March Lilygram

 The Friends of Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens 
‘Connect – Promote – Protect’

Contact Us: Website: www.fbbgsa.org.au Email: events@fbbgsa.org.au
FBBGSA PO Box 39 Sherwood QLD 4075 ACN: 607 589 873 ABN: 20 607 589 873


Three new Board Directors

Welcome and congratulations to the new Directors of the Friends of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens’s (FBBGSA) Board – Julie Lumsdale, Mary Jo Katter and Robyn (Rob) Mills!  All three appointments were approved at the AGM on Wednesday 29 January 2025 to replace the previous Board – Annette Irish, Arno King and Kat Pearson. Thank you for your efforts in the past Annette, Arno and Kat and we hope you enjoy a little more downtime now.

Both Mary Jo, who was one of the original Directors and served for 4 years on the Board and Julie, a Board member for 1 year after Mary Jo stood down, are paid Lifetime members.  Rob joined in 2019 and was involved with the Propagating group before it folded approx 4 years ago.  She is a great traveller enjoying visiting Botanic Gardens and Reserves around Australia (watch Lilygram for some highlights of her travels) And please submit your own!  All three Directors are committed to the Botanic Gardens and aim to bring some new and interesting events from now until the next AGM in September 2025.

Our website for the FBBGSA is currently in process of significant change to reflect the current activities. Our objectives of Protect, Promote and Connect still resonate with the group and will stay.  If you would like to know more about our new Directors check out the new website www.fbbgsa.org.au hopefully modified early March.  Thanks to Jim Dobbin for spending many hours with Mary Jo to affect these changes.
To the loyal band of members thank you so much for your commitment and time to assist the new Board with ideas and actions with short time frames. To all current members please encourage others to join the FBBGSA so our program can expand and offer member only access to walks, talks, educational material in person and onlinein the near future.  We have listened to the voices of younger people too and plan to included weekend and/or online activities to cater more for diverse needs.  At any time we are open to ideas from you all – contact Julie on 0455 512 302 or via email Secretary@fbbgsa.org.au


CONSEQUENCES OF CYCLONE ALFRED by Julie

As I am putting together this portion of the Lilygram I am listening to the rain pouring down outside. I am sure you are all familiar with the sound. All members of the Board hope you are all personally safe, your home is secure and your garden … well that is for another day even if it is getting a drink after a dry period.

I was interested to note that, at the same time, across my computer came a message about selecting secateurs. It does seem a little inappropriate right now though soon enough this will be a significant job to tackle. So I selected the Choice website 2025 (https://www.choice.com.au/outdoor/gardening/tools/buying-guides/secateurs) for my short review on this subject.

Selecting secateurs is subject to the job to be undertaken :–

  • bypass ones work like scissors and good for cutting softer, stringier living stems
  • anvil ones work like a guillotine and good for thicker, woodier stems or
  • powered blade cordless ones may suit people with weak hands and/ or arthritis; the weight of them needs to be assessed though.

Features to consider include cutting diameter, left handed or ambidextrous needs with a central safety catch, size of hands, colours (yes I am a girl but this time colour is important so you don’t lose them), safety catch ease, pivot or the bolt holding the two blades together for adjustments, blade coatings (rustproof and regular maintenance with oiling), replaceable parts especially the blades, no sharp points, and ratchet or gear mechanism for hard wood pruning.

Maintenance includes sharpening them on a small oil stone; cleaning them (after each job) of sap with soapy water, dry them and then oil them; respect their capabilities – too big a branch for their size may result in damage; and pulling them apart to oil the moving parts.

Why not do some maintenance now? And then watch your plants grow tall after the rain!

Do you want more detail or prefer a video or podcast? Tell us and we will!! Send your requests to secretary@fbbgsa.org.au


Do you know how to identify Eucalypts in your area in Brisbane?

Did you know Eucalypt includes Eucalyptus, Angophora and Corymbia; and almost all of them, (approx. 800) are native to Australia?

So how do you identify each type of Eucalypt in the wild or in this case in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens?

Bring in an expert! Professor Rod Fensham, from Uni of Qld School of the Environment and sometimes at the Qld Herbarium, has published a book called ACE Guide to Eucalypts: Brisbane (which he will have for sale for $20 cash on the day).

Anyone who is interested in attending can meet

On Sunday 16 March 2025 at 9am to start the walk/talk using the book as a reference.

We will meet at the Lookout shelter near the Bunya trees

The walk/ talk will take approx. 1 hour
This walk is subject to safety (as determined by Botanic Gardens Staff) and weather conditions.

We will then convene at the Botanic Gardens Café meeting room around 10am

Rod will talk about his recent research into the indigenous connections with Eucalypts then.

Cool water and a platter of fruit and pastries will be available to attendees.

If you wish to have tea and coffee please see Mary Jo at the Lookout Shelter before the walk/talk at 9am.

The event will be free for current Friends of Brisbane Botanic Gardens members – please check your membership is paid before attending and also indicate your attendance through the electronic system.
To register please click here

Herbarium and Guide staff will be attending and we ask for a gold coin donation for costs at the beginning of the walk. A sign on sheet will be available for insurance purposes.

Can everyone please RSVP asapto Secretary@fbbgsa.org.au for catering purposes.


Sherwood Arboretum 100 year celebration and
National Eucalypts Day 23 March 2025

Have you been to the Sherwood Arboretum recently?  Big changes have occurred in recent times in preparation for the 100 year celebration!  Come and join us!!
The Friends of Brisbane Botanic Gardens has been invited to have a stall at the community event from 2pm – 5pm on Sunday 23 March 2025.
Can anyone supply small pots of plants – herbs, vegies, shrubs, grasses, flowering plants etc for this event?  Please have the name of the plant, type of plant e.g climber/shrub/herb etc, conditions for planting e.g. sunny/filtered light etc and place these details on a sticker on the pot.  Check that the plants are not invasive nor weeds – see https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds as a reference.  Could you please deliver your plants on Thursday 20 March before 10am to contact Julie via Secretary@fbbgsa.org.au.
Mr Fothergill’s Seeds have generously supplied us with seed packets (use by dates are August 2025) to give out to the attendees – adults and children.
We require helpers to attach a Business card with our name and QR code (for access to our website) on both the pots and the seed packets prior to the event – date Thursday 20 March at 10am contact Julie via Secretary@fbbgsa.org.au   
Also volunteers are required to assist on the stall for 30 mins to 1 hour on the day. We estimate 30 volunteers will be required (set up and pack up as well as during the event) in total.  At this stage the number of attendees is unknown.  We would like a minimum of 3 people on the stall at all times. 
Drinks will be supplied and we hope to supply an umbrella for cover.  We do have white Tshirts with the Brisbane Lily design for volunteers to wear and keep. 
Please RSVP to Secretary@fbbgsa.org.au if you are interested in supplying plants; attaching business cards; and / or volunteering on the stall on 23 March and a preferred time slot. Please also advise your size for the Tshirt.   
Any questions please contact Julie on 0455 512 302.


Opportunities exist for Kitchen Garden Volunteers!

Have you ever wanted to have a Vegie Garden? Here is your chance to learn from the experts!

When : NOW – Kitchen Garden volunteering operates from March to October each year; First Wednesday of each month

Where: Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha Kitchen Garden and occasionally City Botanic Gardens

Times: Hot months 7am – 9am; cooler months (say April/ May to August/ September) 9am – 11am

What to wear: Long pants, long sleeved shirts, enclosed shoes, hat (and bring your own secateurs)

What do volunteers do? Weeding, seedling planting, some pruning, fertilizing and composting. City Botanic Garden can be tidying up plants and some help with planting; each month is different!

What pre-requisites are needed? Must be a member of Friends of Brisbane Botanic Gardens (for insurance purposes) and need to complete a Training program on line for Brisbane City Council requirements.

How do volunteers benefit? Friendship with like minded people, hints and tips on vegie gardening, social time with a cuppa at the end, fitness and longevity!

Want to hear more? Call Patty on 0499 097 084


Garden Tips for March (from Patty)

  • Feed Camellias with 1 tablespoon Epsom salts to 9 litres water to enhance blooms
  • Feed Cliveas with Potash
  • Prepare pots for Freesias – use good quality potting mix with added Potash
  • Hints for tomatoes – PH of around 6.5; calcium improves flavour, aids bloom end rot and helps minimise fruit fly impact; space plants to allow ventilation; plant deeply which allows extra root growth from the stem so enables the plant to access more nutrients. Plant tomatoes around Easter in SE Qld as heat and humidity is less.Watch for more Kitchen Garden tips in Future Lilygrams.

Fire Ant Update February 2025

Fire ant biosecurity zones have changed and expanded to new areas including a number on the Sunshine Coast. Please check the areas so you can be aware of risks and implement the guidelines. A recent report of an organisation transporting turf from a fire ant area into NSW resulted in negative publicity (and possible fines). Any handling, storing and moving of materials (soil, hay or other mulch, green waste/ mulch, manure/ compost, quarry materials/ aggregates, turf, potted plants, they can even raft on water) from a fire ant site is considered in the guidelines. Check them out – see below.

Any sighting of fire ants (report within 24 hours) call 132 ANT (132268) or visit www.fireants.org.au – a photo is useful for online reporting.


Do you have excess chillies after the wet and then dry times? The following recipe from Homegrown: A year of growing, cooking and eating by Paul West (available in Brisbane City Council Libraries 635.099 WES) may help to preserve and use them on “almost everything” (p74)!

Quick pickled chillies

Ingredients

  • 1 kg chillies of your choice, sliced lengthways
  • 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
  • 250ml (1 cup) white vinegar
  • 115g (half cup) castor sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Method

Sterilise 4 x 250ml jars and lids – preheat the oven to 120 degrees C. Wash the jars and lids in hot soapy water, then arrange on a large baking tray. Place in the oven for 20 mins, then allow to cool completely before filling with your choice of produce or preserve. (p 251)

Distribute the chilli evenly among the jars and add the coriander seeds and peppercorns.

In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugar, salt and 250ml (1 cup) of water and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove the pan from the heat, let the mixture cool for a couple of minutes, then pour the warm liquid into the jars, making sure that the chillies are fully submerged but leaving at least a 1 cm gap at the top of the jars.

Screw the lids on and place the jars in the fridge, where they will keep, unopened, for up to 3 months. To make it shelf stable …place a tea towel in the bottom of a deep saucepan, then place the jars on top of the tea towel and fill the saucepan with water, covering the jars by at least 5 cm. Bring the water to the boil and boil for 10 mins, then kill the heat and allow to cool to room temperature in the pan. Preserved this way…will be stable at room temperature for at least 1 year. Once opened, store in the fridge and consume within 1 month (p 251).

You can eat the chillies straight away, but their flavour will improve after a few days. Once opened, store in the fridge and consume within 2 weeks.

Makes 4 x 250ml jars


Do you want to Travel...”by Rob”

In September 2023, my partner and I visited Cranbourne Gardens – a wonderful botanic garden south of Melbourne that’s a favourite of ours. We caught a train and then a free shuttle bus to the gardens (this can be organised – details on their website).
It was a wet and windy day – there were very few other visitors venturing out of the cafe area, and we thoroughly enjoyed our walk around.

There are a number of Gardens that make up Cranbourne, including a Water-Saving garden, a forest garden, stringybark, ironbox, “weird and wonderful”…. From the start at the spectacular Red Sand Garden, a rewarding stroll reveals so much about our wonderful native plants.

From the website: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/cranbourne-gardens/ :
Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is made up of the Australian Garden, an award-winning, contemporary botanic garden, and the surrounding 300 hectares of remnant native bushland. Cranbourne Gardens is recognised as a site of State significance for plant and wildlife conservation, home to over 25 endangered or rare and threatened species.    

Completed in October 2012, the Australian Garden was transformed from a sand mine and scrub to a botanic garden of international standing. Designed by Victorian landscape architects, T.C.L., the Australian Garden aims to show visitors the diversity, beauty and functionality of Australian native plants.

The remnant bushland at Cranbourne Gardens is actively managed to control the number of non-indigenous plants and exotic weeds. 


Late News Segment

Some news from the recent past you may be interested in:-

  • Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens has started a trial display bed for dahlias, in conjunction with the Qld Dahlia Society (QDS) in early October. QDS supplied the tubers, plant signs and soil. Go check them out! You can find them below the Arid Region in the Knowledge Trail – beside the hops frame. Send us photos of your favourites!
  • City Botanic Gardens Volunteer Guides have been going for the past 35 years as at September 2024. Local Councillors Cr Vicki Howard, Central Ward and Cr Greg Adermann, Pullenvale Ward where there for the celebration. And a lychee tree was selected to be planted for the celebrations – lychee tree was one of the first plantings in the BG all those years ago. Have you checked out Brisbane Botanic Treasures on our website – It has special praise from a significant person in the Botanic Gardens as “the best reference”. If you know anyone who wants to assist with updating this site, maybe someone with a history background or interest please encourage them to be in touch with Julie on  via Secretary@fbbgsa.org.au
  • Sherwood Arboretum’s 100 year celebrations will be on 23 March 2025 and in preparation for this two significant events occurred last year. Firstly in late August 2024 a nature inspired playground was opened with fun things for the children like musical deck bells, kaleidoscope, racing along a seed run with seed, and a bird call soundboard. Then in October 2024 the Arboretum accepted delivery of an 8-tonne Narrow-leaved Bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris) from Clontarf – it is estimated to be 40-50 years old. A few older plants, some over 150 years old Grass trees(Xanthorrhoea glauca) were planted on the Eucalypts Ridgeline. What a change these additions must make to Sherwood Arboretum – go and have a look or come to the celebrations from 2pm onward on 23 March! Any photos of the Arboretum or the celebrations would be welcome for publication of the next Lilygram! Send them to Secretary@fbbgsa.org.au.

    You nay have noticed to return email address for this Lilygram
    Is directorservices@fbbgsa.org.au , This is incorrect and is
    being changed. Please return email to secretary@fbbgsa.org.au
    Thank You