15th FJC Rogers Seminar - Epacrids 2025

30/07/2025

How perfect is the weather forecast for the seminar this weekend. There are still places available for Saturday and we've found a few extra seats on the bus for Sunday's coach tour so it's not too late to purchase tickets.

We are being joined on Saturday by the following nurseries who have grown Epacrids especially for attendees to purchase at the seminar. We thank Seawind Nursery Volunteers, Waterfall Gully Nursery and Vaughan's Native Nursery for their support.

Tickets available at: https://events.humanitix.com/photography-competition-epacrids-2025

26/07/2025

If you've forgotten to buy a ticket or your plans for next weekend change, there are a limited number of tickets for the Saturday program available. These will not include catering so you will need to bring snacks and lunch.

You won't want to miss the following speakers and panelists on Saturday 2nd August.
Professor Darren Crayn, Director Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University

Professor Kingsley Dixon, Professor of Botany, University of Western Australia

Sarah Fared, BcS (Hons) Ecology, Tasmania

Peter Cooley, CEO Indigrow NSW

James Wood Manager, Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Tony Thake, Diploma of Horticulture and Degree in Biological Sciences, volunteer for Seawinds Nursery Volunteers

Helen Arnott, Diploma of Horticulture, Owner Waterfall Gully Nursery

Leanne Scott, Senior Nursery Officer, Briars Nursery, Mornington Peninsula Shire

David Hancock, Founder and Consultant of Natural Area Holdings Pty. Ltd. Treasurer for Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia, member of The International Plant Propagators Society.

For more information on all the speakers, panelists and guides or to buy tickets go to: https://events.humanitix.com/-jmqntwlj

23/07/2025

Only a few days are left to buy tickets for the 15th FJC Rogers Seminar concentrating on Australian Heaths, where you can learn from leading experts in the field. Fewer than 10 tickets are available for the entire seminar, so act quickly if you want to secure your spot for the Sunday bushland tour. Plenty of tickets left if you can only make it on Saturday.
More information available at: https://apsvic.org.au/fjc-rogers-seminar-2025/
Or purchase tickets at: https://events.humanitix.com/-jmqntwlj

19/07/2025

With just 1 week left to purchase tickets, it's time to introduce you to Saturday's propagation discussion panelists.

Prof. Kingsley Dixon will lead what promises to be a lively session with growers sharing their successes, failures, and “tricks”.

David Hancock -Founder and consultant of Natural Area Holdings Pty. Ltd. Treasurer for Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia and member of The International Plant Propagators Society. His restoration focus has been on recalcitrant species propagation and developing methods to overcome seed dormancy.

Tony Thake -Has a Diploma of Horticulture and Degree in Biological Sciences and since retiring volunteers at Parks Victoria's Seawinds Nursery Volunteers. He has a role in the vegetative propagation of a wide range of local species including Epacrids.

Helen Arnott - Owner of Waterfall Gully Nursery
Helen has nearly 40 years in the nursery industry, the last 30 operating a small wholesale nursery with her husband in Moorooduc. She would love to see the Epacrids more readily available in the nursery industry for the home gardener, landscape designer and the revegetation sector.

Leanne Scott - Nursery Co-ordinator, The Briars Nursery.

Phil Vaughan - Owner of Vaughans Native Nursery, Pomonal.
Phil is well known for the boutique native plants he produces.

Tickets available until 26th July from: https://events.humanitix.com/-jmqntwlj

17/07/2025

Don't forget entries for the photography competition close Wednesday, 23rd July.

Go spotting with family & friends or scroll through your files and send in a few.
Encourage children or grandchildren to take some shots and enter.
No need to be a professional - closeups or from afar, digital, film or phone– all photos are eligible.

All details can be found at: https://events.humanitix.com/photography-competition-epacrids-2025

12/07/2025

There's less than 20 seats left on the coach tour so don't miss out on Sunday 3rd August's guided tour of Mornington Peninsula's bushland reserves. 5 experts will show you some of the 15 local Epacrids in there natural setting, many of which will be in flower.

Leon Costermans OAM, legendary geologist, botanist and well known author, will show you the highlights of Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve.

The Bunarong Park tour will be led by Robyn Tyson, currently leader of APS Mornington Peninsula, and Vice President of APS Victoria. She has been a resident of the Peninsula for 25 years and loves nothing better than looking at native plants in there wild setting in the bush.

Lee Denis, Environmental Scientist, who has volunteered at Pentland Gardens for many years with a particular project of cataloguing, mapping and labelling the collection will share his knowledge of the Epacrids in the gardens.

Devilbend Natural Features Reserve will see both local conservationist Gidja Walker and citizen scientist Hansi Walker leading the tour. Between these two you are sure to see and learn a lot about the Epacrids in this special reserve that surrounds the decommissioned water reservoirs.

More information and tickets can be found at: https://events.humanitix.com/-jmqntwlj

02/07/2025

Check out the list of speakers for the 15th FJC Rogers Seminar - 2nd & 3rd August 2025 in Mornington, Victoria,

Professor Darren Crayn, Director Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University: " A ramble through the Australian heaths" . The talk will cover the biology, ecology, taxonomy and evolution of the Australian heaths – the Epacrids, including some emerging research.

Professor Kingsley Dixon, Professor of Botany, University of Western Australia: "Facts and fiction about growing Epacrids "- unlocking and unravelling the extraordinary habits of the Ericaceae, what we know and how we have made some steps forward but with road blocks and U-turns along the way.

Sarah Fared, BcS (Hons) Ecology, Tasmania: "Epacrids and animals - a story of pollinators, nectar robbers and seed dispersers" Epacrids and animals - a story of pollinators, nectar robbers and seed dispersers

Peter Cooley, CEO Indigigrow NSW: "Success in propagation and cultivation of Styphelia" - Styphelia viridis is more than a plant. Known as ‘Five Corners’ or ‘Fivies’ this endangered native berry tastes like bush lollies and holds deep cultural significance - and proud Bidjigal man Peter Cooley is on a mission to save it in his local area. He has been responsible for not just propagating but for getting the plants to grow successfully once planted out. He will tell the story of his success.

James Wood, Manager, Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Germinating wild epacrid seed - successes and failures -An important component of successful seed banking is to ensure the seeds are viable. A description of seed banks’ approach to testing, briefly explaining dormancy and then getting into the variation of dormancy behaviour in Epacris and our struggles with the stone fruited species of Tasmania.

Don't forget to buy your ticket today https://events.humanitix.com/-jmqntwlj

30/06/2025

Do you love taking photos of plants?

Have you heard there will be an Epacrids photography competition at the seminar that's open for all to enter?

No need to be a professional - closeups or from afar, digital, film or phone– all photos are eligible.

Perfect reason to go spotting with family & friends or scroll through your files and send in a few.

Encourage children or grandchildren to take some shots to enter as well.

More information can be found at https://events.humanitix.com/photography-competition-epacrids-2025

30/05/2025

17/05/2025

Have you seen the Logo for the 15th FJC Rogers Seminar - Epacrids 2025 and wondered what the species name of each flowers is?

Flowers chosen for the FJC Rogers Epacrids logo provide a close-up that are often larger than what you would see at a glance in their native habitat.

How many can you identify?

When you are ready to see the answers, scroll down and have a look at the “round-the-clock” list to see how many you have correct.

If you love our logo as much as we do, you can purchase a t-shirt or polo shirt featuring it. Just visit https://events.humanitix.com/-jmqntwlj/tickets and scroll down to Add-ons to find the available options and place your order.
We would love you to show your support!

15/05/2025

Isn't it great to see some Epacrids beginning to flower even in the continuing dry conditions?
From the larger brighter flower of the Epacris reclinata or Fuchsia Heath to the easy to miss Monotoca scoparia or Prickly Broom-Heath, it's a fantastic time to get out and see how many you can spot.
Don't forget there's just over 2 weeks to get your early bird tickets for the 15th FJC Rogers Seminar about Epacrids and save yourself up to $45.
More information can be found at: https://events.humanitix.com/-jmqntwlj

05/04/2025

It was great to see some Epacrids used as a display on the Australian Native Plants Society - Australia stand at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show last weekend. With their mass of flowers and wonderful foliage they are real showstoppers in any garden.
Imagine how amazing it would be if we could uncover the propagation technique for some of the rare Epacrids so they could be grown in everyone’s gardens. To learn the latest approach in propagating these challenging plants book a ticket to the 15th FJC Rogers Seminar - Epacrids 2025.

More information can be found at https://apsvic.org.au/fjc-rogers-seminar-2025/ or to book a ticket go to https://events.humanitix.com/-jmqntwlj