Green Space Our Place - Our Volunteers Voice - Issue 23 June 2019

Green Space Our Place

Our Volunteers Voice

Green Space Our Place

Nursery propagates 20,000 trees

Tree planting aplenty

Honey & beekeeping seminar ISSUE 23 JUNE 2019

Front Page: Sean Browne planting at Barron Waters Park tree planting event in March.

Back Page: Black-necked Stork - male in front with female (yellow eyes) behind.

In this issue: • From the Editor - Page 2 • Volunteer Profile - Vito Husak Page 3 • Community spirit at Barron Waters Park tree planting - Pages 4-5 • Stratford Nursery volunteers program produces over 20,000 trees this year - Pages 6-7 • Volunteer Comment - Shirley Tassi - Page 7 • McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery news - Pages 8-9 • The Living, breathing roots of mangroves - Pages 10-11 • Around the Gardens - Mutiny on the Bounty - Page 12 • Rainy Mountain dog park receives a revamp - Page 13 • How to identify Tropical Queensland’s four cormorants Pages 14-15 • Feathered Friends - Page 15 • How to use the Seed Library Page 16 • Perfect time to work in the vegie patch - Page 17 • Volunteer Comment - Kea Lewry Page 18 • Where have all the Christmas Beetles gone? - Pages 18-19 • Slime Moulds - Page 20 • Did you know? - Page 20 • Volunteer engagement opportunities - Page 21 • Gapforce returns in 2019 - Page 22 • June honey and beekeeping seminar - Page 23 Editor - Volunteers Supervisor, Louisa Grandy Proof readers - Michelle Walkden and volunteers Sandy Long, Jenn Muir Contributors - Botanic Gardens Curator David Warmington; Volunteers Barry Muir, Jenn Muir, Dr David Rentz AM, Peter Shanahan, Lorraine 2Smith, Tom Collis and John Peter.

From the Editor Welcome, Before I give a quick overview of all our ‘happenings’ I’d like to say a warm welcome to our newest team member, Sarah Olds, who will be supporting our existing activities and giving us the opportunity to introduce new ideas and groups.

We’ve had a busy few months with plenty of tree planting projects such as the wonderful communitySarah Olds supported Barron Waters Park event in March (see Pages 4-5) and the Rainy Mountain dog park morning (see Page 13).

The Stratford Nursery volunteers have been extremely active this year with over 20,000 seeds propagated (see Pages 6-7). Well done! An incredible achievement.

McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery is now being supervised by our team and meeting regularly the first Tuesday of the month with new members joining in the light activities that assist with preservation of this historic site. Find out more on Pages 8-9.

Thank you to our volunteers who, although, here for only a short time, were wonderful contributors to the program and gave us very positive feedback - see Pages 7 & 18.

Have you always wanted to have a community produce garden? If so, read on Page 17 how to apply for a ‘Pocket Garden’ in your neighbourhood. Or how about your own beehive? - see more details Page 23.

If you would like to take part in some fun activities with like-minded people as well as supporting the environment, give us a call. We would love to hear from you.

Louisa

Louisa Grandy

When meeting Vito Husak, one cannot help but be captured by his charming personality with his strong Croatian accent mixed with Australian colloquialisms having lived here from the age of 22..

“After school and working on my family farm in the vineyards which I loved, I decided I didn’t want to do National Service in Croatia and wanted to jump the border into Italy. I didn’t make it as 100kms away from the border someone tipped them off and I ended up in the ‘slammer’ for three months, where they tried to brainwash me about Communism,” he laughs. “I’m laughing now, but it wasn’t a laughing matter back then.”

After prison Vito was employed in a “good job in a water laboratory”. During this time he had to complete National Service. In those days the Government changed the law giving the employer rights to dismiss their employees after completing this Service. This resulted in the loss of his employment and accommondation as his home and job were a combined contract.

“Funnily enough, during my National Service I was stationed at the Italian coast so knew it very well and where the best place was to cross. So after losing my job and not wanting to be a burden on the family, as there were no jobs in the country town, I decided to leave Croatia, and jump the border. I had considered applying for a passport but I couldn’t get the police clearance having spent the time in prison!”

As soon as he crossed the border, he went to the Trieste police station and was considered a political refugee.

“I spent one month in Trieste, a month close to Rome and then given an opportunity of where I could be sent and I immediately said Australia.

“My first impression of Australia was a view of Darwin, our first stop. It was 11am and all I could see was red soil, flooding everywhere - must have been the wet season. When stepping from the plane and blanketed by the humidity, I questioned my decision - had I made a mistake as it looked like I’d picked hell?”

“We then flew into Sydney and I had the best impression - there were so many shops - how good is that!”

Vito attended English speaking school and because he’d been taught German in school, found it easy to pick up the English “in bits and pieces”. However he said he learnt a lot of other words just by living here - “the dictionary didn’t help me at all!”, he laughs.

“After a couple of jobs I’d heard there was better pay and conditions elsewhere and got a job at GMH Holden on the production line and then received a four-year apprenticeship in panel beating.

“There were so many different nationalities working together.

I remember us sharing our different cigarettes in the break and comparing each other’s and avoiding the ‘crap’ brands.” he smiles.

‘You had to rely on the expressive body language a lot of time with the limited understanding of each other’s language and we

Vito Husak

still understood one another,” he laughs.

Vito originally lived in a hostel, but soon realised it was cheaper to rent a unit and talks about his first time shopping at Coles with his flatmate.

“There was so much variety but we stuck with what we knew how to cook - beans and sausages. We were also used to the corner shop in Europe selling everything and selected, what we thought, was wine from the Coles’ shelf only to realise when we got home and sat down for a drink to discover the wine was off (vinegar),” he laughs.

Once again, Vito heard of better pay and conditions elsewhere and left GMH. “You could find 10 jobs in one day back then, so much work with no need for the dole so I always had work.”

Vito worked in various jobs and ended up in Cairns 40 years ago panel beating.

“I loved everything about Australia, the security and freedom.

The best part of working in Australia was the weekly wage and being paid ‘on the dot’, especially coming from a system where the pay was on a monthly basis and always full of excuses for not being paid on time. I always had a dollar in my pocket. I would never take this for granted as I’ve experienced such a vastly different lifestyle.”

Vito says the only thing he truly missed was the European lush nature conditions.

“Even today after living in the dry condtions of Australia for so long, I love to return to my country town and take long walks through the fields, trees and streams. One of the locals pulled me aside one day and said ‘Vito, only the poor people walk, we all drive now’,” he laughs. “It may be an easier lifestyle now but we are missing out on the connection. I pack my bag with a couple of beers and a snack and spend hours in nature and let my brain think nothing. You can learn so much about nature by just sitting and watching. Before volunteering, I went to Cattana Wetlands to walk, and saw your sign.”

Vito brings a wonderful contribution to the Jabirus program and always has something to share - a story or veggies or fruit from his garden.

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Community spirit at Barron

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Waters Park tree plantings The Barron Waters Park transformation began with two tree plantings organised

by Green Space Our Place during March. We were very pleased with the community spirit and support from both our program’s volunteers, local Cr Jessie Richardson and community with about 30 people attending each event.

Together we have planted over 70 advanced flowering trees to enhance the park, and this is only the beginning.

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Stratford Nursery volunteer program produced Since July 2018, Green Space Our Place Stratford Nursery volunteers have tubed up over 20,800 trees. They have also prepared and planted numerous seed trays with the region’s native plant seeds they have collected and identified.

Stratford Nursery volunteers meet each Thursday morning (9am-12noon) to propagate native trees for revegetation in the Cairns Regional Council area.

Ryan Zihrul, the nursery manager, teaches and oversees the nursery techniques of preparing and sowing seed, ‘tubing up’ which involves potting seedlings from seed trays into pots, and weeding and lifting the trees in the nursery. Lifting involves trimming up the lower leaves to allow water to access the pot from the overhead sprinklers.

There is plenty of conversation around the potting bench as these tasks are performed, and it is common for a group of volunteers to tube up 1,000 trees in a morning’s work.

Walking into the nursery, you are struck by the abundance of healthy tube stock, just waiting to go out for orders from Landcare groups and Council to be planted in revegetation projects.

Council’s horticulturalist Ryan and Stratford Nursery volunteer Sharren with Black Bean seed just beginning to strike.

These revegetation projects help the environment by creating more habitat for native animals, food for birds, bees and insects from nectar and seeds, and stabilising creek banks and, in time as they mature, reducing light for potential weeds.

Not-for-profit land care groups such as Tree Force and Mulgrave Landcare plant trees from the nursery at their weekend tree planting events, providing volunteering opportunities to anyone interested.

Joel potting up trees at the nursery bench.

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Robyn potting up tree seedlings.

over

20,000 trees this year

VOLUNTEER COMMENT

Shirley Tassi Thank you all very much for giving me the opportunity to volunteer with Green Space Our Place. It has truly been a privilege.

Leslie enjoys his time potting up tree seedlings at Stratford Nursery.

I am honoured to have met such kind, intelligent, hard working and charismatic people like you guys.

I have learnt a lot and I really enjoyed my time with Green Space Our Place. I will take back with me not only the knowledge I have gained but stories of my adventure with you all. I have never seen so much of Cairns as I have when with you guys.

What you do is amazing. Keep up the good work.

Once again, thank you all so much for the opportunity and the kindness you’ve shown me. I really appreciate it.

A well-deserved break and time to socialise.

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McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery

John and Delma weeding and pruning the entrance Croton hedge.

Honouring past communities through conservation The land at the corner of Grove and McLeod Streets, 14 nationalities. The sense of community spirit by these Cairns was gazetted as a cemetery reserve in 1877 becoming pioneers, many of whom had no family in Australia, can be the second cemetery in Cairns. seen by reading what remains of the headstones.

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It is the oldest surviving cemetery in Cairns and is the final The headstones themselves provide a rich history with resting place of the earliest residents of the Cairns region; their epitaths, adornments and shapes, each with a special 2501, according to the burial register. The first recorded meaning and terminology. burial was in October 1887 and the last in September 1949.

The cemetery has a 19th century layout, meaning there The Cemetery became known as the McLeod Street are specific areas for various denominations, and therefore Cemetery after the opening of the new Cairns Cemetery in provides an understanding of the cultures and customs of 1916 and then officially named as McLeod Street Pioneer the time.

Cemetery.

In August 1976 McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery was listed At the beginning, records were a bit sketchy or have been on the Register of the National Trust of Queensland and lost which has resulted in some residents’ burial sites being in March 1978 the cemetery was listed as Cairns Cemetery unknown. Sadly, due to the passage of time and use of (Old) on the Register of the National Estate. materials unsuited to our climate, many of the graves have After the Queensland History Act was passed in 1992, the deteriorated.

Cemetery was assessed and listed in August 1992 on the Everyone who is buried in the McLeod Street Pioneer Queensland Heritage Register.

Cemetery was important to the growth and development Local history and heritage are important aspects of any of the Cairns region.

Five of the early mayors are buried their along with community, and by caring for and conserving places such musicians, cooks, housewives, World War 1 soldiers, as cemeteries we honour those past communities and miners and labourers with 17 religious denominations and those of the future.

Would you like to volunteer at one of Cairns’ most historic locations – the McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery?

The Friends of Pioneer Cemetery and volunteers meet on the first Tuesday of the month from 7am to 9am to take part in general maintenance, followed by a time to socialise and learn about the Cemetery’s history.

The group meets with the aims of being able to 'care' for the cemetery and bring awareness to the community of this heritage place.

Last year the Friends group, along with Council staff, began meeting regularly to enhance the area. This year, Green Space Our Place are providing further support with one of the team members supervising to further these aims.

Tasks include: • Basic gardening around the entry hedge - remove weeds and hidden rubbish and prune foliage from around pathway lights; • Removing weeds and debris around the historic grave sites, rake stones, brush/sweep to remove clinging debris; • Plinths - clear dirt away so they are not buried; • Under trees - remove leaves and seeds from between exposed roots; • Remove built-up soil under park benches.

Delma pruning the entrance hedge.

John raking around gravestones.

Jo-Ann and Gaiyan raking leaves.

Peter cleaning around the gravestones.

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Exploring our mangroves

The living, breathing roots of mangroves Mangroves are found along many parts of the foreshore of Cairns and lots of people would be familiar with the strange looking stilt roots that support the trees in the soft mud. However, the densely packed roots prevent entry into the mangroves, making them a place of mystery where few have ventured.

The weird-shaped roots of mangroves are an adaptation to the extreme conditions encountered in the intertidal zone – an environment where the roots are regularly immersed in saltwater, and the soils poorly aerated. To maintain basic functions all plants need air, and the specialised roots of mangroves contain spongy tissue and hundreds of lenticels – pores that allow air to enter a plant. When their roots are exposed at low tide they literally ‘breathe in’ air.

There are several different forms of mangrove roots. Grey Mangrove, Avicennia marina has a system of snorkel roots that extend many metres from the canopy of the plant. When exposed at low tide the aptly named snorkel roots draw air into the plant. The Large-leafed Orange Mangrove, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza sends ‘kneeshaped’ roots above the surface to aerate the plant. The Looking-glass Mangrove, Heritiera littoralis develops long meandering buttress roots covered with lenticels while some mangroves such as Rhizophera have aerial roots growing from the lower branches in addition to an extensive stilt root system.

Mangrove roots provide habitat for numerous marine creatures. At high tide fish (including many juvenile species) seek cover from predators in the tangled mass of roots. When the tide recedes the roots provide a protective cover for crabs as they emerge from their burrows to feed. Birds such as the Mangrove Heron often perch on the stilt roots keeping an eye out for a tasty mudskipper or unwary fiddler crab.

Mangrove roots support the trees in the soft mud, holding the mud together and in the process reduce erosion along the coast. They reduce sedimentation and capture nutrients from the land improving the coastal water quality leading to the analogy that mangroves function as the ‘kidneys of the coast’.

TOM COLLIS 10

Stilt-rooted Mangrove Rhizophera stylosa.

Male Fiddler Crabs feeding under the cover of stilt roots.

Snorkel roots extending from Grey Mangrove Avicenna Cairns Esplanade.

Mangrove Heron

Mudskipper 11

Around the Gardens CURATOR DAVID WARMINGTON

Mutiny on the Bounty

The Cairns Botanic Gardens have been growing Breadfruit trees, Artocarpus altilis for an exhibition about the Mutiny on the Bounty which opens in August at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

The trees were sent from Cairns in early May as they are very cold sensitive and are being housed at the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens tropical house prior to the exhibition.

The history of the Mutiny on the Bounty revolves around this plant. After visiting Tahiti onboard the Endeavour, Sir Joseph Banks recommended breadfruit trees be brought to Jamaica to feed the slaves.

Lt.William Bligh was tasked with sailing the Bounty to Tahiti to propagate and collect these trees.

Cultivated Breadfruit do not have seeds and need to be propagated from root suckers.

Bligh and his crew were therefore required to stay in Tahiti for 23 weeks for the plants to be established and eventually 837 were loaded onto the Bounty. Many of the crew formed close relationships with the Tahitian women during this time.

During the return voyage some of the crew, led by Fletcher Christian, decided to mutiny because of Bligh’s harsh and brutal treatment as well as a desire to return to their Tahitian paradise.

Bligh and 18 loyalist crew were cast off the Bounty onto a 23-foot longboat with minimal supplies and the Breadfruit trees were thrown overboard.

This is one of the greatest maritime events in history with Bligh navigating without maps or charts with only a compass, sextant and 12

Cairns Botanic Gardens’ officers Charles and Paul with the Breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis trees sent to Sydney.

nautical tables some 4000 miles from the middle of the Pacific Ocean to Timor. The men were at sea for 47 days, at times battling violent storms and living on one twenty-fifth of a pound of bread twice a day and a quarter of a pint of water three times a day.

Rainy Mountain dog park receives a revamp

Green Space Our Place, with full community support, delivered a successful tree planting event at Rainy Mountain dog park on Sunday 20 May. The morning was attended by 24 local park users with 12 trees planted to enhance the area and create future shade.

The recent works, including the installation of a fence, new park benches and a tap along with the tree planting, has created good community spirit in Smithfield. The particpants have named the trees after their dogs with each owner being responsible for the watering of their particular tree - wonderful ownership from the users of the parK. “Thank you Council so much for doing this for our park - it looks simply fantastic. The GSOP officers worked tirelessly to guide us with the planting and mulching. The trees are far in excess of our expectations; so big and so healthy. We will make sure we care for them until they are self sufficient,� volunteer, Jenny Lawton.

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How to identify Tropical Queensland’s The common cormorant or shag Lays eggs inside a paper bag.

The reason, you will see no doubt,

It is to keep the lightning out.

“But what these unobservant birds Have never noticed is that herds Of wandering bears may come with buns And steal the bags to hold the crumbs.

Little Pied Cormorant

Thank you Ogden Nash for this light-hearted introduction to my article that continues with the water bird theme.

Pied Cormorant

has bare skin under the eye, which becomes purplish-pink during breeding, so the individual Pied in this photo is We have four cormorants in Tropical North Queensland: probably in breeding plumage. from tallest to smallest - Great Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, You can also see that the Little Pied has a line of white Little Pied Cormorant, and Little Black Cormorant. Similar feathers above the eye to the bill, whereas the yellow species often occupy slightly different habitats, and/or rely over the Pied’s eye connects with the black of the crown. on diet variations to increase survival in a world of high Another difference is the presence of a bold, black thigh competition. stripe on the adult Pied (not visible in this photo), which is The smallest two of the Australian cormorants, Little Pied lacking on the adult Little Pied. However, nature challenges and Little Black, are regularly seen in small numbers at us regularly, and in almost perverse reverse the immature Centenary Lakes in the southern part of the Cairns Botanic Little Pied Cormorant has a black thigh stripe. This is an Gardens. Some of their differences are obvious but others example of how we need to take size into account when need a little more ‘peering’ before you see them. Binoculars trying to correctly identify a bird. are a great help.

Bill size and shape also differ between these two species: the Although we may not see Little Pied and the larger Pied Pied Cormorant has a pale, long, slender bill whereas the Cormorant together in Cairns (though the range of both Little Pied’s bill is yellowish and stubby. species includes Tropical North Queensland, and they About the same size as the Little Pied, the Little Black occupy fairly similar habitats), it is interesting to consider Cormorant (pictured right) often ‘hangs out’ with Little the differences between the two superficially similar species. Pieds. The Little Black is clearly black all over with a longer, Differences between similar species of birds can sometimes thinner bill than that of the Little Pied, which, as discussed be quite hard to see, and if we want to accurately identify above, is stubby and yellowish. As you can see, the Little birds, we also need to consider comparative size, behaviour, Pied is black and white. Both species are glossy black on the habitat, location and range (the extent of geographical area back and wings with lovely iridescent greens and purples in in which a species occurs). This is why field guides are so the sunlight. valuable.

Pictured together (above) in an Adelaide wildlife park giving This Little Pied us an opportunity to compare the two species, are a Little Cormorant Pied Cormorant on the left and a Pied Cormorant on the (pictured left) may right, with another Pied peeping at us from behind the two be in breeding in front. plumage as it has Note that although the Pied looks smaller than the Little a black tuft (a Pied in the picture, this is an optical illusion because the Mohawk ‘hairdo’) Little Pied is closer to the camera: the Pied Cormorant on its forehead/ averages 65-85cm in height and the Little Pied 55-65cm. crown and, Optical illusions, such as in this photo, are common not only although less in photographs but in real life too, as birds move. Changes obvious in the in light and other conditions can also confuse what we see. photo, white frills on the sides of its However, even with the optical illusion, we know the Little black crown.

Pied lacks the Pied’s conspicuous orange-yellow face patch between eye and bill. The Pied (on the right, above)) also 14

Little Pied Cormorant

four cormorants

JENNIFER H. MUIR

Feathered Friends

Taking into account behaviour as another identifying factor, the Little Black Cormorant is strongly nomadic and tends to fly in sometimes very large flocks in ‘v’ formation. It will visit bodies of water of almost any size, and although it may feed alone, it’s mainly gregarious. It takes a wider range of prey than the Little Pied and tends to prefer larger, deeper waters.

Co-operative rafts of hundreds will herd shoals of fish, and birds at the back have been seen leap-frogging those in front then diving to get their share. They swim fast under water to chase their dinner.

They will feed on fish in salt water but tend to avoid coastal sea water. This species ranges through most of Australia and from Indonesia eastwards to New Caledonia and New Zealand.

Jennifer H. Muir

Black-necked Stork

Little Black Cormorant

Little Pied Cormorants are happy on even very small ponds, as well as farm dams and ornamental waters in city parks, such as Cairns Botanic Gardens’ Centenary Lakes. It tends to feed alone in shallow waters on yabbies and aquatic insects rather than fish.

It often ‘hangs out’ and roosts with Little Black Cormorants. Its distribution includes Australia, and from Malaysia eastwards to New Caledonia and New Zealand.

It’s interesting to note that these two species, like many others, range much further than just Australia. If you travel overseas, you might enjoy finding some of ‘our’ species further afield than you might expect.

Many different birds visit the Esplanade’s mudflats. Some are inconspicuous, such as Rednecked Stints. Others, like the Striated Heron, skulk in the background. While still others are big and obvious. The biggest and most obvious of all is the Black-necked Stork.

The Black-necked Stork is the only stork that occurs in Australia. It is widely distributed in wetlands across the north (extending south into eastern Australia too), as well as in New Guinea and parts of continental Asia.

Throughout their range in Australia, they’re commonly referred to as Jabirus, but the Jabiru is, in fact, an entirely different stork that occurs only in South America. ‘Jabiru’ is not an Aboriginal name — it was originally applied to the Australian birds by early settlers and explorers, whose mistake has persisted ever since.

Black-necked Storks feed by walking slowly through the shallows, probing the mud with their massive beak. When prey is seized, the stork tosses its head back to swallow the crustacean, fish or snake, head first.

Being shy, their displays are seldom seen. In one, the bird points its bill skyward while goosestepping, increasing its speed until it’s prancing about with high steps. The function is unknown.

Their courtship display is less compelling, comprising bowing and bill clattering.

They build huge, flat, stick nests in the top of a tree, allowing a clear all-round view, where their conical, white eggs are incubated by both parents (we know this because, although they look similar, males have dark eyes while females’ eyes are yellow).

JOHN PETER BirdLife Australia

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How to use the Seed Library and save seeds The Cairns Libraries Seed Library has grown into a great community service with free seeds now available at Stratford, Manunda, Smithfield and Gordonvale libraries.

Library staff report that it has been really nice seeing families and all types of people get excited about planting seeds and watching them grow.

Children learning how to strike seeds at Smithfield Library.

Library customers Lottie and Frankie are pictured using Cairns Libraries resources to grow more than seeds as these activities contribute to vital brain development in the first five years of life.

What is the Seed library?

The Seed Library is a collection of seeds available for the public to plant and grow in their home gardens. Ideally a couple of plants grown from the seeds will be allowed to ‘go to seed’ and seeds from these plants donated back to Cairns Libraries.

plants you grow and donate them back to the Libraries.

When you donate to the Seed Library you are helping other members of the community experience the joy of growing their own plants and food at home and to create a collection of seeds suitable for local conditions.

How does the Seed Library benefit me?

Save seeds from the best plants

Gardening can enrich your lifestyle and provides many health benefits. You save the cost of purchasing commercial seeds and save money by growing your own food plants at home.

Once you have successfully grown your own plants and enjoyed eating the produce, you can harvest seeds to return to the Seed Bank.

How do I access the Seed Library?

To ensure genetic diversity, harvest seeds from at least 2 separate plants.

The Seed Library collection is held at four of the Cairns Choose the healthiest plants you have grown and do not Library branches: Smithfield, Stratford, Manunda and donate seeds from hybrid plants.

Gordonvale.

What to do with the saved seeds.

What types of seeds are there in the Seed Library?

Place your dry, clean seeds in an airtight container. Seeds

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The collection of seeds includes basil, beans, capsicum, must be protected from heat, changes in temperature cucumber, parsley, pea, rocket, tomato, spinach and and humidity. Cairns Libraries provides appropriate seed storage conditions and has free small plastic bags sunflower. for you to place your seeds. They also have pre-printed How to save seeds and downloadable seed labels that can be used. It is very Cairns Libraries encourage you to save seeds from the important to label seeds correctly.

Torrence Avenue is the latest area where neighbours have come together to create a ‘Pocket Garden’.

Katelyn and Sarah creating a ‘wicking bed’ at Draper Place.

Perfect time to work in the vegie patch Now the rains have eased and the weather is cooler, it is time to be planting out the vegetable garden.

The Green Space Our Place (GSOP) ‘Pocket Garden’ model is a great way to build community spirit in your neighbourhood.

This model differs from the Community Garden model by mainly targeting residents in close proximity to the garden and are generally created at a smaller scale. They are also unfenced and entirely communal.

If the Pocket Garden is permitted by Council, residents register as volunteers with the GSOP program and are then supported to create the garden to specified standards.

Pocket Gardens are now at Draper Place, Crathern Close, Trundle Terrace and Torrence Avenue. This type of community gardening suits varying ages and abilities, with the maintenance work being divided up to suit each participant’s capability and time, with enough produce grown for all involved.

Jim enjoys a chat with the rest of the community at Draper Place ‘Pocket Garden’.

Pocket Garden application process: • Discuss ideas with neighbours and form an interested group of at least six people.

• Contact GSOP to register your interest.

• GSOP will discuss possible sites with you.

• GSOP will then organise a community meeting on site to discuss ideas.

• Residents send e-mail with discussed proposal to greenspaceourplace@cairns.qld. gov.au

• Council considers proposal.

• If approved, an agreement is drawn up between Council and volunteers, outlining expectations and visual standards required by Council.

• GSOP inspects regularly to ensure the garden is compliant.

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VOLUNTEER COMMENT

Where have all the Christmas Beetles gone?

This is a commonly asked question. Many older Australians can recall a time when lights at petrol stations and cafés swarmed with the beetles in summer. Now the beetles are rarely seen. But why?

The most commonly proposed theory is that habitat has degraded, especially around cities, and there are no more appropriate host trees to support the beetles. This can hardly be the case where we live. We are surrounded by bush. Yet it seems there are fewer Christmas beetles even in the bush.

The reduction of insect numbers seems to be a world-wide phenomenon. This is widely reported. You hear about it in Europe and North America and an ecologist friend living in Costa Rica conveys the same observation. It is difficult to understand what is happening.

Global warming could not be responsible for such a change so quickly - or could it?

Use of pesticides, though widespread, could not account for these changes on a world-wide basis since there are huge portions of the globe where pesticides are not used. In cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide, urban sprawl has taken its toll and there are fewer native trees than in the past.

Kea Lewry I would like to inform you that I have won a position with DAF, assisting in their new electric ant campaign.

Although it was brief, I would like to thank you all very much for giving me the opportunity to be part of your volunteer team. You run a fantastic program and everyone is very welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable.

I enjoyed every bit of it and have learnt a lot!

Christmas Beetles are scarabs: members of the large family Scarabaeidae. The larvae live in the ground and feed on roots. Adult beetles feed on native trees, especially Eucalyptus spp. With fewer parks and more pavement, especially around the base of the trees, it seems that the beetles are being ‘choked out’ in the cities. Add introduced predators such as Indian Mynah and the Cane Toad along with droughts and you may have part of the answer. We really do need more data over several years to understand what is happening.

At my light sheet in Kuranda, I am seeing fewer and fewer insects each year. But maybe the forest is becoming denser where I live and that does not appeal to the insects. However, we see the same results in the field, be it in the west in the mixed open woodlands or along the coast in the rainforests. Something seems to be happening. Insects are on the decline.

Once my contract ends hopefully I can come back and help out volunteering again if there’s space.

1.

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Critters in the Gardens

1. Our most common Christmas beetle is Anoplognathus Our Volunteers Voice smaragdinus. It used to be so common that you could literally collect a bucketfull. Photo: J. Hasenpusch.

Page 17

DR DAVID RENTZ AM

2. Highly metallic coloured members of Anoplognathus occur in our region. They used to be common on the windows at the Puma Station near Mareeba, but no longer. The shiny metallic colours may convey a form of protection since it may appear to a predator as a sunspot on a leaf or twig.

3. A scarab feeding. The reduction of eucalypts in our larger cities may be partly responsible for the demise of the Christmas Beetles. Adults need to feed on the leaves in order to be reproductive.

4.

4. Anoplognathus boisduvallii. Most people, especially in the southern and coastal areas of the country regard beetles that look like this as Christmas Beetles. We have them here too but most locals regard the greener forms as Christmas Beetles.

5. & 6. The usual form of Anoplognathus smaragdinus is green but rarely other “morphs� appear. Beautiful blue and red morphs are infrequent as is one that seems to mix all three colours.

7. A less common but slightly larger scarab is Calloodes atkinsoni. It is not really a Christmas beetle but it looks very similar.

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Slime Moulds

The slime moulds are not true fungi but are classified in a group all on their own. They are, in reality, what one might call “communal amoeba” – one big blob with lots of nuclei. I include them here because most people consider them fungi and so they are worth a mention in this series of articles.

The best-known slime mould in the Cairns region is undoubtedly Fuligo septica, also disparagingly called “dog vomit fungus”. They appear in garden beds on mulch, on bare soil and on lawns. They are especially conspicuous when they first form, often being brilliant lurid yellow.

Then, as the mould matures and forms spores it turns to a dirty pinkish or purplish brown at which stage the name dog vomit is especially appropriate.

The the photos on the right show the stages of spore maturity. The first imgae shows the slme mould 12 hours after its appearance in a garden bed, followed by 18 hours after appearance. The spores are beginning to develop and the mass has lost some of its yellow brilliance. In 24 hours after first appearance the dark spore mass has developed and the mass is adopting the dog vomit appearance.

This mould can form large masses up to 30cm or more across. There is a funny story associated with this world-wide species. In the USA in 1973 a lot of these moulds appeared in people’s gardens and lawns (the weather conditions must have been perfect). People panicked and the National Guard was called out because “aliens had landed”.

Some other slime moulds are just as interesting. One species, Physarum, has been taught to find its way through a maze and if it was then chopped up, the pieces knew how to find their way through the same maze – some sort of “cellular memory”. They also have the ability to test out pathways through a maze to find the most efficient way of getting to food. This ability has been used in Japan to help design efficient railway systems.

Many are very beautiful, with brilliant colours and forms from little white lollipops to bright red paint. They are very common in the Cairns Botanic Gardens and in most other bushland around Cairns, especially Cattana Wetlands. Look hard – they are out there and worth the search!

do

DID YOU KNOW...?

We have several species of possums in Tropical North Queensland (TNQ), especially on the Atherton Tablelands.

u iK sh o t e d Hi Possums

are popular as they have what’s known as “high cuddle factor”, although if you tried to hold one, you might feel that they’re not as cuddly as they look.

They are well supplied with sharp teeth and claws and are happy to shred the human hands and arms that are trying to hold them.

This of course is in defence as they feel threatened by us – we are rather large compared to them and might injure them or worse, so you can’t blame them 20

BARRY MUIR

12 HOURS

18 HOURS

24 HOURS

JENNIFER H. MUIR for defending themselves any way they can ... even more so if it’s a mother protecting her baby.

Australian possums are Marsupials (as is the kangaroo family): that is females have a pouch in which their young develop.

Possums are found mainly in forests where rainfall is regular. They are distinctive with their single pairs of front lower incisors (teeth), and the second and third toes on the hind foot fused together, except for the claws.

Striped Possums have been recorded in the Cairns Botanic Gardens, and in wider TNQ we also have Green, Lemuroid, Daintree River, Herbert River and Common Ringtail Possums; and the Common Brushtail Possum.

Volunteer engagement opportunities

Christina volunteers with the Little Taccas Children’s Nature Activities Program.

Visitor Enhancement Volunteer Sandy offers a friendly welcome at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre.

Peter engaging ‘Little Tacca’ Ashton in the Cairns Botanic Gardens.

GSOP Volunteers and Friends of Cairns Botanic Gardens offer their time to deliver History and Garden Tours each week.

It’s not all about getting “Down ‘n’ Dirty” Green Space Our Place (GSOP) offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to suit many interests such as gardening, revegetation, nursery work, track maintenance and controlling weeds. However it’s not all about getting “Down ‘n’ Dirty” so to speak. We also provide opportunities for those who love to engage people and promote our green spaces in areas such as the Botanic Gardens and Tanks Art Centre precinct or connecting children and their parents with nature.

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Gapforce returns 2019

Our partnership with Gapforce, a provider of structured Gap Year programs and summer opportunities overseas, continues this year with paticipants taking part in programs in February and May - bamboo control and step building on the Arrow Tracks, weeding at Cattana Wetlands and Yellow Arrow trail head and discovering the wonders of Australia.

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June honey and beekeeping seminar Have you ever stopped to think what would happen if there were no honey bees?

These amazing little creatures play a vital role in the continuing existence of so many of our foodstuffs. Disastrously, many items could vanish from our markets, supermarkets and chemists if present rates of worldwide pollinator loss continues.

And have you ever thought you might like to have your own bee hive, become an amateur beekeeper and harvest your own honey, and in doing so play your part in helping the environment? This might be easier than you realise, as Les Tomson, vice-president of the Cairns and District Beekeepers Association Inc., will explain at a presentation organised by the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns (FOBG) on Saturday 22 June.

In his two-part presentation, Les will focus on backyard beekeeping as well as speaking about newsworthy related issues, such as honey adulteration, pollinator loss and the benefits of re-establishing the urban environment. This is the perfect opportunity to learn how both urban and rural residents can both support and grow the bee population in what could become a productive hobby.

The talk is open to the public and starts at 9.30am at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre. Entry is via a gold coin and morning tea will be available.

LORRAINE SMITH FOBG PR & Publicity Officer

JOIN THE FRIENDS

Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns Membership details - phone 4032 3900 or email info@botanicfriendscairns.org.au After joining you can support the Friends in many ways; as a committee member, in the Friends Shop, as a tour guide or assisting with events.

Friends of Sugarworld Botanic Gardens Contact Fran Lindsay frantastic10@bigpond.com

Newsletter Contributions: Please submit articles (must be volunteer or nature based) by first week of August for the next quarterly publication in September.

Email: l.grandy@cairns.qld.gov.au Please note articles are subject to editing.

Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with all events or visit our websites: - Green Space Our Place - Cairns Botanic Gardens - Friends of the Botanic Gardens

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Green Space Our Place

Tuesdays - Cattana Wetlands Jabirus 9am-noon Tuesdays - Esplanade ‘Sandpipers’ 9am-noon First Tuesday of the month - Friends of McLeod St Pioneer Cemetery Wednesdays - Botanic Gardens Down ’n’ Dirty volunteers 9am-noon Thursdays - Stratford Nursery 9am-noon Thursdays - ‘Weedbusters’ 9am-noon Thursday (once a month) - Sugarworld Gardeners & Friends Fridays - Saltwater Creek ‘Salties’ 9am-noon Wednesdays and Fridays - Tracks ‘n’ Trails 9am-noon Children’s Nature Activities Program - Little Taccas Visitor Enhancement Volunteers - rostered hours to suit History Tour Guides - Tuesday and Thursday 10am Plant Collection Database volunteers - hours to suit individual

Interested in becoming involved with your local park, reserve or tracks in your community? Contact us to register as a Council volunteer and be involved in beautifying your park (enhance planting, weed management, litter clean-up), reporting on issues (graffiti and vandalism, anti-social behaviour, maintenance issues) and building community participation (networking activities) with Council support.

If you are interested in supporting any of our weekly groups or volunteering in your local area contact Volunteers Supervisor Louisa Grandy 4032 6648 or email greenspaceourplace@cairns.qld.gov.au

By Jo from Pixabay

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Zingiber neglectum

Green Space Our Place

JENNIFER H. MUIR