Study group updates May 2025 – June 2025

Study Group Highlights – June 2025

The latest Grevillea Study Group newsletter (#131) highlights the mixed impact of WA’s drought, reports on successful grafting trials, and notes cyclone damage at Hunter Botanic Gardens.

The twisted gum – an Alpine Ash in New Zealand

An iconic Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) stands proudly in Christchurch Botanic Gardens, estimated to be over 100 years old. To preserve this majestic tree, recent conservation work has included mulching and the installation of a raised platform to reduce soil compaction caused by visitors. These efforts aim to extend the life of this beloved specimen for future generations to enjoy.

Study group updates Dec 2024 – April 2025

Recent highlights from the endangered Isopogon buxifolius, grevillea conservation efforts, success with container-grown natives, advances in grafting techniques, and hardy hakeas for diverse climates.

District Group 2024 Highlights

With 19 local groups around NSW, there is always a lot of regional activity – bushwalks, meetings, talks, garden visits, plant sales, bush care and propagation. Here are some highlights from 2023.

Blue Mountains adventure

The number one priority of our trip to the Blue Mountains was to hear Liz Benson’s talk about the Wollemi Pine at the Wentworth Falls History Centre. While we were there, as well as absorbing the views around the falls, we wanted to do some plant exploring on Kings Tableland, and also take a look at the location of Grevillea ‘Lawson Queen’, discovered by Pip Gibian in 1988.

Study group updates Dec 2023 – April 2024

Keep up to date with what our study groups are doing, with updates from Eremophila, Acacia, Hakea, Grevillea, Australian Plants for Containers, Fern, Goodeniaceae, Australian Food Plants study groups.

Study group updates June – November 2023

Keep up to date with what our study groups are doing, with updates from Acacia, Australian Plans for Containers, Grevillea, Eremophila, Isopogon & Petrophile, Ferns and Hakea groups.

Weekend away up north

On Saturday 27th May, eight members of the Parramatta and Hills district group congregated at the country property, ‘Parragilga’, owned by Phil Baird, one of the members. It is in an area called The Branch, north of both the Hunter and Karuah Rivers, and east of Buckets Way, the road to Gloucester.

Healthy soil, healthy garden

Soil may seem plain to the eye but it’s a complex ecosystem in itself – if it’s a healthy soil, anyway. Maintaining a diverse range of soil microbes is important for soil to remain healthy and support good plant growth. The most practical way for gardeners to keep soil and plants healthy is by adding both organic matter and inorganic fertiliser.

Australian Plants: Autumn 2020 and Winter 2020 issues

Two issues of the Australian Plants journal were posted to members in August. The Autumn 2020 issue is on bushfires and the Winter 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the Endeavour voyage and the botanical legacy of the visit to Botany Bay.

How to see the enewsletter images in your emails

Want to see all the wonderful pictures of gardens and flowers when you open emails like the APS NSW monthly enewsletter? Follow these simple steps to make sure your email system knows to Load remote content or Display external images.