Info on 11 May meet
- We have decided to cancel the planting on the summit until we have had a good dump of rain: it is hopelessly dry at the summit and we will waste everyone's time digging holes and also having to cart up water with the trailer. The bursarias are sitting here at present and are being watered and fed until we can plant them out: the first planting two weeks ago is fine, especially with the branch covers and extra water delivered by trailer. If the drought continues, plan B will be to plant the bursarias above the 1st Mannheim planting on the Eastern/South aspect, a bit damper than the summit and also we can water all the plants using the trailer. A bit sad, but the first event was very successful.
- I checked 7 Brachychitons, three near Swainsona area and four above Inkster st. All were given B/B, seaweed and water solution which will assist their growth..also covered all with branches too..some are growing well, others are very small..but alive. Another small one was discovered at our Conservation Council meet near our bench and given the same encouragement.
Swainsona area needs help with more branches to protect them: therefore lets meet at Sulwood gate (before C'hoon street) and walk up the ACTeW line to cut more branches etc..the lopping of some of the bursarias was a very successful ploy as the roos have avoided the prickly branches and the Euc. branches..but we need to put more down as the tracks are now numerous: I will bring saws etc. Some erosion control could be useful too.
Meet: 2 pm at Sulwood/Taylor/Actew Gate: walk to Swainsona area
Date: Saturday 11 May- I have M and L green shirts with Cocky Park Care emblem..let me know if anyone wants one or two before I return them to the depot?
Meet Sat 20th Apr 10:30 and 2pm
Day program:
- water trailer for planting, which Mark is bringing into the park
- Plants will be placed beside each hole for easy planting 7am onwards!
- There will be six of us so far, just to assist everyone planting and also the walk to the bench after that event
- To assist everyone for the planting, please bring a trowel..we do not know how many adults, children will be coming to the event and this will help us control the planting! Will everyone bring a couple of buckets please too, to aid the watering!
- I will bring some tea for us helpers after the planting, and I will have it at the bench!!
- This is an open invit for everyone from our group and anyone else..so, if you are coming, bring a bucket and trowel too! Priyanaka and Kylee from The Conservation Council will lead the planting and then the walk: they also have info for everyone to fill in.
Much appreciate everyone coming to give a hand and I would like a record of all the planters to put into our Taylor history: I will have a book for signing too as we have to protect visitors.
Let me know if anyone would like more info.
Cheers, Anne
Hole digging above Mannheim park entrance
Would be grate to find a few hole diggers for this weekend..on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April?? I will be digging holes this week when I have a few minutes to start the ball rolling..we will need 40 holes, not very huge, first group above Mannheim and in two groups towards the bench/agistment: the only other action is collecting some old and new branches to protect the plantings and I will bring saws etc for that action: Please bring about 4L water each so that we can damp the holes before the event..the ground is very dry and dusty. I will be marking our holes with stakes and some ribbons: this will be for the 20th April Conservation council walk and planting. Not sure how many people will join the walk. Mark Sweaney is controlling the summit hole digging etc and that will be for our celebration on the 11 May.
Project: Hole digging Sat and Sun this w'end and removing any weeds in the area
Meet at 2 pm both days
I will bring tools: stakes and markers; blood and bone. Tea.
If anyone would like to join me early on tomorrow Wed,Thursday or Friday at 9 am at the Mannheim Gate for an hour's work, let me know and I can bring tools.
St John's Work research. Some of the deheading completed in January was paper bagged,dated and hung up to dry out: over the next two months the deheading work was repeated in different areas above Mannheim. The head capsules have been examined for drying but are all still damp with the mucus that encloses the actual seeds. Some of the January seeds are now darkening, but we will not know about viability until these heads are totally dry and seed sown, perhaps in early spring.
See you this week or weekend. Cheers, Anne