Making a difference – WithOneSeed

29Autumn 2014 Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Australia

New Board Chairman announced

The Royal Botanic Runway

Foundation to mark the 10th anniversary of the Children’s Garden, which we will celebrate later this year.

On other matters, we take a look at the important work of our ARCUE division, where our ecologists are having a global impact. And just beyond our shores, our education programs are reaching the subsistence farming communities of Timor Leste through a partnership with xpand Foundation’s WithOneSeed reforestation project.

Personally, it’s been a rewarding twelve months for me – one of consolidation and listening. It’s been immensely satisfying to meet and talk with staff, stakeholders and supporters about future priorities for the Royal Botanic Gardens. Many exciting ideas have surfaced from these exchanges and now it is time to pull out the top ones and start exploring what it will take in terms of project design and funding to make these a reality. I look forward to sharing news of these developments with you in future editions of Floreo.

Professor Tim EntwisleDirector and Chief Executive

In this edition of Floreo we bring you news of recent developments and refl ect on our good fortune to be working with such passionate supporters. We also welcome my new boss!

Mr Ken Harrison was announced as the Chairman of the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria in February. Ken has been connected to the Gardens for some time, not least of all as one of the key contributors (in many ways) to the Gardens’ Chelsea Flower Show exhibit, and it’s with great pleasure that I welcome him in his new capacity. Coincidentally, we bring you news of our participation in the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in July, where we have been invited to mount a show garden as part of a combined tourism promotion to attract visitors to Victoria and the Northern Territory.

Closer to home, the success in January of The Royal Botanic Runway fashion event, bringing fl ora and fashion together in a stunning location, raised much-needed funds for the next stage of the Melbourne Gardens’ Water Strategy Project. Thanks to David Shelmerdine and Geraldine Frater-Wyeth for their vision and passion, and to staff for putting in that bit extra. This water project continues to be of utmost importance to us securing a sustainable water resource for the Melbourne Gardens, to maintain the landscapes and a healthy lake system.

The Gardens has also been fortunate to receive further funding from The Ian Potter

CONTENTS

2 The view

3 New Board Chairman announced

3 Essence of Australia at Hampton Court Palace

4 Serendipity at work

6 Making a difference – WithOneSeed

7 Urban ecology in the headlights

8 The Royal Botanic Runway – a runaway sucess

9 Melbourne Observatory’s 150th

10 In brief

11 Meet Yung Truong

12 Director’s Circle update

14 Blooming

14 One day in December

15 The Gardens Shop

15 Special events

16 Events at the Gardens

The view

Cover imageSpecimen from the Ginger (Zingiberaceae) family in the Royal Botanic Melbourne Gardens’ Tropical Glasshouse. The west end of the glasshouse has recently been re-opened to the public on weekdays.

Photograph: Jorge de Araujo

Royal Botanic Gardens MelbourneBirdwood Avenue, Melbourne (Melway Map 2F, K12)Private Bag 2000, South Yarra, Victoria 3141

Tel 03 9252 2300, Fax 03 9252 2442Email rbg@rbg.vic.gov.auInternet www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Open every day from 7.30am until sunset.

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne

Public entrance: Cnr Ballarto Rd and Botanic Dve (off South Gippsland Highway), Cranbourne (Melway Map 133, K10)

Tel 03 5990 2200, Fax 03 5990 2250Email rbgc@rbg.vic.gov.auInternet www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Open every day from 9am to 5pm, except Christmas Day, and on days of Total Fire Ban and extreme fi re danger. Restricted access conditions apply during the fi re season.

Australian Garden

Free entry to Australian Garden and RBG Cranbourne bushland; fees may be charged for some programs.

Open every day, except Christmas Day.

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WANT MORE INFO?For more information about the articles included in this edition of Floreo, or if you wish to be included on the distribution list, please contact the Marketing and Communications Branch on 03 9252 2497 or marketing@rbg.vic.gov.au

Floreo is published twice a year in autumn and spring.

Writers: Helen Vaughan, Catherine Butterfi eld (Profi le), Warren Worboys (Blooming)Designer: Dianna Wells DesignEditor: Helen VaughanPrinter: Gunn and Taylor

Floreo is printed on Revive Laser, an Australian product made from 100% Australian recycled waste. As a result, imperfections may occur within the paper stock.ISSN 1444 - 7401

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The appointment of Mr Ken Harrison as Chairman of the Board was announced recently by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith.

In making the announcement, Mr Smith said that Mr Harrison brought over 40 years’ experience to the Royal Botanic Gardens Board, with a career as a professional company director and accountant, specialising in pastoral, horticultural and agricultural activities.

‘Mr Harrison is a leading member of the Victorian philanthropic sector, who brings a distinguished record of achievement to the Royal Botanic Gardens Board,’ Mr Smith said.

Director and Chief Executive Professor Tim Entwisle has welcomed Ken’s appointment as Chairman, saying he has been a committed advocate for the Royal Botanic Gardens for a number of years.

‘Ken was one of a team of supporters who got behind the Gardens’ gold-medal winning effort at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2011. His enthusiasm for this project manifested itself in a number of ways – from fundraising and planning, to

helping plant out the show garden and hand out brochures to visitors.

‘I’m sure that Ken’s experience in the philanthropic sector will serve the Gardens well.’

Mr Harrison joined the Board in April 2012, having previously been a member of the Foundation Board since March 2010 and he brings a wealth of experience to his position. He is an accountant and investment banker, and Chairman of Collinsbank Pty Ltd, specialising in commercial property, pastoral and agricultural pursuits. In addition to his professional endeavours, he is keenly interested in the philanthropic sector – a Governor of the Anaesthesia and Pain Medication Foundation, Director of the Australian Dental Association’s Evident Foundation, a supporter of the Royal Children’s Hospital, and the National Gallery of Victoria. He was a director and honorary Treasurer of Oxfam for 12 years, raising some $9 million in donations through his development of a commercial relationship with Bendigo Bank Limited.

Mr Harrison says he is honoured and delighted by his appointment: ‘I look forward to sharing my passion and vision for the gardens with our visitors, Friends of the Gardens, generous supporters, and our very dedicated staff’.

Mr Harrison’s appointment follows the retirement of former Chairman, Ms Elaine Canty from the Board in August 2013. Minister Smith also announced the appointment of Professor Tony Bacic FAA to fi ll one of the Board vacancies. Professor Bacic is a plant biologist with an extensive background in research and research training, focussing on understanding plant growth and development with a view to ensuring a secure food supply and sustainable agriculture. He is currently Director of the Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute at The University of Melbourne, Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, and a member of the Maud Gibson Trust Board.

Professor Bacic says ‘having watched Cranbourne Gardens and the Australian Garden develop and become an extraordinary tourist destination during my time with the Maud Gibson Trust Board, I’m excited to be a part of the next stage of the Gardens’ history’.

Above: New Board Chairman, Mr Ken Harrison at a recent Director’s Circle dinner

Photo: James Grant Photography

New Board Chairman announced

ESSENCE OF AUSTRALIA AT HAMPTON COURT PALACEEssence of Australia is the name of the inspirational show garden to feature at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July this year.

Coming just three years after winning a gold medal at the 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the show garden is a joint venture between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Tourism Victoria, Tourism Northern Territory, Qantas and leading UK tour operator Trailfi nders.

The Essence of Australia garden celebrates Australian fl ora and contemporary design as seen at the Australian Garden at Cranbourne Botanic Gardens. To be designed by leading landscape designer Jim Fogarty, who designed the Gardens’ gold medal winning Chelsea entry. It will evoke the relaxed feel of Australia and Australian’s love of outdoor living, as well as celebrate the states and gardening landscapes of Victoria and the Northern Territory.

Held in the extensive grounds of Hampton Court Palace, the annual fl ower show is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom attracting more than 154,000 visitors. It features show gardens, fl oral exhibits and acres of plants on sale from specialist nurseries. With its project partners, the Royal Botanic Gardens has a signifi cant opportunity to promote Victoria, and importantly the Australian Garden, as a travel destination to an international audience of garden enthusiasts. Trailfi nders’ travel experts will be on hand at the show garden to talk to visitors inspired by the design and planting about future travel plans.

The Essence of Australia garden design takes inspiration from the Rainbow Serpent – an iconic creature from Aboriginal culture which is often seen in aboriginal art and continues to be an infl uence today. Towards the back of the garden visitors will be introduced to Melbourne, the ‘Gateway to Australia’, the country’s cosmopolitan and arts hub with simple clean and stylish lines that are symbolic of contemporary Melbourne.

The garden will be constructed from sustainable materials that can be recycled or reused to reduce wastage. All materials will be sourced in the United Kingdom to reduce the environmental impact of the project and all plants used in the show garden will be donated to Kew Gardens.

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Serendipity at work

Two serendipitous fi nds recently donated to the State Botanical Collection have added to the cultural and historical importance of the collection. In the case of one donation – the Rae scrapbook – it provided greater insight into one of our longest serving Directors, Frederick J. Rae, who served as Director from 1926 until his death in 1941.

The second ‘fi nd’ was donated by Mrs Margaret McDonald, a descendant of Ferdinand Mueller’s sister, Clara Wehl (née Müller), which was brought to our attention by Dr John Dowe of James Cook University who is currently researching the artistic pursuits of the Wehl family.

FREDERICK RAE SCRAPBOOKThe Rae scrapbook was donated to the Gardens by Gowans Auctions in Tasmania, who uncovered the item whilst handling a deceased estate. It comprises a scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, and lecture notes dating back to Rae’s student days at The University of Melbourne. Gowans has since since added to this donation with a copy of probate for Rae’s estate and a second scrapbook of cuttings that document his wife Elizabeth’s career as a playwright and actress.

The Rae scrapbook is an unassuming, buckram-bound notebook, stamped on the inside cover with the initials F.J. Rae. Originally used by our future director to record his fi rst year botany lectures in 1911, his carefully handwritten notes are accompanied by drawings illustrating the different parts of a plant. Tucked inside the back cover is a fi rst year botany examination paper. A subsequent collection of newspaper clippings (we are not sure if Rae himself maintained the scrapbook, or if it was the work of his wife Elizabeth) provide a fascinating insight into Rae’s career path and his role as a public fi gure in Melbourne. Some discuss

his appointment as Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens and one such article describes him as a ‘Scholar, Scientist and Soldier’ – having served in the First World War, his appointment to the position was noted to have been ‘supported by the returned soldiers’. The clippings reveal him to be an advocate for the Gardens and someone adept at using the newspapers of the day to campaign for funding. In one article on the Herbarium history (2 September 1933), he discusses

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THE WEHL SKETCHBOOKThe Wehl sketchbook, which was donated to the State Botanical Collection in December 2013, comprises 70 watercolour paintings of plants growing in the garden of the Wehl family home in Mount Gambier. The sketchbook is thought to date around the 1880s but the identity of the artist is not certain. Clara Wehl (nee Müller) was Ferdinand Mueller’s sister. She married Eduard/Edward Wehl, a Physician in 1876, and went on to have 12 children, including Marie Wehl. The Library holds a number of botanical illustrations (16 paintings of fungi) and specimen collections (botanical and fungi) by Marie Wehl, but research has shown that some of Marie’s siblings also painted. With further research, being conducted by Dr John Dowe, it may also come to pass that some of the illustrations in the notebook are actually of specimens that were then contributed to the National Herbarium of Victoria by the Wehl family.

The sketchbook meets some important collecting criteria in that it complements and adds to our holdings associated with Ferdinand von Mueller, and it builds upon the existing Wehl collection of botanical illustrations held in the Collection.

DONATIONS TO THE STATE BOTANICAL COLLECTIONA number of signifi cant donations have been received by the Library in the past ten years among them books, botanic artworks (from botanic artists belonging to both the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, and the Friends of Cranbourne), slide collections and

historical photographs. Librarian Sally Stewart says ‘We are always grateful when individuals consider us as an option when deciding where to donate their items of botanical interest. Our collection is richer for these donations and some of our most interesting pieces have come by way of private donors, but we have a number of factors to consider when assessing items that are offered to us.

‘Donations must be consistent with our Collections Development Policy, particularly given the limited storage space in the Library. We also have to make it clear to donors that once an item has been donated to the State Botanical Collection, it stays in the collection. Donors sign an agreement which, amongst other things, stipulates that under no circumstances can they, or their descendants, request the item back from us.

‘The botanical slide collections from botanists (the Gardens’ slide collection numbers in the tens of thousands) are of real value as the plants have been identifi ed and photographed by experts in the fi eld, and the slides have been labelled with dates, locality and species/genera information. They come with reliable data, making them incredibly useful for identifi cation and distribution analysis purposes.’

Other donated items include photographs taken by amateurs from all periods, depicting family outings or landscape photography. She says these old photographs offer up many opportunities to build upon our knowledge of the development of the Gardens, its structures and its social signifi cance to Victorians over time.

the need for a new herbarium building to ‘have something that will rival the herbarium of the famous Kew Gardens’. He was successful and, in August 1935, a new herbarium building was opened.

Rae’s tenure at the Gardens was not without controversy and it was believed by some that he was responsible for burning part of Mueller’s vast collection of books and periodicals when the collection was moved to the new building in 1935. This claim was never substantiated and it is not a view held by current staff.

The Gardens’ Librarian Sally Stewart says the Rae notebooks are an interesting acquisition: ‘We don’t have a lot of material relating to Rae, so a personal book of cuttings is quite a nice addition to our collection. When gathered together like this, the clippings that document his activities reveal what a busy individual he was, and someone who was obviously not shy of the media’.

MY BIG GARDEN BY F.J.RAE

‘The horticultural expert can never complete his education. For, with the ever-progressing social development of the community, a new view-point is ever coming into consciousness.’

The Herald, 9 January 1926

Above left and left: Watercolours from the Wehl sketchbook, recently donated to the State Botanical Collection

Above right: The front cover of the Wehl sketchbook, circa 1880s

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His visit last year was to participate in the inaugural Environment Education Week in the sub-district of Baguia, where there are 35 schools scattered through 10 villages. During the 10 days Mick was there he trained 150 teachers and farmers to deliver the Carbon Futures program. This year he will return with a Royal Botanic Gardens’ botanist to continue and expand this work as part of WithOneSeed, a social enterprise reforestation project in the hills of Timor Leste.

The Royal Botanic Gardens has been working in partnership with the xpand Foundation’s WithOneSeed initiative to deliver the Carbon Futures program since 2011. First piloted with students attending education programs at the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, it is now delivered at both sites and has reached an estimated 400 students and 60 teachers in Victoria. But its reach goes far beyond the confi nes of suburban Melbourne to students in the sub-district of Baguia in Timor Leste, where 300 students and 135 teachers are involved in the program.

The Carbon Futures curriculum was developed by Mick and he says it seeks to teach students about the role of plants in the carbon cycle and how plants can mitigate climate change.

‘Working with students we demonstrate carbon’s capacity to change global environments, how to measure carbon in trees and how to assess carbon in forests, and in addition to this, the Melbourne students offset the carbon emissions generated by their laptops and mobile phones.’

He explains that students and organisations who wish to voluntarily offset their technology use can make an annual donation of $5 per computer device they use to the Computer Emissions Fund. These funds will be used by Community Tree Cooperatives established by WithOneSeed to plant, manage and maintain the trees in the reforestation project to improve water and soil conservation, reduce soil degradation and erosion, increase crop yields and contribute to the removal of carbon from the atmosphere.

In July 2013, Education Co-ordinator Mick Robertson travelled a long way. It wasn’t the fl ight from Melbourne to Darwin or the connecting fl ight to Dili, but the 11 hours it took for him to travel 200 kilometres from Dili to Baguia in Timor Leste – three spent waiting at a fl ooded river crossing – that marked the difference between his world at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and that of the subsistence farming communities he visited in Timor Leste.

Making a difference – WithOneSeed

When Mick and his colleague return this year, they will work with the local schools and community to start documenting the fl ora of the district, teaching them how to collect and mount specimens and how to record the botanical details digitally. This work will form the building blocks of a local herbarium by recording the fl ora of Timor Leste, much of which was lost during the 25 years of occupation. (In 1975, as Timor Leste emerged from 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule, 55 per cent of forest cover was still in place; twenty-fi ve years later, when Timor Leste fi nally gained its independence, only one per cent of forest remained.)

WITHONESEED REFORESTATION PROJECTWithOneSeed is a social enterprise that is taking action on climate change through reforestation projects. It is dedicated to improving the resilience of rural and subsistence communities through

77

Urban ecology in the headlightsFor more than a decade ARCUE’s Dr Rodney van der Ree and his team have been doing the hard yards along the highways and freeways that connect our cities and towns researching ways of mitigating the impact of traffi c on wildlife, many species of which are rare and threatened.

As one of the fi rst ecologists in Australia to focus on what may seem the unglamorous issue of roadkill – the price we pay for the convenience of taking the most direct route from ‘a’ to ‘b’ on freeways that cut through natural areas – he has now been recognised by the Australian Academy of Science with the 2014 Graeme Caughley Travelling Fellowship. Valued at $7,000, the Fellowship will allow Dr van der Ree to travel to scientifi c centres in China, India, Brazil, Singapore and South Africa to share his research into the impact of roads and traffi c on wildlife populations.

Dr van der Ree says that roads and traffi c are conspicuous and pervasive in the landscape and apart from the obvious issue of wildlife deaths from direct collisions with vehicles, other issues such as habitat loss and traffi c disturbance directly affect the viability of wildlife populations.

‘There is an estimated 102 million kilometres of roads on Earth, with countries like China, India and Brazil set to expand their road networks over the next ten years. They have incredibly ambitious road construction programs planned for the next 10 to 20 years, amounting to increases of thousands of kilometres

of major roads. In Australia, Europe and North America we have become much better at managing the impacts these road networks have on wildlife; however, this is less so in rapidly developing countries.

‘The opportunity to infl uence the location and design of new roads and lower their ecological impacts is during the planning and design stages and when they are being repaired or upgraded. Once built, the legacy and impact on the ecological diversity of these areas will remain for decades to hundreds of years.’

His lecture tour is coincidental with the publication later this year of the book Ecology of roads – an international practitioner’s guide. With early praise by Professor Richard Forman from Harvard University “This book is a gem, a tour de force… readable, interesting, practical, useful, and ambitious”, and edited by Dr van der Ree, it brings together case studies and reference materials from over 100 experts on roads and wildlife from 25 countries.

‘We want the book to be an essential resource for road planners, designers, and construction teams globally but particularly in developing countries – this is where roads are being proposed through ecologically sensitive wilderness areas such as the Serengeti, Amazon, and the grasslands of Mongolia.’ To keep the book affordable for practitioners in developing countries he has been seeking sponsorship from construction companies and NGOs, but more is required.

‘The global cost of road building on wildlife mortality reaches into the millions. And it’s not just an animal welfare issue, but an issue of human injury when roads and wildlife intersect. Ecologically, we are seeing the decline and extinction of wildlife populations due to high rates of mortality and disruption of their migration.’

Readers interested in supporting the publication of the book should contact the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Development Branch.

for the to incre

the creation of activities focused on social and economic participation for all people irrespective of location, ability, income or education. They work with communities in Australia and across the Asia Pacifi c region to make environments sustainable, to end poverty and hunger, to increase access to education and to build regional relationships.

By March 2014, it is expected that subsistence farmers who are participating in the WithOneSeed reforestation initiative in the sub-district of Baguia in Timor Leste, will have planted 40,000 Mahogany (Toona sureni) trees and built three community nurseries since WithOneSeed began working with them in 2010. Mahogany is a quick-growing rainforest species and in the four years since the fi rst trees were planted they have reached fi ve to six metres in height. Subsistence farmers working in Community Tree Cooperatives are given 500 trees each to plant and are paid US50 cents to manage and maintain each tree, effectively more than doubling their meagre annual income. (The average yearly income of a subsistence farmer in Timor Leste is US$200.)

Mick says the retention rate is high: ‘the farmers hate it if just one tree dies’.

And the benefi ts of the reforestation initiative reach further into the community: as a result of WithOneSeed, eight locals have been employed in various full-time positions, including a Project Manager, Nursery Co-ordinators and a tree monitor, a Technology Hub Offi cer and in other administrative roles, making WithOneSeed the biggest employer in Baguia, outside of government funded employment.

The Baguia Community Tree Cooperative consists of 130 subsistence land-owners who work together, learn from and support each other to establish tree nurseries, propagate and plant-out seedlings.

Above left: Mahogany (Toona sureni) trees in the mountains of Timor Leste

Above right: Nursery technician in Baguia

Left: On the road to Baguia, July 2013

Photos: courtesy WithOneSeed

ANETAs part of its commitment to mitigating the effects of transportation infrastructure on

wildlife, ARCUE has been instrumental in leading the development of ANET, the Australasian

Network for Ecology and Transportation. ANET is a professional network committed to the

‘research, design and implementation of environmentally-sensitive linear infrastructure (rail,

roads and utility easements) across Australasia’. ANET seeks to provide resources and

support links between the scientifi c research community, government and industry and local

community groups to achieve the best positive ecological and infrastructure outcomes.

The inaugural ANET Conference will be held at Coffs Harbour in July this year. Further

information on ANET and the conference is available at www.ecoltrans.net

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to organise this fundraising event – one that would celebrate the beautiful union of fashion, fl ora, design, environmental awareness and philanthropy and that would bring long-lasting and tangible benefi ts to the Gardens. In this they were resoundingly successful with the event achieving a gross revenue of over $360,000, which will allow an important contribution to be made to the Water Strategy Project. Ticketing for the event ensured it was open to all who share a passion for the Gardens and for fashion with a range of General Admission and Moonlight Cinema lawn seating tickets through to black tie Donor Box and Premium Donor Seats. Celebrity landscape gardener Jamie Durie was Master of Ceremonies for the event, which was streamed live to the big screen in Federation Square, allowing Melburnians to view this spectacular display of fashion and fl ora in real-time.

The Runway event was followed by a black tie fundraising dinner at The Terrace, attended by donors, guests,

designers and media representatives. Dinner guests were entertained by a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra string quartet and acclaimed chef, Shannon Bennett catered for the event. Landscape Architect Andrew Laidlaw spoke about the design history of the Gardens and William Guilfoyle’s foresight in building a water reservoir on-site. To round off the evening, a number of unique items were auctioned by Mossgreen Auctions – and for those not at the dinner, an online auction provided further impetus to the fundraising efforts on the night.

Water Strategy Project

Funds raised from The Royal Botanic Runway will be directed to the visionary Water Strategy Project that has been phased in over the past six years at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and has included the restoration of Guilfoyle’s Volcano water reservoir (Stage 1, completed in March 2010) and the Working Wetlands stormwater harvesting project (Stage 2, completed in August 2012). With the implementation of Stages 1 and 2, the Gardens has the capacity to meet up to 40 per cent of its irrigation needs. Stage 3 seeks to close this gap by achieving a fully-sustainable alternate irrigation water source, eliminating the need to use drinking water for irrigation and ensuring that the Gardens is resilient to droughts and more sustainable long-term.

The Royal Botanic Runway – Photography by Lucas DawsonAbove: Overhead view of Guilfoyle’s Volcano with modelsLeft: Stepping out in Collette Dinnigan on the volcano boardwalk

Above right: left to right, top to bottom: Wedding gown by Collette DinniganElegance in black by Martin GrantYellow creation by Akira IsogawaFashion and fl ora at Guilfoyle’s VolcanoDelicate creations by Aurelio Costarella

I have released collections every season for 165 years.My runway is 38 hectares wide.My pieces have been forged by the world’s most prolifi c designer.The House of Mother Nature. – The Royal Botanic Runway: an Event

Gallery Production

On a perfect summer’s evening in January, fashion and fl ora came together at Guilfoyle’s Volcano to present The Royal Botanic Runway. A sell-out event and in front of an audience of more than 1,000, 60 local and international models stepped out onto the boardwalks and paths that circle Guilfoyle’s Volcano and presented designs from four world-renowned Australian fashion designers: Akira Isogawa, Aurelio Costarella, Collette Dinnigan and Martin Grant.

Co-founders of The Royal Botanic Runway, David Shelmerdine and Geraldine Frater-Wyeth, were inspired

The Royal Botanic Runway – a runaway success!

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Presented by

Major partner

Supporting partners

City of Melbourne

Delaware North

Grand Hyatt

Melbourne

L’Oreal

MAC

Mossgreen Auctions

Pommery

Qantas

Qube Konstrukt

MELBOURNE OBSERVATORY’S 150TH The 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Observatory was celebrated last November with a weekend of activities that saw the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the occasion by the Governor of Victoria, the Honourable Alex Chernov AC QC. He was joined by fi gures from 1863, the then Governor Sir Henry Barkly and Government Astronomer Robert Ellery, as part of an historic re-enactment that captured the spirit of Melbourne in the 1860s.

Professor Fred Watson AM, Astronomer-in-Charge of the Australian Astronomical Observatory, was MC for the formal proceedings with Professor Tim Entwisle speaking on the past, present and future association of the Melbourne Observatory with the Royal Botanic Gardens. The celebrations were jointly organised by the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Astronomical Society of Victoria (ASV) with support from Museum Victoria, Royal Society of Victoria, Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Sydney Observatory, Bureau of Meteorology and Perth Observatory. Performers, children’s activities, observatory tours and talks, telescope viewings, and the screening of the short fi lm Beyond our universe in the

Infi nity Dome, an infl atable planetarium, provided the afternoon’s entertainment before the offi cial ceremony began, and were followed by the fi ring of a ceremonial cannon by the 40th Regiment of Foot to close the proceedings. A seminar on Colonial astronomy in Australia was held at Mueller Hall the next day. Topics included the ‘Role of women in colonial astronomy’, ‘Historical context of Marvellous Melbourne’ and ‘Meteorological and geomagnetics work at the Melbourne site’.

Established at Williamstown in 1853

under the directorship of Robert Ellery

for the purpose of providing time signals

to mariners in the bay, the Melbourne

Observatory was moved to its current site

in 1863. Its main function was for weather

forecasting, setting weights and measures

standards, time setting, and for the

surveying of Victoria. Construction of the

Observatory commenced in 1861 and the

distinctive-shaped buildings with their domes

and roll-top roofs were progressively added

up until 1902. The Melbourne Observatory

closed as a working establishment in 1944

and in 1945 the Great Melbourne Telescope

was relocated to the Mt Stromlow Observatory

where it was in use until damaged in a

fi restorm in 2003. It is now located at Museum

Victoria, where it is being painstakingly

restored by members of the ASV in partnership

with Museum Victoria and the Royal Botanic

Gardens. It is hoped that it will eventually be

returned to its place in the Great Melbourne

Telescope house at the Gardens once the

restoration is complete. Future editions of

Floreo will outline more about the exciting

developments planned for Observatory Gate.

The ASV has been running public night sky

tours at the Melbourne Observatory for more

than 65 years, the fi rst starting in 1948. Further

information on the tours is available at rbg.vic.

gov.au or by contacting the Visitor Centre on

9252 2429.

Bottom left: ASV’s Graham Hardy with a young stargazerBelow: 40th Regiment of Foot march offJorge de Araujo Photography

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Victoria

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LANDSCAPE OF THE YEARThe Australian Garden added another plaudit to its long list of awards when it was named Landscape of the Year at the World Architecture Festival in October last year. Considered the ‘Olympics of Architecture’, the Australian Garden won from a shortlist of nine entries including entries from Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacifi c. The international jury commended the Australian Garden, saying it ‘…stood out with its originality and strong evocation of Australian identity without having to use any signs or words – just the beautiful fl ora of Australia’s countryside!’.

Above: Lifestyle Garden, Australian GardenPhoto: Janusz Molinski

MELBOURNE GARDENS STAFF RECOGNISEDCongratulations to two Melbourne Gardens’ horticulture staff whose dedication and skill has been recognised with recent awards. Ebony Seeley, who is in the fi nal year of her apprenticeship with the Gardens, was awarded Chisholm Institute’s Best Apprentice in Parks and Gardens 2013 late last year. Ebony has worked for the Gardens for the duration of her apprenticeship and has gained valuable experience working with a number of the collections, but names the Australian Bed as her favourite collection.

Horticulture Technician and Curator of the California Collection, Tim Wall commences a nine-month position with the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens this month after being awarded the Jewish National Fund’s annual scholarship for 2014. Tim, who has curated the California Garden since 2006, was selected for his wide-ranging experience with Mediterranean gardens. The scholarship program, now in its third year, supports the placement of horticulturists at the 30-acre Jerusalem Botanical Garden in Nayot. It is home to over 10,000 plant species, featuring geographical collections from Europe, North America, Southern Africa, Australia, Asia and the Mediterranean.

MAUD GIBSON TRUST: ELISABETH MURDOCH SCHOLARSHIP 2014In November last year the Maud Gibson Trust approved a proposal to establish an annual scholarship fund of between $10,000 and $12,000 in honour of the Late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE. The fund is intended to support professional development opportunities for study trips to other botanic gardens and associated horticultural institutions, fi eld trips and collection trips for horticulturists from the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne or Melbourne.

The inaugural scholarship was shared between proposals from staff at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Cali Salzman, Sturt Gibbs and Trevor Seppings will embark on a ‘Study trip to botanic gardens of South Australia/Currency Creek Arboretum and Arid Land Botanic Gardens (SA)’, which will aid in the development of precinct curatorial plans for the Australian Garden and provide them with a greater understanding of plants tolerant to a wide variety of

environmental conditions. Amanda Thomson will undertake a ‘Study Trip to Northern Territory Botanic Gardens and Parks’ to gain a greater understanding of managing the 20–25 bioregion beds in the Diversity Garden at the Australian Garden that represent the fl ora of northern Australia.

SHOUT THE GARDENSIt’s the digital equivalent to rattling a tin, but for the price of a cup of coffee or the small change in the bottom of your bag or pocket, you can now Shout the Gardens. Shout is an App-based micro-donation platform that enables users to donate the value of everyday items such as a cup of coffee or a movie ticket to not-for-profi t organisations. The Royal Botanic Gardens presence was launched on Shout in January this year and allows users to by a seed for the Victorian Conservation Seedbank for $5 or a litre of water to support the Gardens’ Water Strategy Project for $10. Shout aims to demonstrate how a whole lot can be achieved by everyone sharing just a little. Go to shoutforgood.com to download the Shout App and help change the world one shout at a time.

NEW CAFÉ FOR OBSERVATORY PLAZAAfter nearly six years and many thousands of café lattes and cappuccinos later, we say farewell and thank you to the lessees at Observatory Café on 10 March. The café will close from 11 March to 10 April, and the kiosk in front of the cafe will reopen for business on 11 April. The new look café/restaurant will be launched later this year.

MELBOURNE’S MICROBATSMelbourne’s Microbats, a joint research program conducted by ARCUE, the Earthwatch Institute and The University of Melbourne, was named a fi nalist in the Sustainability category of the 2013 Melbourne Awards late last year. A City of Melbourne initiative, the awards celebrate and reward inspirational people and organisations who dedicate their time and energy to helping shape the city. Although the project did not take the fi rst prize, it was well-deserved recognition for a conservation program that has been the fi rst in the world to conduct all its monitoring surveys in the city centre.

In brief

Meet Yung Truong

really engaging and full of like-minded people whose focus is the same – to share our beautiful Gardens in the best way possible and encourage the public to move towards growing natives in their own gardens.’

Co-ordinating a team of 12, whose jobs involve looking after group and public bookings, the face-to-face contact with the public and even managing traffi c fl ow through the Gardens’ car parks on busy days, Yung believes customer service plays a vital role in a visitor’s experience of the Gardens.

‘It doesn’t matter how amazing a place is, if you have a poor customer service experience there, you’re unlikely to go back’, she says.

‘The philosophy I like the team to follow is to anticipate a customer’s need and act on it prior to them even asking. And I must say, our team does a great job of doing that, and that’s one of the reasons why so many people return.’

Yung recalls a woman who recently contacted the Customer Service team prior to her Gardens visit. Yung’s team undoubtedly anticipated this visitor’s every need.

‘A lady wanted to bring her mother through the Gardens. The mother and daughter had last visited at the Gardens’ opening in 2006 and, for her mum’s 90th birthday, she wanted to return. But her mum had had a stroke so was in a wheelchair. Our team sent out a whole heap of information about the Gardens before their visit, we organised a good place for them to park, booked them into the cafe and took her mum around in

one of our wheelchairs more suitable for getting around the Gardens. Her mum was so happy with the way the day turned out, she left her wheelchair deposit of $50 as a donation to the Gardens. It was one of those really special moments, and it made me very proud that our team could help make their day so special.

‘I’m also really proud that in the last 12–18 months we’ve had a lot of special needs groups come through as repeat visitors. The big turnaround came when free entry to the Gardens was introduced. Before that, care groups just couldn’t afford to come through, but now, we have lots of those groups through time and again. We have lifts and hoists and ramps to make sure we’re accessible to everyone and the feedback we get is just amazing. I’m so proud when the carers tell me that a visit to our Gardens gives those in their care a genuine sense of freedom and engagement.’

Yung is also proud of the introduction of the Garden Explorer back in February 2013. It’s another popular customer service initiative that enhances a Gardens’ visit. But for Yung, the most fulfi lling part of her job comes as visitors are leaving.

‘When I see people leave and they’ve got a smile on their faces and they walk past and say, “We’ve had such a great day and we’re going to come back with our friends”, for me, that’s the best thing. It feels like we’ve really achieved our goal.’

Did you know that the most frequently-

asked question of the Cranbourne Gardens’

customer service staff is ‘what is a southern

brown bandicoot?’.

Above: Yung Truong assists a visitor at the Australian Garden Visitor CentrePhoto: Janusz Molinksi

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It was a frantic world that Yung Truong lived in before she joined the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne in September 2009. Deeply immersed in the corporate hospitality world, Yung worked long, unsociable hours that left little time for peace.

But while Yung still works hard in a busy and often challenging role as Co-ordinator of Customer Service at the Gardens, there’s always somewhere she can go to during the working day to fi nd some harmony and balance.

‘I love going to the Lifestyle Garden during my lunch break’, she says. ‘It’s a peaceful place and offers something that I think we’re all trying to achieve – a relaxed lifestyle – which my last job didn’t give me. This workplace couldn’t be more different. If you’re having a stressful day, you can go out and have a walk around the Gardens and it just makes you appreciate the simple things in life again. We see the children wading in the Rockpool Waterway and their parents have their pants rolled up and are in there with them and it just gives you some perspective.

‘I studied a Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality Management and worked in the hospitality industry for 13 years so it was a big shift coming from that corporate background to an environment like this. It was a lot more stressful and fi nancially driven, but here the culture is

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and their love of the Gardens and their desire to see its long-term future secured for all Melburnians has been inspiring for us here at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Together we’ve been able to fuse fashion and fl owers to support water conservation as well as attract new audiences. On behalf of the Gardens I would like to thank them and acknowledge their commitment of time, expertise and funds’.

HONOURING OUR SUPPORTERS – BEQUESTS AND THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENSThe impact of our lives, the difference we each make in the world and what we leave behind are signifi cant questions we all ask ourselves at some time. The Royal Botanic Gardens is fortunate to have supporters over the years who’ve decided one way they can help answer those questions is to leave a bequest in their will to the Gardens.

In this edition of Floreo we honour Barbara and Peter Shearer, long-time supporters, who had a real passion for the Royal Botanic Gardens. Barbara and Peter decided to leave a bequest to the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation and in 2013 the fi rst part of their bequest was realised with a further instalment in 2014. The Plant Systematics Joint Fellowship with Melbourne University is a benefi ciary of their legacy ensuring the appointment of the fi rst Fellow, Tanja Schuster, in October 2013. This would not have been

RECOGNISING OUR SUPPORTERSThe Royal Botanic Gardens is fortunate to have many passionate and enthusiastic supporters and from time to time in Floreo we recognise their contributions to the Gardens beyond fi nancial support. The recent Royal Botanic Runway held at Guilfoyle’s Volcano was initiated and organised by David Shelmerdine and Geraldine Frater-Wyeth, supporters of the Gardens for many years.

The journey to The Royal Botanic Runway, held on 30 January this year, started over two years ago when David, with his passion for sustainability and the environment, and Geraldine with her passion for fashion and events, fi rst approached then Director and Chief Executive, Dr Philip Moors with the concept.

Dr Moors enthusiastically embraced David and Geraldine’s vision of ‘celebrating a beautiful union of fashion, fl ora, design, environmental awareness and philanthropy’ and so The Royal Botanic Runway was born. Picking up the baton after the retirement of Dr Moors, new Gardens’ Director and Chief Executive, Professor Tim Entwisle, worked with them to to plan the fi rst Runway event. Congratulating David and Geraldine on their vision for the event and their considerable efforts to ensure it went off without a hitch, he says they’ve been fantastic to work with: ‘Their drive, commitment and passion never dimmed,

Director’s Circle update

Floreo

possible without the Shearer’s bequest. The remainder of their bequest will stay in the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation, under the watchful eye of the Foundation’s Board, earning interest for the Foundation and providing additional income to make a lasting contribution to maintaining our landscapes and living collections as well as supporting vital science and conservation research programs.

Leaving a bequest to the Royal Botanic Gardens is a very personal decision and we are aware that for many people, who’d like to leave a bequest, they simply don’t know where to start. We’ve included a brochure in this edition of Floreo which provides some information about bequests, as well as contact details for our Foundation Offi cers, Mike Fogarty or Lori Kravos, who would be happy to talk with you and answer your questions about leaving a bequest to the Gardens.

Left: At The Royal Botanic Runway from left to right: MC Jamie Durie, Maree Shelmerdine, Runway Co-founder and Director Geraldine Frater-Wyeth, designers Aurelio Costarella and Collette Dinnigan, Runway Co-founder David Shelmerdine, and designer Akira Isogawa. (Paris-based designer Martin Grant was unable to attend the event.)Lucas Dawson Photography

CHILDREN’S GARDEN TURNS 10Since opening in 2004, The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden has become a much-loved play space for our youthful visitors. Its unique, child-focussed design has inspired other nature-based play spaces around Victoria and it has also become internationally recognised as a leading example of a children’s garden that nurtures children’s interaction with nature.

To mark the 10th birthday of this overwhelmingly popular part of the Gardens, The Ian Potter Foundation has generously donated another $265,000 towards building of a new education area called the ‘Gathering Space’, which will include a small passive water feature nestled under a Banana Forest with extra seating and shade trees for school groups. The funding will also be directed toward a new interactive art installation and enhancements to water management as well as existing facilities.

Annual attendance at the popular Children’s Garden peaked in the twelve months to 30 June 2013, with more than 248,000 visitors recorded. This generous donation from The Ian Potter Foundation will result in new facilities to support the

delivery of education programs and making sure the many thousands of school children who visit each year leave with wonderful memories of their visit to the Gardens.

Each year the Children’s Garden takes a break in winter for regular maintenance and restoration. This year the Children’s Garden winter closure will be extended to accommodate the construction of the new education area, beginning on Monday 14 July and re-opening in time to mark its 10th birthday on Sunday 26 October.

In this edition of Floreo we

gratefully acknowledge the many

generous individuals, businesses,

organisations, charitable

foundations and trusts, and

government agencies who have

assisted with projects during the

period from 1 February 2013 until

12 February 2014.

Anonymous (4)Australian Plant Society Victoria Inc.Mrs Christine BarroMs Laurie BebbingtonMrs Rosie BorehamMrs Tania BroughamCactus & Succulent Society of

Australia IncCalvert-Jones FoundationCamellias Victoria Inc.Charles and Cornelia Goode

FoundationMr John Collingwood and

Mrs Chris CollingwoodCybec FoundationMs Debbie DadonMrs Yvonne DeutsherMs Jean DietersMr David DonaldsonMr Branko DrazenovicMr Robert DrewMs Henrietta FlinnMiss Margaret FordMr Derrick FriedmanFriends of Royal Botanic Gardens

Cranbourne Inc.Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens,

Melbourne Inc.Mr John GodfreyMr Peter Greenham and

Mrs Anne GreenhamThe Hon. David Habersberger QCMrs Jean HadgesDr Ian Henderson

The Ian Potter FoundationMrs Tanya LewisMr Brian LittleMaud Gibson TrustMs Wendy MeadMr David Miles AMThe Myer FoundationMr Martyn Myer AONational Rhododendron GardensMr Kenneth NelsonOMEP Australia LimitedReece Pty LtdMr Mark ReubenichtMs Joanne ReubenichtMrs Sheila RodeckMrs Margaret Ross AM and Dr Ian RossMrs Maria RyanMrs Adelaide ScarboroughSchapper Family FoundationMs Michele SharplesThe Estate of The Late

Mrs Barbara ShearerMr David Shelmerdine and

Mrs Maree ShelmerdineMrs Diana SherMrs Merrill ShulkesLady Southey ACMr Charles TegnerMrs Ann ThorntonTrinity Grammar SchoolMr Adrian TurleyNS & JS TurnbullMr Frank Van Straten OAMMr Richard Williams

We are grateful for the generosity and continued support of all of our supporters. In the spring edition of Floreo we will acknowledge our Director’s Circle donors.

A full list of generous supporters to the Royal Botanic Gardens is available at: www.rbg.vic.gov.au/support/supporters.

OUR SUPPORTERS

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BANKSIA MENZIESII

The Firewood Banksia is a variable sized shrub which grows from 1.5 to 7 metres tall with a 1.5 to 4 metre spread. It is native to Western Australia, occurring on the well-drained sandy soils in a near coastal belt from Perth, northwards, to Shark Bay.

Growing at the edge of the Arid Garden, in the Australian Garden, you will see fl ushes of rusty-coloured new leaves surrounding the fl ower spikes which start developing in summer. By the start of autumn the plants are usually covered with a wonderful display of opening and fully-open fl ower heads, which may vary from the yellow and pinkish/red colour, as seen in the photo, to a pure, rich butter yellow.

Like many arid region plants the leaves have a greenish-grey appearance because of the fi ne hairs that cover the surface and help to reduce moisture loss. The bark of more mature plants is very architectural, with the surface appearing

almost pebble-like. The cones generally stay attached to the plant for many years without opening, which can add to its beauty because the old fl owers fall from the spike and the remaining developed seed follicles and the clean spike are unusually speckled with small dark purple blotches.

Although this plant grows very well in sandy soils, it does not like poor drainage. It is fast growing and formative pruning from an early age will help the plant form into a dense, prolifi c fl owering specimen.

Above: Banksia menziesii Photo: Charlie Firth

ONE DAY IN DECEMBER In January our Visitor Centre staff received

an email from Veronica Hendrickson who

had spent a day at the Melbourne Botanic

Gardens in late December. With Veronica’s

permission, we reproduce it here and

share with you her day at the Gardens and

a few reasons why, if you haven’t visited

the Gardens of late, a visit this autumn just

might make for a memorable day out.

‘On Sunday 22nd December I spent most of my day walking through the magnifi cence of the RBG. It was a real adventure as it is decades since I was there. It was quite humid, and lightly spotting with raindrops but there were families, groups of friends, and romantic gatherings spread about under the canopies of large leaves and purple fl owers.

I entered woodlands and listened to birds, I walked above wetlands and watched the gondolier with his smart straw hat, I strolled as closely as I could along the perennial borders that blinded me with colour, I saw heavenly colour-schemed gardens, and interesting and creatively set out geographical gardens. I took meandering paths, and, to my delight, heard a little girl exclaim to her mother, “Look mummy! There’s a secret path! Look! There! Where that lady is going!”

I took photos of different plants that I’d like in my own garden, and photos of designs I liked best. I revelled in the greens/greys/blues that were selectively daubed about like an artist’s palette. Riots of colour waved enticingly in the distance at times, and I had to stop myself from hurrying onward to get closer to the riches.

On my way out I paused at the Children’s garden and thought ‘why not?!’ A former school teacher, I was curious, and this place just blew me away!!! What a fantasy for kids to explore! There were 3 little bubbies sitting in the waterway cooling off, while others were rock-hopping, playing hide-and-seek, and marvelling at the bottle trees.

I just had to write to tell you I think you’re all doing a fantastic job – from the lawn mowers to the planners to the nursery people to the research/history/education people.

It is a fantastic resource for our city and one which the forefathers would now look upon and be so proud.

Thank you all for my unforgettable 35th wedding anniversary. I do hope you pass on my congratulations to everyone concerned.’

Blooming

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The Gardens Shop

Autumn sees the launch of the Lazybones range of relaxwear, bedding and wallpaper created in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens. The designs are based on the botanical illustrations of Euphemia Henderson (1820–1907) held in the State Botanical Collection. Lazybones has taken the patterns, textures and colour combinations of Euphemia’s beautiful watercolours and recreated them digitally to produce repeated patterns for their new collection.

This romantic new collection from Lazybones has a poignant heritage. Euphemia Henderson arrived in Victoria in 1853 from the Isle of Man, and later settled on Phillip Island with her sister Georgianna McHaffi e’s family. She worked as a governess, but was also an accomplished wildfl ower artist in watercolours. Her friendship with the Gardens’ fi rst Director, Ferdinand Mueller, resulted in a brief engagement for six months in 1863.They had a mutual love of Australian fl ora and collected botanical specimens together on Phillip Island. Along with her wildfl ower artworks, 44 letters from Mueller to Euphemia survive and are held in the State Botanical Collection.

Royalties from Lazybones’ Euphemia range will assist the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne to advance the knowledge, conservation and enjoyment of plants.

The Lazybones range will be available at The Gardens Shop from 7 March.

Right: ‘Euphemia’ Lazybones designs Photos: courtesy Lazybones

DIARY DATE – CHILDREN’S GARDEN TURNS 10 26 October

The Children’s Garden will celebrate 10 years of fun and fl ora later this year with a day of free family activities. The celebrations will be held on Sunday 26 October with program details to be available closer to the event at rbg.vic.gov.au

Special eventsAUSTRALIAN GARDEN LONGEST LUNCH 14 March, 12noon – 4pm

$145 per person

Cranbourne Botanic Gardens

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s Regional World’s Longest Lunch Cranbourne provides a rare opportunity for guests to relax amongst the beauty of this contemporary, architecturally-designed garden whilst enjoying quality food prepared by award-winning chef Andrew Blake. Each guest will delight in a three course lunch, comprising local produce and wines, in a unique lakeside location beneath the fi gs trees. Set amongst these stunning natural surrounds, guests will be absorbed in the sounds of fl owing water and bird life and be a part of a rare culinary experience never to be forgotten. After lunch, take a stroll through the Australian Garden and enjoy its astonishing beauty.

Bookings essential:

Blakes Feast – (03) 9821 0669

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GROWING FRIENDS’ PLANT SALESAutumn plant sales offer a range of indigenous and exotic plants, propagated from Gardens’ stock.

RBG Cranbourne

Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct, Australian

Garden

15 and 16 March, 10am – 4pm

RBG Melbourne

Just inside E Gate, near the Tropical

Glasshouse

3 May, 10am – 4pm

4 May, 10am – 3pm

SCIENCESeminar series

Plant Sciences & Biodiversity seminars are held monthly in Mueller Hall, National Herbarium of Victoria. Enquiries: Roger Spencer, 9252 2315

The measurement, analysis and source

identifi cation of 120 years of atmospheric

industrial lead depositions using archived

lichens – Li Qin, Department Environment & Geography, Macquarie University1 April, 1pm

Hidden treasures from Brazil in the

National Herbarium of Victoria –

Catherine Gallagher, Co-ordinator Curation, Royal Botanic Gardens6 May, 1pm

Libraries, science, botany and the digital

age – Sally Stewart, Librarian, Royal Botanic Gardens3 June, 1pm

Events atthe Gardens

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Bringing plants to life

Be surprised and amazed by the power of plants. Join us for fascinating behind-the-scenes tours to celebrate National Science Week 2014. Check our website in June for a full program of activities.

16–24 August

RBG CRANBOURNEBush-food weekend

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April

Join us in celebrating Australia’s bush-food plants with walks, workshops, family programs and kids’ activities.

Propagating bush foods*

12 April, 10am – 12noon

13 April, 1.30 – 3.30pm

Growing and enjoying bush tucker*

13 April, 10am – 12noon

*Cost: $28.50 adult, $22.50 conc.

Aboriginal bush-food walk

Both days, 11am and 1.30pm

Cost: $25 adult, $21 conc., $10 child (6

17years)

Pot up a bush-food plant

Both days, 11.30am 1.30pm

Cost: $3.50 child (3+ years)

Native nibbles

Both days, 1 – 2pm, FREE

RBG MELBOURNEBackyard beauties – trees for the home

garden

13 April and 1 May, 10.30am – 12noon

Cost: $20 adults, $18 conc. & Friends’

member

Trees – great and grand

20 May, 10.30am – 12noon

Cost: $25 adult, $21 conc. & Friends’

member

FURTHER INFORMATIONFull program details available online at rbg.vic.gov.au

For bookings, contact our visitor centres:

RBG Cranbourne – (03) 5990 2200

RBG Melbourne – (03) 9252 2429

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