September 2nd Working Bee 2014

Native Bluebells

The next Stationeers working bee will be on Tuesday, September 2nd at 10:00 am. It will be a planting session: the plan is to fill in the gaps on the lower part of the embankment between the grasses and small shrubs with more yellow and white daisies and bluebells to provide visual interest and food for native bees and butterflies over the summer months. I ordered the plants four months ago. Thomas and I picked them up last Monday. These plants are perennials; If they were shrubs or trees it is already too close to summer to be planting. Meet near the tap as usual in Pin Oak Crescent. Bring a trowel or other small planting tool and a bucket or watering can if you have one. Don't forget gardening gloves and a hat.

August 5th Working Bee

John preparing to plant a native Dianella Lily

Dianella Lily

Margaret watering newly planted Plectanthus

Rosemary grevillea keeps on flowering

Seven volunteers; Thomas, Ed, Margaret N., Roger, Vivienne, John and Ros enjoyed perfect weather for the August working bee. We carried out some planting in areas of dry shade while Ed scouted both sides of the station for litter and Roger watered from the station steps to the tap. We were able to remove the tree guards at the peppercorn end of the station as the salt bushes planted at the start of the year have doubled in size. Afterwards we relaxed with a coffee at La Delicataessa.                                                                      

End of July- best flowering plants

Acacia acinacea

Grevillea rosmarinifolia

Too small to have an impact yet but our two small Grevillea plants are covered in flowers and show much promise. Their flowers stay on the plant over an extended period of time and are a valuable source of food for nectar-feeding birds. The acacias are just beginning to flower. In about two weeks from now they will enlighten the whole embankment. We have two species: Acacia acinacea and Acacia pycnantha.
The next working bee is planned for Tuesday, August 5th but we need to look at the long-term weather forecast before we make it official.

Working bee Monday July 7th 2014

Midwinter and a lovely sunny morning for Stationeers: Roger, Ed. Margaret Noble, Thomas and Ros. We enjoyed the sunshine, the beauty of the garden and each others' company as we worked. It was interesting to observe the way shadows cast by the buildings opposite fall across the embankment at different times of the morning. Taller buildings would cast a shadow for most of the morning and have a significant effect on plant growth.

Working Bee July 2014

 

July Working Bee: Monday 7th at 10:00 am

Meet in Pin Oak Crescent near the tap as usual. Tasks include light weeding, collecting the inevitable detritus, particularly Myki receipts, watering under the station and a little planting if time and numbers permit. BYO gloves and hand tools.

Newmarket station to be repaired not demolished

The latest news is that the Station building will now be restored, not demolished. It seems like a miracle. Refer to the Flemington Association web page for more detailed information.

Find more old photos of Flemington at the Flemington Association web page under Heritage.

The Wabi-sabi seat

As we move into winter we notice subtle changes to the weathered old railway sleeper seats; a beautiful transformation as moss and lichen begin to appear on the surface of the timbers. 

What has occurred is an example of the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi: the aesthetic of things impermanent, weathered and imperfect.The moss and lichen enhance the aged, but still strong, red gum timbers; Nature's response to cooler temperatures and rain. Come summer and the patina will change.

I can no-longer contemplate any thought of removing these timbers and replacing them with new. We will have to incorporate the imperfect seat into our new seating design.

Ros

For an expansion on the concept of Wabi-sabi go to:  www.globalonenessproject.org/WabiSabi ‎