Working Bee, November 11th 2014

Poa Labillardieri

Working Bee Tuesday, 11th: Seven attendees. We pruned the Myoporum away from the rocks and edges of the retaining walls, pulled out poplar suckers, watered, picked up rubbish and weeded. We stopped for a minute's silence at 11:00 am. Later that day Peter rang to inform us that Metro Trains would need to drill some bore holes and an access path would be made for the equipment to move up the slope. Thomas, Margaret N. and I returned and removed some of the vulnerable plants and potted them for future replanting. As November progresses the grasses are developing their decorative seed-heads and the Dianella tasmanica its blue berries.The paper daisies and Wahlenbergia are continuing to put on a good display.

Coastal Cushion Bush, Stipa elegantissima and Dianella tasmanica

October Working Bee

Lomandra longifolia & Pelargonium australe

Lomandra and Pelargonium flowers

Stipa elegantissima amongst the shrubs

Dianella admixta under the landing

The Melbourne weather forecast for October 14th was for showers, but as is often the case, Flemington missed out so the Stationeers working bee proceeded under an overcast but rain-less sky. Both Margarets, Roger, Anita, Chris, Ros and Thomas were in attendance. We pruned the acacias and various other shrubs, collected rubbish, watered the dry zones under the peppercorn and station landing and pulled out poplar suckers. With a little bit of skillful engineering using a fallen tree branch and garden stakes, Thomas and Roger constructed a rustic retainer on the steepest part of the slope to hold some new plants: Sticky Boobialla (Myoporum petiolaris) surrounded by ground-cover Ruby salt-bushes. Over the coming hot summer the retainer will slow down the water run-off and allow the new plants to become established.

September working bee

Despite dire weather forecasts the planting conditions were perfect for both plants and volunteers. We welcomed a new Stationeer, Christine Wood and the number of participants jumped to nine after Meegan joined us. All the new perennials (pictured) were planted.They will need some supplementary watering as the weather warms up; the soil was surprisingly dry and compacted in most places.Thomas, John and Roger broke up some of the worst compaction but to make good the new plantings we will need to  improve the soil around them at the next working bee. 

Sticky Everlasting. Prune in Autumn to extend its life.	Tufted Bluebells and Lobe-seed Daisy
Lobe-seed Daisy prefers moister soil than the other perennials planted today.	Clustered Everlasting may sucker slightly and spread. After flowering ( October- March)  it should be pruned severely to encourage new growth.

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.