn out and a lovely day was had by all.
Sally Leversha Photos: Jenny Nuske Judy Hopley
THE WONDROUS WORLD OF WORMS
Planet earth is home to hundreds and thousands of worms of an amazing
variety and forms.
They inhabit just about all environments and they are specialist in that they
are superbly adapted to their living quarters. There are worms for just about
every environment.
The earth, sand, compost, mud, rainforest, freshwater, the oceans, all provide
living quarters for different varieties of worms and some are parasitic. They
are all shapes and sizes, very long as in the mud of South Gippsland where
they can grow to several metres, and night crawlers that as their name suggests
crawl over the earth at night, there are short worms, round worms, flat
worms. Most of them are segmented but not all as the flat worms do not have
segments. There is a small, flat, fresh water worm that has the name
Platyhelminthes, this worm has the remarkable ability to heal itself when it’s
damaged if one is cut in half both halves grow into a whole one.
One variety of Marine tube worm builds itself a calciferous tube on any handy
substrate. The Phoenicians collected this tube worm, along with other marine
molluscs and extracted a purple dye from them that was used to dye cloth. It
was a laborious, time consuming task and the cloth was expensive. Queen
Elizabeth the first, banned the wearing of purple, except for herself of course.
And so to earthworms.
The worms that gardeners are more familiar with are the earthworms and
compost worms. In Australia the native worms have been reduced to
surviving in remnant areas, and the 300 plus earthworms in gardens are
descended from worms introduced during the early days of Australia
settlement. Throughout the world earthworm species number some 3500.
Earth worms have been around for a very, very long time some millions of
years. Their value to soil and plant health has been known for thousands of
years.
In appearance they seem a simple segmented tube in reality they are quite a
complicated structure. Their segments have two pairs of bristles that can be
protruded and withdrawn depending what the worms need to do, they can use
them to move through the soil. They also eat their way through the soil when
necessary.
Although they have no eyes they are extremely sensitive to vibrations and
temperature. They have five hearts, and hundreds of kidney like
organs called nephridia. They breathe through their damp skin. They need
small soil grits in their gizzards to grind their food. The food passes through
their system and the value of the nutrients is greatly increased and made
available to plants when excreted as worm casts. They are hermaphrodite
each worm has a saddle a few segments back from the head. At maturity two
worms connect at the saddle are and exchange sperm. When they separate
each one wriggles off the saddle that becomes an egg capsule, containing baby
worms, the number of worms varies depending on the species, can be one or
up to twenty. The worms are translucent when they hatch and are totally
independent and start eating straight away. Earthworms do not hibernate.
Hibernation is seasonal, fauna hibernate when the food is in short supply, and
the weather is too cold for activity. When conditions become unfavourable
earthworms migrate to a better place. However if conditions become extreme
they estivate, (spend a hot dry period in a prolonged state of torpor or
dormancy), that is they build themselves a cave and curl up inside to await
better times. They are extremely long lived, as long as they are not eaten by
birds, mice, rats and other animals that are partial to a feed of worms, they are
70% protein and that provides a nutritious meal. Ants can be a problem. If
the worm farm has legs then each leg could be placed in a container of water.
Earthworms do not regenerate, an injured worm becomes a dead worm. Ultra
Violet light will kill them, it’s important they remain underground.
Remember, chemical fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, all make life
intolerable for worms if they can they will pack their bags and go to a better
place, and if they can’t they die.
And so to compost worm farms.
These come in many different shapes, materials, and sizes. Some have
collection trays at the bottom to collect the worm juice. The compost worms
devour all kinds of animal and plant wastes. Their anatomy is similar to the
earth worms. Food for them is best to be minced up so that it is easier for
them to process and also speeds up the passage of the food. The greater the
variety of food provided the more nutritious the worm casts. Looking after a
worm farm requires a little time and effort, as they need comfortable housing
and good food.
The food: - a mixture of minced veg and fruit along with pollard, oat meal,
corn meal and rock dust, they need the rock dust to help grind their
food. When setting up the bedding material a tablespoon of rock dust can be
mixed in. Thereafter a small spoon every so often should keep their gizzards
healthy, and a sprinkling of Dolomite also helps.
The worm tea can be applied neat to the garden, it is not necessary to dilute
it. The worm casts can be dug in where needed. If on inspection there is
mould on the food, this can be scooped up and added to the compost bin or
heap, or just dug into the garden. If the worms are migrating to the lid this
indicates they are not happy maybe their bedding is too wet, in that case add
some coir, or maybe they need feeding. Or maybe something else. The
worms can be left to their own devices for two to three weeks and still be
ready for their next feed after that time. So if you need to go away rest assured
they will continue to process all the bedding and food. When collecting the
worm casts some earthworms may be included, these will not survive in the
garden soil, they are more suited to chomping their way through wastes, cow,
sheep, horse, chook poo is easily processed by them.
And so to weed tea.
A suitable container can be a bucket or a 44gal tub. Whatever is
available. All types of weeds can be included, best if no roots or seeds are
added but if they are they will all rot down and add nutrition. Grass is a good
plant to include it is a very nutritious plant, just think of the herbivores that
survive, just on grass. Fill the container to about 2/3rds and add water to the
top. May need to press weeds down under the surface. A cover is a good
idea, keeps unwanted mozzies out. The tea is ready for use when the weeds
are a sludge at the bottom of the container. Can be diluted 1 to 5 or till it’s
the colour of weak tea.
Please remember, healthy soil, healthy plants, and healthy humans.
That’s all folks.
Juliana Hart
DISCOUNTS
Members are reminded to continue to support the businesses that support us
in the form of discounts:
You will need your 2016
membership card for identification
All Stone Quarries (ASQ)
5% off gravel, mulch etc.
15% off pots and plants
Beard’s Hardware
10% on most garden related products
Gardens Etcetera 21-25 Main Street Maldon Tel: 5475 233
Discount of 10% excluding items on consignment and sale items
www.gardenetcetera.com.au
Sociana’s ‘The Green Folly’
10% discount
Stoneman’s Bookroom
10% on all purchases over $10
Taylor Brothers
5% on garden related products
MULCH is printed with the assistance of
LEGION OFFICE WORKs
Treasurer's Report: May 2016
Main Account
Cashbook Balance at 30/04/2016 3,767.80
Income to 31/05/2016
Donations 40.00
Raffle 32.05
Trading table 47.70
Membership 40.00
159.75
3,927.55
Expenses to 31/05/2016
Car Trail prizes 23.54
Raffle prize 9.85
Speaker Fees 25.00
Bus Hire - re excursion to Burnley 277.12
Bus Driver 100.00
Gift - To Dianne Thomson of Buda 50.00
Printing - May Mulch 69.30
554.81
Cashbook Balance at 31/05/2016 3,372.74
Bank Reconciliation:
Bank Balance at 31/05/2016 3,524.96
Add receipts not yet credited 159.75
Less unpresented cheques:
#1330 25.00
#1332 277.12
#1334 9.85
311.97
3,372.74
Bursary Account
Balance at 30/04/2016 716.00
Donations - nil 0.00
Bank Balance at 31/05/2016 716.00
Cash at Hand
Petty Cash 27.85
Raffle Float 10.00
Trading Table Float 25.00
Total Cash at Hand 62.85
Fixed Assets
PA System 966.40
Gazebos 366.40
Digital Projector 279.20
Total 1,612.00
MINUTES
Castlemaine & District Garden Club General Meeting
730PM Tuesday 24th May 2016 in Wesley Hill Hall
Chair: JUDY UREN
Meeting opened at7.30pm
Members present:
Apologies:
1. Minutes: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26/04/16 be accepted
Moved: Sue Spacey Seconded: Peggy Munro
Carried.
2. Correspondence IN :
2.1. The Grapevine newsletter – Maryborough
2.2. Bendigo Garden Club newsletter
2.3. Membership renewal-$20cheq- Alan Isaacs
2.4. The Alpine Garden Society Newsletter- email Fermi De Sousa
2.5. Gardeners day out 2016- RHSV- email
3. Correspondence OUT: Nil
Moved: Sally Leversha Seconded: Judy Uren Carried
4 Business :
4.1 Nominations for office bearers – upcoming AGM- notice has been placed in midland
express& Mail
Judy Uren discussed need for members to start considering stepping into these roles or
the club will not be able to function
Roles vacant will be: Secretary, President, Meet & Greet Manager, Trading Table
Manager & Supper Manager. Please see Sally Leversha- Secretary for nomination
forms
4.2 Dinner for AGM- list of who is to bring dessert or mains- circulated & list started
4.3 Cranbourne Gardens- Tuesday 31/5 numbers & bus arrangement- time to leave now
8.30am not 9.30am- keep posted for arrangements via bus/private car
4.4 Buda- retirement afternoon tea for Dianne Thompson- Sunday 5/6- donations for gift &
card to be signed- notify Buda asap for rsvp to event for catering purposes- thankyou
4.5 Peggy Munro- spoke re interested persons contacting her in wanting to participate in
“The Hedge”- September
4.6 Peter Rotterveel reminded people about “trading” of home propagated plants- he
suggested that if people bring say a 3 inch pot then they can trade/swap for another pot
the same size- we can trial this at our next meetings- great idea Peter! With the
opportunity for everyone to gain new plants & swap ideas.
Reminders:
Visit to Cloudehill in September? (day trip). Members to be advised re details.
Visit to Burnley Horticultural College on Wednesday 24th August. A guided tour has
been booked for 11.30 a.m. Participants to travel by public transport. (car parking is
very limited).
End of Year break-up. Members were canvassed as to venue and members preferences.
Tea-rooms in Botanical Gardens? Buda? Golf Club? Lunch or Evening? Suggestions
please to Judy Uren.
Members were asked to take cuttings and pot these up for the Garden Market in
November.
Members were advised that there was a supply of sheep manure available at $5 per bag
(delivered) Email [email protected].
Large amt of plastic pots at Sally Leversha’s if anybody wants them-various sizes
Reports. Treasurer: Alan Isaacs gave his report & said we had a healthy balance of $3,800
Moved.: Alan Isaacs Seconded. Gill King
Carried.
Trading Table: Heather Spicer announced how much produce we had for members to
choose from- many succulents, kaffir lime, parsley, etc were available to purchase
Guest Speakers- Jo Wedgwood & Pam Adams-a wonderful power point
presentation& hands on show of how to propagate plants, creating your own potting
mix & composting with worms was given with a very receptive audience asking many
questions-Jo pointed out that you can save hundreds of dollars by planning &
propagating- Many Thanks Jo & Pam
Next Meeting Due:
Tuesday 28th July 6pm Castlemaine Health Auditorium- fishnchip night. Videos’?????
Meeting Closed: 8:30
Castlemaine & District Garden Club Inc.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
TUESDAY, 26TH JULY, 2016
6.00pm
Wesley Hill Hall
Pyrenees Highway, Wesley Hill, Castlemaine
Members are requested to bring soup or deserts to share
Contact Judy Uren 5470 6462
PROXY FORM
Castlemaine & District Garden Club Incorporation No. A0007528E
Postal Address: PO Box 758, Castlemaine 3450 Vic
I hereby authorize
(Name) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
to serve as my proxy and to vote on my behalf at the Annual General
Meeting of the Castlemaine & District Garden Club Inc. to be held on
Tuesday, 26th July, 2016
This proxy is valid for all Matters voted on at the Meeting
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Signature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOMINATION FORM
The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 26th July, 2016.
Please use this form to nominate for positions for Office Bearers and
Committee for the coming year. Nominations close 12th July, 2016.
Castlemaine & District Garden Club Incorporation No. A0007528E
Postal Address: PO Box 758, Castlemaine 3450 Vic
Nomination Form
I hereby nominate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For the Office of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proposer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seconder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nominee’s Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOMINATION FORM
The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 26th July, 2016.
Please use this form to nominate for positions for Office Bearers and
Committee for the coming year. Nominations close 12th July, 2016.
Castlemaine & District Garden Club Incorporation No. A0007528E
Postal Address: PO Box 758, Castlemaine 3450 Vic
Nomination Form
I hereby nominate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For the Office of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proposer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seconder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nominee’s Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NEXT MEETING
28th June: General Meeting
“Fish ’n Chips”
6.00pm Hospital Auditorium
Friday 12th August
Committee Meeting
Judy Eastwood’s home
The Castlemaine & District Garden
Club meets at 7:30pm on the fourth
Tuesday of each month from
February to October at the Wesley
Hill Hall, Duke Street, Wesley Hill.
Membership of the Club is open to all
and costs $20 a year per household
($31 if you want a paper copy of
Mulch mailed to you). Mulch (in
colour) is available via email on
request. Subscriptions are payable at
the beginning of each calendar year.
New members are very welcome. The
Club distributes this monthly
newsletter to all members and other
like-minded organisations.
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