Volunteers Voice - Issue 7 - June 2015

Cairns Regional Council - Parks & Leisure

Issue 7 - June 2015

Volunteers Voice This newsletter will be published quarterly, showcasing articles and photographs on volunteer activities throughout Council’s Parks & Leisure branch.

In this issue:

• Adopt a Creek cleans up • From the Editor • Volunteer Profile • Branch manager - Volunteers make a difference • Shop Volunteers - Smiling faces greet visitors • Photos: What have our volunteers been up to?

• Flower structure and function • The Acanthus Family • Guidelines for applying mulches • What’s On

Making a difference in Cairns

‘Adopt a Creek’ cleans up Council and Rotary joined forces recently to create a volunteer program, ‘Adopt a Creek’.

President of Rotary Club of Cairns Mulgrave and Friends of the Botanic Gardens member Roger Cumming approached Council’s Public Relations and Volunteers Officer Louisa Grandy in February to discuss how Rotary could assist the Gardens and surrounding area with the added support from Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns members.

Louisa walks the Saltwater Creek bike paths regularly and noticed the amount of rubbish that collected in these areas. When Roger approached her with the idea of lending a hand the ‘Adopt a Creek’ project was born.

The Rotary Club and Friends’ members met on Sunday 29 March attracting 25 members who did an Street and to the Edge Hill State School in Pease amazing job of collecting rubbish St. along Saltwater Creek from Collins Mr Cumming is hopeful other clubs in the Avenue through to Greenslopes continued Page 2

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Volunteers Voice

A T P O ‘AD ’ K E E R C From the Editor Welcome, First of all let me draw your attention to the wonderful new project taken on by the Rotary Club of Cairns Mulgrave - ‘Adopt a Creek’ (front page and this page) A fantistic first day!

Also congratulations to the 2015 Friends Committee elected at the AGM on March 11.

Congratulations to those re-elected and to the new members.

This issue I asked our Branch Manager Brett Spencer to contribute. He speaks highly of our volunteers and the volunteer program and the importance of supporting them on Page 4.

In the March issue you will have noticed the new Hort. Notes section. The idea behind this is to assist with the training that is being delivered by Gardens staff Tony Roberts and Keith English. At the moment it is all about plant identification terminology. However in the future I plan to include a range of horticultural topics.

I’ve had some great feedback from some of you who have appreciated the Plant Information page focusing on plant families, especially when I conduct the occasional mini-tour for the Down ‘n’ Dirty group during their Wednesday morning session, showing them first hand the plants within each family.

If you have any ideas, or something you would like to write, please do not hesitate in contacting me. The more input from you, the volunteers, the more it becomes your newsletter. After all it is all about you and your wonderful contributions.

Louisa

from Front Page

district may be inspired by this venture and adopt a creek or park within their community and encourage locals to join in.

This project is likely to occur twice yearly.

If you would like to ‘Adopt a Creek, or Park’ in your local community in partnership with Rotary contact Roger Cumming 0438 811 166 or Louisa Grandy 0429 983 252.

Photos: Front Page top: Rotary Club members Richard Petersen, Carrie Gay and Robin Logan, and Friends of the Botanic Gardens member Alex Edwards and children who participated.

Front page bottom: Friends members Alex Edwards and Mary Ettling.

This page: Top: Rotary Club president Roger Cumming.

Top left: David Kirchner with bin full of bottles.

Bottom left: Richard Petersen.

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A person with fingers in many pies, Mary Gandini is University to study an inspiration for all of us to stay active and live a full life. botany and gain a science degree as Mary is a life member of the Friends of Botanic Gardens, well as a Diploma Cairns (FOBG) and the Society for Growing Australian in Research Plants (SGAP) Cairns Branch, and volunteers at the Methods.

This Australian Tropical Herbarium at James Cook University led to teaching and the Australian Age of Dinosaurs (AAOD) at Winton. practical botany She has also had a variety of careers as well as a large for 10 years. family of four children and 11 grandchildren.

“Botany is part of Born in Mareeba and growing up in Cairns from the age my life!” she says of one, Mary is a true local and has always liked to get her with passion. hands dirty.

Another interesting hobby in Mary’s life is the “My father always had a garden full of vegies and flowers involvement with AAOD at Winton where she loves so my interest in plants started when I was a child.” prepping dinosaur bones.

Mary’s first career was teaching at Cairns State High School, then at Ayr in the Burdekin, south of Townsville. This is ‘So many people from all over Australia do this and are so passionate. It’s the love of being a part of resurrecting where she met her husband David from Home Hill. history, and the thrill of exposing bones and seeing them “After living on the farm in Home Hill early in our marriage transformed to ‘life’.” we returned to Cairns in our 30s with four ‘babies’ because Mary has since retired from teaching but definitely leads a this is where my family was. busy retirement life! She still attends the Gardeneers each “We bought a motel, the Cairns Motor Inn, which was week when she isn’t travelling or prepping bones. a very different career move and a lot of hard work, A person who loves to travel, some of the highlights have especially with four kids; 18 months to seven years of age.” been walking the Kokoda for its 50th Anniversary while in This was followed by owning a dress shop ‘Splendiferous’ her 50s - “It was the fittest we’ve ever been”. Mary has also when Earlville Shopping Town opened and then Mary backpacked around South America in her 50s (walked to became a supply teacher for the Cairns region for two Machu Pichu) and has enjoyed a number of cruises. Their years. At this time David and Mary were also members of next trip is a Tagalong Caravan Trip across Australia with the Four Wheel Drive Club and then Cairns Bushwalkers, 10 other caravans. driving or walking (climbing) to many interesting places Mary says there have been many people who’ve come and gone, some really interesting people, and that there have around the area. been many changes in the Gardens over the years. “In the “In the ’80s I joined the SGAP and, not long after, Council first years of the Friends’ festival everyone volunteered organised a meeting at the Botanic Gardens inviting all the local choirs and other clubs. We wrote to all the groups the horticultural clubs and plant societies (orchids, and schools and they came forward. bromeliads, rare fruits, palms). I went along as the SGAP “The highlight for me is the Festival (Carnival). Although representative. it’s hard work it’s a great social occasion with many people “The idea behind forming FOBG was to get these coming to visit us at our stall. Another highlight was the clubs involved in the Gardens and to advise within their great Friends’ excursions in the first few years of the club. specialities.

“I think the negative over the years has been people who “The first meeting also had the first idea of the Festival have come into feather their own interests rather than for (now known as Carnival on Collins). It was a great festival the true purpose of raising awareness and funds for the with the whole community and clubs involved. The Gardens.

Gardens’ Curator, David Warmington, bought out plants “‘The positives however are that we are still doing some from the nursery for the Friends to sell and raise funds, great work in the Gardens and now there are other which was the beginning of the Gardeneers.” volunteer groups involved such as the Down ‘n’ Dirties During this time Mary decided to go to James Cook which was the original aim for the Friends.”

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BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING Don't forget that while volunteers help others, numerous studies show that volunteering is good for volunteers too.

Volunteering makes most of us healthier and happier.

This is probably because volunteering offers many benefits, including opportunities for volunteers to: • Gain new skills and knowledge • Boost their own job and career prospects • Enjoy a sense of achievement and fulfilment • Develop personally and boost self esteem • Enjoy better physical and mental health • Connect to and better understand the community • Meet new people and make new friends.

Volunteers Voice

Our volunteers make a difference

C

airns Regional Council’s Parks & City.

Leisure Manager, Brett Spencer, “I was fortunate to have on staff Louisa speaks about our volunteer program. Grandy, who had not only a good “In July 2012 my wife and I moved to affinity with the FOBG but also had all beautiful Cairns from Perth, Western the attributes that I believe we needed Australia. Our move was very much to further develop our ‘army of green based on our desire for an area that had volunteers’. So when reviewing the something very different and unique business I decided that we needed to from the West and we certainly got that. focus more on growing and supporting our volunteers; I’ll tell you why in a “Cairns would have to be one of the moment. most caring communities that we have “Louisa has not only had more been fortunate enough to visit and we involvement with the FOBG since are now very happy to call Cairns home. focussing full time on volunteer In my role as the Parks and Leisure development but she has established Manager I didn’t realise the extent of the new groups, introduced some very resources required good practices to maintain the “It is important to provide and processes and beauty and integrity support for those who want to injected a vibrancy of some of our make an effort, those who want to our volunteer iconic destinations. to do something because they family that is a perfect fit for the “In relation to the have a passion, those who want future.

Botanic Gardens, my father in-law, to make a difference in their “When John Daly, said community. Yes! I’m talking governments talk about you, our volunteers.” about community to me that he had spent one full sustainability I think sometimes they day and took over 500 photos of the overlook the obvious things that can gardens and still he needed more time; and will work, and sometimes it’s just as such was the extent and uniqueness of simple as looking at what has worked in this tropical botanic presentation. the past.

This was a big call from him as he and his wife have travelled all over the world “It is important to provide support for writing books on tracks and trails with those that want to make an effort, those that want to do something because they their company ‘Take a Walk’. have a passion, those that want to make “About a year after we arrived I a difference in their community. Yes! I’m mentioned to John, when he was here talking about you; our volunteers. on yet another visit to Cairns, that the Gardens would not be like that if it “Our view is that our volunteers wasn’t for the huge effort put in by the complement what our work crews are trying to achieve and they supplement Friends of the Botanic Gardens.

“He simply commented, ‘Yes you can activities and projects that would not see that so you best make sure you look otherwise be done. after them.’

“People volunteer for many reasons, “This got me to thinking about how we you have your own reasons and that’s (Cairns Regional Council) could do just wonderful, just know that your City, a bit more to support our volunteers in your community, really appreciates what not only this area but other parts of the you do regardless of why you do it.”

Volunteers Voice

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Smiling faces greet visitors Meet some of the Friends Shop volunteers. They each volunteer for three hours a week and hand out free leaflets for point of reference, give directions, answer as many queries as they can and take Friends membership- all with a smile on their face. Shop volunteers pictured:

1.

1. Annabella Symes, 2. Mary Ettling, 3. Pat Lawardorn, 4. Therese Rufi, 5. Judith Pedersen, 6. Del Van Mierlo - implements roster, 7. Lorraine Smith, 8. John Seale, 9. Cytrina Stanton. Not pictured: Chris Anderson, Jackie Frost, Leonie Sequeira, Norma Wright and Erin Headon.

Pat Lawardorn

2.

Chris Anderson

5.

3.

3.

8.

6.

4.

7.

9.

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Volunteers Voice

What have our volunteers been up to?

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1. Jabirus Lachlan Ottley and Jeff Pretty doing a little plant identification.

The edible fruits were ripe on the Eugenia reinwardtiana, ‘Cedar Bay Cherry’. 2. Volunteer Natasha Stanley, leads the Little Taccas to the Gardens to explore for flowers.

Accor staff assisted the Jabirus to plant 100 trees in April at Cattana Wetlands 3. Jabiru Prue Fitzpatrick with Accor staff member Jarrod Ausburn.

4.

Accor maintenance manager Chris Apperley.

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2.

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Volunteers Voice

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6.

5. Botanic Gardens’ Down ‘n’ Dirty volunteer Rhonnie Lavater among the plants.

6. Little Taccas volunteer Del van Mierlo assists children with their flower creations.

7. Botanic Gardens horticulturalist Keith English gives the first SMART training lesson on ‘Soils’.

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Clifton Beach Resident Volunteers 8. Don Davis of Upolu Esp. Reveg inspecting the trees he planted last year.

9. Geoff McClure working on the revegation area at Yule Ave.

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9.

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Hort. Notes

Volunteers Voice

Flower structure and

This issue’s Hort.

Notes will cover flower structure and the flower’s function.

F

lowers are the reproductive structures of flowering plants (Angiosperms).

They are composed of four whorls of parts arranged in concentric rings – the calyx (composed of sepals) serves as a protective function; the corolla (composed of petals) usually functions to attract the pollinator; the androecium (composed of stamens) is the male part of the flower; and the gynoecium (carpels) is the female part.

Sexual reproduction in plants involves pollination, which is the transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of the same or a different flower. Pollen is released when it is mature.

When a pollen grain arrives at a compatible flower, it germinates on the stigma. A pollen tube grows from the grain, down through the style carrying sperm nuclei with it. The pollen tube delivers the sperm to the ovule fertilising it. After fertilisation the ovules become seeds and the ovary fruit.

The Perianth – Calyx & Corolla The outer whorl, known as the calyx is made up of sepals. They are often green in colour and enclose the rest of the flower in the bud Structure of basic flower: a. from above; b. expanded flower, stage. showing the series of parts; c. side view Inside the calyx is the corolla made up of petals. They can be white or brightly coloured and often equal in number to the sepals. carpels. Each carpel has three parts: an expanded basal part called Their role is to attract pollinators. the ovary, in which the ovules are produced; a central stalk-like section called the style; and a terminal stigma. The ovules contain The Reproductive Organs the female egg-cells and the stigma surface is specially adapted A whorl of stamens, called the androecium, to receive compatible pollen. The ovules, after fertilisation and the male part of the flower, lies inside the further development, become the seeds and the mature carpels corolla. Each stamen has a slender filament with the enclosed seeds develop into the fruit. (stalk) and, at the top, an anther in which the pollen is produced. The pollen grains carry The Calyx the male reproductive units.

The sepals may be separate from one another as above or wholly The female parts, the gynoecium, is in or partly united. Sometimes an extra ring of sepal-like segments the centre of the flower and is made up of is attached outside the true calyx, which is known as an epicalyx.

Volunteers Voice

function

This is typical of the genus Hibiscus and of other members of the family Malvaceae (A.).

Sometimes the sepals fall as the flower opens, as, for example, in Pittosporum undulatum (B.).

In other species the calyx persists when the flower fades and becomes a conspicuous feature of the fruit, for example, the apple (see base of an apple).

A.

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B.

Sepals not present Sepals present

Epicalyx The Corolla The petals may also be separate from one another or united. When united, the extent C. Corolla Types: Excerpt reprinted with permission Name That Flower, Clarke & Lee of the fusion and the shape and disposition Melbourne University Publishing, 2003 of any free parts give rise to a variety of corolla types (C.). Petals are considered united even if the degree of union is small, or is incomplete. This union may take the form of a very short tube, or a tube in which the petals are free at the base; the corolla tube is then said to be clawed.

Sometimes the perianth segments, although in two whorls, are alike in size, colour and texture and then it is usual to retain the collective term perianth and to refer to the units as perianth parts or tepals. Such flowers are typical of the lily family, Liliaceae.

In some instances, flowers can have only a single perianth whorl such as in Grevillea.

Sometimes all the perianth parts are absent or are reduced in size, often becoming brown and scale-like such as in Casuarina; the perianth is absent in the female flowers and reduced to fine brown scales in the male flowers.

D. Symmetry When looking at a flower from above, the sepals and petals may be arranged on the receptacle in a symmetrical manner and the flower can be divided into equal actinomorphic flowers parts by cutting through its centre in more E. than one plane. Such a flower is said to be actinomorphic (D.) or regular. Alternatively, a flower may be asymmetrical and can be divided into equal parts by cutting in one plane only – a zygomorphic (E.) or irregular flower. zygomorphic flowers Next issue: flower arrangement terminology.

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Plant Information: Acanthaceae

Volunteers Voice

The Acanthus Family Acanthaceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species.

most species, the seeds are attached to a small, hooked stalk (a modified funiculus called a jaculator) that ejects them from the capsule.

Most are tropical herbs, shrubs, or twining vines and some are epiphytes. Only a few species are distributed in temperate regions. The four main centres of distribution are Indonesia, Malaysia, Africa, Brazil and Central America.

The representatives of the family can be found in nearly every habitat, including dense or open forests, scrublands, wet fields and valleys, sea coast and marine areas, swamps and mangrove forests.

Traditionally the most important part used in Acanthaceae medicinially are the leaves and they are used externally for wounds. It is found that Acanthaceae possess antifungal, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant, insect-icidal, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-viral potential.

The leaves are simple, opposite and decussate; stipules are lacking.

The flowers are bisexual, zygomorphic, and usually are associated with conspicuous, often brightly coloured bracts. The calyx is usually deeply four to five lobed or sometimes is highly reduced with more numerous minute teeth.

Tropical genera familiar in the Botanic Gardens: (Pictured left, top: Pachystachys coccinea, middle: Thunbergia mysorensis, bottom left: Aphelandra sinclairiana, bottom middle: Dianthera candicans; bottom right: Pachystachys lutea.

Some of the other genera found in the Gardens (not pictured): Crossandra, Justicia, Pseuderanthemum, Graptophyllum, Ruellia, Whitfieldia, Sanchezia, Strobilanthes.

An annular nectary disk is usually found around the base of the ovary.

The fruit is a two-celled capsule, dehiscing somewhat explosively. In

Avicennia, a genus of mangrove tree, usually placed in Verbenaceae or in its own family, Avicenniaceae, is included in Acanthaceae.

Volunteers Voice

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Guidelines for applying mulches Recent research into the use and application of mulches has led to new recommendations.

Jennifer Stackhouse from Greenworld, Vol 32 NovemberDecember 2014 reviews the current application rates.

T

he mulching of garden beds, soil areas and even the tops of pot plants has become the norm for gardeners in Australia. Mulches are applied to reduce weed growth, retain soil moisture, keep soils cooler on hot days and, when organic materials are used, to add nutrients to soils for better plant growth.

When the practice of mulching was popularised in the 1980s and ’90s, it was considered that the thicker the mulch layer the better it would be. However, ongoing studies of the links between mulches and soil moisture have shown that there is an optimum thickness for mulches and an optimum particle size for materials used as mulches.

Much of this research and trialling has been carried out by Kevin Handreck during his time as a research scientist at the CSIRO and continued in his work as a private consultant. Kevin is based in Adelaide and has published extensively on soils and potting media. He was instrumental in the development of the Australian Standard for Potting Mixes, which was introduced in 1996.

Much of Kevin’s advice on the correct use and application of mulches on garden beds is contained in his book Good Gardens with Less Water (CSIRO Publishing, 2008).

air circulation around plants and also allow water from rain or irrigation to reach the soil below. Fine mulches thickly applied can prevent water from reaching soil and may lead to the formation of water-repellent soils under mulches. Weed seeds are also more likely to germinate in fine mulches rather than thicker mulches.

A thick layer of fine mulch can stop moisture from reaching the soil, but a surprising finding from Kevin’s mulching trials was that mulches with a high proportion of fine particles lose moisture faster than nearby bare soils. This is due to capillary action within fine mulch, which allows water to be drawn from the soil below and lost to evaporation. The best mulches have more than 80 per cent of their particles larger than 5mm.

Fine organic mulches can be beneficial as they break down, particularly when applied to productive plants such as fruit trees and vegetables. Kevin’s current recommendations are to apply a fine layer of organic mulch or a soil conditioner to soil and then cover this with a thin layer of course mulch. He recommends that mulches should be applied at no greater depth than 50mm.

Importantly, fine mulches should be water repellent, rather than water retentive, to prevent them removing moisture from the soil. His advice is don’t add wetting His basic advice is that chunky mulches give the best agents to mulches. results. These chunky mulches resemble the mulches Finally, Kevin Handreck advises gardeners to observe found naturally occurring on forest floors. the natural environment where a plant grows to best Mulches containing particles above 2-3mm allow good understand its need for mulch.

Cairns Regional Council - Parks & Leisure

Volunteers Voice

What’s On

• Bird Walks: John Seale’s free weekly tours are held every Tuesday, leaving the Friends House at 8.30am.

• Friends’ ‘Gardeneers’ Trolley Plant Sales: every Wednesday morning from 9.30am-11.30am outside the Friends House.

• Garden Guided Walks: Monday to Fridays at 10am. Contact the Friends House 4032 3900 to confirm.

• Little Taccas Children’s Nature Activities Program held fortnightly Thursdays.

Bookings open June 22 for Term 3 (July 9-Oct 1) and on Sept 28 for Term 4 (Oct 15-Dec 10). Bookings essential 4032 6650.

• Friends’ Wednesday Supper Talks are held the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6.30pm. The Saturday ‘Walk & Talks’ are held every 3rd Saturday of the month from 9am until noon at the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre. All welcome.

Cairns Regional Council PO Box 359, Cairns Q 4870 Australia.

07 4032 6650 Cairns Botanic Gardens 64 Collins Ave, Edge Hill, Cairns Q 4870, Australia 4032 6650 Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns 4032 3900

Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with all events Cairns Botanic Gardens and Friends of the Botanic Gardens

Zingiber neglectum Interested in Volunteering?

There is something to suit everyone. If you are interested in supporting any of the following volunteer programs please contact Public Relations & Volunteers Officer Louisa Grandy on 4032 6648: • Visitor Guides • Plant Database • Public Relations & Shop assistance in the Friends’ House • Tuesdays – Cattana Wetlands Jabirus • Wednesdays – Botanic Gardens Down ’n’ Dirty Volunteers • Children’s Nature Activities Program – Little Taccas.

For Friends of the Botanic Gardens membership details email info@botanicfriendscairns.com.au or telephone 4032 3900.

Contributions: Please submit articles (must be volunteer or plant based) by August for the next quarterly publication in September.

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