No images? Click here February at the GardensAlthough it’s been a rather cool summer so far, there are sure to be more of those hot steam days to come. Our lush and leafy Gardens are the perfect place to seek out shady canopies, relax with a picnic or simply sit and reflect on the beauty of nature. For the past 175 years, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has connected people with nature at Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens, each home to phenomenal flora and extraordinary landscapes. We're celebrating our 175th milestone year with an upcoming series of seasonal Garden Gatherings centring around different precincts at Melbourne Gardens and featuring workshops, talks and more. First off the bat is Garden Gathering Vol. 1: Arid & Drylands Precinct. Melburnians should also keep an eye out for the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria wrapped tram, which will be out on Melbourne's public transport network soon. Created in partnership with Yarra Trams, it beautifully captures the theme of our 175th year – together we gather. Do check out the summer blooms at Cranbourne Gardens – those kangaroo paws are lasting forever! As of this month, you can leave the car behind. Book a place on our free daily shuttle running between the Gardens and Cranbourne Station. It’s a cool way to arrive at the prize-winning Australian Garden. Events and programs have restarted at both Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens, offering plenty of summer fun and entertainment. At Cranbourne Gardens, make the most of sunny days ahead with a Great Southern Land Walk through that spectacular Australian Garden. You can experience Melbourne Gardens as a gallery this month with Garden Variety: Photography, Politics and the Picturesque, which will form a trail of outdoor site-responsive photographic installations that present new work by six different artists. Here's to a fabulous February! See you in the Gardens, Tim Entwisle Garden Gathering Vol. 1: Arid & Drylands Precinct We are celebrating Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s 175th milestone year with a new series of seasonal Garden Gatherings which embrace stories and experiences that connect us to people, plants and place at the Gardens. Garden Gathering Vol. 1: Arid & Drylands Precinct will centre around Guilfoyle’s Volcano, Eucalypt Lawn and the reimagined Arid Garden at Melbourne Gardens, and will include curator talks, guided tours, creative workshops and self-guided activities. Pack a picnic and spend the day immersed in curator talks, guided tours, creative workshops and self-guided activities.Registration will open on Monday February 8, so save the date to make sure you don't miss out on wonderful events. Garden Variety: Photography, Politics and the Picturesque We are delighted to be part of the inaugural PHOTO 2021 International Festival of Photography with a site-responsive exhibition in Melbourne Gardens. Curated by Isobel Parker Philip, Garden Variety: Photography, Politics and the Picturesque forms a trail of outdoor photographic installations by artists James Nguyen, Luke Parker, Steven Rhall, Yvonne Todd, Grace Wood and Emmaline Zanelli. The landscape itself is enlisted as an exhibition partner as this suite of ambitious new commissions plots a pathway through the Gardens and leads visitors on a journey of discovery. Presented by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria as part of PHOTO 2021 International Festival of Photography. Image credit: Grace Wood, Abundance; scattered (study for Rose Pavilion) (detail), 2020. Found images, digital collage. Images sourced from the State Botanical Collection, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and the artist’s personal archive. Latest news Prickly perfection: meet Arid Garden Landscape Designer and Architect, Andrew Laidlaw We sat down with the Arid Garden’s Landscape Designer and Architect, Andrew Laidlaw for a behind-the-scenes chat about the inspiration behind the gorgeous new space.Shady splendour: deep-dive into Melbourne Gardens' Fern Gully Deep-dive into the fascinating history of Melbourne Gardens' lush, temperate Fern Gully, a shady summer sanctuary providing the perfect microclimate for plants and visitors alike.Plan your visit What's on at the See all of the wonderful events and programs coming up at the Gardens this month in our What's On guide, including walks, talks, free family activities and more. Discover the The new free daily shuttle bus runs between the Gardens and Cranbourne Train Station, making getting to Cranbourne Gardens easier than ever! Your snapshots Share your special moments from the Gardens on Instagram with @royalbotanicgardensvic and #royalbotanicgardensvic. Melbourne Gardens Cranbourne Gardens We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and learn and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. |