August in the GardensWith winter coming to an end and spring on the way, now is a great time to visit the Gardens as they burst into flower. See if you can spot the native Hakea bucculenta (Red Pokers) at Cranbourne Gardens, or the lightly fragranced flowers of the Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry) at Melbourne Gardens. Or perhaps you'll prefer to join us at twilight for Crawl Me Blood, a somewhat morbid tale about three generations of Caribbean women, told under the stars of Melbourne Gardens. On a brighter note, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria now has an official LinkedIn account. Please follow us to keep up to date on Gardens' news and career opportunities.
See you in the Gardens, Tim Entwisle
Director and Chief Executive
Crawl Me Blood
Delve into Melbourne Gardens at night, with a nip of Caribbean rum in hand, and unravel the secrets of this morbid tropical tale that's inspired by the modern classic Wide Sargasso Sea (Jean Rhys).
Melbourne Gardens
Wednesday 29 August to Saturday 1 September
$30 per person
Wangka Kutjara, Tjukurpa Kutju Exhibition
Experience this mother-daughter exhibition that focuses on the importance of respected senior women in the community, and the significance of passing on cultural knowledge to the next generation.
Melbourne Gardens
Now until Sunday 2 September
FREE
Story-Catching: Mini Book Making with Trace Balla
Create your own story book and celebrate Children’s Book Week with award-winning author and illustrator Trace Balla (Rivertime, Rockhopping).
Melbourne Gardens
Sunday 19 August
$16 per child
Suitable 8 to 12 with a adult
Winter wanderings at Cranbourne Gardens
Discover the treasure trove of flora and fauna in Cranbourne Gardens' natural bushland. More than 400 plant species provide food and habitat for over 150 bird species and over 20 mammals, including the nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot. Why not rug up and see it all from above at the Trig Point Lookout? It's just a 300m walk from the Visitor Centre. On a clear day, you can see as far as Melbourne city and Cowes on Phillip Island. Warm up afterwards with a mug of hot chocolate at the Boon Wurrung Cafe, overlooking the Australian Garden.
Extreme wind damages tree
The beautiful Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress) at Melbourne Gardens has suffered extensive damage as a result of recent high winds. This is a much loved tree, by both the Gardens' visitors and staff alike, and our expert arborists are currently working to assess its safety and wellbeing. While inspection works are being undertaken, we have closed several paths nearby as a safety precaution. Please detour the area either via the Grey Garden, the Southern China Collection, or by the Rose Pavilion during this time. We hope to reopen these paths soon.
Free Science Seminar | Wednesday 15 August, 1pm
Michael Whitehead: Linking pollinator behaviour and floral evolution
Did you know that through mate-selection, the behaviour of animals can influence the evolution of flowers? Most flowering plants actually get animals to carry out the essential service of pollination. Sexually deceptive orchids attract mate-seeking wasps through a precise chemical mimicry of female wasp sex pheromones.
Melbourne Gardens
The little lightly fragranced flowers of the Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry) emerge in winter to attract birds and bees. Its pretty leaves appear waxy and leathery, producing oil to make candles and tannins for brown dye. Native to California, the Lemonade Berry grows into a sprawling evergreen tree. Usually found in canyons, it is extremely drought tolerant and can thrive in nutrient deficient soil. Find this remarkable plant tucked away in the California Garden.
Cranbourne Gardens
The stunning flowering heads of the Hakea bucculenta (Red Pokers) are nestled among open foliage, enticing nectar loving birds and insects, even the occasional parrot! The woody capsules will remain on the plant for many years, but when fresh are quite ornate. This attractive shrub grows naturally around Geraldton in WA, growing up to 4m tall in the home garden where it enjoys full sun and good drainage. You can find it in the Diversity Garden in the Australian Garden.
We’re proud to present our new collaboration with Samantha Robinson – Sinclair Ferns speckled stoneware. Ellen Sinclair created these exquisite nature prints of ferns in 1867 and bound them into an album titled Ferns of Australasia, which is housed in our State Botanical Collection.
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