WILDPLANT PRESS
SUMMER 2009
Contents
Major changes to our tenancy at Clairvaux Community Centre took place this last quarter. Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre who had the responsibility to manage Clairvaux on a lease from DOCS and provide administrative services for the tenants ceased on September 30th this year. To manage a property of this size is a major responsibility as well as a major cost. The main workload of Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre has increased hence their need to quit this responsibility. DOCS has assured all the tenants that a 12 month period of grace has been granted whilst they decide the future of the centre and its tenants.
Our finances went through a doldrums period during the winter months and we were close to not having sufficient funds to meet our regular monthly financial commitments. It was decided to hold another fund raising event. Alison Hadfield, our chair person, proposed a monster garage sale be organised and this was held at Alison’s house in Wentworth Falls. This event raised $1149.05. The committee have decided that a major fundraising event would be held each year.
We had a winner of our raffle, the prize was $80 worth of plants, a year’s membership and a bag of mulch. We have another raffle with the same prize which will be drawn on 18th March 2010. Another raffle with the same prize is currently running and will be drawn at our Management Committee meeting on 18th March 2010.
We have a load of garden soil which is not suitable for native plants. We are selling bags at $5 each. We also have mulch available for purchase. These bags are $3, or if you have a trailer we will sell both soil and mulch by the trailer
We are on the look-out for a large bookcase for our office. The space we have available is 180 high by 120 wide. If anyone has anything approximating these measurements to donate, please let us know.
I hope all our members will enjoy the end of year break and think about expanding your native gardens. The nursery will close on Thursday 24th December and re-open on Tuesday 5th January 2010. We are desperate for members to help out with the watering over this time so please contact me at the office before December 24th or at home on 4782 9257
We have decided, in the interests of the environment, not to print the newsletter in colour and to return to our old format. However it can be seen in colour on the web. www.wildplantrescue.org.au
An exclusive offer to our members
“Native Plants of the Blue Mountains”, Margaret Baker and Robin Corringham for $16.00 (RRP $19.95)
Judy McLean
Jenny Carseldine and Irene Domes have been running their regular street stalls in Wentworth Falls and Blackheath. Market stalls at Blackheath Public School, run by Judy and Jenny, and Leura Primary School, run by Veronica and Anne, have been held regularly. Springwood Foundation Day, Winter Magic Festival, Footbeat Festival and Rhododendron Festival were all well patronised. These major festivals whilst a great contributor to our coffers are a lot of work.
The commitment of the volunteers who help at these events is greatly appreciated particularly as we have few active volunteers able and willing to help with these major events. Please let me know if you are available to roster for sales at the stalls or help with transport to and from the site, set up or dismantle and return to the nursery.
Over the last few months Anne and Stephen did some sponsorship drives. Unfortunately this did not net much of a result. However, Office Works in Penrith very nicely donated some much needed stationery, so a very big thank you to Office Works in Penrith and Rosie Hamilton their Adimin Officer who made it possible!
Our water tanks are serving the nursery well. We have used 61 megalitres since the middle of May. Of course now that the weather is hotting up we are going through it at a much faster rate but the weather is kind and they have still never been more than half empty.
We had a bit of a dire financial situation towards the end of winter, which is usually a bit of a lean period, but sales have picked up and we are on a slightly more secure footing now. We will also be helping the Conservation Society to supply the plants for the RTA at Wentworth Falls. This is a bit in the future though and we must struggle on until then! The outcome of this should mean that the nursery will be reasonably financially viable for quite a few years yet!
Well you may have seen all the Eucalyptus oreades along the highway at Katoomba/Leura. We have been growing these for quite some months and when they left the nursery they were looking gorgeous! There have been a few problems in putting them in by the looks of it but we did grow a few spares and hopefully the overall survival rate will be high!
We received a huge pile of mulch from Integral Energy from their tree pruning program under power lines. This has been very useful for around the nursery. It will take us some time to get through it but it is very much appreciated.
As mentioned by Judy we had a very successful garage sale and I would just like to remind members that we will have another one in October next year. The same weekend as Leura Fair. So remember to save your bits and pieces to donate to the cause. As it gets closer we will remind you again!
As you well know we are always on the look out for seed and summer is a very good time to collect grasses particularly; Microlaena stipoides, Joycea pallida, Echinopogon caespitosus, Poa sieberiana and Austrodanthonia tenuior. Please do not feel shy about collecting them for the nursery!!!
Don’t forget that the nursery is closed over the Christmas/New Years period! That is closed 25 December to 4 January. Open again on Tuesday 5 January.
Tanya M
Hello from the Rescue Coordinator!
Since the last newsletter rescues have been down somewhat. Perhaps something to do with the ‘sub-prime’ crisis!!
We managed to have another rescue at Mt Irvine – lots of Lilly Pillys. Once again most of our rescues have been in Katoomba though we have an ongoing one in Wentworth Falls. We have also had a small rescue at Brown Town Oval thanks to Sydney Water. Lots of little lovelies! And a small rescue at Mt Victoria.
The downturn in rescues coupled with the increased popularity of the rescues with the local gardening community means that we don’t have as many rescues and that part of the nursery is starting to look a little empty. Perhaps the readership has some suggestions?
The other thing is that the rescue team has been dwindling in numbers over the last six months and we really need some more volunteers for this. Though I must say we have the welcome addition of Alison, a new volunteer, who has become a very good rescuer.
Tanya McLean
Two Blue Mountains Plants which are flowering now
Leptospermum polygalifolium: Yellow Tea Tree
Yellow Tea Tree is a shrub to 3 m which has attractive and showy white to cream flowers in spring. It can be pruned after flowering to make a more bushy specimen. Planted in a sunny well drained, slightly damp position this shrub should flourish.
Tube stock are now available at our nursery at 14, Oak St., Katoomba.
Bauera rubioides : River or Dog Rose
These beautiful nodding pink flowers are now to be found in damp shady or sunny situations throughout the Mountains. Commonly known as the River or Dog Rose (although not really a rose at all) it flowers mainly during summer and autumn. The plant may grow to as much as 2m tall but is usually less.
Tube stock is now available at our nursery at 14, Oak St., Katoomba.
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Our new email address
Blue Mountains Wildplant Rescue Service
14 Oak St., Katoomba 2780
Tel: 02 4782 6233