Albany Branch
The Albany Branch is a small and dedicated group that run a number of activities. A Wildflower Show is organised every September, as are regular excursions and meetings with guest speakers. The Branch plays a large role in coordinating the Albany Herbarium. The group is also passionate about conservation issues in the area.
The Branch meets at the Albany Herbarium, behind the DPaW office (entry cnr Moir & Hymus Streets) on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7.30 pm. The Saturday following the meeting, an outing is held. Members meet at the Herbarium to car-pool at 8.50am, for a day trip to a local Reserve or National Park. Meetings are not held in September, due to the Wildflower Show or January.
The Herbarium is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 9.30am to 12pm.
President: Lynda Strahan, 0438 127 534
Secretary: Wendy Minchin, 9845 1220
Address: Herbarium, PO Box 937, Albany 6331,
Telephone 9842 4545
email: albanyherb@dbca.wa.gov.au (email checked on Tuesdays and Wednesday – office hours)
Events
November Meeting
Local member and avid bird-watcher Margaret Nash will be presenting a talk on 21st November on her recent Wildlife Safari in Southern Africa. It will focus mostly on the birds and mammals of the areas she visited, but also on Geological features and some of the world’s oldest plants.
October Meeting
On October 17th, Sylvia Leighton will be our guest speaker. Sylvia has just completed her Masters degree, and will present her findings on the impact 20 years of Blue Gum farming has had on farm soils. She will also talk about the ongoing re-vegetation work they are undertaking, trying to create new habitats and Wildlife Corridors through their farm.
Albany 2017 Wildflower Exhibition
September 20th to 23rd at St John’s Hall, York Street, Albany. The exhibition features over 500 local Wildflower specimens as well as vases of home grown Wildflowers and vases of Wildflowers from different districts around Albany. This year we are pleased to be able to collaborate with local Noongar man Larry Blight, who will present a display on local Bush food and Medicinal Plants (11am daily). Opening hours are from 9am to 4pm Wednesday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday, and admission is $5 Adults (children free entry).
August Meeting
The August meeting (15th) features a talk by local orchid expert and commercial seed collector Keith Smith. The talk is titled “Seed Dispersal Vectors-Friends and Ferals”. The inspiration for Keith’s talk comes from decades of observation of reserves and farmland in the Albany region, and will explain the interesting and sometimes surprising ways that both native seeds and weed seeds transition through the landscape.
August Outing
Will be to Twin Creeks reserve in the Porongurup region on Saturday 19th August. Meet at the Albany Regional Herbarium at 8.50am to car pool. BYO morning tea, lunch and seat.