Welcome to Watermelon & Waves our Coastal Community Garden Newsletter.
Djilba, the beginning of the first spring, we take a look at another of our committee member’s Carrol Flemmer and her story of how she first became involved with the Coastal Community Garden. We also welcome more of our new members, look at this season’s gardening jobs, what to plant, what fruits and vegies are in season here in Perth and read about one of our local native plants.
Watermelon and Waves comes out at the start of every Noongar Season. The Noongar calendar has six seasons including two summers and two springs. We are now entering the first spring or Djilba which is from August – September. It is a transitional time of the year, with some very cold, clear days interspersed with windy rainy days and an occasional warm sunny day. As the days become warmer, spring flowers come into bloom. Djilba is the season of the yellow and cream flowers which burst out in a massive display from Acacias. You may also see an abundance of new life in the bird and animal kingdom including protective Magpies so be careful as you enter their territory.
What to expect in this issue:
- Members Story – Another committee members story – Carrol Flemmer
- What’s Happening in our Garden
- New Members
- Up and Coming Events
- Gardening Jobs During this Season: August – September
- What to Plant Now
- This Issues Native Plant – Acacia lasiocarpa
Members Story – A brief overview of our early beginnings
In this issue we’ve asked Carrol Flemmer to share her story on her involvement with the CCG.
Carrol Flemmer Story:
My CCG story is pretty simple: I’m a retired Financial Planner and had been following the story from the first post Nat put on Coast Whispers asking if anyone liked the idea of a community garden which I did, mainly for my grandchildren and to bring the community together across generations and cultures.
I remember that the open land next to North Beach Shopping Centre was suggested and then ruled out, having been contaminated by being a petrol station.
It was only when residents in Elvire St where I live, got up a petition to prevent the garden being established at Laurie Strutt Reserve and there was a post asking if someone was willing to address the full CoS council, that I offered and found myself on committee almost by default!
I already knew Shelli Hockey through her amazing work in my garden but am not really a gardener. For me gardening is like housework, but only outside!
Having previously chaired a community group for several years in the past (South African Club Inc), it was great to be able to use these skills for my community in this garden and to work with Meredith in submitting funding applications.
The other highlight for me was when Shelli and I, feeling very despondent about CoS not allowing Laurie Strutt, decided pretty much on the spur of the moment, to take a walk through the suburbs to hunt for another possible site for the garden. We had all done it by car, but when we did it on foot, we ‘found’ our strip of land next to the North Beach Tennis Club. Unbeknown to us, Cr Felicity Farrelly was also working behind the scenes on this very same spot!
I am really enjoying working with this very special group of people whom I would not otherwise have met. I’ve been amazed how all the right skills have come together and what a great people manager we have in our chair I’m so excited about soon seeing the ongoing fulfilment of this dream for our community.
What’s Happening in Our Garden – Work done recently
There has been much activity in the patch, Dan and his team at The Artisan Co and our committee team pulling together, there was a lot of hard work accomplished. After the theft of our very large water tank (which was never tracked), there was a new one ordered, along with a shipping container to be used for our shed. Before they arrived, slabs needed to be prepared and paving laid.
Fortunately the water tank was delayed; we would have hated that to disappear again due to the delay. No one could lift the shipping container! Early the next morning, with a bit of a wind to challenge the situation, a huge crane arrived. With a bit of manoeuvring, the very heavy shipping container was hoisted over the fence and down onto the slab below the wall and locked into place. The building application for the container was quite a process and a learning experience.
The replacement water tank also arrived. It still needs moving into position before the irrigation contractor James arrives. Together they will install the tank ready for the associated equipment, including a pump, taps and IBC tanks for the wicking beds.
It won’t be long now before our garden beds will be constructed, then comes the exciting time of planting.
New Members:
CCG would like to welcome members who have so generously contributed to the work in our garden both financially and physically. Member’s fees have been put towards our garden establishment.
Up and Coming Events:
We are looking for able-bodied persons who would like to be involved with the planting and garden establishment. Please indicate your interest through our Facebook link below.
Gardening Jobs During Djilba Season:
This is a great time to get on top of any weeds before they spread their seed or before accidently digging them in to your new beds. Removing them at this time is easier as the roots are still shallow.
Dry weather is on its way; now is the time to add wetting agents, lots of organic matting such as well rotted manures and compost. Turn/mix into the sandy soils before applying a layer of mulch. This improves soil water-holding capacity, helping spring rains and watering penetrate your soil, providing more nutrients to your plants and protecting the soil against the drying heat to come.
Prep your garden beds both for vegetables and flowers. Fertilise strawberries to encourage a bumper crop.
Coming out of winter, plants can look a bit stunted or yellow. This is a good time to give them a quick kick-start with some liquid fertiliser. As plants produce their new spring growth, they will be hungry for nutrients. By applying manure, fertiliser and compost this will not only improve soil nutrition but also increase of microbial activity which assists the plants’ ability to take up these nutrients.
As plants begin to blossom, avoid fertilisers rich in nitrogen as nitrogen encourages plants to produce new foliage, making them vulnerable to insects and fungi.
Fruit trees will need a feed of liquid potash along with a general fertiliser to help bring optimal growth of fruits. Sulphate added to alkaline soils will also help with fruiting trees.
Lawns also need attention. Using a metal rake, remove any build-up of thatch and reseed the bare areas. Top dress with compost and loamy sand-based soil blend. Mowing it short will encourage the roots to grow deep. Apply a slow release lawn food to all grassed areas. Don’t over fertilise as this will cause excess growth, which will need more mowing.
Keep on top of weeds such as clover and bindii which can easily taking over and restrict the use of lawns over summer because of the prickles. Now is the time to put in a new lawn, whether by seed or rolls, so the roots will have time to establish before the heat of summer.
What to Plant Now:
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER
Flowers:
Ageratum, alyssum, aster, Californian poppy, carnation, catmint, calendula, celosia, coleus, convolvulus, cornflower, cosmos, dahlia, daisies, dianthus, echinacea, everlastings, feverfew, gazania, gerbera, holyhocks, impatiens, lavender, marigold, nasturtium, osteospermum, petunia, phlox, portulaca, primula, salvia, snapdragon, strawberry, sunflower, zinnia, calibrachoa, many are also good in hanging pots.
Vegetables:
Artichoke, basil, beetroot, cabbage, capsicums, carrot, chili, chives, coriander, cucumber, dill, broccoli, eggplant, endive, lettuce, leeks, melons, oregano, parsley, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, rocket, rhubarb, silverbeet, spring onions, summer beans, sweet corn, thyme, tomatoes and zucchini.
This Issues Native Plant:
(for our coastal region, the Bassendean and Spearwood dune sands, Perth)
This issues native plant is: Acacia lasiocarpa –
This delightful little prostrate wattle grows well in our gardens here along the coast as this is its native habitat. It has adapted to our coastal sandy, alkaline, soils, shrub and woodlands around Perth, growing to a height of 0.5 -1.5m and 1-3m wide. This little shrub has evergreen lime green foliage that produces dense ornamental golden flowers from May through to October.
The Acacia lasiocarps attracts butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects, seed eating birds, and other insects. It is a very versatile plant, tolerating coastal conditions and drought. For this reason it is ideal for low maintenance gardens and will survive hot spots and can be potted.
Plant Care
Plant in spring in a sunny position to encourage flowers although it will tolerate light shade. It prefers dry to well-drained soil.
Propagation can be done by seed in spring and autumn or by softwood cuttings. Acacia seeds germinate only if scarified lightly with sandpaper or pre-treated with boiling water. This will help water to penetrate their hard outer coating to trigger propagation. Then test to see if seeds are viable by soaking overnight; if they swell and float they are good to propagate.
Note: Some seeds will not germinate instantly so don’t discard them. Re-soaking may help them germinate as many native seeds lay dormant till the right conditions occur, so put your containers aside and wait. A hot house may also help to jumpstart propagated seeds.
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We are hoping to include a calendar of events in our next newsletter. As a part of our gardening family we would love to hear your thoughts and what you would like to see in our newsletter.
Thank you for being part of our gardening community.
Yours in the garden,
The Costal Community Garden team
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