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Newsletter #45 May 2003

Why are Banksias SAD?

This is the time of year for Sudden Autumn Death (SAD) syndrome among Banksias (including Banksia menziesii).

Why are so many of these trees dying all around Perth? Why do they suddenly die at this time of year?

Professor Hans Lambers (UWA) presented some thought-provoking ideas on these questions at the recent Bold Park Research Workshop. Professor Lambers put forward the proposal (which his research is now testing in more detail) that excessive phosphates in the soil may encourage these plants to grow too many leaves. During Autumn, the soil is very dry after a long hot summer, and the excessive leaves put the tree under great stress, and may cause it to die.

If Professor Lambers' theory is correct, it raises further questions:

• where do these excessive phosphates come from?
• how much phosphate is too much?
• how can we reduce the phosphates in the soil?
• are the excessive phosphates related to weed invasion of the bushland?

Out in the bush

With the recent thunderstorms and rain, many bulbs are already coming up - especially Freesias, Lachenalias, and Watsonias. So our weeding program has already begun! Call Dani on 9381 3470 (bojel@it.net.au) if you are interested in helping with this program.

Can you help?

We would like to explore using a GPS in our mapping work. If you have a GPS we can borrow, please let Dani know. We are also looking for someone with a digital camera to take photos we can use for our seasonal walk brochures.  Please contact Dani if you are able to come once a month to take photos.

Planting day

Unfortunately, The Post only published our community notice about the planting day on that weekend - so many members had no notice of the event.

We do send out email messages about these events to those members who have given us their email address. If you missed out and would like email notification, please send your email address to Dani at : bojel@it.net.au

A new 'bible' soon to be released

We understand that researchers at Kings Park and Bold Park are working on a new guide which will cover the known plants in Kings Park and Bold Park to replace The Bushland Plants of Kings Park by Eleanor Bennett Patricia Dundas which is becoming difficult to obtain.

Coming Events

Fungi Day

Our FungiMap co-ordinator (Roz Hart) is organising another Fungi Day over the weekend of July 5th/6th. Please mark this in your diaries.

Workshops

APACE is running bush regeneration workshops (4 day sessions) during August and September. Please let me know if you wish to take part. The more trained bush workers we have, the more effective we become!

EcoPlan/Greening Australia workshops

• Understanding Ecosystems (June 7th)
• Group Facilitation Skills (4 days in July)
• Aboriginal Cultural Awareness (July 4th & 5th)
• Helping the community appreciate bushland (August 16th)
• Creating weed action plans (September and October)

Next committee meeting

This will be held on Thursday 5th June at 7.30 pm at 117 Derby Road, Shenton Park. Contact Dani (9381 3470) for details.