Newsletter: August 2003
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN IRIS SOCIETY Inc.
EDITORIAL
We've had a couple of brief glimpses of spring weather and there will be more to come I hope! The weeds are rushing skywards and the current chore is excavating the iris beds to give them some sunshine when/if it happens. Lots of super early seedlings are blooming and some are surprisingly tough. They have had gale force winds, heavy rain and some large hail stones and still have blooms looking fresh. The vast majority are dogs that will go to the burning heap but there are several that are worth growing on for another look. It's exciting watching the new ones open as you never know what the next one will be. Hybridizing is a good hobby for patient gardeners with lots of space to fill. Do you know anyone who has space in their garden?
SHOW PREPARATIONS are well under way. VOLUNTEERS are desperately needed for setting up on Friday (between 1pm and 8.30pm). We need people who are able to lift trestles and boxes of bottles. We also need people to staff various areas on Saturday and Sunday - Door, raffle, club sales, information and commission tables. On Sunday we also need people at 4pm to help pack everything up again. Once again there is heavy lifting to be done. Please contact anyone on the show committee if you are able to spare some time. Club plants - we also need volunteers to help dig and label the club plants at Mitterers. Suitable dates will be decided soon.
INLAND REGION IRIS SHOW
The Yarrawonga Showgrounds Wool Pavilion is the venue for this show on Saturday 18th October from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. Admission is free; there will be afternoon tea and a trading table. If anyone would like to enter the show the Show Schedule is available from the library or phone Joy Wilson on 03 5744 3143.
OLD CATALOGUES
Marlene Gibson is looking for old catalogues for coloured photos to use on the trading tables. Her phone number is 8289 3759 if you can help.
SPEAKERS COMING SOON
Julia Jacobs will demonstrate flower arranging using iris at the September meeting. Please bring cuts she can use if you have any. October meeting will be Carol and Ivar Schmidt on judging. The November meeting will be the presentation of trophies earned at the show. December will be the end of year celebration dinner.
FUTURE GUEST SPEAKERS
Who would you like to hear? What topics would you like to learn more about? If you have any suggestions for 2004 please contact anyone on the general committee as we are working on next years programme now. Three suggestions have been made and more will be very welcome. Those suggested are Phillipa Roberts, a teacher at Marryatville High School and a member of Friends of Eden Park, John Schultz from Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens, and Jan Forrest from 'Butterfly Conservation SA Inc.
MINUTES of the meeting held on 10th July 2003 at Mullins Gallery.
Apologies - Roger Beech, Carol and Ivar Schmidt, Graham Kuchel, Ann Pillay, Jessica Carlson-Jones, Doreen Churchill.
Welcome - to Belinda and Carl who are intending to join the society soon.
Correspondence - NZ Iris society bulletin, Camellia show notice, NSW, Inland Region and WA Newsletters, Zoo Times, Our Garden Magazine. All put in library.
Southern Zone Delegate to Garden clubs of Australia - John Turner has been appointed.
Business - Members were asked to approve having a spare key cut for the hall as Ivar had taken the key away with him and it was a problem to find someone to open the hall for the meeting. All approved.
Show Committee Report - was presented and on going expenditure was approved for this years show. A vote of thanks tendered to Jenni Kempe and the Riverton Hospital for computer work on schedules and flyers. A donation of $50 is to be made to Riverton Hospital. Nell Tanner has wide based coffee jars for displays.
2005 Convention Committee Report - The committee has met regularly. Samples of the logo/slogan are being drawn up by a professional Graphic Artist along with brochures and a letterhead. A draft letter and prospectus has been compiled, and with the letterhead, should be complete by next meeting. The committee is working on the budget for the convention and also examining the revenue from sub leasing floor space at the convention.
Show and tell - Colleen Modra - spikes of Iris reticulata, TB Olymparico, Kevin Neilson's Lyric Dance, Bulbinella floribunda. Rhonda Burg - a spike of Green and Gifted. Sue Stribley - colourful wooden iris found in Rundle Mall. Marg Kuchel - photos of some new super early seedlings.
GUEST SPEAKER - JUNE TAYLOR -'THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF HERBS'
June Taylor has the TLC Herb Farm at Aldinga. She also works as a media consultant, in TV production and on a radio talkback gardening program with Michael Keelan on 5AA.
The 5 acre farm at Aldinga was previously a cereal farm with no trees when they purchased it. There were bugs of all kinds including fleas and snails. It was difficult to get trees established initially but now there are mature trees and natives and the herb gardens.
Herbs can be used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic and pest control purposes and make fabulous companion plants in the garden. They preserve and protect the environment. There are now no bugs on the farm.
Five years ago June contracted Ross River Virus while filming for the Dog and Cat Management Board at a pet refuge. She was very ill for weeks and was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and later Rheumatoid Arthritis as a result of the Ross River infection. At the time she was con fined to a wheelchair and was told she would probably stay in it for life.
June decided that she was not going to remain in the wheelchair and working with her doctor and a Naturopath began using herbs medicinally as well as conventional medicine. The result now is that she is very active again with no symptoms of the infection. If anyone is going to try herbal remedies and already taking conventional medications be sure to consult your doctor as some herbal remedies cannot be used with conventional medications.
The herbs she used most to cure herself were thyme and sage but others were also used.
Thyme: - There are over 400 varieties. Vulgaris is the common thyme which is very good planted as a companion plant with iris and vegetables. It is good for respiratory ailments - asthma, bronchitis and coughs as a tea with lemon and honey. The active ingredient is thymol which is a strong antiseptic disinfectant. Use fresh, 1 teaspoon to a cup or half a teaspoon if dried. Thyme helps to sleep, can be used as a scrub in the shower and included in sleep pillows with lavender, lemon balm and lemon verbena.
Stevia: - to sweeten teas. Stevia is much sweeter than sugar and can be used as a substitute by diabetics.
Sage: - Salvia officionalis is the only sage that can be eaten or used medicinally. It is a strong antiseptic disinfectant (as strong as solyptol) and can be used for cuts and sore throats. Sage tea as a gargle will help sore throats and bleeding gums. It will heal a tooth removal wound very quickly. As a drink it will reduce fever, aids digestion and the liver and helps reduce hot flushes associated with menopause.
For arthritis, swamp pennywort eaten fresh is very good.
Rosemary: - is cleansing. It was used during the great plague in tussie mussies with roses, lavender, sage and thyme and strewn on the floors in an attempt to prevent the plague. It was also burnt to cleanse the air.
Drape washed nappies and handkerchiefs over rosemary and lavender to cleanse and dry. Rosemary should be cut back after flowering and the cuttings can be dried to use as fire starters as can many other herbs. Hang bunches over the cooktop, use rosemary as skewers under the griller. Rosemary is good for memory. It can be used to make herbal oils. Oils can be brushed over meat before cooking. The oil can also be used as a massage into joints for arthritis and massaged into the scalp for baldness.
Garlic: - is the best natural antibiotic. It helps boost the immune system. Taken daily in March and April for 4 to 6 weeks it helps prevent colds. It also reduces high cholesterol and blood pressure. Used as a compress on open wounds it prevents infection. When adding to food put in in the last couple of minutes of cooking to retain medicinal values. For flavour only put in at the beginning of cooking.
Calendula: - flowers for eczema and age spots also psoriasis and dandruff, can be used as a rinse made like tea or as oil for massaging.
Parsley: - chewed after eating garlic takes away bad breath.
Wormwood: - keeps lice and ticks away from chooks when planted in their yards. It can be used in cupboards for silverfish and moths. Put in an old sock and use to wash hair to kill head lice.
Fennel: - is good for digestion. Rub fresh fennel on cats or dogs to kill fleas. Balm of Gilead is an insect repellant.
Lemon scented herbs can be rubbed on exposed skin to repel mosquitoes. Tansy repels flies, Rue repels cats. Feverfew is good for migraine headache; it can be eaten with bread and butter and vegemite.
Lavender - Only the English variety can be eaten. Bay leaves keep weevils away. Mice hate mint. Elderflower tea is good for hay fever.
A spray made with garlic, chillies and santolina will get rid of snails.
Planting herbs between irises will get rid of bugs.
Herb oils: - sterilize clean glass jars, put herb in first 1/3 herb and 2/3 light olive oil, grape seed or almond (but not polyunsaturated), seal and put in a sunny windowsill for one to two weeks. Strain and used with meats or salads or for massage. Herbs can be mixed if wanted.
June's garden at Lot 10 Old Coach Road, Aldinga is open during the week for group bookings.
At the end of her talk June offered sleep pillows and copies of her video for sale. The videos are available in video stores for $39.95.
