Keeping people safe
It’s vital we do everything we can to keep people safe in APS. Here are the common sense policies and procedures for us all to follow.
Seeds of hope for Banksia restoration projects
A plant seed typically contains an embryo, that develops into a new plant, and some food to support germination until the seedling can produce its own food. However, seeds may also contain microbes, like fungi and bacteria, that have no harmful effects but may actually be beneficial for plant growth!
For the photographers amongst us…
Bruce Usher graciously offered to photograph part of the Australian flora conference in September and then had this article published in the magazine Camera, about photographing Costa.
Flora tour of Blue Mountains
This was a tour of wonderful contrasts – majestic mountains and expansive valleys; towering Eucalypts and exquisitely tiny orchids; ancient aboriginal culture and the pathways of European explorers; windswept sandstone rock formations and hanging swamps and damp fern lined tracks with waterfall views.
Stony Range Spring Festival – 30th October 2022
Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden of Australian Bushland, situated in Dee Why, recently held its Spring Festival after a lapse of two years due to Covid, when it was able to celebrate 61 years since its official opening in 1961.
Southern Highlands get together – rain and shine!
About 70 people enjoyed a wonderful weekend in the Southern Highlands, hosted by the local group. We had the opportunity to visit members’ gardens, listen to a great talk by Dan Clarke, and visit a range of bush areas.
Regenerating Mount Gibraltar, Southern Highlands
Jane Lemann, a volunteer bush regenerator shared the journey of regeneration of Mount Gibraltar in the Wingecarribee area of the Southern Highlands. This is the story of 30 years of regeneration.
Surprising Sydney Flora Tour – September 2022
Sydney has the distinction and the fortune of being a major metropolis which is virtually surrounded by major national parks which enable residents and visitors to enjoy the natural environment without long distances to travel. This is Part 1 of the tour story.
Australian flora conference chatrooms on YouTube
At the recent Australian flora conference, we had a morning of chatrooms. Chat rooms are designed to give people a broad cross section of information and insights, in an informal and inclusive setting
Let’s show a bit of love for the lillipilli
The lillypilly is a familiar Australian plant we often grow in our gardens. It actually makes up the largest genus of trees in the world and has a history more interesting than we might imagine!
Eremophila study group – the next 50 years
What you may not know is that Eremophila, which also called Emu Bush, Poverty Bush, Turkey Bush or Fuchsia Bush, is the 5th most diverse native genus with around 240 described species and many more sub-species and hybrids.
Eremophila are widely distributed in areas of Australia with less than 250mm rainfall.
Where they keep plants – the story of the new Herbarium at the Australian Botanic Garden
When Captain Cook sailed along the east coast of Australia in 1770 his merry band of collectors loaded the Endeavour with a very large plant collection. So, what happened to the 800 specimens that Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander collected? Over the past 250 years these specimens together with many others that the thousands of botanists collected have eventually ended up in large publicly funded herbariums.
Australian flora conference – presentations available on YouTube
In September 2022, APS NSW hosted the Australian flora conference for ANPSA, focused on the past, present and future of Australian plants. There were many outstanding speakers during the conference and a good number of these presentations were recorded and are now available on our YouTube channel.
Australian flora conference – past present future
Every two years The Australian Native Plants Society of Australia (ANSPA) holds a conference which is hosted by each state in turn. In 2019 it was held in Albany, Western Australia and approximately 330 delegates attended. It was the turn of APS NSW last year, but due to COVID-19 was postponed until September this year where it was held at the Kiama Pavilion on the beautiful NSW south coast attracting approximately 360 people from all parts of NSW, interstate and overseas.
Happy 50th Anniversary to the Parramatta and Hills group
The Society for Growing Australian Plants (SGAP) was established in Melbourne, Victoria in March 1957 and these founding people pledged to ‘promote the establishment and breeding of Australian native plants for garden, park and farm’. How times have changed that initial aim.
Bush care, not for the faint hearted
Diedree Noss gave a most informative and interesting talk on the group, Friends of the Colo (FOC) at the August meeting of the North Shore district group.
Report on Pilliga and Warrumbungles pre-tour
A report on the Conference pre-tour to Warrumbungles and Pilliga, full of flora sightings and images.
Submission to Inland Rail Project – Narromine to Narrabri
Dan Clarke, on behalf of APS NSW recently submitted an objection to the proposed Inland Rail Project, which cuts through the Pilliga State Conservation Area and associated bushland areas. The project proposes removal of at least 1800 hectares – which is an area equivalent to 3 x 6 km of intact bushland.
ANPSA plant awards 2022
At the dinner on Tuesday September 14th, Margaret Matthews presented the Australian Plant Awards, to honour people who have made an outstanding contribution to the knowledge of Australian plants, whether members of the Society or not.
ANPSA Australian Flora Conference – Resources
We had a wonderful range of speakers at our recent Australian flora conference, held in Kiama in September. Here are a range of resources and links to explore.
Study group updates May – July 2022
Summaries from study group newsletters including correas, ferns, hakea, eucalyptus, grevillea and wallum and coastal heathland May – July 2022.
Conservation of Australian Terrestrial Orchids
At the Sutherland district group meeting in July 2022, Richard Dimon presented an incredibly fascinating, as well as, very practical talk on conservation efforts and methodologies for conserving listed threatened Australian orchids.
Illawarra Grevillea Park gets a new name
On Friday 12 August, Sutherland committee member Ralph Cartwright representing APS NSW, along with around 50 invited guests, attended the official opening of the now re-named Grevillea Park at Bulli.
Gardens of Stone management plan submissions
Members of the Gardens of Stone Alliance which includes Wilderness Australia (formerly Colong Foundation for Wilderness), Blue Mountains Conservation Society and Lithgow Environment Group, have worked and lobbied for many years to have the Newnes Plateau Area protected as a SCA.
How the use of our planet impacts our native trees
With climate change, urban cooling is a growing need. Governments are spending more on tree planting in public places but need to consider what species will thrive as global temperatures rise and whether adequate water is available to sustain plantings, points often omitted at the planning stage.
Identifying native plants – tips and resources
The following report is based on Rhonda’s talk to APS Sutherland Group in June 2022, and first appeared in the APS Sutherland Group July 2022 newsletter.
Grevilleas for pots and small gardens – talk by Peter Olde
On Sat 21st May, 2022 at the APS NSW quarterly gathering, Peter Olde gave a talk titled: Grevilleas for pots and small gardens.
Get propagating! Tips and insights from Harbour Georges River members
During the Harbour Georges River March 2022 meeting, there was some discussion of mini greenhouses and other ways to look after cuttings and seedlings
Conservation award to Wendy Grimm, North Shore Group
North Shore Group APS nominated Wendy Grimm for the APS NSW Conservation Award, which the AGM approved.
Award of life membership to John Aitken
Sutherland Group is very pleased to nominate John Aitken for his outstanding service to Australian native plants in several areas.
Dr Robert (Bob) Failes awarded Life membership of APS NSW
Dr Robert Failes has been a stalwart of the North Shore Group and a staunch supporter of their endeavours.
Royal Easter Show – showcasing Australian Native plant arrangements
At the 2022 Sydney Royal Easter Show, three of our district groups showcased a brilliant range of Australian Native Plant arrangements.
How can APS members be more effective in conservation efforts? A talk by Chris Gambian, CEO of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Conserving native plants has always been a core value of APS. In the recent APS NSW survey, members expressed that they want us to increase our focus on conservation. So on the 16th March 2022, at our quarterly APS NSW gathering, Chris Gambian was invited to come and talk to the group about how APS NSW can be more effective in conservation efforts.
APS members winning awards – Margaret Baker OAM
Blue Mountains APS member awarded OAM
“Oh my goodness, what have they done now?“ was Margaret Baker’s reaction when she opened the email bearing the very surprising message that she had received a 2022 OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia)
Grants for native plants projects
Do you have a project that will benefit native plants? APS NSW has a fund and may be willing to contribute to your project.
The project has to meet the society’s aims – namely, assist in growing, propagating, conserving or promoting native plants.
District Group highlights – 2021 part 2
Here are the highlights from APS NSW district groups from their activities in 2021. Last month, highlights from other groups were shared.