FRIENDS OF SOUTH SURREY PARK

NOVEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Spotted Pardalote which can be heard in the park.

The Committee of Friends of South Surrey Park would like to wish everyone a safe, peaceful and happy holiday season.  We thank you for your involvement during the year and look forward to another enjoyable time with you next year.

Sunday Working Bee - 25th November 10.00  - 12 noon

Our next and last working bee for 2018 will be weeding and/or mulching.  We will meet at the Information Board and then Peter and Maggie will direct us to the places most in need of attention.   It is a large park and Tuesday Toilers keep weeds under control but after our late rains there are sure to be plenty of vigorous weeds!

After we have finished our rewarding morning's  work we will celebrate our year in the park with lunch at Jenine and David's house.   It will be a barbecue and everyone can bring their own meat or vegie burgers to cook on the barbecue plus a salad or desert to share.   Also bring whatever drink you enjoy with your meal.   We will have an esky at the site if you need to keep your food cool or you can leave things at Jenine's and David's house before the working bee.

Contact person is Peter Campbell - 0409 417 504

Sunday Working Bee Report - 27th November

Ten friends turned up at the playground at ten o'clock then dispersed along the creek from the little bridge.   Some people tackled buttercups which have really filled up the creek near the little bridge; some people tackled oak seedlings and Charles concentrated on sticky weed.
We finished with morning tea and a discussion about the very bare area stretching down from Anderson street to the creek. When it rains, water rushes down across the ground from the path and Anderson street.   The topsoil has been washed away and the ground is compacted and bare.

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Tuesday Toilers - Breakup on 11th December
Tuesday Toilers will be finishing their work for this year on Tuesday, 11th December.  They will be having a celebration lunch, as they have in previous years.   Details will be finalised closer to the day.
Work will resume on Tuesday, 5th February, 2019 at 10.00 a.m. meeting at the Scout Hall shed.

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General News

Adrian has given us this reference about the Bradley sisters method of bush regeneration. They focused on clearing weeds from around established native plants rather than clearing large areas of invasive plants.   This gives the native plants a chance to spread thus reducing the opportunity for weeds to re-establish.
Click here to read an interesting account of their methods.

Maranoa Gardens is well worth a visit at this time.   They post photos of various plants on their Facebook page. Click here to see it.   We have also been there to see the Lord Howe Island Wedding  lily which was flowering recently.   Each flower lasts for one day then curls up and falls off.   There are more buds on each stem. To read more about this flower, click here.

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In the Park this month -Correa reflexa

Fran and Maggie have grown some Correa reflexa seedlings over winter and they have been successfully planted in parts of the park.   We have some large Correas which were planted years ago which are doing very well near the big bridge.

Below is some information from Australian Native Plants Society web page. You can also read more from Australian National Botanic Gardens page here.

"Correa reflexa is the most widespread member of the genus and the most variable. It is typically a small shrub to about 1 metre in height but prostrate forms and forms reaching 3 metres are also known. Leaves often have conspicuous oil glands on their surface and may be covered with short hairs. The leaves are 10 to 50 mm long and oval shaped. In some forms the leaves bend back against the stem giving the appearance of water stress.

The flowers are bell shaped and up to 40mm long. They may be pale green, red, red with yellow or cream tips or a number of other variations. The flowers produce nectar and attract honey eating birds. Flowering is usually winter to early spring.....

A well drained position in semi shade is the favoured position for this species.

In common with most members of the Rutaceae, propagation of C.reflexa from seed is difficult but cuttings usually strike readily from current season's growth. Propagation from cuttings is mandatory to maintain selected forms and cultivars." (http://anpsa.org.au/c-refl.html)

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Membership of Friends of South Surrey Park
You can join in the work of the group and contribute to running expenses by becoming a member.     If you would like to become a Friend of South Surrey Park you can find the application for membership form at the end of this newsletter.

FRIENDS OF SOUTH SURREY PARK INC ABN 71 979 859 196.
Registration Number A 0032389N.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP TO 30th June, 2019.
NAME:............................................................................
ADDRESS: ...................................................................................POSTCODE:........
PHONE (HOME).................................................(MOBILE):........................................
EMAIL:...................................................................................................................
MEMBERSHIP $15/$30/$100: + $ DONATION:=                $...................TOTAL..............
A single subscription is $15, or $30 for a household, or $100 corporate/group. (This covers our insurance with Victorian Landcare and some expenses). It is payable to Hon Treasurer, Lyn Read, 6/136  Through Road, Vic, 3127 telephone 0408 377 668 or direct deposit to our Bendigo Bank account, BSB 633 000, A/c No 1205 19285. Remember to put your name in the ‘reference’ box so we’ll know you’ve paid.