Welcome to Watermelon & Waves our Coastal Community Garden Newsletter.
We have now entered our winter season or Makuru. We are now entering into the coldest and wettest part of the year from June to July. Makuru is known by the Noongar people as the season of fertility as birds, reptiles and animals pair up in preparation for breeding. It is also the season for the blue and purple flowers to emerge, such as the purple flag (Patersonia occidentalis mentioned in last years June-July post)
Link to this seasons updates:
- What’s Happening in Our Garden
- Up and Coming Events
- Gardening Jobs During this Season: June – July
- What to Plant Now
- This Issues Native Plant – Snakebush (Hemiandra pungens)
What’s Happening at the Patch
Lots has been happening this past month. The Biodiversity Open Day at Henderson Environmental went well, with new members signing up for a very special one off price and their name in the draw for the raffle. City of Stirling was also very generous with a stack more plants for the garden, some native and some not, quite a few bush tucker plants and three mulberry plants to add to our fruit trees.
A big thank you to all those who lent a hand moving pavers early May. These were used to pave a flat area beside our shipping container which will be very convenient for future functions.
Thank you also to all the friendly faces who arrived with vigour and zeal for our Busy Bee days. They all put their backs into the work digging out the dreaded couch and kikuyu grass in front of the shipping container. We also erected a donated compost bit which was then loaded with garden refuge (no not the grass runners). Even the children were hard at work moving and stacking bricks. Our second and third Busy Bee was also well attended. It was a delight to see so many members coming down to get involved. We are now planning a Busy Bee day once a fortnight. So if you are free and able to join us please do. There is always something needed to be done especially now that the rains have begun.
We had an incident with a broken reticulation pipe which flooded the grounds running onto the tennis courts. On another occasion some very powerful sprinklers had come on. With Dan’s problem solving knowledge he worked out that it was not our reticulation but an old system that had previously been used by the tennis club. Once informed they turned their old system off and disconnect it.
There is always something needed to be done especially now that the rains have begun so if you are available we would love for you to join us. We will be putting spades into the dirt and our backs into the labour. Keep your eye out for our invitation emails and come on down, meet other members and get involved.
Up and Coming Events: 
Check facebook page for updates on our fortnightly Busy Bee dates.
We hope to send out a reminder email for these and other events as they approach.
Gardening Jobs During Makuru Season:
While it’s wet, make good use of your time and clean out the shed. Check your tools; clean, sharpen and lubricate and apply linseed oil to wooden handles. Make sure handles are secure on shovels, spades, rakes etc. Check, clean and neatly store PPE (personal protective equipment). Wash gardening gloves. Sort out all your chemicals and remove any unlabelled, out of date or damaged packaging. Do not pour this down the drain or throw into bins; contact your local council to know how to dispose of it safely.
Get your lawnmower serviced and blades sharpened.
When weather permits, get into the garden to reassess and tidy up. After being cooped up inside on those very cold or rainy days it’s a joy to make the most of the sunny weather when we can. Cut back and tidy up the old and twiggy foliage of herbaceous perennials like chrysanthemums, leaving any new growth.
This is also the time of the year to start pruning:
- Deciduous trees and shrubs – compost leaves and mulch smaller branches.
- Roses can be pruned from late June to August.
- Don’t prune frost damaged shrubs and trees until the danger of frosts has passed.
If you haven’t already done so it’s a good time to check and clean your gutters. Leaf litter from deciduous trees may block the water flow potentially causing damage to ceilings and walls.
Hand watering is still permitted during the winter months but all reticulation and bores should now be turned off from 1st June to 31st August.
If you have a pond, cover it with a net to prevent falling leaves in and turning it murky.
Keep indoor plants away from heaters, reduce water to all pots inside and out.
Move sensitive outdoor potted plants into a more sheltered spot under the veranda or eves, this also prevents them from getting waterlogged.
Now is the time to check your compost heap. Make sure it is not getting to wet, if necessary place an old canvas over it to help keep the rain off.
Winter is not the time to fertilise lawns as they are dormant. Wait for warmer weather during spring.
This is a great time to install a rainwater tank in preparation for the drier summer days.
And you thought winter was a time to snuggle up indoors with a hot cuppa! Plenty of time to do that when the rain is pelting down.
What to Plant Now:
JUNE – JULY
Flowers:
Ageratum, alyssum, ameranthus, Aurora daisy, aster, begonia, boronia, calendula, California poppy, carnation, celosia, chrysanthemum, cockscomb, coleus, coreopsis, cosmos, dahlia (seed), delphinium, dianthus, everlasting daisy, gaillardia, gazania, geranium (seed), gerbera, mignonette, nasturtium, ornamental chilli, petunia, phlox, portulaca, rudbeckia, salvia, snapdragon, spider flower, statice, strawflower, sunflower, Swan River daisy, verbena, viscaria, waratah, zinnia.
Vegetables:
Artichoke, asparagus, beans, beetroots, broccoli, cabbages, capsicums, carrots, Chinese cabbages, cress, cucumbers, endive, herbs, lettuces, melons, mustard, spring onions, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb crowns, shallots, silverbeet, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini.
This Issues Native Plant:
(for our coastal region: the Bassendean and Spearwood dune sands Perth)
Snakebush (Hemiandra pungens)
This month I’d like to look at a ground cover. This one is excellent for areas where you don’t want dogs or other pets to go as it has very prickly foliage. It is commonly found on the Coastal Plain, Darling Scarp and ranges which means it survives well in our sandy soils. A prostrate shrub has tubular flowers that can variety in colours from purple, pink or white. It’s very tough, drought resilient growing up 60cm in height, spreading to several square metres.
Plant care
Snakebush will tolerate our alkaline soil. It prefers well drained soil, dry conditions and full sun.
Can be propagated from seed or cuttings.
Fun fact – the flowers are designed to attract insect pollinators which see blue, violet or white colours. The petals function as a landing-pad with a spotted trail to guide the insects to the nectar. Nectar-guides may also contain trails of scent or ultra-violet markings which are invisible to the human eye.
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We are still working to include a calendar of events on our website.
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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