Sunday 3 February 2008

Planning for the year ahead

John and I spent an hour in the bushland pulling veldgrass, then the others (Kim, Vicki, Kate, and Dorothy) came and we gathered for our committee meeting to plan for the coming year.
Kate told us about her Blackflag trials - it seems that Dalapon is the only herbicide suitable for bushland use that has any significant effect on Blackflag - about 25% reduction in plants each year. We will continue mapping Blackflag infestations, and Vicki will check out our budget for spraying Dalapon.
Freesia seems to be responding to our current spraying regime - and Vicki is getting quotes for spraying this coming year.
Lachenalia has been problematic - is not hard to control, but needs to be sprayed at a different time to Freesia - Kate suggested speaking with a colleague (Karen Bettink) at Urban Nature to see if there is any funding available to help with this.
Vicki is also getting quotes for spraying veldgrass. There was some discussion about why spraying with fusilade does not appear to kill all veldgrass - even when applied at the correct time and concentration. There was also discussion about ways of reducing the cost of spraying veldgrass. We suggested that maybe The Friends could assist by spot-spraying lightly infested areas at the same time that the contractor is in the bushland.
Kerri brought much welcomed refreshments (frozen fruit icecream - Cantelope/rock mellon, kiwi fruit, banana, and red grapes). Meeting adjourned at 11am. It was getting pretty hot by then.

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