TREES

OF

EVERGLADES

Compiled by Warwick Forrest January 2013

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Trees of the Everglades

Contents Acknowledgement p 3

Introduction p 3—4 Feature Trees of the Everglades p 5— 25 Camphor laurel—the Everglades Enigma p 26—27 Tree Management Principles p 28—29 Tree Species List p 30 Sources p 31

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Acknowledgement

Mihi Cura Futuri

‘Mine is the Care of the Future’

The profession of forestry was taught at the Australian Forestry School in Canberra from 1925 until 1965 when the functions of the School transferred to the Department of Forest-ry, Australian National University. The motto of the Forestry School was ‘Mihi Cura Fu-turi’, Mine is the Care of the Future, reflecting the concept that we manage the natural land-scape, including the planting and management of trees, for future generations. This paper acknowledges the commitment and forethought given by the early pioneer members of Everglades Country Club, to manage this landscape and plant the trees, knowing that full reward would be taken by those that follow on. That commitment and forethought in planning and acting for the future has continued through the decades and is alive today. We value and appreciate those who continue to care for the future.

Introduction The land we know today as the Everglades Country Club was settled first in the 1830’s and developed as a market garden. The local population was then small and there were other market gardens in the area so probably the clearing was quite limited initially but extended over the next few decades. Dry eucalypt forest and woodland had covered the relatively higher land of the Woy Woy peninsula and extensive freshwater wetlands oc-cupied the depressions. The cleared land was used for a riding school in the 1950’s and it was about then that clearing began for the design and layout of a golf course. Today there is evidence of several phases in the landscaping of the course to its present design and character. Taking advantage of the earlier agricultural clearing, the course was laid out, initially with nine holes and then increasing to 18 holes by the mid-1960’s. Some additional clearing was needed to define the fairways and playing areas but there would have been little interest in planting additional trees through those earliest devel-opmental years. Once the basic course was established, however, and for the next 30 years or so, members and the golf committees sought to enhance the golf course and its aesthetics by planting a wide variety of tree seedlings, including various exotic species. Evidently seedlings were donated or purchased as they came available, and this has been valuable in setting the overall ambience of today’s course. Unfortunately, the tree species used to “fill the gaps”

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included some which are now considered undesirable, particularly the camphor laurels, and some have failed. There are stories of members rolling up to the course with seed-lings in the car boot to be planted according to the whims of the time; appreciated then but inappropriate today. In recent years a more strategic approach has been taken progressively to build and re-fine the course layout, with particular emphasis on plantings designed to protect players and neighbours from the danger posed by wayward golf balls. Today, the remaining native trees together with those planted during the several phases of development are a most important feature of the Everglades Country Club landscape. They:

contribute towards effectively separating and defining each hole, usefully effect the manner of play on many holes and influence the overall course rating, provide important physical protection for players on adjoining holes and for neighbours, add significantly to the challenge, ambience and enjoyment of the game, provide habitat for native birds (and a few animals) and, particularly along the Everglades Lagoon system, are an essential part of the regionally and locally significant ecology.

Plan of Everglades Golf Course ( approximate tee and pond positions ) 1

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Feature Trees of The Everglades Golf Course The Everglades golf precinct is endowed with some remarkable trees of three vintages: —the significant remnants of the original forest and woodlands, the diverse and mostly exotic plantings from the 1970’s and ‘80s, and the more systematic plantings of mostly native species in recent years. Trees planted in the last decade or so are already showing reward for the forethought given in their selection and location. Not yet immediately noticeable, but in future years you will begin your game beside the cluster of one of the most beautiful of the flowering eucalypts*, the Western Australia flowering gum (Photo 1). (* There has been constant change in the taxonomy of the Eucalypts; in particular for this note, the previously named ‘bloodwood’ group of eucalyptus species are now classified as Corymbia species. The flowering gum that was for many years known as Eucalypus ficifolia is now correctly Corymbia ficifolia) Photo 1

Hole 1.

Beyond the flowering gums on the left of the 1st tee, the 1st fairway passes between screens of mostly swamp oak, particularly along the right side of the fairway. Planted in about 2004-5 these screens are already effective visually and for safety, and will be increasingly effective as they grow quickly higher. Further along on the left at about 100 m out from the tee is a rather imposing rough barked apple (Photo 2). It will block your second shot to the green if you have strayed too far to the left.

Photo 2

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Photo 3 A swamp mahogany (Photo 4) can block your approach to the 1st green if you have strayed too far to the right.

Photo 4

If you are well to the right of the 1st fair-way, or walking to begin your round at the 10th, you might notice the scent from the lemon-scented gums (Photo 3). Also along the pathway to the 10th are the near-native Norfolk Island pines and the radiate pines introduced from USA. (Radiata pine occurs naturally only on a very small area along the Monterey coast of California but is now the species most used in forest plantations. More than two million hectares have been planted world-wide, in-cluding 800,00 hectares in NSW. It is the dominant species of the NSW pulp and tim-ber industry but these open grown speci-mens are not so impressive.)

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From the 2nd tee, aim to the right of the grand southern mahogany (Photo 5) on the left hand side where the fairway curves to the right, but avoid the paper-bark grove to the right forward off the tee. The shot in to the 2nd green presents a similar scene, with a swamp oak grove along the drainage line to the right to be avoided. Towards the 2nd green to the left is a swamp mahogany in decline that will soon need to be removed and then a well-placed paperbark (Photo 6) guarding the bunker and the green.

Photo 5 Before you leave the 2nd green, notice also the pair of silky oaks beyond the green. You might see them again if you are way-ward to the right off the 3rd tee. Photo 6

Hole 2. Welcome the Everglades Lagoons. Firstly, as you follow the path around to the 2nd tee, admire the magnificent paperbarks on the bank of the second pond. There are seven ponds making up the Everglades Lagoons System. The first pond is to the east within the Melaleuca Wetland Reserve, the following six flow centrally through the course. Notice also the swamp mahoganys, swamp oaks and paperbarks to your right. It is not suprising these three tree species dominate the vicinity of the wetland lagoons.

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Hole 3. The third hole is played from the shelter of the beautiful old paperbarks. We will return to this grove of mature trees as we putt out on the 7th green. Pass the southern mahogany and silky oaks on the right side (Photo 7). The screen of planted swamp oaks forward left off the 3rd tee will be increasingly effective in protect-ing players on the 7th fairway from wayward balls of this tee and, in reverse, players on this fairway from any long but wayward drives off the 7th tee. Photo 7

Don’t miss the interesting but yet unnamed introduced tree (Photo 8) as you putt out and leave the 3rd green.

Photo 8

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Hole 4.

Photo 9 Photo 10

Behind the top teeing ground for the fourth hole is the fine cypress hedge of North Amer-ican , generally alternately Cypress and Chamaecyprus (Photo 9). The Chamaecyprus, Lawson cypress, has the larger flat fan arrangement of leaves (Photo 10). The drive from the 4th tee takes you past the edge of Pond 6 and along the fairway with Pond 5, the longest, on your left (Photos 11 and 12). Here you will see some of the best

specimens of old growth swamp oak (though hopefully not too closely) mixed with paperbark and southern mahoga-ny trees. Photo 11

Photo 12

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Continue left around the dog-leg to pass between Pond 3 on your left (Photo 13) and Pond 4 on your right (Photo 14)

Photo 13

Photo 14 Approach the 4th green with its magnificent backdrop of tall paperbark and swamp oak trees (Photo 15). Photo 15

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Hole 5. Drive to clear the well shaped paper bark tree (Photo 16) at the curve of the 5th fairway, but not too far left or too long or you risk being blocked by the sentinel southern mahogany (Photo 17). Again, a clump of rough barked apple and swamp mahogany guard the right hand bunker and the 5th green (Photo 18).

Photo 16 Photo 17

Photo 18

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Photo 19

As you return over the bridge past the tall exotic Chamaecy-parus tree on the left, admire the only weeping willows on the course, at the head of the 7th and last pond of the Evergreen La-goons system (Photo 20).

Photo 20

Hole 6. Enjoy the walk to the 6th tee. At the tee is one of the finest examples of a younger swamp mahogany (Photo 19). If you try to find the 6th green with a draw then you are likely to find the overhanging casuarinas to the right .

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Hole 7.

Again, the several screens of paperbarks on the right side of the 7th fairway (Photo 21) and swamp oak to the left (Photo 22) are becoming increasingly effective, protecting traf-fic on Veron St and players on the 3rd fairway from wayward golf balls.

Photo 21

Photo 22

The paperbarks standing in line behind the 7th green (Photo 23) are amongst the most impres-sive on the course.

Photo 23

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Hole 8. There are few feature trees on this hole once you are beyond the line of paperbarks on the left between tee and workshop area, but the paperbark tree to the left of the green is de-lightfully placed.

Hole 9.

A salute to the large southern mahogany we noticed on the 2nd hole (Photo 4); hopefully the camphor laurel forward right from the tee will have kept your ball in bounds if you strayed to the right. Just beyond the camphor laurel, at the so-cial tee, is one of the several brush box trees on the course (Photo 24).

Photo 24 Photo 25

On the left side standing alone before you reach the line of 2nd tee is the only specimen we have of Mexican silky pine (Photo 25). The only remaining poplar tree on the course (Photo 26) was decaying at the core and removed in November 2012 and

will soon be replaced with natives. Photo 26 And at the end of the pond is a quite attractive cockspur coral tree (Photo 27). Actually, this is a weed species with potential to invade water-ways, so will need to be watched.

Photo 27

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Hole 10. Whether you are tallying your score for the first nine holes or starting your round at the 10th, pause in the shade of the pair of fine camphor laurels (Photo 28). Photo 28 The 10th is one of the few holes on the course to favour a draw rather than a fade off the tee. Stay right to avoid the line of old-growth swamp mahogany and swamp oaks down the left side. The grand rough-barked apple on the right at about 180m from the green (Photo 29) is a good marker. Photo 29

A well-shaped southern mahogany guards the left side of the 10th green and the bunker (Photo 30) .

Photo 30

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You pass another fine spread-ing camphor laurel on your right as you leave the 10th green and move to the 11th tee (Photo 31). Photo 31

Hole 11. Now drive straight through the chute between the paper barks and swamp oaks on either side. Here and elsewhere, you will notice the blistering on the trees from the impact of so many balls that have not been quite straight enough. Pass again the fine rough barked apple near the 10th green, now on your left. Further along on your left beyond the bunker of the 10th is another fine swamp mahogany (Photo 32). Photo 32

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Stay to the left of the old-growth paperbarks and swamp oak trees along Pond 5 and then Pond 4 (Photo 33) —actually this is your last chance to visit the ponds on this round! Photo 33

At the head of Pond 4 you will find a lone coral tree (Photo 34).

Photo 34

Then notice the native cheese tree on your way around to the 12th tee (Photo 35).

Photo 35

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Hole 12.

Most noticeable here is the grove of camphor laurel forward to the left (Photo 36) . Sever-al eucalypts have been planted to replace the camphor laurels when eventually they must be removed. But the growth of these young replacement is suppressed by the heavy over-story (Photo 37). It is time for some of the camphor laurel to be removed.

Photo 36 Photo 37 Photo 38

Also of interest is the pair of Norfolk Island pines (Photo 38), not flourishing as well as you would ex-pect, and a narrow-leafed paperbark (Photo 39). Photo 39

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Hole 13. The screens of casuarinas to the right at each end of the 13th fairway are increasingly ef-fective in keeping stray balls in bounds. Of particular interest is the pair of swamp mahogany trees about 200m from the 13th green (Photo 40) on the left hand side and the corresponding pair of southern mahogany trees on the right hand side (Photo 41). They appear to be of about the same age but clear-ly the right hand pair are the more vigorous. The first of the left hand pair, at least, has some evidence of lightning strike in the past.

Photo 40 Photo 41

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Photo 42 Further along, to the left of the front bunker we have fine examples of swamp mahogany and southern mahogany growing together (Photo 42). Swamp mahogany can be distin-guished by its broader leaves and rough bark extending to the smallest branches.

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Hole 14.

Out of the short chute formed by the mature paperbarks and eucalypts and onto the rela-tively open fairway. Another mature southern mahogany about 100m out on the right (Photo 43) catches a few balls hit off line. Photo 43

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Photos 44—48

“Lightning Ridge” Consider this. Concentrated in this north-western corner of the golf course are at least eight trees with apparent severe lightning strike damage. They are not nec-essarily the tallest trees in the area. Also, the damage is largely overgrown, so it is not recent. Did all these strikes occur at about the same time? There is no im-mediate sign of similar strikes at this location in recent years. Evidently some combination of topography and meteorology left these trees exposed, for there is little sign of corresponding damage elsewhere on the course. Or is there another explanation? It would be interesting to have more information. (Photos 44—48)

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Hole 15. Playing from the backdrop of mature paper bark and smooth barked apple trees, first ne-gotiate the camphor laurel on the left (Photo 49). Who hasn’t had bother with this tree, either off this tee or the next?

Photo 49 Photo 50 The southern mahogany behind the 15th green (Photo 50) is another victim of the earlier lightning strikes. Most of the mature smooth barked and rough barked apple trees on the course are in this north-west corner, suggesting differences in topography and soils. These are angophera species, not ‘gum tree’ eucalypts. The angopheras can be distinguished most readily by their leaves which occur in opposite pairs along each twig and by the more papery, ribbed seed capsules. In contrast, the individual leaves of the eucalypts occur alternately along the twig and the ‘gum nuts’ are more uniformly round and woody.

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Hole 16.

For many of us the gap between the wide camphor laurel (now on the left) and the two trees on the right, is very narrow.

At the time of writing, the first of the trees on the right, a rough barked apple, was home to one of the course’s few native animals, a possum; it could frequently be seen in a hollow about 6m up the stem (Photo 51). The second tree on the right, is another, very attractive smooth barked apple (Photo 52).

Photo 51 Photo 52

The smooth barked apple guarding the 16th green is another tree showing damage evi-dently from a lightning strike (Photo 53).

Photo 53

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Hole 17.

Out from the hedge of lillypilly, the first small tree encountered on the right is a Syncarpia turpentine (Photo 54), a native of the east coast wet sub-tropical forests and not quite at home here. Photo 54 From the 12th tee we notice again the younger eucalypts struggling in competition with the camphor laurel, now on the left side of the fairway. To the right side, about half way to the 17th green, is a final pair of swamp mahoganys (Photo 55) Photo 55

Hole 18 The final tee lies between another cheese tree on the left side (Photo 56) and a cor-al tree (over the fence). Two tall she-oaks on the fence about half way along might save an out-of-bounds. Photo 56

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The Camphor Laurels - An Everglades Enigma

Camphor laurel was one of the first tree species to be planted at Everglades to improve the course structure and aesthetics. There are now about 150 Camphor laurel trees, in-cluding a handful of very large individuals with wide, spreading canopy, about 30 sub-stantial trees with stems about 25—40cm and a great many smaller, younger stems. The three broad groups are from the early plantings, from natural seeding since then and root shoots. (It is difficult to give an exact number; for many clusters it is not clear whether the several stems are separate plants or arise from a single root base). Many are now large, broad-spreading trees; individually and collectively they have become a significant fea-ture of the Everglades landscape. But there is a down side. The Camphor laurel is a declared noxious weed in Queensland and in a number of local government areas on the NSW north coast and in the Sydney region. As a Class 4 noxious weed under the NSW Noxious Weeds Act 1993, “ … growth of the plant must be managed in a manner that reduces its numbers, spread and influence and continuously inhibits its reproduction, …” . The leaves, fruit and wood of Camphor laurel contain moderate toxins and this is thought to be an ecological hazard. The main reason for the species being declared a nox-ious weed, however, is its potential to spread and dominate other plants, especially in the rural environment. It’s fruit are eaten by birds and then distributed widely, the seeds ger-minate and establish readily, the established trees compete strongly with other plants and trees because of their abundant, dense root system and the thick spreading canopy, thus competing strongly for space, light, water and nutrients. Generally, the Camphor laurel trees on Everglades land do not today present a major management problem. Uncontrolled spread of Camphor laurel within the golf course is restricted by the regular mowing of most areas. The adjoining land is mostly domestic/residential so spread locally is also limited. The main areas where further spread of Cam-phor laurel could be a problem are:

Un-mown areas on the golf course, particularly in the vicinity of the ponds. In the adjoining, ecologically significant Everglades Reserve surrounding the first pond of the Lagoons System, and More distant land including coastal reserves, other open space and land used for passive recreation. There are relatively few other Camphor laurel trees on the Penin-sular so those at Everglades could be the main source of seed spread by birds.

A concern for management today is that the Gosford City Council could declare Cam-phor laurel as a noxious weed at a level that would require the removal of all trees. That appears to be unlikely in the near future. It would be wise, however, to apply the precau-tionary principle by commencing a program aimed at removal of all Camphor laurel trees in the long term, say 20 years.

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Accordingly, consistent with the practice advocated by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and required in the event of a Class 4 Noxious weed Regulation applying here, a program for Camphor laurel tree removal should involve:

1. Surveillance and regular removal of any seedlings or small trees 2. Thinning or removal of trees actually competing with seedlings/saplings of

other species planted as long-term replacement 3. Removal of trees along river banks 4. Progressive reduction of the area occupied by Camphor laurel.

Implementing such a program at Everglades would involve:

Small tress being removed as opportunity and other priority work permits. Clumps of camphor laurel along the banks of Pond 5, forward of the 4th and 11th tees, and at the head of the small pond short right of the 3rd green should have priority. The small remaining stumps should be treated with a woody plant herbicide to inhibit regrowth. The few Camphor laurel trees which are severely restricting the growth of euca-lypts planted as replacement should be removed. This applies particularly to the trees in the angle between the 2nd and 5th fairways, and forward left off the 12th tee.

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Tree Management Principles

The management of trees on the golf course involves planting, pruning, thinning and re-moval. Planting. There are several reasons for planting additional trees on our course:

to replace trees that have died or for other reasons have been removed, to have young trees to an advanced stage in preparation for future removal of un-

wanted trees to minimise to potential for balls to go out of bounds, to minimise the risk of harm to other players, to better define the fairways and otherwise improve the course design, and generally to enhance the aesthetics and playing environment.

Frequently, new plantings effectively serve several purposes. Plantings in recent years have properly emphasised the 2nd—4th objective, and plantings over the next phase should continue with those priorities, particularly to minimise the risk of harm to other players. There are several locations on the course where further plantings are warranted to achieve each of these objectives. Pruning. As a general rule, pruning the lower branches will not impede the growth of a tree if it does not extend above about 1/3rd to one half of the tree height. Trees in the playing area are pruned to about 2 metres for general access or to about 2.5 metres for access by maintenance machinery. This can be done without adverse effect once the tree is above about 5 metres high. The course superintendant maintains an active program of pruning young trees, de-signed to allow reasonable access and minimise unwanted interference with golf play without lessening tree vigour and growth. Thinning. Clumps of trees growing closely together generally are thinned to remove the weaker suppressed trees and to allow the remaining trees to grow more vigorously. Groups of trees left in close competition can stagnate and become prone to disease. Thinning en-courages growth of the remaining trees , green branches remain at a lower level, and their effectiveness in stopping wayward balls can be increased. At several locations around the golf course, trees have been planted during the past 5—10 years to provide screens both along the boundary fences and between fairways. These screens are proving to be enormously effective even after the relatively short time since

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establishment. The screens have reached a stage where there is significant competition between trees and some stems are severely suppressed. Those suppressed stems can be removed to enhance the vigour and growth of the remaining trees. Tree Removal. The need for the progressive removal of the camphor laurel trees is discussed in the pre-vious chapter. Otherwise, there are few trees on the course which need to be removed in the near future, whether because of over-maturity, location or other reason. One exception is the swamp mahogany in serious decline short left of the 2nd green, which is becoming hazardous and should be removed promptly. A couple of the largest, aging swamp mahogany and southern mahogany trees have signs of over-maturity and decline, with numerous dead branches through the upper canopy; they will present an increasing hazard. Although difficult, the dead branches could be pruned to lessen the hazard. Eventually some over-mature trees will need to be removed. Such trees should be identi-fied and their removal planned even if many years away. This need has been recognised and replacement planting has continued over recent years. It is important to have a clear plan of future removals with a comprehensive replacement program.

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Tree Species Occurring at Everglades

Species native to the Central Coast

Swamp mahogany Eucalyptus robusta Southern mahogany Eucalyptus botryoides Broadleafed paperbark Melaleuce quinquenervia Swamp oak Casuarina glauca Smooth barked apple Angophera costata (syn A. lanceolata) Rough barked apple Angophera floribunda Cheese tree Glochidion ferdinandi Grey ironbark Eucalyptus paniculata Red Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera Bloodwood Eucalyptus gummifera Coastal banksia Banksia integrifolia Narrow leafed paperbark Melaleuca linearifolia

Other species native to Australia Silky oak Grevillia robusta Tallowwood Eucalyptus microcorys Brush box Lophostemon conerftus Lemon scented gum Eucalyptus citriodora Lillypilly various species/varieties Sydney peppermint Eucalyptus piperita Narrow leafed ironbark Eucalyptus nicholli Red flowering gum Eucalyptus ficifolia Norfolk Island pine Auricaria excelsa

Species Introduced into Australia Weeping willow Salix babylonica China; S.E.Asia Coral tree Erythrina sykesii Tropics; Hawaii Camphor laurel Cinnamonum camphora China; Japan Radiata pine Pinus radiata USA California Mexican silky pine Pinus patula Mexico Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa USA California Lawson cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana USA west coast Lombardy Poplar Populus nigra Italica Italy, Mediterranean Cockspur coral tree Erythrina crista-galli South America

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Sources The brief history in the Introduction is drawn mainly from the Everglades Country Club publication ‘50 years celebration—2000’. The text was compiled by Warwick Forrest, with photos taken by Warwick in Septem-ber—November 2012. The draft has been reviewed by the Club’s Environment Commit-tee and the Greens Committee.