THE BOTANIC GARDEN - BGANZ€¦ · Friends of Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Inc Friends of Geelong...

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THE BOTANIC GARDEN A Newsletter for the Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand – www.bganz.org.au ISSN 1446-2044 Issue 26 – MARCH 2010

Transcript of THE BOTANIC GARDEN - BGANZ€¦ · Friends of Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Inc Friends of Geelong...

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THE BOTANIC GARDENA Newsletter for the Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand – www.bganz.org.au

ISSN 1446-2044Issue 26 – MARCH 2010

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1CONTENTS

President’s View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Giving Other Gardens a Hand

BGANZ website updatePhilip Moors , BGANZ President

BGANZ Congress 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

BGANZ Memberships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

News from BGCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Belinda Hawkins, Research and Communications Officer, BGCI

Reports on Arts and Events in Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Maranoa Gardens – Inaugural Open Day 15 August 2009Paul Birch , Maranoa Gardens

Botanic Gardens of Adelaide – Arts and EventsJohn Sandham, Collections Development Officer, Botanic Gardens of Adelaide

Arts and events in Kings Park and Botanic GardenMarcelle Broderick , Director Business and Visitor Services, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Perth

Inclusion and Balance – Art, Events and the Mackay Regional Botanic GardensDale Arvidsson, Curator; Maya Harrison , Visitor Services Officer; Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens

New Sculpture for Wellington Botanic GardenDavid Sole, Manager, Botanic Gardens of Wellington, NZ

Reports from Botanic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Bendigo Botanic Gardens – Update February 2010Kevin Walsh, Landscape Planner, City of Greater Bendigo

Items of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

A Time for ChangeLorraine Perrins , Horticulturist, Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens, personal viewpoint

Conferences and Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Limited – The Gardens’ Sculpture Prize Jan Noble, Chair BGANZ NSW

Australian Inland Botanic Gardens – Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens ConferenceWendy Hallinan , Education Administration Officer, Australian Inland Botanic Gardens

BGANZ Qld Conference 2010 – Community Linkages & Partnerships Merilyn Haigh, Visitor Services Officer, Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens, Gladstone Regional Council

BGANZ NSW Conference 2010 – Where to Now? A preview of the Hunter Region Botanic GardensJan Noble, Chair, BGANZ NSW

Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Editorial Committee

Dr Philip Moors Director and Chief Executive, Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne and BGANZ President

Dr Tim Entwisle Executive Director, Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney and BGANZ Vice‑President (Australia)

Mr Mark Fountain Deputy Director Collections and Research, Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens and BGANZ Council Member

Ms Helen Paulsen Manager Parks and Regional Gardens, Mackay Regional Council

Managing Editor: Brigitta Wimmer

Graphic Designer: Siobhan Duffy

Cover photo: Bookleaf Memorial in the Water Garden, WA State Botanic Garden (BGPA Perth)

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PRESIDENT’S VIEW

Giving Other Gardens a HandPhilip Moors

The staff, Friends and volunteers at botanic gardens in New Zealand and Australia are an incredibly skilled and experienced group of people – and those skills and experiences can be a vital ‘aid resource’ for gardens and their gardeners in other parts of the world.

Many new gardens have been created world‑wide over the past few decades, especially in Asia. For example in China there were only 12 botanic gardens in 1950, gradually increasing to 123 over the following 40 years ‑ but then almost doubling to 209 between 1990 and 2009. BGANZ members can really help to get new gardens firmly established and contributing to their communities by setting up direct links with individual gardens and by supporting collective activities with organisations like BGCI.

A first BGANZ step along this path of ‘building the capacity’ of new gardens was taken in March in Singapore. For 15 days and under the BGANZ banner, six staff from the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, the Botanic Gardens Trust Sydney and the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide teamed up with 13 colleagues from BGCI, Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh to deliver the first International Certificate in Botanic Garden Management in the Asia Pacific Region. The course was attended by 16 horticulturists and botanists from gardens in nine countries ranging from India to Vietnam, Myanmar, China and Brunei. Attendance by the Sydney staff was sponsored by HSBC and the Melbourne staff by the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria.

The course was hosted by Singapore Botanic Gardens and comprised eight learning modules covering topics such as collection policies, plant record systems, horticulture, masterplanning, education and ex situ conservation. Participants had field trips to sites in the Gardens and elsewhere in Singapore and also undertook a project related to an aspect of the course that was of value to their home garden.

This inaugural course aimed to provide a practical program relevant to the resources of the various countries and gardens, but within the context of how global botanic gardens are approaching key issues such as plant conservation, climate change, community education and collections management. Resources permitting, the organising partners hope to conduct the course again and it would be excellent to involve trainers from more BGANZ gardens – so if you or your garden are interested, please register this interest with Brigitta Wimmer.

Back at BGANZ, a great deal of work has recently been under way by Brigitta Wimmer and Siobhan Duffy in redesigning and upgrading our website. It’s still a work in progress, but there are a number of new features, and there will soon be text and news from the four Regional Groups. Another innovation will be a members‑only section containing policies, masterplans, collections plans and similar documents that member gardens can adapt for themselves – and avoid reinventing more wheels! We will also have a calendar of events where representatives of the Regional Groups (or nominated people from jurisdictions without a Regional Group) can directly upload their planned activities for a better picture of what is happening in botanic gardens. These were some of the ideas from the BGANZ Discussion Session at the Mackay Congress in October. So, go and have a look at the developing website – and send new content to Brigitta for uploading.

The theme of the July 2010 issue of The Botanic Garden will be ‘Horticulture and Zoos: Interaction of Plants and Animals.

The deadline for contributions will be Monday, 28 June 2010. Please contact the Secretariat if you are intending to submit an article.

BGANZ Congress 2011Just a reminder that the next BGANZ Congress will be hosted by the Alice Springs Desert Park from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 May 2011.

For the first time this conference will be a joint meeting with the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), better known previously as the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA).

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3BGANZ promotes the interests and activities of Australian and New Zealand botanic gardens and botanic gardens generally and enhances the state of botanic gardens for the benefit of the community. Membership will give you opportunities for information exchange, advocacy and grant opportunities. BGANZ conferences will provide you with further benefits in your professional development.

Generally we update our membership list a number of times during the year on the BGANZ website but we thought it useful to include the latest list in the newsletter, so you can check instantly.

BGANZ MEMBERSHIPS

Are you currently a member or have you overlooked renewing your membership? Would you like to become a member? You may be aware that since last year a new member joining between 1 January and 30 June and paying the annual subscription will have the benefit of membership through until 30 June of the following year ‑ ie potentially up to 18 months of membership.

Further details including membership forms and fees are available on the website http://www.bganz.org.au/membership.html

Institutional Members

Albury Botanic Gardens www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au

Alexandra Gardens, Ararat www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Alice Springs Desert Park www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au

Auburn City Council www.auburn.nsw.gov.au

Auckland Botanic Gardens http://www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz

Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden http://www.australian-aridlands-botanic-garden.org

Australian National Botanic Gardens www.anbg.gov.au/anbg

Barossa Bushgardens www.barossa.sa.gov.au

Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority www.bgpa.wa.gov.au

Botanic Gardens of Adelaide www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au

Botanic Gardens of Wellington http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/gardens/

Botanic Gardens Trust Sydney www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

Brisbane Botanic Gardens (Brisbane City Council) www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/botanicgardens

Cairns Botanic Gardens http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cairns/services/botanic_gardens/fbg_main.htm

Christchurch Botanic Gardens www.ccc.govt.nz/BotanicGardens

City of Ballarat www.ballarat.vic.gov.au

City of Greater Bendigo www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

City of Yarra www.yarracity.vic.gov.au

Coff Harbour City Council (North Coast Regional Botanic Garden) www.ncrbg.com.au

Dandenong Ranges Gardens www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Dunedin Botanic Gardens www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/botanic-garden

Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden Inc www.emuvalleyrhodo.com.au

Geelong Botanic Garden www.geelongcity.vic.gov.au

George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens www.nt.gov.au/nretas

George Pentland Botanic Gardens www.frankston.vic.gov.au

Glenelg Shire Council http://www.glenelg.vic.gov.au

Hamilton Gardens www.hamiltongardens.co.nz

Hepburn Shire Council www.hepburnshire.com.au

Horsham Rural City Council http://www.hrcc.vic.gov.au

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Ltd. www.huntergardens.org.au

Mackay Regional Botanic Garden www.mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au

Maranoa Gardens, Vic www.boroondara.vic.gov.au

Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanical Garden www.maroochy.qld.gov.au

Moreton Bay Regional Council www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au

Orange Botanic Gardens -

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens www.rtbg.tas.gov.au

Sale Botanic Gardens, Wellington Shire www.wellington.vic.gov.au

Tamborine Mountain Garden Club http://www.tmbotanicgardens.org.au

The Tasmanian Arboretum Inc www.tasmanianarboretum.org.au

Toowoomba Regional Council www.highfieldsvillage.com.au/ peacehaven

Toowoomba Regional Council http://toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au

University of Melbourne www.unimelb.edu.au

Williamstown Botanic Gardens www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

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4Associate Members

Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens Inc. www.friendsbotanicgardens.org

City of Melbourne www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Friends of Ballarat Botanic Gardens http://www.fbbg.org.au/

Friends of Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Inc

Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens www.friendsgbg.com

Friends of the Botanic Gardens Inc, Sydney www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests (Mount Alexander Region) Inc http://www.fobif.org.au/

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Inc www.rbgfriendsmelbourne.org

Friends of Warrnambool Botanic Gardens www.wbgardens.com.au

Horticultural Training P/L www.horticulturaltraining.com.au

Individual Members

Barley, Richard

Baverstock, Grant

Bishop, Daniel

Boyle, Judith

Duncan, Anne

Ellis, Donna

Fisher, Ian

Hallinan, Wendy

Heffernan, Kate

Moors, Philip

Nielsen, Robin

O'Hehir, Janet

Sheely, John

Smith, Lawrence

Speer, Stephen

Peter Symes, Peter

Woollard, Adrian

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Botanic gardens are wonderful, versatile spaces for arts and events, we all know this! From botanic art exhibitions in permanent site galleries to temporary touring exhibitions, from photography shows to stunning sculpture displays, the botanic garden community has long been imaginative and resourceful in using their unique spaces to draw in the crowds!

Examples range from the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition at Kew, local heritage collection photographs on display at Mackay Regional Botanic Garden, the botanic art of threatened plant species at Chicago Botanic Garden and recent Stoneleigh sculpture at Auckland Botanic Garden. Exhibitions range from the light‑hearted to the serious ‑ like the Hard Rain exhibition, which toured many botanic gardens and had quite an impact.

Using art in interpretation and signage has also proved successful at several botanic gardens. You could even go so far as to say that botanic gardens themselves are living art works, since they aim to best display the beauty and versatility of the world’s flora and to invoke a response from visitors.

As well as the visual arts botanic garden spaces lend themselves brilliantly to musical events so we also see musical concerts and festivals taking place in gardens around the world. In fact, concerts are playing an increasing role in botanic garden strategies in the struggle for financial sustainability. From classical to pop, big names (Elton John at Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden) to small (local bands every Sunday at Christchurch Botanic Garden) they are good fundraising opportunities and often attract corporate sponsorship. Cinema and theatre are also becoming more popular, as at King’s Park in Perth and the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

All botanic garden websites feature a prominent ‘What’s On’ section, listing events as diverse as sheep dog displays with ducks (National Botanic Garden of Wales) to Garden Stars nights (Cambridge University Botanic Garden). Seasonal themed events are also popular, like the many orchid festivals underway across the globe at the moment or the Eucalypt festivals at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne and Melbourne. Cultural and family events abound and are increasingly concerned with conservation and sustainability issues, Harcourt Botanic Garden in Oxford is getting ready to mark Fairtrade Fortnight for example and several gardens run workshops for children looking at ways of using household rubbish to provide a home for a plant. Then there are yoga classes and food tours at Wellington Botanic Garden, or how about a Brooklyn Botanic Garden Special Theme Tour, where a licensed psychotherapist and

veteran garden tour guide takes visitors on a narrated wintertime walk designed to chase away the winter blues? ‘Learn how to maintain a sunny outlook through dark, cold winter days, and discover the plants and animals that enliven the garden landscape even in the depths of winter’.

These are just a few randomly selected examples – there are countless exhibitions and events underway at botanic gardens around the world and the work and thought that goes into them is incredible. Outside the garden walls botanic gardens are represented in exhibitions too, for example at the Beijing Olympics, where BGCI coordinated the World Exhibit of Botanic Gardens.

At BGCI, our latest Fairchild Challenge BGCI Global Option will culminate in a concert by the UK band Storey at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on Plant Conservation Day, announcing the winner of a competition to design the front cover of a CD single. Plant Conservation Day is coming up on 18 May 2010. Last year this was a great success ‑ visit the website for ideas and let us know your plans for inclusion and publicity on the website. Using this day is a great platform and hook for staging a plant conservation activity at your garden.

Of course Congresses and Symposia are important events for the botanic garden community themselves – our next big one is the 4th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Dublin in June (visit the website to register!). Included are papers on Living in harmony: botanic gardens and society, Sculpture in botanic gardens: meetings the needs of a diverse audience of visitors and even The flower fairy art of Cicely Mary Barker, so arts are seen as an important part of a botanic gardens’ remit. BGCI has an events page on our website where we can post details of upcoming events, so let us know if you’d like anything included here.

BGCI is also working in association with The Living Rainforest in the UK on two one‑day symposiums on strategic pathways to sustainability in the public education sector. These are shaping up to be very interesting days with input from the UK Shadow Lib Dem Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking on the role of policy in helping botanic gardens and zoos with financial sustainability.

Whatever the season, botanic gardens are using arts and events to reflect the interests of society and to connect people to the plant world through experiences. By doing this they ensure that botanic gardens remain relevant in today’s world. If we provide people a reason to visit we can perhaps also persuade them of the importance of plants and our duty of stewardship to the natural world.

NEWS FROM BOTANIC GARDENS INTERNATIONAL (BGCI)

Arts and events in botanic gardensBelinda Hawkins

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Foreword: I met Brigitta (Editor) on the plane from Brisbane to Mackay on the way to the recent BGANZ congress. That was the plane that I had delayed for about 10 minutes due to a little matter of me searching for luggage in the terminus that had already been transferred on board from the connecting flight. Anyway, we quickly got chatting, and like a shot she asked me for an article in the next newsletter ‑ so here it is.

Background: Maranoa Gardens near Melbourne is one of Australia’s oldest native botanic gardens, well known and loved for its educational and recreational opportunities. It features a diverse range of approximately 3000 different species in an area of 2.6 ha and is managed by two horticultural specialists employed by the City of Boroondara.

Of course there were a few things that had to be spruced up before the event; our extensive granitic sand pathway system had to be re‑laid. It’s marvellous what a hint of an OH&S issues about uneven pathways can do. Some dead trees were removed ‑ what a shame we didn’t think of painting them blue, we could have had the first blue forest. Our seats, 15 in all, were stripped and restained. Disabled Parking bays were installed for the first time. Obviously someone was thinking into the future for Andrea (my colleague) and me. Lawns were cut, flower beds rejuvenated. In fact, I highly recommend suggesting an open day or festival if you want some assistance with some of those garden maintenance issues that have fallen a bit behind.

One of the event’s aims was to raise awareness of the benefits of gardening with natives and indigenous plants so four smaller nurseries were invited including VINC – the Victorian Indigenous Nursery Co‑Operative. Boroondara’s Environment Team provided information on indigenous plant selection, weeds and habitat creation. Karwarra Gardens from Kalorama sold plants from their nursery and Cranbourne Botanic Gardens brought their promotional trailer. Cranbourne Friends group displayed Australian plant inspired fabric products and baskets using native plants. The Australian Plant Society put together a fabulous display of cut flowers and sold a good range of plant books. Other activities included face painting, fairy story telling and badge making. Extremely popular was the display of native animals from Wild Action whose aim is to get you close up and personal with animals that inhabit local environments and the Connies who are a performance troupe of environmental educators that utilize the tradition of Melbourne tram conductors to convey their messages.

REPORTS ON ARTS AND EVENTS IN GARDENS

Maranoa Gardens – Inaugural Open Day 15 August 2009Paul Birch

Wildaction in action

Maranoa main lawn during the open day

It seemed somewhat ironic to have Maranoa’s first official Open Day 108 years after the gardens began. However, we had at least two things to celebrate, a ‘kind ‘ winter that had left the garden with lots of colour with acacias, hakeas and heaths in full bloom and the long awaited completion of new staff facilities at the garden. For some time there was a feeling that we needed to have a focus for our garden that would increase our exposure ‑ a celebration of the garden in winter. Spring in Melbourne is a very busy time with the start of Australia’s Open Garden Scheme, the Flower and Garden Show and numerous other gardening events. Whether it is a result of climate change or not but our best or most floriferous time has become late winter, which is followed by a reasonable spring and then summer when the place looks like a desert. So August was chosen for the Open Day because it avoided clashes with other garden celebrations and because it was the best time of the year to showcase the garden. The event was solely run and funded by Parks & Gardens, City of Boroondara.

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7A musical element of popular tunes performed live with strings gave the whole day a friendly calm atmosphere.

Some official proceedings were incorporated with a welcome and launch of a Walk &Talk tour series that began with tours of Maranoa emphasizing Garden Heritage, ‘What’s in flower’ and indigenous species in Beckett Park and Garden maintenance.

Botanic Gardens of Adelaide – Arts and EventsJohn Sandham

Connies performing The start of another tour, on heritage Face-painting with a wildlife theme

Publicity for the event was extensive with flyers, radio interviews and a timely article in The Age newspaper. In the true tradition of Boroondara that you can’t have an event without a BBQ there was a free BBQ lunch.

Attendance estimates were 600 plus and all feedback forms were positive, all asked to be included in next years event on 14 August 2010. The Open Day improved our relationship with the public and other gardens and provided a focus for our efforts through the year.

The Adelaide Botanic Garden (ABG) in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural and Agricultural Society of South Australia had a significant role in importing the important economic plants required by the young developing colony in the mid 19th Century. Part of the riches gained by the State’s fast developing economy funded the decision of the ABG, second Director, Richard Schomburgk to propose the building of the Museum of Economic Botany (MEB) in 1870. His successful bid led to the resources for the MEB to be built in 1879 and opened to the public in 1881.

In 2007 the Federal Government awarded a one off grant of $1.125m for the refurbishment of this historic museum. When the conservation work began the layers of “government grey” paint applied over many years were removed to reveal a palette of 13 different colours including gold leaf and a wonderful decorative frieze. The interior has been returned to its original grand design accompanied by state of the art lighting. The exhibition area is magnificent and should be experienced when next in Adelaide.

The internal renovations were undertaken over the two‑year period 2008‑9. Driven by Peter Emmett the internationally known historian and curator with the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and Cultural Collections Manager Tony Kanellos. The handsome interior is divided into two areas to allow the continuation of the

unique display of the museum’s collection of objects, some obtained as early as 1865. The collection comprises specimens and seeds from a wide range of economic important plants along with many artefacts which have not been seen for at least 60 years. Some of these objects were sitting safely in storage, whilst research uncovered 135 ethnographic objects from all over the globe, that were transferred from the MEB to the South Australian Museum in 1948 – these have subsequently been returned. Some favourites are the 19th century papier mache models of apples and pears representing many of the varieties the ABG had originally introduced to the State. It does not stop there as examples of fibres, grain and fungi also proudly take their place.

The reopening in May 2009 allowed the other half of the MEB to house the uniquely South Australian exhibition ‘Harvest’ May – August 2009. This was an exhibition about plants and place and included a diverse and interesting display of artworks, objects and other artefacts loaned from 11 South Australian institutions. On display were works by Gauguin, Banks’ diary, Cook’s tapa book, the Ridley candelabrum, to name a few. This world‑class exhibition was housed in a specially designed exhibition enclosure designed by Khai Liew. This space will host the Gardens exhibitions for many years to come.

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8The rejuvenated MEB has given the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide an incredible experience for a visitor that provides an insight into the history of plants and their many interesting uses, their cultural, spiritual; and economic values and engaging stories plants and their derivatives have played in an ever‑changing world. The exhibition area allows space for ever‑changing exhibitions such as the successful ‘Hidden In Plain View’ which was on show from

Five in‑ground Italian marble mosaic artworks with a focus on indigenous flora have been created by Jacqui Pinnock and Rudolph Verscher specifically for Kings Park, near the entrance to the Botanic Garden, the Nature Trail walk through the bushland, the Lotterywest Federation Walkway and the Synergy Parkland areas to highlight the natural and cultural history of Western Australia.

Arts and events in Kings Park and Botanic GardenMarcelle Broderick

September to December 2009. In late 2009 and the early months of 2010 the building was renovated externally with funding from the South Australian State Government, well in time for the forthcoming exhibition ‘Replant’, a new generation of botanical art scheduled for April – May 2010.

The MEB is a must visit destination when you are next in Adelaide.

Kings Park and Botanic Garden is in the heart of Perth and is home to some of the most beautiful permanent public art in the city. The WA State Botanic Garden also hosts a range of cultural events, and so contributes in a meaningful and contemporary way to the cultural fabric of the city. Outdoor art works surprise and delight visitors, and art is integrated wherever possible into enhancement and development projects, rather than being an afterthought. The themes of the art works vary to match the themes of the precincts, and are designed to offer another layer of story telling and interpretation. For example, there is a stunning series of leaf life cycle forms by artist Malcolm McGregor on the outside wall of Kings Park’s own inspirational gallery and gift shop Aspects of Kings Park. Another wonderful example of this approach to public art is found at the northern end of the Banksia Garden, with Banksia seats and two large Italian marble floor mosaics featuring eleven forms of Banksias found in Kings Park. Recycled Banksia wood provided the timber for the custom made seats, while the steel back uprights depict the leaf shape of a Bull Banksia (Banksia grandis). These are the work of artist Phillipa O’Brien and were created in 1996.

For instance, the 2003 Tuart Leaf Mosaic (designed by Ray Leeves) marks the start of the Lotterywest Federation Walkway and features two young Tuart leaves embedded with emu footprints moving in opposite directions. The Tuart leaf represents the importance of biodiversity, with their juvenile stage symbolising the promise and aspirations of a young nation at Federation. It reflects the aspirations of reconciliation for a shared future of mutual respect between Aboriginal and non‑Aboriginal people. The emu footprints are shaped like arrows, representing Kings Park’s role as a central meeting place from which many journeys unfold.

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9Also in the Water Garden there is a range of copper‑plated sculptures by artists Coral Lowry and Holly Storey celebrating the contributions of women in society, telling this story using the various stages of plant development cycles.

There are many other examples of art in the WA State Botanic Garden, with the beautifully crafted bronze Bookleaf Memorial in the Water Garden symbolising the petition that eventually won women the right to vote in 1899. The art piece symbolises the gradual progression from the book, to the leaves of a book, to all the different leaf shapes of the Tuart tree. This memorial was commissioned as part of the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage in 1999 and was fabricated by students from the WA School of Art and Design under the direction of artist Tony Jones.

There are also the Acacia Steps, created by artist Stuart Green in 1998 in the shape of an arid region watercourse. The granite steps feature mosaics of six acacia or wattle species detailed on interpretive signage and show the evolutionary development of the genus, from a primitive acacia species at the lowest step to a highly evolved species at the top. The mosaics of marble and Pilbara tiger‑eye stone on the steps depict the flowers, change in leaves and development of phyllodes, together with carved seed pods. At each level, the wattle growing in the adjacent garden bed is represented in the mosaic.

The theme of art and culture is continued with the range of events that are annually held in the Botanic Garden. The Spring Kings Park Festival attracts over 600 000 people with a variety of displays, educational and interpretive opportunities including workshops, demonstrations, live theatre and hands‑on participation. There is an extensive program of summer events with an average of 10 large concerts attracting around 5000 people each during the summer season featuring both classical and contemporary music. Theatre is also held in the Botanic Garden with the annual season performance of Shakespeare in the Park.

Continuing the theme, the Walkway’s richly rusted steel surface and the stunning glass bridge are an artistic fusion of sculpture, architecture and engineering that complement the rich texture of natural vegetation. It was designed by architects Donaldson and Warn, in collaboration with engineers Capital House and artist David Jones and displays examples of contemporary Nyoongar artworks designed by Richard Walley and Shane Pickett in collaboration with members of the Nyoongar community. A series of engraved and welded botanical images on the supporting steel pylons was designed by sculptor Kevin Draper.

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Opening to the public in 2003 as a brand new and incomplete botanic gardens, acres of mulch, tube stock, glaring sunshine and heat wasn’t exactly a wonderful combination that would entice the public and attract visitors to the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens on the Central Queensland Coast.

Botanic gardens can have a reputation for providing only interest for adults, and so to engage youth and children the newly named Lagoons Gallery began to exhibit charming (and surprising to the Curator) very good quality exhibitions from preschool and youth art groups. Highly popular and bringing in a raft of family, friends and relatives, these exhibitions brought a whole new audience to the fledgling gardens.

In 2005 enquiries from local self‑taught wildlife and botanic artist Chris Neely led to the creation of the Botanical Art Interest Group. From early forays into painting nature the group quickly discovered the intensely beautiful and highly technical world of botanical art. Now exhibiting annually, this youthful in‑spirit group of self‑taught artists has had the privilege of sharing their artistic achievements with the community of BGANZ members at the biennial congress in Mackay last year, with well‑deserved praise for a group that commenced just four years ago.

Inclusion and Balance – Art, Events and the Mackay Regional Botanic GardensDale Arvidsson and Maya Harrison

(left) Shane Fitzgerald ‘Scensual’. Photo: Shane Fitzgerald (rightLewis Roberts ‘ Orchids of Far Northern Queensland’, travelling

exhibition courtesy of Cooktown Botanic Gardens. Photo: Dale Arvidsson

Our planned interpretative space – the Gardens Gallery was an empty void complete with small kiosk ‑ awaiting further funding for display fit‑out – but a building that had lots of potential. Enquiries from the local arts community looking for a space to exhibit led to the idea that public use of the Gallery may serve a greater purpose than just as a display space for the botanic gardens. A $10,000 investment in gallery frames and a hanging system saw a bare void turned into a modern, minimalist gallery in 2004. From that day until the present monthly exhibitions have featured emerging artists from the local arts community, select ex‑pat artists and touring exhibitions.

Parents view their Preschool children’s artwork. Photo Maya Harrison

Thelma Farmer ‘Native Lasiandra’, Botanical Art Interest Group. Photo Maya Harrison

Long Distance Relationships

One of the most exciting developments in 2008 and perhaps one of the most extreme relationships distance wise saw a mutual partnership of assistance develop between the Gardens and the Faculty of Arts of the University of Tasmania in Launceston. From tropical to temperate! Commencing with a single solo exhibition in 2008, 2009 showcased five exhibitions… with four Masters degree artists exhibiting together in June with a photographic exhibition in the Lagoons Gallery, paintings and prints in the adjacent Meeting Room and ephemeral installations appearing in the Tropical Shade Garden and on the surface of the Lagoons.

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11‘Four Artists – Four Exhibitions’ cemented an exciting dialogue of art between our tropics and the cool temperate regions of Tasmania with dramatic results. Further exhibitions are planned in 2010 and beyond.

Of note though, was that an events precinct or purpose built space was never planned in the early stages of the Gardens, so much retrofitting of 3‑phase power, lighting and access points occurred. It’s always difficult to design new public spaces that have meaning and a desire to be used for what they were designed for. Purpose‑built event spaces for large crowds can appear to be large empty, barren places and a waste of valuable land within a botanic gardens site. Yet the shaded areas of trees and lawn seen as more desirable come with their own problems of access, providing services and protecting the integrity of the living collections. It’s a balance between visitor services and horticultural maintenance that most botanic gardens do very well, but takes a lot a special organising behind the scenes to make it all look easy, enjoyable and flawless to the casual visitor!

Engage your community

An active arts and events program shows us that there are many facets to ‘Inclusion and Balance’ within our Gardens. It is not just the expected passive relationship between artist and botanic gardens ‑ nor botanic gardens as attractive event spaces ‑ that needs to be understood, but in today’s topsy turvy economic climate and funding shortfalls an acute awareness that for our botanic gardens to survive and thrive, both public access and usage by as wide an audience as possible is essential, whilst maintaining and promoting the core plant collection and its merits. All are needed in a fine balance for the continuing existence of all of our botanic gardens.

Top: Jenny De Thomasis ‘Safety in Numbers’. Photo Maya Harrison

Right: Wanda Bennett ‘Drift’, painted bamboo weaving floating on Lagoon

entices the bird life. Photo Maya Harrison

Events for a wider audience

We decided early on that the Gardens needed to attract as wide a range of events to the site – again, to introduce the entire community to the Gardens – not just plant enthusiasts: commencing with environmental themed days such as ‘World Wetlands Day’, ‘World Environment Day’ and ‘Breakfast with the Birds’, through to celebrating the Gardens’ cultural themed precincts with Global Grooves – a multicultural day of music, performance and art attended by over 5000 residents.

‘Carols in the Gardens’ was another annual event begun to encourage families to visit and have an enjoyable experience on the site and perhaps to re‑visit for other family occasions.

‘Carols in the Gardens 2009’, a family event. Photo Maya Harrison

The community enjoying the Gardens at the annual ’Global Grooves’. Photo Dale Arvidsson

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In February this year the latest addition to the Sculpture Trail in the Botanic Garden was unveiled by Mayor Kerry Prendergast. Titled Green Islands the work, commissioned from Regan Gentry in 2007 by the Wellington Sculpture Trust, was the original of the temporary Four Plinths Sculpture series on the waterfront adjacent to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

As it became apparent that the Work was destined to come to the Botanic Garden, our thoughts turned to its placement. With the tallest being 6.4m high and all on plinths 2.0m square by 2.0m high they were going to have a major impact on any landscape in which they were to be placed. Options included accepting only one piece of the work, spreading them through the garden or placing them all close together as one perceivable work as they were on the waterfront. After consultation with the Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden, The Sculpture Trust and Regan Gentry it was decided to place them as a cluster on the steep slopes and a terrace between the Herb Garden and the Lady Norwood Rose Garden. The ability to group them together, mitigate their scale, and the fact that their placement here is an inverse irony to their original placement, made this site ideal. It also meant that they contributed to the extension of the Sculpture Trail and that they could be viewed from above, below and in passing.

A big effort by contractors in unseasonably variable weather, difficult site access and ground conditions ranging from rock to fill saw the plinths constructed with the pieces finally placed by crane on 6 January in conditions marginal in the strong winds.

Green Islands was formally accepted into the garden on 28 January at an event co‑hosted by the Botanic Garden and the Wellington Sculpture Trust. It joins the 6 other major sculptures on the trail including Henry Moore’s Bronze Form, Chris Booth’s Peacemaker and Dennis O’Connor’s Rudderstone

ReferencesSutton, Frances. 2008 : Art and About, A pocket guide to Wellington’s public art. Steel Roberts, Wellington

Various, 2007: Green Islands, the inaugural Four Plinths Sculpture. Wellington Sculpture Trust

New Sculpture for Wellington Botanic GardenDavid Sole

Photos Neil Price, Wellington City CouncilI had expressed interest in the work a number of times during the period of the original installation and in early 2009 discussions became more formal about the possible acquisition for the Botanic Garden. I had taken every opportunity to suggest that they come to the garden as a gift! It transpired that we were able to fund the works through private sponsorship from the Sir Walter and Lady Rana Norwood Charitable Trust, Richard Nelson, the purchase and the long term loan of 2 pieces of the work by Janet McCallum and a very generous reduction in price by the sculptor.

The Te Papa site is an austere one of paving, walls and the four plinths. It is windswept and barren of vegetation. Regan’s use of #8 fencing wire is a commentary on the irony of constructed plants taking the place of live plants in the cityscape. It also tilts to the kiwi #8 wire ingenuity of New Zealand’s past.

Green Islands consists of four pieces; pohutukawa, ngaio, flax and toetoe (Metrosideros, Myorporum, Phormium and Cortadaria) which are prominent plants in the Wellington landscape. Twenty thousand metres of #8 wire were woven, twisted and bent to form the Work with 20,000 stainless steel clips holding it all together. Gentry and an assistant took two and a half months to form the pieces, the heaviest of which is the pohutukawa weighing 1.4 tonnes.

Photo: Anna Howden- Chapman Photo: David Sole

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Over the last 18 months staff at the City of Greater Bendigo have been developing a Master Plan for the rejuvenation and extension of the 152 year‑old Bendigo Botanic Gardens at White Hills in central Victoria. This has involved considerable research and extensive community engagement. The plan addresses not only the heritage issues of the current gardens, but also the design of new spaces yet to be created. It also includes the Living Plant Collections Plan and costing estimates. Many BGANZ members may have heard of this project through this newsletter or if they attended the BGANZ Congress in Mackay.

In February the Master Plan for Bendigo Botanic Gardens was officially adopted by the Council of the City of Greater Bendigo as its guiding document. This gives the staff the clear ‘go ahead’ to further develop the concepts and to implement the recommendations as funding and resources become available.

In line with earlier approvals certain actions have already taken place. These include the relocation to a nature reserve of some of the Gardens’ existing wallabies as the first stage of phasing out the Gardens small animal collection. A Federal Government Infrastructure Fund Grant of $138,000, supplemented by Council’s own funds, has allowed the reinstatement of the original gravel paths in part of the Gardens, along with the creation of garden beds. Plant selection is currently underway with the first collection to be ‘Cottage Garden Plants of the Victorian Goldfields’. It is expected planting will happen in winter of this year.

REPORTS ON BOTANIC GARDENS

Bendigo Botanic Gardens – Update February 2010Kevin Walsh

A link to the documents can be found here: http://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=2815&h=1 or you can contact me on [email protected].

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It is clear that the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change did not live up to the expectations of many, in that a fair, ambitious and binding strategy to combat climate change did not materialise.

What also became clear to me was that the media coverage of the Summit has increasingly created confusion among the general public, and there is an acute lack of understanding about how climate change will affect our world and our children.

In 2006 the Gran Canaria declaration on Climate Change and Plant Conservation stated that “with over 200 million visitors annually worldwide, botanic gardens have the capacity to play a leading role in conveying important environmental messages, thus heightening public awareness of climate change and plant conservation”.

In 2008 the major Australian botanic gardens developed a “National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation by Botanic Gardens”. A key goal was to “increase community awareness of climate change and what they can do to assist government efforts”.

I recently received an interesting response when calling together Australia’s botanic gardens to highlight the importance of the number 350 in the climate change arena.

For those who are unfamiliar with the 350 campaign for the International Day of Climate Action on the 24th Oct 2009 (http://350.org)/), 350 parts per million (ppm) is the concentration that leading climate scientists say is the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere in order to avoid runaway climate change. We are currently at 389ppm and climbing at approximately 2ppm per year. In the lead up to the Copenhagen talks the 350 campaign was organised to raise awareness and encourage leaders to take action in reducing global emissions. Many gardens I wrote to were unable to commit already stretched resources in order to participate, particularly given the short lead in time to this event. Others, including my own workplace, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (RTBG), had some reservations about the politics. Four gardens actively engaged with the idea. It was pleasing that, despite initial hesitation, the RTBG became a venue for the 350 action.

It was important that the RTBG action be a no‑cost, bold and interactive display that did not impact on staff time. For these reasons an outline of the number 350 was laid out in mulch over a grass slope and visitors encouraged to add plant material provided into the collage in the week leading up to the International Day for Climate Action. Information about the 350 campaign was provided as well as how people could reduce their own carbon footprint.

350 collage @ the RTBG

ITEMS OF INTEREST

A Time for ChangeLorraine Perrins

RBG Cranbourne 350 action

Brisbane Botanic Garden, Mt Cooth-tha 350 action

Wheatgrass planting outside Main Gates @ RTBG

There is unequivocal evidence that the earth’s climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, and that the future world climate depends on us and what actions we take. “Global warming is a manifestation of a deeper sustainability challenge – an ecological debt crisis” (Developing a safe climate transition plan for Australia, Safe Climate Australia 2009)

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15Botanic gardens have a long history of promoting the latest science. It was Sir Joseph Hooker, first director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, who became an advocate of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution long before the factual evidence stated became widely recognised. There is enough factual evidence relating to climate change to warrant action. Botanic gardens should not see climate change as a political issue but rather as scientific fact, a process already underway, and we need to educate and inform people accordingly.

As we now head into a new decade it is hard to find good information relating to climate science via botanic gardens. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), has some excellent information on their website which is regularly updated; however most information on botanic garden websites is hidden within layers of information and does not actively engage people in how they can affect future change.

Climate change is not simply an environmental problem. It is a consequence of meeting the needs of humanity through the use of land and energy resources and therefore is a sustainable development problem. Transformational change in the way society functions is necessary and possible, but it will take a change in our behaviour to achieve it. Botanic gardens have a successful history of interaction with the public, and are among the best‑placed institutions to facilitate this change via their interpretation, education and outreach programs. Currently many botanic garden education programs focus on teaching children about the affect of climate change on plant diversity. Given the time constraints for positive action perhaps programs targeting their parents and the older generation could also be considered.

Most people realise that humans have a significant role to play in combating and adapting to future climate change. What many do not realise is that we will only be able to achieve this through the utilisation and management of plant diversity. As the public interface for plant science botanic gardens must take responsible action to improve society’s knowledge of this fact.

Many people at the RTBG were amazed with the public response and media attention given to the 350 event held in the gardens. It highlighted to me not only the interest in the topic but also the impact that can be achieved by aligning oneself to a global campaign. Botanic gardens are very good at communicating within their own networks or amongst like‑minded groups with regards to promoting our work and messages. We have, however, struggled to promote our conservation messages to a wider audience where plants are not generally seen as exciting enough to warrant credible media coverage. By engaging in international campaigns such as 350, we can interact with audiences who may not fully appreciate

what botanic gardens have to offer or realise the scope of our work in the conservation of biological diversity. BCGI is currently affiliated with The Global Coalition for Climate Action and their Tck Tck Tck campaign (http://tcktcktck.org)/ ), perhaps there may be global climate change campaigns and organisations that botanic gardens could link to and utilise their resources to reach a broader audience?

In November 2009 more than 200 zoos and aquariums around the world signed a petition tabled at the Copenhagen Summit calling on governments to set targets of atmospheric CO2 below 350ppm in order to prevent the next mass extinction. Many also took part in the International Day of Climate Action.

350 awareness at Taronga Zoo

Oregon Zoo, USA

Perhaps it is time for botanic gardens to stand united and make our voice heard loudly among this growing global chorus for change.

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The Hunter Region Botanic Gardens will hold a Sculpture Exhibition in May 2010. The ‘Gardens Sculpture Prize’ is a Community Partnership event sponsored by Port Stephens Council as part of the Council’s Cultural Projects Fund, 2009/10.

Entries are invited for this exhibition which will be shown in two sections:

The outdoor exhibition will feature sculpture on the Eucalyptus Lawn and adjacent to the Visitors Centre. The winner for this section will receive $1,000. Second prize is $300, with a $100 encouragement award for first time exhibitors.

The indoor exhibition will be displayed in the Visitors Centre. Space is limited and entries may need to be selected by the curator. Maximum size is 60 x 60 x 60cm. The winner of this section will receive $500, with a second prize of $200. Port Stephens Council’s Community Partnership is sponsoring all prize money

The Exhibition will be opened and prize winners announced on Sunday 9th May 2010 at 1pm.

The Gardens’ has in situ a number of interesting sculptures donated or acquired over time including a piece by sculptor Marilyn McGrath entitled ‘Middle Earth’.

Please contact Jan Noble/Lynda Picton, ph: (02) 4987 1655, fax: (02) 4987 1440. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.huntergardens.org.au.

CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Limited – The Gardens’ Sculpture Prize9 May – 20 June 2010

Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens Conference – Secrets of the MalleeAustralian Inland Botanic Gardens, River Road, Buronga NSW, 22nd – 23rd May 2010

The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens Inc Committee of Management and the Friends of the AIBG cordially invite you to attend the biennial conference of the Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens Inc next May.

Mildura, Victoria, is the closest large centre for arrivals and also for accommodation, the town centre being seven km from the Gardens. Buronga in NSW is a small township marginally closer to the Gardens.

Conference proceedings and social activities are planned to take place at our Gardens in the relocated nineteenth century Magenta Station shearing shed, now a rustic reminder of the past but somewhat altered to suit the purpose of a reception hall.

Our speakers are respected professionals in their areas of expertise and we have chosen to continue the discussion on the challenges of reduced water availability in southern Australia. We hope to simplify complex water matters and expose some of the mysteries of the dry mallee plants and soils. As well, social aspects of volunteerism will be discussed and plenty of time has been allowed for some exciting presentations by members and interaction of delegates when we will be able to share our triumphs and ponder any problems.

Contact Wendy Hallinan, ph: 5023 3612, [email protected] for registration or more information. The conference notice is also posted on http://www.bganz.org.au/news.html.

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Gladstone Regional Council, Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens and Friends of the Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens, welcome delegates to Gladstone, Queensland, for the Conference of BGANZ Queensland from 12 - 15 August 2010.

The theme for the conference will be “Community Linkages & Partnerships”. A number of speakers have been invited to address this theme.

The Conference will commence with a registration and welcome evening on Thursday 12 August at 5.00 pm at the Gladstone Campus, CQUniversity, (Leo Zussino Building), located at the Gladstone Marina Bryan Jordan Drive.

Friday 13 August & Saturday 14 August, will include speaker sessions at the CQUniversity, Rex Metcalfe Lecture Theatre, and afternoon guided tours of Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens.

Friday and Saturday Evening will also include networking opportunities with a planned dinner for delegates each evening.

Sunday 15th August (morning) will include a field trip in our local region.

A brochure on registration, accommodation and all other details will be available on the BGANZ website in the near future and will be emailed to delegates in the coming weeks.

Please contact Brent Braddick, Curator or Merilyn Haigh, Visitor Services Officer on telephone number (07) 49 714 444, [email protected], or [email protected], or by viewing www.gladstonerc.qld.gov.au.

TONDOON BOTANIC GARDENS

Tondoon is one of a handful of totally native botanic gardens in Australia, covering an area of 170ha. 21 ha is developed as botanical displays the remainder being natural bushland with walking trails up and around Mt Biondello. The walk up Mt Biondello is for the more energetic but gives you wonderful views of Gladstone City.

Water is pumped from the historic dam that was restored to produce the 4ha of lake, this helps to irrigate the large developed area. The majority of planting was carried out between 1985 and 1992, this makes some of the trees over 20 years old.

The display area specialises in plants from our local Port Curtis Region and Rainforest from North Queensland. Plants are set out in garden beds displaying the unique ecosystems in our local area. Many of these ecosystems in their natural state are very difficult for visitors to our region to find. All of these plants have been collected and propagated by the Tondoon staff and volunteers.

The Visitor Centre, situated on the lake edge has regular displays by local artists or environmental groups. The Centre also has fact sheets and interpretive signage and displays can be found throughout the Gardens. Other facilities include a playground, orchid house and BBQ’s.

Gladstone and its hinterland are truly a region where industry and tourism work together to form an exciting holiday destination. Local residents and decision makers alike have a passion for the environment and keeping our city beautiful. There are many other attractions to explore such as the Art Gallery or Maritime Museum, the Gecko Valley Winery, lookouts at Auckland Hill and Round Hill offering spectacular views of the city, harbour and islands. The Gladstone Marina, Spinnaker Park and Barney Point Beach provide a seemingly endless area of landscaped parklands perfect for leisure activities, barbeques and get togethers by the ocean, Or you could visit at Easter when the Gladstone Harbour Festival, one of the region’s largest events, coincides with the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.

BGANZ QLD Conference 2010 – Community Linkages & Partnerships

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We look forward to the challenge of organising the BGANZ NSW Conference on 27 ‑ 29 August 2010, and to welcoming state and interstate visitors to the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens.

Friday night ‑ Welcome / registration and evening meal will be held at the Gardens Visitor Centre.

Saturday ‑ guest speakers and presentations will be at Motto Farm Hotel/Motel, some 2km up the highway from the Gardens ‑ a middle of the range motel with 2 conference rooms ‑ one to be used for the Conference session, the other for the Conference Dinner.

Sunday ‑ workshops will be held at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens. For those early morning walkers, the Gardens will be open from 6.30am, with maps available of the 8km of walking tracks throughout the Conservation Zones. Barbecue breakfast will be served between 8 ‑ 9am.

A preview of the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens

Relaxing and beautiful are epithets used by visitors to describe their experience of these Gardens: a compliment to some 24 years of volunteer effort that transformed a lantana and bitou bush‑infested site into a botanic collection of merit and natural beauty.

constitution (and the Corporations Act 2001), it is managed and maintained by volunteers.

During the 2008‑2009 financial year Volunteers registered 7,213 attendances, totalling 41,325 hours of Volunteer labour. Given a working day of 8 hours and 245 working days per year, this equals 21 full‑time workers and over $1 m contribution.

The site is part of the ancient Inner Barrier Sand Dunes that overlay the Tomago Aquifer. On first consideration, a site blessed with access to an underground water supply: in reality, loose sandy soil that does not hold moisture and water with a high mineral (iron) content.

The natural beauty of the site, so frequently noted by visitors, arises from the many large mature trees, diverse understory plants and two large wetlands that together provide a background to the botanic collection.

BGANZ NSW Conference 2010 – Where to now?Jan Noble

The 133 hectare Hunter Region Botanic Gardens is on land leased from Hunter Water Corporation for a peppercorn rent with registered lease options until 2094. Organisationally this botanic gardens is somewhat different: the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens is neither a state nor a local government instrumentality. It is a not‑for‑profit public company with a board of directors drawn from and representing the company members. Governed by its own

The botanic collection occupies approximately 30 hectare; an area bordered by the Pacific Highway to the west ‑ the Gardens entrance, wetlands to the north and south that almost encircle the 30ha Living Collection, and 100 ha held as conservation zones to the north, east and south.

There are ample opportunities for walking ‑ tracks through open forests and observing the Living Collection displayed along the Gardens’ main walk circuit, the 1.8 km Botanic Walk.

This walk takes visitors past or close by the cycads, bromeliads and orchids. The walk continues past exotic Proteaceae and Grevillea, then plants of the Rutaceae and Lamiaceae families. The next garden contains a general native plant collection, then gardens of Hakeas, Banksias, Doryanthes and Crinum as well as a garden of Hunter Region plants.

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19Continuing along the circuit the path passes by Parry Place, a native garden maintained by the Australian Plant Society (Hunter Branch) and named in honour of the Parry family, the first nurseryman to sell Australian native plants to the public. From the platform near the Acacia Garden visitors can view the Northern Wetland.

Two other areas should be noted: the Gardens conifer collection tucked away behind the Works Compound and the new passive solar heated tropical orchid house. The latter, the building and its contents, a gift from one of the Gardens long‑term and loyal volunteers.

Completed in November 2009 and hopefully officially opened in March / April 2010, the new orchid house will be a workshop topic at the BGANZ‑NSW Conference held here at the Gardens.

The other area of botanic importance is the Gardens Herbarium. It now contains over 10,000 specimens and includes the Story Collection, dating from the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, the Tame Collection which includes over 1,000 Acacia specimens, the Bemax Collection ‑ comprising specimens of coastal flora collected prior to sand mining for rutile and other ores in the 1980’s, and the Hunter Flora Collection.

We are now into the 3rd year of the Hunter Flora Heritage Collection, a collection sponsored by Tomago Aluminium Company, aimed at acquiring a representative collection of native flora of the upper Hunter. To date 250 specimens have been added to the collection and in the process some interesting and unexpected finds have been recorded. This will be another Workshop topic at BGANZ‑NSW 2010.

Another dimension to the Hunter Flora Heritage Collection is the 14 botanic illustrations done by University of Newcastle Bachelor of Natural History Illustration course tutor Chris Rockley. These illustrations are of specimens collected as part of the Tomago Hunter Flora Heritage Collection. The originals will be a display in the Visitors Centre during the BGANZ‑NSW Conference. Prints of Chris’s beautiful botanic illustrations, collectively entitled “On the Collection Trail” will be available.

A great favourite with visitors is the Succulent Gardens, with its extensive collection of cacti and succulents, followed further along the walk by the Gondwana Garden (work in progress), the rain forest area to the Fern Garden.

At this point an interesting digression is to look for the hollows in the ground which can be seen within and to the east of the Fern Garden. These are old bog‑iron mining sites dating back to the early 1900’s when iron was extracted from the sand and sent just south of Newcastle for processing. And ‑ as you will see, ferns may tolerate iron in the soil but they don’t like iron in their water!

From this point the visitor can take the Boardwalk across the southern Wetland to the Southern Conservation Zone, another site best described as ‘work in progress’ i.e. clearing lantana and reclaiming access to a rainforest planted some 20 years ago. Left to their own survival strategies, these trees have done remarkably well and are the focus of a development strategy that will add another interesting dimension to the Gardens collection.

The path back to the Visitors Centre passes by the Palm Garden with its 70 specimens, including some that are rare and unusual. A recently established Rare Plants Garden and the Myrtaceae Garden complete the circuit.

The location of these theme gardens ‘just happened’ as the Gardens developed, as new tracks and new sites were opened up. A review of theme gardens undertaken in late 2008 has recommended changes that may or may not have been implemented by August 2010. What you will notice is small clusters of new plantings along the Botanic Walk aimed at making the circuit a more interesting and educational experience.

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20BGANZ Qld 2010 Conference ‘Community Linkages & Partnerships’

13‑15 August 2010 Tondoon Botanic Gardens, Gladstone Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

BGANZ NSW 2010 Conference ‘Where to now’

27‑29 August 2010 Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Email: [email protected]

BGANZ Vic 2010 Plants Forum

November 2010 Further details TBA

Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens Conference Secrets of the Mallee

22 – 23 May 2010 Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, Buronga NSW Wendy Hallinan, ph: 5023 3612, [email protected]

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Limited The Gardens’ Sculpture Price

9 May – 20 June 2010

American Public Garden Association, 2010 APGA Annual Conference

June 1‑5 2010 Atlanta, Georgia http://www.publicgardens.org/web/2007/01/2007_apga_annual_conference.aspx

4th Global Botanic Gardens Congress

13‑18 June 2010 National Botanic Gardens of Ireland http://www.4gbgc.com/index.html

8th International Flora Malesiana Symposium

23‑27 August 2010 Singapore Botanic Gardens http://www.sbg.org/fm8

Seventh International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability

5 to 7 January 2011 University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand http://onsustainability.com/conference‑2011/

XVIII International Botanical Congress

23‑30 July 2011 Melbourne Vic http://www.ibc2011.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS