Australian National Botanic Gardens
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Australian National Botanic Gardens
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Biodiversity in the picture
04 June 2010
The Australian National Botanic Gardens today launched a biodiversity photography competition in association with the United Nations Information Centre and the Canberra Institute of Technology.
The first-of-its-kind competition will involve CIT photography students creating a portfolio of photographs on the theme ‘threatened species’.
Students’ photographs will be assessed as part of their coursework and presented in a major public exhibition to be hosted by the Gardens in December.
Executive Director of the Gardens, Dr Judy West, said the exhibition was a great way to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity.
“The Gardens play a major role in raising awareness of biodiversity and plant conservation,” Dr West said.
“The United Nations Information Centre and CIT students are helping us to raise awareness of threatened flora through this public exhibition. It’s a wonderful initiative,” she said.
CIT student Samantha Harrison has some experience taking photographs in the Gardens. In 2008 she won second place in the Friends of the Gardens’ annual photography competition. Recently she’s concentrated more on portraits but she’s looking forward to this new challenge. “This is more about interpreting biodiversity, and making a comment rather than just taking pretty pictures,” she said.
Fellow student Ryleigh McClure hopes to capture the effect of human influence in her pictures. All are excited about the project and the amazing prizes on offer.
Winners will receive unique photographic internships with the United Nations Mission in Timor Leste, Australian National Botanic Gardens, ACT Government and the Canberra Times.
Senator Kate Lundy marks water project
03 June 2010
Senator Kate Lundy turned the first sod in the Gardens today, as the water project entered the grounds.
This milestone marks a significant point in the work to bring 170 megalitres of water from Lake Burley Griffin, to irrigate the living collection.
Three-quarters of outside work is completed. Work now begins in the Gardens to install new pipes to separate drinking water from non-drinking water.
“I’m pleased to be able to turn the first sod of this great project, which is not only being constructed on time but is an important election commitment that the Rudd Government is delivering to the ACT,” Senator Lundy said.
The project is funded through $1.5 million under the Government’s Water for the Future - National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns and another $1.4 million in funding through the Director of National Parks.
It will free up 170 megalitres of drinking water for the Canberra community.
Share your passion
Be a volunteer guide
02 June 2010
The Friends of the Gardens are currently taking bookings for their annual volunteer guides training program.
The prestigious title of Volunteer Guide at the Australian National Botanic Gardens comes after a five week training course which teaches communication skills, an understanding of the five main Garden zones, plant groups and more.
The course runs each Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am – 3.30pm from 28 June to 26 August. After that volunteer guides can lead hour long walks through the Gardens, sharing their knowledge and love of plants with visitors from all over the world.
Guide Don Beer loves to show people the Gardens. “It’s a beautiful place to be and I meet lots of interesting people. It’s a pleasure to show them around,” he said.
An introductory Information Session will be held in the Gardens’ Theatrette at 12.30pm on Wednesday 23 June.
To receive an information pack and register your interest please call the Visitor Centre on 02 6250 9540
Minister Garrett plants Centenary correa 'Canberra bells'
21 April 2010
The Gardens host Environment Minister Peter Garrett today for the ceremonial planting of the correa ‘Canberra bells’, the official plant of
the Canberra centenary.
Win Steve Parish books!
The wonderful guys over at Steve Parish books have given us 15 finger puppet books, perfect for pre-schoolers.
We have 3 copies each of Harry's Hat, Pitpat Possum, The Gecko Gang, Hip Hop the Frog and Kit Kat Koala to give away!
To enter click here! Good luck!
Friends' Art in the Gardens
The Gardens' new exhibition features the work of the Friends of the Gardens botanical art group.
The 80 works are a delightful array of native plants by experienced and emerging artists.
The exhibition was opened by Gardens' Executive Director Judy West, Friends' patron Marlena Jeffrey and Senator Kate Lundy.
Easter Bilby activity
The whole family will enjoy a special free children’s trail over the Easter weekend, available from the Visitor Centre.
Easter Bilby has lost his way home - can you help him? Collect a map from the Visitor Centre and follow the clues.
If you do, Easter Bilby may have something special for you.
Footprint EnviroFest
The Gardens' first Footprint EnviroFest was a huge success yesterday. Our first sustainability festival was a community event with something for visitors of all ages. Children enjoyed botanical crafts, puzzles and a visit from the bilby, while the adults were treated to specialist talks, guided walks, and lots of ideas on how to reduce their environmental footprint. All in the setting of our Gardens. Further information and photos
Stunning photographs at Friends’ lecture
Thursday 11 March
Today’s Friends’ lecture was a wonderful example of the sort of talks here at the Gardens.
Dr Roger Farrow’s presentation on Tibetan plants filled the theatrette with Friends of all ages.
Dr Farrow presented a stunning array of photographs of alpine flora, drawing gasps of pleasure, and occasionally bafflement and even dislike.
Most popular were the beauty of the gentians in many shades of blue, and the intriguing Pedicularis variegata. Less popular was the densely hair covered Saussurea leucoma.
Dr Farrow travelled from Chengdu in western Sichuan to Lhasa, Tibet, with members of the UK Alpine Garden Society, and photographed more than 600 species of flora.
Friends’ talks take place every Thursday lunchtime at 12.30pm in the Theatrette. Gold coin donation appreciated.
For more information on the Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens see here http://www.friendsanbg.org.au/
Daramalan students enjoy tailor-made education visit
Monday 1 March
Year 12 students from Daramalan college enjoyed two hours in the Gardens this morning learning about 'Diversity, classification and adaptation'.
Kiren Lal, 16, enjoyed reinforcing her classroom learning. 'It was good to study live specimens rather than diagrams,' she said.
The students spent an hour in the Theatrette before touring the Gardens with Education Explainers and Friends of the Gardens, Pat and Warwick Wright.
Students from Daramalan college in the rainforest with Warwick Wright and in the Botanical Resource Centre with Pat Wright.
Student Botanical Interns Graduate
Tuesday 23 February
Ten students from around Australia graduated from the 2010 Student Volunteer Botanical Internship Program, after working with botanical researchers in Canberra for the previous seven weeks.
The Program is run annually by the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research – a joint venture between CSIRO Plant Industry and the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG).
More than 250 students have completed the Program since it started in 1993.
“Students take an active part in research projects and herbarium collection management, working closely with botanical researchers and conservation managers,” says Internship Coordinator, CSIRO’s Bronwyn Collins.
Watch the interns on WIN news here
Iconic Australian plants join the collection
2 February 2010
Why was there a hole in the Grasslands section this morning?
ACTEW corporation gifted the Gardens with a number of protected Xanthorrhoeas and we planted five this morning. Come and see them in the Grasslands garden.
In flower this week
Take a virtual tour with Barbar Daly
- read more about what is in flower this week >>