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Banksia Bulletinspring 2021 Potting indigenous plants Nature strip makeover Boosting biodiversityFrom the Mayor Hello everyone, and welcome to the Spring 2021 edition of Banksia Bulletin. I hope you are enjoying your daily exercise time by exploring new routes and discovering our local heathlands, reserves, parks and open spaces located close to home. I saw many people exercising in Cheltenham Park on Father’s Day (Sunday 5 September) when I went for a walk – all social distancing appropriately. Unfortunately, our annual Spring Open Days have been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions but that doesn’t stop us from visiting these fantastic natural landscapes we are so lucky to experience close to where we live. It is disappointing that the Bayside Community Nursery remains closed to the public for sales, but I would like to thank our volunteers who continue to maintain the plants we are growing at the nursery and propagating for future use. Now that Spring is here, it is a perfect time to be out in the garden and there are some excellent articles in this edition of Banksia Bulletin about planting indigenous species in pots and in nature strips. I recently ‘opened’ the nature strip at (TV renovation show) The Block site in Bronte Court, Hampton. Design and planting of this nature strip was proudly led by local Black Rock resident, Dave Franklin, using native grasses, many of which were purchased from the Bayside Community Nursery. While you’re outside, keep a look out for any Tawny Frogmouths that might be visiting. Sir David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III is coming to Melbourne soon and the BBC is looking for Tawny Frogmouths in suburban backyards. You can read more about this on page 15 where we have included a link to a recent interview from ABC Breakfast host Sammy J with BBC producer Fredi Devas talking about this exciting initiative for Melbourne bird lovers to get involved in. While not specifically the owl species Sir David is looking for, I did hear a Boobook owl while playing golf earlier this year in Cheltenham. It was a wonderful sound. On page 4, you will find the link to Council’s Have Your Say page where we are asking for feedback on our draft Urban Forest Strategy, which is out for consultation until 23 September. This is a very significant strategy for Bayside and your input is valued. Before I sign off, I would like to encourage all of you to submit articles to this magazine about our local flora and fauna, things you see in Bayside, or knowledge you would like to share. It could be as simple as a photograph with a few words describing a plant, insect, bird or other wildlife you find in your own garden or while exploring locally. Imagine one of your findings appearing on the cover of this local magazine that is designed to promote and protect our natural environment. Articles and photos can be sent to banksia@bayside.vic.gov.au Cr Laurence Evans OAM Mayor Mayor Laurence Evans (left) with Dave Franklin (right) who designed and planted the nature strip at Bronte Court, Hampton where TV renovation show The Block is being filmed.In this issue Special features 8 INDIGENOUS BAYSIDE PLANTS FOR NATURE STRIP COLOUR 12 GEORGE STREET POST ECOLOGICAL BURN 16 URBAN REFUGE Other articles PLANTS OF BAYSIDE 4 POLICY PROTECTS WILDLIFE 4 VOTE NOW FOR VICTORIA’S FIRST FOSSIL EMBLEM 5 NATIVE BEES ARE POSSIBLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN HONEYBEES 6 WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE TREES IN BAYSIDE? 6 GROWING INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN POTS 7 REMOVING CARP FROM LOCAL POND AND LAKE 7 BOOSTING THE RESILIENCE OF OUR BIODIVERSITY 11 GO NATIVE THIS SPRING 14 ON THE TAIL OF THE EEL – CREATURES OF MYSTERY 14 REPORT HELIUM BALLOON RELEASES 15 SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH WANTS TO FILM TAWNY FROGMOUTHS IN YOUR BACKYARD 15 THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME 20 VOLUNTEER GROUPS 22 Drosera by Pauline Reynolds The Victoria Nature Festival is on now until Sunday 26 September. Explore and learn about our state’s rich natural environment and wildlife by joining virtual events and experiences designed to connect people of all ages, abilities and interests from home.Plants of Bayside Words and photo by Aaron Hurrell, Citywide Bushland Crew Rounded Noon-flower The Rounded Noon-flower (Disphyma crassifolium) is a perennial spreading ground plant growing up to 1-2 m wide. Its succulent leaves are paired, shiny and cylindrical, growing between 1-4cm long by 2-8 mm wide. Mostly green in colour, the leaves can have a beautiful yellow or red tinge to them. The pretty flowers appear daisy-like and range in colour from pink to magenta with a white centre. They can grow up to 5cm wide. Disphyma crassifolium seeds form in a pod with a membranous cover while the roots form at nodes along runners. This plant can be propagated by cuttings or seeds, and will grow in most soils if it has some reliability in full sun. Being able to tolerate saline conditions makes Disphyma crassifolium very useful for erosion control on embankments. Our First Nations people used to eat this plant raw. Source: Bull, Marilyn (1991) Flora of Melbourne: A guide to the indigenous plants of the greater Melbourne area Carlton Vic: Hyland House Publishing Policy protects wildlife Barbed wire on properties located on Council owned or managed land will now have to abide by the Management of Barbed Wire Policy unanimously endorsed at the June 2021 Council Meeting. Under the new policy, Council will not install any barbed wire in the future (except in rare and exceptional circumstances). Council’s focus will be the removal of any barbed wire in heathland and bushland reserves and open spaces with a primary role of conservation. This policy paves the way for better protection of wildlife in Bayside and Bayside Mayor, Cr Laurence Evans OAM will be leading advocacy with other Victorian municipalities, local schools and businesses to where possible remove barbed wire on their properties in Bayside. Read more about the policy here Rounded Noon-flower (Disphyma crassifolium) Banksia Bulletin | Spring 20214Vote now for Victoria’s first fossil emblem A five-million-year-old fossil found in Beaumaris, Pelagornis , has been nominated by Melbourne Museum to represent Victoria as its inaugural fossil emblem. By (A/Professor) Dr Vicki Karalis AM, MBBS, FACNEM, FASLM President, Sandringham Foreshore Association Victoria is the last Australian state or territory to name a fossil emblem and a winning nomination for Pelagornis would put Bayside in the spotlight. An ocean bird with a six-metre-wide wingspan, twice the size of a living albatross, roamed the world’s skies from just after the extinction of the dinosaurs until about 2.5 million years ago. It captured prey in a beak over 30cm long that was studded with spiky projections of bone that provided the same function as teeth. Most Pelagornis fossils around the world have been found in rocks that once formed on the floor of shallow coastal seas. Along the southern coast of Victoria, including inside Port Phillip Bay, the oceans of the past 25 million years are preserved in rock layers. Pelagornis was discovered in Beaumaris more than 150 years after it was first named and proved this bird had a worldwide distribution. Vote Pelagornis for Victoria’s fossil emblem Pelagornis fossil facts Scientific namePelagornis How do you say its name? Pell-uh-GORE-niss How big? Its wingspan in life was likely more than six metres — far wider than birds alive today. When did it live? The Victorian Pelagornis lived here 5 million years ago. What did it eat?Fish or squid Significant Victorian location Beaumaris, Port Phillip, Boonwurrung Country Traditional OwnersBunurong people Who named it?French palaeontologist Édouard Lartet (1801-1871) Who found it? Pelagornis fossils have been found at Beaumaris by keen-eyed members of the public. What is special about it? Bony projections formed ‘teeth’ along the beak of Pelagornis. Significance of the fossil Fossils from Beaumaris, Victoria are the only fossils of these birds in Australia and show that Pelagornis visited every continent on Earth. Full name and meaning Pelagornis simply means ‘ocean-going bird’. CLICK HERE! Banksia Bulletin | Spring 20215Did you know? Native bees are possibly more important than honeybees. Australia has more than 1,500 species of native bees. Victoria is home to seven of the 10 major groups of native bees – Reed Bees, Blue-banded Bees, Teddy Bear Bees, Leafcutter Bees, Resin Bees, Masked Bees and Homalictus Bees – all of which are incredibly diverse. Native bees are vitally important for pollinating native plants and wildflowers. Experts are calling for native bees to be preserved while researchers are discovering unique benefits of native bees. As our appreciation of native flora continues to grow, so too can our awareness and enthusiasm for native fauna. Find out more ... Read about the rare healthy sugar unique to native bees discovered by researchers at the University of Queensland by ABC journalists Anthea Moodie and Kallee Buchanan. Watch Planet A’s report on why we are saving the wrong bee including interviews with pollination experts. have your say Would you like to see more trees in Bayside? Have your say on Council’s plan to grow Bayside’s tree canopy cover from 16% to 25% by 2030. Our draft Urban Forest Strategy contains 42 actions to improve how we monitor, increase, diversify and maintain tree canopy cover, and support residents to plant and keep their trees. Under the strategy, we’ll be planting more than 2,000 trees each year to promote ecosystem health and help to alleviate issues such as air pollution and the urban heat island effect. Key actions to grow our urban forest include: • A targeted, ambitious, and diverse public tree planting program • Stronger protections for trees on private land • Encourage new canopy tree planting on private land • Active monitoring of the health and extent of our urban forest • Education and support services for residents to maintain trees There are a few ways to provide your feedback including: a survey and an interactive plant a tree map to show us where you’d like to see more greenery in Bayside. The draft Urban Forest Strategy was developed using community focus group feedback and technical and expert advice, and is a key part of delivering urgent, meaningful action on climate change as set out in the Climate Emergency Action Plan 2020-2025. Consultation on the draft Urban Forest Strategy closes on 26 September 2021. visit: https://yoursay.bayside.vic.gov.au/planting-protecting-trees Banksia Bulletin | Spring 20216Growing indigenous plants in pots Story and photos by Pauline Reynolds For something different in your garden, try growing native plants in pots. In fact, our more temperamental indigenous plants sometimes do better in pots, which can be moved around your garden according to the season. Winter flowerers brighten up the view from windows, making small shrubs, ground covers and wildflowers very rewarding. When potting, always start with a container that’s the right capacity for the plant’s expected size. Place a few bits of old broken terracotta under your pot to get it a centimeter or so off the ground especially if it’s on hard paving. This will ensure it drains well. Always use good quality native potting mix as ordinary potting mix may have the wrong nutrients for the plant such as too much phosphate, which can kill or stunt your plant. Soak the plant in water then put it in the pot as if you were planting in the garden, leaving two or three centimetres at the top to hold the water. It is a good idea to give a dilute solution of seaweed tonic to help reduce any shock to the roots but don’t actually feed it until the plant has started to show signs of new growth. An occasional feed with a dilute solution of liquid fertiliser two or three times a year is also helpful but avoid overfeeding. Keep the watering up, especially in summer, making sure not to overwater. The soil should only feel moist to the touch. A good soaking three times a week, unless during a heatwave, is far preferable to a sprinkle every day. If the pot does dry out and become hydrophobic, try soaking it in a container of water until it stops bubbling or drip water for a time. This will saturate the mix again. Remember, pruning is important too. Either tip prune regularly being sure to keep the flower buds or give the plant a good cut back and shaping after flowering then a light feed. A selection of the prettiest wildflowers in the one pot, similar to the way exotics are sometimes arranged, is a nice option. Experiment with plants and different pots like terracotta, rusted metal, old buckets and other interesting containers you may have around the home. Potting is fun, enjoyable and can add colour and interest to your garden. Removing carp from local pond and lake Council removed three large carp from Tulip Street Pond recently after it was drained along with Landcox Park Lake where around 30 large carp were removed. Carp is listed as a noxious aquatic species in Victoria under the Fisheries Act 1995 due to its ability to play havoc with the ecosystem. Carp are known to have detrimental effects on native aquatic plants, animals and general water quality, largely because of their destructive feeding habits. The native catfish and native freshwater turtle were released safely back into Landcox Park Lake. This female carp was removed before her eggs were spawned. Banksia Bulletin | Spring 20217Indigenous Bayside plants for nature strip colour Story and photos by Sue Forster Due to soil disturbance during kerb replacement work, my grass nature strip looked a mess for several years. In spring 2019, I decided to dig up it up, take out the grass and weeds, and replant with locally indigenous plants. As a Bayside Community Nursery volunteer, I had a good idea which plants might be appropriate for the job, but I needed Council permission to carry out the work. This involved organising a Dial Before you Dig report to identify any underground services crossing the area and submitting a plan to Council with a plant list and a rough sketch of my planting scheme. At first, my intentions were modest and largely aesthetic: I would do the work myself, as time permitted, aiming to create an interesting mix of colour, form and texture throughout the year. I needed hardy plants that were tolerant of poor sandy soil, some shade and low rainfall, and that would spread quickly to create groundcover. The site has a couple of other problems. Firstly, a large eucalypt in my front garden overshadows the nature strip in the afternoon and sucks up a lot of moisture during summer. Secondly, the soil has been backfilled with stones in one patch and offers little substance for plant growth. It took me three days to dig and rake out the grass roots, although I left about one-third under grass for our bins. Council regulations stipulate that plantings are to be kept pruned to a maximum height of 600mm and must be well clear (500mm) from the back of the kerb. My nature strip slopes down to the kerb, which makes planting difficult and getting out of a car on the passenger side even more difficult. I used the sand-dune succulent Karkalla (Carpobrotus rossii) to secure the slope, and I trim it back regularly away from the kerb. On the flatter surface near the path I wanted a wildflower mix of colour, and a mix of spiky and soft leaf textures. Between the brilliant pink Karkalla flowers, Austral Stork’s-bill (Pelargonium australe), Common Rice-flower (Pimelea humilis), Button Everlasting (Coronidium scorpioides) and Bundled Guinea-flower (Hibbertia fasciculata var. prostrata) have provided green and red leaf and pink, white and yellow flower colour over many months, with a brief purple splash from Long Purple-flag (Patersonia occidentalis) and Pale Flax-lily (Dianella laevis var. laevis) last summer. My spiky Knobby Club-rush (Ficinia nodosa) and Multi-flowered Mat-rush (Lomandra multiflora) have flowered this August, along with silver-leafed White Correa (C. alba) and green-leafed Common Correa (C. reflexa). Once the Correa becomes well established, I will have to keep it well pruned or pull it out. Other plants still establishing in the mix include Austral Crane’s-bill (Geranium solanderi), silver-leafed Common Everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum), prolific yellow-flowering Hop Goodenia (G. ovata) and a small- leaf, pink flowering succulent, Rounded Noon-flower (Disphyma crassifolium). My neighbours watched my labour with enthusiasm and Nicky, my next- door neighbour with a ‘green thumb’, Button Everlasting (Coronidium scorpioides) Common Rice-flower (Pimelea humilis) Banksia Bulletin | Spring 20218was inspired to plant her nature strip as well. Two species that have failed to flourish on my side, Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) and Hop Goodenia, are looking great in a sunnier spot over her side, and her Grass Trigger-plant (Stylidium graminifolium) has just sprouted five new flower stems (still in bud). We have both mulched well with pine bark, and I continue to disperse any fallen leaves back onto my strip around the plants. I have made one exotic concession with the inclusion of a few Seaside Daisies (Erigeron karvinskianus) as I doubt my nature strip holds enough moisture for our local Coast Daisy (Brachyscome parvula). I still need to replace the worst patch of stony soil nearest my drive as nothing thrives there. However, experimenting with new plants from Bayside Community Nursery and watching the changes in my nature strip gives me great joy. There have been other unforeseen social benefits from the planting. My neighbours love to stop and chat when they see me out weeding, planting or pruning the nature strip. Most importantly, the broader ecological benefit of a mixed native planting is the re-establishment of ‘habitat’ for native fauna. Documenting the insects that have found my nature strip plants is an ongoing project, which I hope to be able to report on more fully in years to come. Long Purple-flag (Patersonia occidentalis) Austral Stork’s-bill (Pelargonium australe) White Correa (Correa alba)Karkalla (Carpobrotus rossii) For more information visit Council’s website. Banksia Bulletin | Spring 20219Next >