The BOTANIC GARDENer - June 2020 - Botanic Gardens in a time of climate change

THE BOTANIC GARDENer The magazine for botanic garden professionals

Theme: Botanic gardens – in a time of climate change ISSN 1446-2044 | www.bganz.org.au

I SSU E

54 JUNE 2020

Editorial Committee HELEN VAUGHAN Managing Editor ARIANA POTAMIANAKIS Gardener, Brisbane Botanic Gardens / Hort. Editor DALE ARVIDSSON Curator, Brisbane Botanic Gardens ALAN MATCHETT Team Leader/Curator, Dunedin Botanic Garden TOM McCARTER Wildlife Garden Manager, The Natural History Museum, London JANET O’HEHIR Vice-President, Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust Inc. EAMONN FLANAGAN Chief Executive Officer, BGANZ SIOBHAN DUFFY Graphic Designer

CONTENTS 2 President’s view Chris Russell, BGANZ President

4 Editorial insights Helen Vaughan, Managing Editor

6 Botanic Gardens Day 2020 – botanic gardens bursting beyond their garden walls Eamonn Flanagan, BGANZ Chief Executive Officer

Feature Interview 10 Outstanding in the field Lesley Hughes, Climate Scientist and Distinguished Professor, Macquarie University

What’s New 15 Botanic news: from home and abroad

Pollinating Great Ideas 18 Climate Change Alliance

DISCLAIMER: Please note the views expressed in articles are not necessarily the views of BGANZ Council. We aim to encourage a broad range of articles.

21 Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Landscape Succession Strategy

Feedback and comments on the newsletter and articles are welcome.

Please email: secretariat@bganz.org.au

The Hort. Section

COVER: Brachyscome spathulata one of the 19 Brachyscome species considered in the Alpine species study.

Photo: Supplied courtesy Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

22 Interview with Imogen Toomer, De Wiersse Scholar 2019 28 Global Gardening Trust 28 A Mulla Mulla Meadow: a horticultural project from the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens Judy Allen, Australian Inland Botanic Garden

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Feature Articles 31 The role of botanic gardens in practising and promoting environmental sustainability Helen Miller, Head of Education and Vocational Training, Botanic Gardens Conservation International

34 Living on the edge Professor Adrienne Nicotra, Australian National University and Associate Professor Andy Leigh, University Technology Sydney on behalf of the Living on the Edge Team

38 Alpine species less likely to adapt to a warming climate Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Milestones 40 Opening of the Garden for Life Heather Harrington, President, Friends Sale Botanic Gardens

Feature Garden 42 A botanic treasure in Melbourne’s wild west John Bentley, President Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden

Professional Networks 50 A Wollemi a day – BGANZ Professional Scholarship Award report Bec Stanley, Curator, Auckland Botanic Gardens

53 BCARM John Sandham, BCARM Convenor

55 BGANZ Record Management System update Tex Moon, chair, BGANZ Botanic Gardens Record Management System Project

56 BGCI – Latest news Brian Lainoff, Head of Membership Strategy and Services, BGCI

The theme of the next issue of The BOTANIC GARDENer is Botanic gardens: stories of recovery and regeneration. The deadline for contributions is Monday 12 October.

Please contact the Managing Editor at managingeditor@bganz.org.au if you are intending to submit an article or have a contribution to other sections.

59 Calendar of conferences and events

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President’s view Chris Russell, BGANZ President

None of us need to be reminded what an extraordinary start to the year it has been. Catastrophic bushfires in many parts Chris Russell

of Australia, continued drought conditions in New Zealand’s north island and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. Stories of

great courage emerged from the fires, not least those who worked hard to save impacted botanic gardens such as Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden and Blue Mountains Botanic Garden as the fires approached and swept through, but also in the months afterward during the slow and painful process of assessing damage to living collections and infrastructure and cleaning up. Our thoughts are with the whole community at this time of the coronavirus pandemic and the various levels of impact being experienced. It is a time when we recognise just how important our gardens are for community health and welfare, whether your garden has remained open or is looking forward to reopening sometime soon as restrictions ease.

If there is a silver lining to all of this, the social distancing and travel restrictions have prompted BGANZ to fast track the use of some online engagement tools to stay connected. BGEN Convenor Julia Watson beautifully facilitated an open online Zoom discussion with members around the impact of COVID-19, giving the opportunity for all participants to share stories, compare issues and explore solutions. For our first network meeting of this kind, it was very well attended, and it felt so nice to see faces and share the sense of connectedness, even if it was through a screen. Based on the positive feedback, council is exploring making this a regular occurrence, so keep an eye out.

In a similar way, this year’s Botanic Gardens Day celebrations on Sunday 31 May included an online forum, this time hosted by the ever-supportive garden lover Costa Georgiadis and a panel of experts from across our network and beyond. A huge thanks to Sam Moon, Tim Uebergang and Eamonn Flanagan (and Costa!) for pulling this all together. I was really excited to see what the forum would throw up, with the live crosses by Costa to our experts stationed at home (and at work!) across Australia and New Zealand, and it didn’t disappoint! If you missed it, you can view at www.bganz.org.au The inaugural (and great!) #plantchallenge was also borne in these socially isolated times and ran throughout May with some amazing short videos of people’s favourite plant stories shared through our various BGANZ channels. Such a simple, inclusive and personal way to demonstrate the importance of plants in our lives, whether we have been confined to an apartment balcony, backyard or back paddock, our connection to plants and nature has helped many of us stay sane during these difficult times. A ‘thumbs up’ to the Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens who have been great supporters of the initiative, and to Emma Bodley of Auckland Botanic Gardens who really applied herself to the challenge to post a new ‘plantspriration’ for every day of May! 2

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The 7th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Melbourne, hosted by RBG Victoria for Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) in association with BGANZ, has also not been spared impact by the coronavirus. After much consideration, the organising committee has taken the decision to push the congress back six months to provide more time for the easing of international travel restrictions. Previously scheduled for March 2021, 7GBGC will now be happening from 27 September to 1 October 2021, with the obvious benefit being our ability to showcase our gardens and flora in spring. See www.7gbgc.org for details and to register interest.

An exciting initiative to update you on is the plant database project being led by Tex Moon from Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden in Victoria. You may recall this follows the survey completed by many BGANZ members ascertaining the appetite for an improved and shared approach to managing plant records in our gardens. Needless to say, the appetite is high, so Tex and the working group have progressed to develop a short list of proprietary database providers suited for a range of botanic garden contexts (big and small) who will soon be invited to submit tenders. In essence we are exploring a multi-user approach coordinated through BGANZ, rather than individual gardens having individual license agreements, which in principle aims to provide greater accessibility, training and user support for gardens through the economy of scale that our network presents. Thanks to the working group for the continued efforts in this space.

And just in closing, you may have picked up the common thread running through all of this report – there are lots of clever and dedicated people throughout our network contributing great things to help us grow. It’s exciting and inspiring to be a part of, so thank you to you all!

Stay well.

Alive with celebration Fifty years and growing Be captivated by Australian plants, flowers and landscapes from the Rainforest to the Red Centre.

Visit the new Banksia Garden to discover the diversity of iconic Australian Banksia – opening Spring 2020 nationalbotanicgardens.gov.au/gardens

Photo: Steve Rogers

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Editorial insights Helen Vaughan, Managing Editor

From catastrophic bushfires to coronavirus, by any measure it’s been an extraordinary year – and it’s not over yet.

Helen Vaughan

I’m sure it’s not been lost on anyone in the botanic gardens community that if the crisis that is the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can evoke such a committed response, then surely it isn’t too much to expect the same in response to climate change.

In this issue ‘Botanic gardens – in a time of climate change’ is the focus and the articles received explore how the botanic gardens and scientific community are responding to the challenge.

Helen Miller from BGCI provides a global perspective, looking at the role botanic gardens are playing in addressing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. In ‘Living on the edge’, Prof Adrienne Nicotra and Prof Andy Leigh discuss an ARC Linkage collaboration which is investigating how plants respond to extreme temperatures in both desert and alpine environments. And we preview the research Dr Meg Hirst from Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is doing into the delicate alpine species Brachyscome.

If you missed the Botanic Gardens Day Live Stream Forum, then I’d recommend it. The closing question from host Costa Georgiadis to the panellists asked them to time travel to 2040 and describe their ‘dream future for botanic gardens’ – botanic gardens bursting out of their walls and borders, where gardens are cities and cities gardens, places for ideas, advice and inspiration, and where botanic gardens no longer have a role to play in conservation. And on a cautious note, Prof Lesley Hughes looked a little beyond 2040 to a time when ‘not a single molecule from fossil fuels is going into the atmosphere’. You can hear more from her in the feature interview.

Lastly, welcome to Ariana Potamianakis who has joined the BGANZ team as editor of the Hort. section. She brings a perfect combination of skills to the magazine – and with a keen eye for detail, she will be invaluable. Ariana shares a little bit about her experience and her enthusiasm for gardening in the First word.

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We welcome your contribution – here’s what you can do to help us Putting together a magazine is a labour intensive process. If you want to submit an article, contact us with your proposal and we’ll provide more detailed guidelines. However, here’s a few simple tips to remember to do when submitting an article.

Text • supply articles in WORD format not as a PDF and with heading levels clearly shown i.e. main heading, sub-heading • check the spelling of botanical names of plants referenced in articles • tell us who wrote it – your name and full title or position within your garden or friends group • design and layout – DON’T DO IT – our fabulous graphic designer will!

Images • supply as separate files and not embedded in the text – if there is a place in the article where it should go, please indicate this e.g. [place image XXXX here] • preferred format is JPG, between 1 to 3 MB in size • provide descriptive captions and attribution information, clearly related to the image file name If you’ve got a milestone to celebrate, a garden to feature, a book to review, or a simply a story to share about your botanic gardens journey, let us know. We’ll work with you to tell your story.

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Botanic Gardens Day 2020 – botanic gardens bursting beyond their garden walls Eamonn Flanagan, BGANZ Chief Executive Officer

#plantchallenge – live botanic gardens day online forum

Sam Moon, BGANZ Marketing, Communications Officer, Tim Uebergang, (System Garden, Melbourne University) and myself spent many Zoom meetings in discussion as we aimed to meet the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on 2020 Botanic Gardens Day. What is usually a one day event, with over 100 gardens taking part and many events planned, swiftly changed as a result of COVID-19.

The month of May was devoted to PlantChallenge, leading into the Botanic Gardens Day Inaugural Live Stream Forum held at noon (AEDT) Sunday 31 May and hosted by ABC TV’s Gardening Australia host, and Botanic Gardens Day Ambassador, Costa Georgiadis.

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#Plantchallenge and #Botanicgardensday forum Key statistics: • Botanic Gardens Panel was viewed by over 10,000 people • BGANZ received more than 180 #plantchallenge videos through YouTube, Facebook, Insta, Twitter, and emails • Over 150 videos appeared on Facebook • Over 110,000 people viewed #plantchallenge videos on Facebook alone • At least three videos appeared every day for 31 days of May. Like many, BGANZ responded to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and the impact on events to be held in member gardens, by creating a couple of innovative events. #Plantchallenge was held across the month of May in the lead into the inaugural Botanic Gardens Day Forum.

Members told their #plantchallenge stories of their favourite or special plant from their local botanic garden, their own garden, or nearby landscape. Many members’ videos can be viewed on the BGANZ YouTube channel or Facebook. Simply type #plantchallenge on your favourite social media and you’ll find them. #plantchallenge saw BGANZ professional members sharing knowledge, passion, and expertise in so many ways, across all our gardens. It was truly inspiring to hear the stories of our members, botanic gardens employees, joining and sharing with a wider audience. From Grady in Perth, Bryan in Darwin, the team in South Australia, Hobart, Sydney, Rockhampton, Carl in Wollongong, Bec in Auckland, and others from across the globe. There were entries from the USA, England, Ireland, Japan, and Wales.

Botanic Gardens Day Ambassador Costa Georgiadis, and Former Wallaby and Conservationist, David Pocock and several children launched the 2020 #plantchallenge.

BGANZ Council Member Greg Bourke posted early and gained 7,000 viewers on Twitter alone in the first few hours, Tim Entwisle followed with more than 4,000 views in the first day or so.

Greg challenged Emma Bodley to keep posting. Emma completed 31 #plant challenges in total – one for each day in May!

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We received outstanding support from the Australian Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens in the lead up, and during the #plantchallenge. Many friends’ members contributed their videos.

Sam Moon, Tim Uebergang and Emma Bodley lead the #plantchallenge and a big thanks to them, and to everyone who created a video, and/or shared or liked along the way. We hoped you enjoyed it. We welcome feedback to Sam or Eamonn at media@bganz.org.au

#Botanicgardensday There were many memorable moments during the inaugural Botanic Gardens Day Forum.

You can view the forum on www.bganz.org.au or the BGANZ YouTube channel when you have time. Don’t miss it – it covers a range of topics, and views.

With the #plantchallenge coming to an end, the BGANZ team, Tim Uebergang, Julia Watson, John Arnott, Sam Moon, and Helen McHugh set to work on the Botanic Gardens Day Forum.

Costa Georgiadis, ABC TV, and Botanic Gardens Day Ambassador was our host. And a truly amazing host at that. Costa’s contribution, time and passion for the Botanic Gardens Day Forum cannot be justified in words alone. Costa attended rehearsals, engaged in hours of discussions, and Zoom meetings to ensure the quality and content was delivered on the day – and on top of all that he added his own expertise.

Lesley Hughes, Macquarie University, Tim Entwisle, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Lucy Sutherland, Botanic Gardens South Australia, Julia Watson, Auckland Botanic Gardens, and Donna Jackson, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens made up the panel. A huge thanks to them as they managed the various challenges that COVID-19 sent us.

Everyone was on a livestream video from their own cities, and only Costa had a camera person present. Some did it from their office, others from offices hired in town.

We hope you enjoyed it. Feedback has been wonderful, but the commitment and professionalism of all panel members made it the event it was.

Our panelists and host probably hadn’t realised what they were committing themselves to when they answered the call. I thank each of them for their time and commitment. The video will remain on the BGANZ Webpage and YouTube channel for members to enjoy.

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www.seasol.com.au THE BOTANIC GARDENer | ISS 54 JUNE 2020

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FEATURE INTERVIEW

Outstanding in the field Sam Moon and Eamonn Flanagan interview

Lesley Hughes, Climate Scientist and Distinguished Professor, Macquarie University

Thirty years after training as an ecologist and commencing research on the impacts of climate change on Australian species and ecosystems, Professor Lesley Hughes is one of Australia’s leading climate change specialists.

We heard from her recently as one of the panellists on the Botanic Gardens Day live stream forum. We invite you to learn a little more about her as she reflects on climate change, her career and the role botanic gardens can play in addressing the challenges of climate change.

Lesley Hughes

Let’s start with a brief description of your professional background and your position as a specialist in the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems.

I’m an ecologist by training. I did my PhD at Macquarie University in behavioural ecology in the late 80s/early 90s. After finishing the degree, which involved doing a lot of following of ants around the bush carrying seeds, I needed a new challenge.

At that time, climate change was certainly being researched by a few scientists, but was not the hot political, economic and social topic it is today. I started to develop a research program to try to understand the impacts of climate change on Australian species and ecosystems. I’ve often thought of climate change research as being like the Hotel California – you can certainly try to check out, but you can never leave. So 30 years later I’m still in it. I have approached this topic in a number of different ways, including fieldwork and glasshouse experiments, data mining,

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and computer modelling, and I think the strength of research increases when you can put all those elements together.

Getting into a field like climate change impacts early opened up all sorts of opportunities to become engaged in activities beyond the university, both in Australia and internationally.

For example, I have worked with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in a program to incorporate climate change threats into red-listing of species. I have also been a Lead Author for the Fourth and Fifth Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and have served on various government advisory bodies at state and federal government levels in Australia. This included being a member of the Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust in NSW and the Chair of the NSW Scientific Committee, responsible for listing threatened species and communities.

Over the past decade I have also had the opportunity to focus on climate change communication.

For example, in 2011 I was appointed by the Gillard government to be one of the six climate commissioners on the federal Climate Commission. When the commission was abolished by the Abbott government in 2013, we started the publicly-funded Climate Council of Australia, aiming to continue the communication work of the commission. Six and a half years later the council is going from strength to strength and I am intensely proud of it. I’m also a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, dedicated to bringing good science to environmental policy and have been a director of WWF-Australia for six years.

There are often conflicting views around climate change in Australia. How do the various voices, for and against, action influence your delivery?

The majority of Australians accept the science of climate change, and are very concerned about the impacts. Indeed, the so-called sceptics are a very small minority (maybe six per cent of the population or less), so continuing to focus on the so-called debate is not helpful. No one ever questions me on a ‘debate’ about gravity, or the roundness of the Earth, so let’s treat climate science the same way.

I’ve often thought that the one good thing about climate change is that we know what’s causing it – and this means we have the knowledge, the technology, and the will to solve the problem.

Climate change communicators walk a very fine line. We have to be honest about the threats (such as the unprecedented bushfires last summer), but we also need to be aware that too much focus on the negatives can disempower people because they feel helpless. So we also have to deliver positive messages about solutions, to give people hope that we can work together to ensure a future for our kids and grandkids.

Climate change communicators walk a very fine line. We have to be honest about the threats, but we also need to be aware that too much focus on the negatives can disempower people.

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Botanic gardens intersect people, nature and plants. What role can gardens play in translating the science of climate change and influencing positive action?

Botanic gardens can play multiple roles in the fight for a safe climate. Firstly, most gardens are also scientific institutions – indeed the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney is the oldest scientific institution in Australia. Scientists in the gardens play an important role in researching climate impacts on plants and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Secondly, botanic gardens can help deliver conservation and climate change adaptation solutions.

For example, many botanic gardens are important repositories for threatened plant species and their propagules (such as seeds). The Australian PlantBank at Mt Annan is a prime example.

Botanic gardens can play multiple roles in the fight for a safe climate.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, botanic gardens provide people, especially urban dwellers, with connections to nature. By bringing people into a green and growing space these gardens present an opportunity to educate the public about the environment, and care for species and ecosystems.

Do you have any thoughts on the idea that conservation scientists may need to play more of a ecological engineers’ role as the natural ecosystems no longer support all of the species they once did?

I think that both conservation scientists and many on-ground practitioners are far too risk‑averse about positive environmental interventions. We are living in the Anthropocene and there is probably nowhere on the planet, and no species, that is unaffected by human activity.

Paradoxically, it’s a lot easier to do negative things to the environment than positive things.

It is still the case that much conservation practice is predicated on an equilibrial view of the environment – the idea that we can just put a fence around a piece of wilderness to protect it.

But this only works if the external environment is not changing.

For example, many species in national parks will probably need to be located somewhere else in the future to survive. While this is generally accepted at a theoretical level, many conservationists and land managers are nonetheless extremely very reluctant to consider interventions such as assisted colonisation/translocation of species to areas outside what is thought to the ‘historic’ range. Indeed, despite the need for such interventions being discussed in the scientific literature for well over 35 years, I have been able to find only two examples of species that have been re‑established in new areas to reduce the threat of climate change. The first was a

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FEATURE INTERVIEW rare gymnosperm (Torreya taxifolia) in the United States that a community group translocated more than 20 years ago. The second is the Western Swamp Tortoise in Western Australia that has been translocated to several additional swamps because its current habitat is drying out.

If you think about how many hundreds of thousands, probably millions of species that are at risk from climate change, the fact that we’ve only moved two is, I believe, a shocking indictment of conservation practice.

What are some important considerations for botanic gardens looking at boosting public knowledge of their research, plant conservation work and response to major environmental issues?

Most people don’t come to a botanic gardens to be educated. But when they do come, there is an opportunity to engage with them about the natural world in creative ways – educating with a light touch. Gardens also perform a critical function in introducing school kids to environmental issues, building an appreciation for the value of conserving our environment and for living more sustainably.

As we work towards improving the resilience and sustainability of our landscapes what advice can you offer to botanic gardens especially those recently effected by the bushfire crisis?

Getting people into botanic gardens provides an opportunity to inspire and educate them about what they can do in their own backyards. Many of these people probably wouldn’t go out of their way to visit a sustainability centre, but once they’re in a visitors centre in a garden, they can be presented with creative and useful ideas, as well as the rationale for why we all need to act.

Getting people into botanic gardens provides an opportunity to inspire and educate them about what they can do in their own backyards.

In December 2018 we saw the formation of the Climate Change Alliance of Botanic Gardens (Alliance), what does a formation of such an alliance really mean in the face of climate change?

Any collaboration between institutions that promotes understanding and information sharing about climate science is a great idea. No single scientist or institution has all the answers, so we must all work together to reach the community effectively.

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FEATURE INTERVIEW In the face of climate change what do you think is the significance and urgency of projects such as the BGANZ ‘Care for the Rare’, from research and education to holding back up collections of rare and threatened plants?

Rare and threatened plants are extremely vulnerable to climate change. For example, we have seen many instances over the past summer of threatened species that have had the whole or part of their range affected by the bushfires. Having insurance populations and reservoirs of seeds for all rare and threatened plant species in Australia is obviously a good idea and programs like ‘Care for the Rare’ are critical.

Are you working on any current or future projects that you think our readers should be aware of?

I have mostly moved away from hands-on research these days but continue to do a lot of writing and speaking about climate change impacts and adaptation. My work with the Climate Council, in particular, is very rewarding, and I have authored or co-authored more than 30 reports for the organisation, and spoken to thousands of people. I am also doing more writing for general audiences on science topics and really enjoying this challenge. For example, I have published several pieces in The Monthly, the latest being on the social, economic and environmental implications of new fermentation technologies that are producing synthetic animal protein for human consumption.

I’m currently working on an essay for the Griffith Review, exploring the idea of a ‘post natural’ world and the need for more ecological engineering and positive interventions in ecosystems during the Anthropocene. I’m exploring questions such as ‘Can we have a ‘good’ Anthropocene, and if so, how?’. It has been particularly interesting to think about how the current COVID-19 crisis might change the relationship of people and nature and how we can harness this period of global reflection to build more sustainable environmental outcomes in the long-term.

What are you reading, listening to or watching at the moment?

As an antidote to living and breathing climate change through most of my day, I generally seek escapist literature and TV – binge watching Scandi noir on SBS, and crime novels. On a more scholarly note, I just started on Julia Baird’s new memoir Phosphorescence. I also have an ongoing project to try and read all the Booker prize winners, but I’m having a bit of a break at the moment because most of them are pretty depressing and who needs that right now?

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WHAT’S NEW?

Botanic news: from home and abroad COVID-19 – BGANZ Response In March, BGANZ held its first Zoom teleconference. Julia Watson, Auckland Botanic Gardens hosted the forum and over 25 members and their gardens were represented; it was the largest BGANZ non face-to-face meeting in our history. The new technology will enable BGANZ to explore future meetings in coming months and years.

Each member from Cooktown to Sale, Adelaide to Eastwood Hills, informed as to the impact of COVID-19 on their workplace. All garden events had been cancelled for the foreseeable future, and most gardens were in the process of scheduling reopening in mid-May. Event recommencement is expected to take a little longer.

This has been a strange and demanding time for many members as they transitioned to work from home, or remained with a skeleton staff at their garden.

Revenues BGANZ membership renewal has remained strong and BGANZ expects membership revenue to remain stable in the foreseeable future.

Partners BGANZ remain in communication with all partners, and where necessary are providing support to partners as they aim to cope with COVID-19.

SAVE THE NEW DATE: 10th BGANZ/BGCI Joint Congress: 2021, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne, Australia Due to the global impacts of COVID-19, the 7GBGC (BGCI/BGANZ Congress) has moved to the Australian spring.

Join us in Melbourne, 27 September to 1 October 2021, the perfect time to visit Victoria.

Put a note in your diary and get planning.

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WHAT’S NEW Stanley Smith Trust applications Grants to botanical gardens for projects in ornamental horticulture Did you know Stanley Smith was an Australian?* The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust’s 2020 grant cycle is now open for Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) and Proposals for projects that will take place in 2021. The trust funds projects at gardens and other horticultural organisations that seek to further ornamental horticulture through research and/or education. The deadline for LOIs is 15 July 2020, and that for invited proposals is 17 August 2020.

For information about the trust, its funding interests, and examples of previous grants, please visit the trust’s website at www.smithht.org or contact the trust’s Grants Director, Tom Daniel on 415‑379-5350 (USA) or at tdaniel@smithht.org * Born in 1907 and educated at the Church of England Grammar School in Brisbane on a State Scholarship, Stanley Smith served and worked in South-east Asia and China during and after World War II, where he met his second wife May. Learn more about Stanley and May Smith and the trust here. https://smithht.org/about-the-trust/story-of-the-smiths

BGANZ Members: professional development opportunities BGANZ Council encourages all members to look out for these awards, and many other non-BGANZ annual awards each year. If you are looking for professional development opportunities, there is a list of awards and secondment opportunities on the BGANZ website. We will aim to keep it updated as new professional development opportunities become available.

2020 BGANZ award applications BGANZ Council is delighted to announce the BGANZ Awards for 2020. Sign up for the BGANZ newsletter or check the website for the latest information.

• BGANZ Professional Development Award 2020 (closing date 31 July 2020): value $2,000 AUD • BGANZ Young Member Award 2020 (closing date 31 July 2020): value $500 AUD • BGANZ/American Public Gardens Association 2021 (closing date 28 February 2021): value $800 USD

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BGANZ member benefits 1. BGANZ partner with Seasol BGANZ has recently signed a three-year partnership with Seasol Ltd. BGANZ Institution and Associate members can take advantage of a fantastic offer to purchase Seasol products at significantly reduced prices. Conditions apply. For the confidential price list please email: secretariat@bganz.org.au

2. BGANZ partner with Augusta Golf Cars BGANZ members have a great opportunity to discuss all their transport requirements with Augusta Golf Cars. BGANZ encourages all members to contact Augusta Golf Cars to discuss future purchasing opportunities. More information about Augusta is available on the BGANZÂ website and in this edition of THE BOTANIC GARDENer.

BGANZ member news Vacancy: BGANZ Web Content Manager (volunteer position) Do you want to gain some new skills and experience?

An opportunity exists to join the BGANZ Communications Group as BGANZ Web Content Manager. This is a volunteer position. BGANZ website uses WordPress content management system, and full training and support will be given. The position is not onerous – usually only an hour a week once you are familiar with the system.

BGANZ Web Content Manager works closely with Eamonn, BGANZ CEO and Sam Moon, Social Media Coordinator. Join your professional network and help your member organisation have the website members deserve.

Contact Eamonn@bganz.org.au for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Collections Management System Tex Moon and the BGANZ Vic team are in the final stages of a tender process for a BGANZ Collections Management system which is expected to be available for all gardens. More details from the BCARM group in the Professional Networks update below.

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Pollinating great ideas Climate Change Alliance In December 2018, people from a diversity of cultures, languages, and organisations from around the world responded to the global impacts of climate change to attend the botanical world’s first Climate Change Summit in Australia and form the Climate Change Alliance of Botanic Gardens.

Since its formation, the alliance has achieved the following: • agreed on an innovative charter based on the adaptability and resilience of living systems such as the living landscapes and collections we care for • influenced positive action by governments and energised botanical networks • developed the first stage of a Climate Risk Assessment Tool to help manage plant collections and landscape • delivered information and knowledge on effective climate responses and plant conservation at diverse forums and workshops • prepared a draft Landscape Succession Strategy Toolkit to support organisations in improving the resilience and sustainability of their landscapes.

The current growing membership comprises about 65 botanical gardens and arboreta from across the world (see map attached) including the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust (Sydney), Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and The Tasmanian Arboretum Inc. By joining the alliance, botanic gardens and similar organisations around the world will have access to a global network of botanic gardens and arboreta, botanic gardens associations, scientists, horticulturists and friends of the alliance who are working together to protect their gardens and the plants of the world. Through information sharing and increased influence, the Climate Change Alliance will continue to be the change that the world needs to see.

According to Dr Dave Kendal from the University of Tasmania, in the next 50 years, 20–50 per cent of current plant species in botanic gardens and urban landscapes will likely confront temperatures those species have never experienced before.

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The time for action is now Please consider joining the alliance so we can make a real difference with collective climate change action to safeguard plant collections, landscapes and biodiversity.

Please find the details below as how to join online for free – it is an easy process. There are no impossible obligations expected from you – just a commitment to the principles of the Charter of the Alliance and associated climate change action. Your small or large actions are all valuable!

For more information, check out the Climate Change Alliance of Botanic Gardens membership page – https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/plants-and-landscapes/climate-change-alliance/join-alliance The charter can be found at this link: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/plants-and-landscapes/climatechange-alliance/alliance-membership-benefits

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Information on the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Landscape Succession Strategy and the botanical world’s first Climate Change Summit can be found at: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/ plants-and-landscapes/landscape-succession-strategy Founding partners who established the alliance are listed below: • Beijing Botanic Garden, China

• Jerusalem Botanic Garden, Israel

• Botanic Gardens Conservation

• Nanshan Botanic Garden, China

International (BGCI) • Botanic Garden of the City of Buenos Aires ‘Carlos Thays’, Argentina • Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand

• Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Australia • South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), South Africa

• Eden Project International, UK

• The Morton Arboretum, USA

• International Association of Botanic

• University of California Davis Arboretum

Gardens (IABG)

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• Real Jardín Botánico, Spain

and Public Garden, USA

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POLLINATING GREAT IDEAS Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Landscape Succession Strategy In 2016, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria published its Landscape Succession Strategy, Melbourne Gardens 2016–2036 – adapting a world-renowned botanical landscape to climate change. At the time it was recognised as a first in the botanic gardens world and attracted global interest.

Below is an abstract of an article about the development of the strategy – Guiding landscape transition for climatic change: planning in the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Australia – by Peter Symes, Curator Horticulture Melbourne Gardens, and available in full on the International Society of Horticultural Science website here.

Melbourne Gardens comprises of 38 ha of living plant collections containing 48,000 specimens from 8,400 taxa originating from a broad geographical distribution across the globe.

The plant collections provide conservation, reference, research, interpretation, education and aesthetic outcomes in what is a heritage and picturesque landscape. Melbourne’s climatic predictions for 2090 indicate significantly hotter and drier conditions, with increased frequency of extreme events, particularly heat waves and flooding.

In response to these threats and to manage the risk of diminishing water supplies and an aging plant population, a Landscape Succession Strategy (LSS) has been developed to transition the existing landscape towards the projected climate of 2090, whilst retaining heritage character, plant species diversity and recreational green space for future generations.

Development of the LSS included assessment of landscape microclimates, auditing of living plant collections against future climates, and implementation of more efficient irrigation using soil moisture sensing technologies. While outcomes of the LSS are still emerging, early results are encouraging. A mean cooling effect of 1–2°C (up to 6°C on certain days) in some zones of the landscape has been identified; about 65% of the 5,000 plant taxa reviewed are potentially ‘suitable’ for 2090 climate conditions, although gaps in plant distribution and climate data have hampered this, and landscape water use research has informed water use efficiency.

The long life spans of living assets and projected climatic changes require well-directed plant selection towards achieving an effective vegetation succession.

Therefore, the LSS is a valuable planning framework to integrate the protection of the urban landscape against key climatic risks and provides a reference for other botanical gardens to consider as a climate adaption template to manage landscapes into the future.

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The hort. section Compiled and edited by Ariana Potamianakis Senior Gardener, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha

First word I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to be the editor of

Ariana Potamianakis

the Hort. Section of The BOTANIC GARDENer. While my career and passion are now in this industry, I began my working life in marketing working as an editorial and content marketing assistant and freelance writer. However, I came to the realisation that sitting at a screen each day wasn’t how I wanted to spend most of my time. After completing a certificate in horticulture at TAFE, I was lucky to secure an apprenticeship with Brisbane City Council at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha. Now, after completing my studies and settling into a permanent position, I’m thrilled that my two worlds have come together.

While I still feel a little fresh on the scene in this industry, the best (and most exciting) part is I know there will always be something new to learn, stories to hear and interesting and passionate people to meet.

To start my first edition we interviewed Imogen Toomer, a horticulturalist at Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane, who last year became the first recipient of the Global Gardening Trust Scholarship for 2019, spending three months living and working at the historic De Wiersse House and Garden in the Netherlands. While the scholarship gives young gardeners the opportunity and challenge of working at a premier overseas garden, the primary goal by the Global Gardening Trust is to encourage those coming up in the industry to view our roles in the context of ‘Gardening as Infrastructure’, seeing and planning what we do with long-term vision in order to curate climate‑resilient landscapes.

Interview with Imogen Toomer, De Wiersse Scholar 2019 How did you first get into horticulture?

It was a little bit by chance! I decided I needed a complete career change. I love the outdoors, being active and admiring large trees, so I applied for an arboriculture apprenticeship with Brisbane City Council. Last minute, I also went for the horticulture position and ended up in a cemetery for my first year as a horticulture apprentice. I got to rotate to a botanic garden for the better part of my second year and then I moved over to Roma Street Parklands where I finished my final year and settled into a permanent position.

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How did you learn about the scholarship and why did you apply?

The horticulture industry has so many opportunities to network. I found social media a great way to access information and connect with people who are often ready to offer advice and information once you show interest and start asking the right questions. I’ve joined multiple interest groups, attended meetings, garden shows and spent many hours touring gardens in my own time, which has helped me expand on my own interests and become aware of scholarships available in the industry.

I saw the Global Gardening Trust (GGT) scholarship advertised on a Facebook page called ‘Encouraging Women in Horticulture’. I wrote my application instantly then had a call to say I was shortlisted, after that it was an interview

Imogen Toomer. Photo: Sam Pagett

via Skype and acceptance into the scholarship which all happened pretty quickly.

Almost a year before the GGT scholarship saw me jetting off to the Netherlands, I was laying foundations for a trip I could barely imagine possible until it happened… then it was all systems go! I had read about a lady who travelled to Japan to study and build her skills as a horticulturist. The seed had been set and inspired me to imagine a similar adventure for myself, now I can say I’m part of the global gardening community. The power of intention and manifesting your goals has also cemented my belief that when you are on the right path and doing something you love, opportunity is abundant.

I have found that the hard work doesn’t feel as hard when it’s your passion and so not to write off these experiences as luck, rather the energy it takes and goals you make will reward you with being exactly where you are meant to be, when you are meant to be there. There’s nothing like packing up and moving across the other side of the world to learn your trade from a new perspective. My mind was bombarded with new experiences, jobs, food, people, places, climate and of course plants!

I have found that the hard work doesn’t feel as hard when it’s your passion and so not to write off these experiences as luck What were your first impressions and feelings when you got to De Wiersse?

It started off with a bang! I landed in Amsterdam then made my way to De Wiersse the next day.

I met Laura, head gardener of De Wiersse, at the train station in Zutphen and her welcoming smile made it easy to pick her out in the car park. The next day I spoke to a big group of THE BOTANIC GARDENer | ISS 54 JUNE 2020

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Australians who just happened to be touring that weekend, and then on the Monday I started my new job for the next three months.

My first day was warm and sunny in the Sunk Garden where we began weeding the bordering beds, planting violas, phlox, cutting back epimedium to help new growth and training vines to grow up the wooden beams. After the first week I had been watching everything come to life a little more each day, wondering what the garden would have felt like through winter or even under snow.

I’m used to seasons changing back home but it always amazes me and I’m in awe of spring in the Netherlands as the change is even more transformative. In the Sunk Garden there’s a hut that looks out to the lawn, pathways and garden beds, and a few steps lead down to a beautiful water feature in the centre. All of this is surrounded by tall hedges of taxus that create

(top to bottom): Front entrance of the main house at De Wiersse. Perennial plants in the Sunk Garden. Photos: Sam Pagett

a private room, however, the open-air fills in the space above and prevents it from feeling too shut in, the sensing presence of the large house nearby. The lawn is filled with flowering groundcovers; I could see a diverse, naturalised area representing the beautiful meadows of the region, a different take on the highly manicured lawns back home. I love the random bits of colour and wildness of the garden. There’s a strong sense of working with nature, not against it

What was your role there? What were your days like?

To be a full-time garden student with jobs like planting, weeding, nursery duties, water management, mowing and edging, pruning, hedging with string lines and measuring sticks for precision. It also included field trips to places like Heem Park, De Hessenhof and Hortus Botanicus.

There was a lot of one-on-one time learning from Laura in the borders and her style of gardening, time to study, fully immersed with a multitude of plant and gardening books to read from the likes of Christopher Lloyd and Roger Phillips just to name a couple off the top of my head.

With stacks of books to study from, and my plant list (aka plant bible) being one I considered the most important and the one I had with me at all times, I also pawed over bulbs and two perennial ID books which I called upon many times.

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THE HORT. SECTION Laura would choose a section in the garden and quiz me regularly. I wanted to be ready and looked forward to being tested on so many new plants and having someone focused on teaching at this level. Starting to understand the vision of someone like Laura was an amazing experience. Her style is a whirlwind, not afraid to pull something out if it didn’t work, and I loved seeing her eye for detail.

Most days I would be quickly writing notes as I was getting through the to do list. Her energy,

Boxed hedges around the Rose Garden.

Photo: Sam Pagett

friendship, encouraging words and mentorship have helped me figure out my own direction and it still continues to be of great influence.

Laura works with a long-term approach and a vision that can be readily adaptable to the changing seasons or unexpected weather events and bringing even a small part of that home has changed how I approach tasks and want to garden.

What were the biggest differences in horticulture that you noticed?

My experience at home in Brisbane comes from being a full-time apprentice with plenty of handson work, but I felt like I had a lot more to learn and to be exposed to. Something I started to notice before getting a chance to travel was I kept picking up books and seeing that they came from somewhere else, places like the Royal Horticultural Society for example, and it makes sense that so many resources come from places with a much longer history of gardening. At De Wiersse I was fully immersed in a place of horticulturally focused learning with both the practical and theoretical components of gardening and an incredible amount of history to take in as well.

How has your perspective changed on horticulture and climate change?

Gaining exposure on a global level, building relationships and dialogue with other gardeners I made great friendships from this trip‌ I found leaving was more difficult than I expected. But making these connections with people is worth it and making connections with other gardens and sharing knowledge is important. We can learn such valuable information from having a global mindset and hopefully ensuring more resilient, long-term designs with people ready and equipped to look after the greening of our cities and parks.

Gaining exposure on a global level, building relationships and dialogue with other gardeners I made great friendships from this trip.

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THE HORT. SECTION Overseas, I noticed so many gardens had a story to tell, and there is no shortage of an appreciation for plants and horticulture either. Even the roadside beds and people’s yards had so much time invested in them, clearly creating a lot of pride within the towns.

I didn’t have to go far out of De Wiersse to continue being immersed in fascinating and inspiring places.

Another big impact for me was seeing

Waterway among the woodlands at De Wiersse.

Photo: Sam Pagett

De Hessenhof nursery with the mother beds (original plants which the nursery take cuttings and seeds to grow stock from) that’s just not really seen anywhere else; leaf mould compost (an arrangement with council that has the trucks collect the fallen leaves in parks and around towns to drop off to the nursery and turned into compost), slow growing principles and hardening off plant varieties outside before sale to ensure strong stock ready for the garden and a huge variety of plants that made it so great to visit. I was there for about two hours with a plant list, talking to the knowledgeable staff feeling like I was on the best treasure hunt ever!

What do you feel like you brought back to your role in Australia?

Learning abroad really helped me to think deeper about climate resilience and long-term planning for gardens, that they should be just as useable and enjoyed by everyone as places of history, preservation, art, culture and designed in a way to inspire and create a purpose. I’ve come to appreciate natural rhythms, working with nature and intuitive gardening. Gardening in this way while also building connectivity with each other and nature would be unbelievably beneficial for our cities. It’s about doing it in the most sustainable ways and it’s something I feel I can now continue to strengthen in my current workplace.

I’ve gained confidence from navigating a new country alone and being around passionate people, gardening and living with the future in mind which has inspired me to think along the lines of using more Australian natives in the annual beds, considering an area to sun-harden stock before planting as seen at

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Topiary hedges among the meadows.

Photo: Sam Pagett

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De Hessenhof nursery, trying the formal hedging approach of using string lines and bamboo for maximum presentation, and experiment in the garden and not be afraid to just give it a go.

Something great might happen and sometimes it doesn’t work but that’s okay, too.

I’ve gained confidence from navigating a new country alone and being around passionate people, gardening and living with the future in mind which has inspired me.

The set and forget style of gardening that only requires basic maintenance can be improved on by responding to the landscape and building plant resilience for years to come and implementing succession planting. I’m so happy to call myself a gardener and work in a professional industry that requires practicality, business sense, scientific knowledge and creativity. Travelling, working and speaking to people on the other side of the world in our profession, I came to realise we are all facing changes in the environment and it’s up to us to try and understand. As gardeners I think we have the responsibility to do this and we have the ability to when we work so closely alongside nature on a daily basis.

Maintaining green spaces that cool down cities and help mitigate the urban heat island effect, making small but significant changes that can impact on a larger scale, we can keep reducing chemical use, select better varieties of plants, observe and pay attention to the garden on such a focused level, we are often going to be the first to notice changes and lead by example by continuing to share information, becoming highly skilled and strengthening our knowledge base.

How can we apply the idea of ‘plants as infrastructure’? What’s the goal?

We should look to build resilience in our landscapes for a changing climate as gardeners who understand how to look after these environments. It’s not only about plants but the whole thing is in the design and the greening of our cities.

Infrastructure requires expert knowledge from planning, designing and building to last long term and the incorporation of gardens needs to reflect the same amount of thought – it needs to last and most importantly adapt with the changing climate while also being usable and enjoyed by everyone. The next part is having highly skilled, knowledgeable gardeners as custodians for today and the future.

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About the Global Gardening Trust The Global Gardening Trust was established in February 2019 by five trustees passionate and deeply embedded in the gardening industry across the world. Their mission is to encourage young Australian horticulture students to gain world-wide gardening experience, but for a much greater purpose than just for the sake of one’s own professional development.

Coining the phrase ‘Gardening as Infrastructure’, the trust puts great value in the role of a gardener as a key component for the health of cities and us all. Moving into the future, our role is more important than ever if we are to adapt to our changing climate and sustain green spaces and biodiverse ecosystems.

By learning from premiere gardens around the world how to garden within the rhythms of nature, they seek to promote stronger career pathways for gardeners and their contributions towards the climate resilience of Australian cities.

Primarily established in relationship with De Wiersse, with the aim to develop a network of student placements and scholarships across the globe in the coming years, scholars have the opportunity to gain on-the-job experience in the rhythms and seasons typical of high maintenance estates; learning and understanding these relationships to inspire and influence gardening practices to be responsive to climate and plant species habits.

Skills to be gained go beyond the global differences in the landscape, encouraging scholars to adapt to change, process and communicate new information, problem solve and foster international industry relationships.

For more information on the trust and how to apply for a scholarship, visit https://www.globalgardeningtrust.com/

A Mulla Mulla Meadow: a horticultural project from the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens Judy Allen, Australian Inland Botanic Garden My partner Phil Hensman and I decided to install a local dramatic wildflower, Pink Mulla Mulla Ptilotus exaltatus, at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens (AIBG) at Buronga, New South Wales, and increased the display to include some of the most attractive local wildflowers.

Often these plants are in distant locations and flower for short periods of time without the benefit of cultivation. This site brought them together and as they were not in cultivation, we learnt about their presentation and handling. Local people and city visitors have been amazed by the colour, range and display of wildflowers found in the Mallee.

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THE HORT. SECTION

Early days of 2017 showing the apron of the Mallee Bed site.

Mature Ptilotus exaltatus in full flower.

Two years ago, we planted Pink Mulla Mulla in the apron of the renovated Mallee Bed. They are a long-lived annual lasting up to 14 months and stand between 50 cm to 1.2 m tall due to genetic variability, producing up to 200 flower heads on a single plant.

They naturally grow in the arid Mallee region of inland Australia amongst Mallee trees, but are not well known as a local plant. Their growing needs were unknown at the time of first plantings.

However, they proved to be delightfully indestructible, as demonstrated below: • They have been watered, deadheaded and fertilised, and have responded by flowering continuously for 12 months.

• They survived five (or was it six) continuous 40-degree days without looking stressed in full sun.

• Frost didn’t burn their foliage or stop them flowering • They flower readily from a seedling in very alkaline soil and produce good quality, viable seed • Native bees, including the Blue-banded and the Chequered Cuckoo Bee, love them • They are ignored by rabbits and ‘roos!

The Mulla Mulla Meadow concept was extended in the second year to include other local wildflowers, saltbush and grasses not in cultivation.

Plants that are working well include: • Mat Atriplex Atriplex pumilio, a fine-textured, grey leaf, groundcover to 10 cm. It is acting as a cooling soil cover and protector to new germinating Mulla Mulla seedlings.

• River Bluebell Wahlenbergia fluminalis, flowers continuously and rhizomes happily around other plants.

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THE HORT. SECTION The Pointed Twinleaf Roepera apiculata (syn. Zygophyllum apiculatum), self-sow into a fresh and vibrant display of lime green foliage and buttercup yellow flowers with the lightest of rain events. The flowering time is extended by watering.

After trialling different grasses, Curly Windmill Grass Enteropogon acicularis, is proving to be a good height and vigour. It is a good counter point to the flowering plants.

Pimelea Daisy-bush Olearia pimeleoides is one of the few perennials and is favoured by butterflies.

Cannonball Burr Dissocarpus paradoxus is a silver‑white groundcover that is followed by extremely prickly seed pods the size of marbles. This is the most contentious of plants as local people have memories of stepping on

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them as barefoot children!

Roepera apiculata (syn. Zygophyllum apiculatum)

Jezebel butterfly on Olearia pimeleoides.

The butterfly is also known as a wood white.

Dissocarpus paradoxus, Cannonballs seed.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

The role of botanic gardens in practising and promoting environmental sustainability Helen Miller, Head of Education and Vocational Training, Botanic Gardens Conservation International

At BGCI’s 10th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens, environmental sustainability and the role that botanic gardens play in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was a key focus. Within these discussions there was the sense that, as a network, botanic gardens are currently not doing enough about sustainability. The delegates felt that it was appropriate that BGCI show leadership as the world struggles to slow and reverse environmental degradation, and mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

In response, BCGI has recently published its fourth technical review, which focuses on the role of botanic gardens in practising and promoting environmental sustainability. This review represents an overview of sustainability practices carried out by botanic gardens worldwide and looks at both in-house practices and the way in which gardens motivate and incentivise visitor behaviour change. This review is a first step towards sharing some of the best practice in our sector (and outside it), then mainstreaming and scaling up such approaches.

The review was based on the results of a sustainability survey conducted in late 2019. The survey found that 65 per cent of respondents consider one or more of the SDGs as a priority for their garden, with SDG4: Quality Education and SDG 13: Climate action being the most commonly addressed.

BGCI’s new Technical Review on sustainability

The review illustrates that many gardens are already engaged in changing or modifying their business practices in areas such as water management, sustainable building design, renewable energy, energy reduction, carbon offsetting, waste reduction, composting, sustainable procurement and sustainable food. Efforts that all contribute towards climate change mitigation.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps. Photo: Paul G. Wiegman

For example, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens has a focus on water management through their Working Wetlands project that uses constructed wetlands, to capture and clean storm water runoff from the city. An energy consumption partnership between Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam and a neighbouring art museum provides a nice example of energy use, whereby excess warm and cold air is exchanged between the two, to heat the glasshouses (in the garden) and maintain cool temperatures for artwork (in the museum). At the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) showcases sustainable building design and is a certified net-zero energy building. At the Eden Project, the Wasteline Initiative is a project that aims to design out waste from the garden’s products and procedures, and has a target of zero waste going to landfill (current figure standing at eight per cent).

Finally under sustainable food, Chester Zoo have launched an ambitions campaign to make Chester the first city in the world to source its palm oil from entirely sustainable sources.

One thing that we expected, and is borne out by the results of our research, is that while many gardens are engaged in in-house sustainable practices, fewer gardens are challenging or trying to influence their visitors. When it comes to achieving real impact, this is where the big wins are, and this is the area of our work that we need to scale up significantly.

There are however some nice case studies collected as part of the review, for example, a number of gardens offer incentives for visitors arriving to the garden via public transport, we have also included examples of community composting workshops (North Carolina Botanical Garden), hosting farmers’ markets (Botanical Garden of the University of Fribourg), events where meals are made from food waste (Jerusalem Botanic Garden) and environmental theatre events (Wollongong Botanic Garden).

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However, there is much more that we could be doing here. As a global network, botanic gardens attract 500 million visitors a year (Moussey et al 2010). By finding ways to mobilise those visitors and consider their own contribution towards climate change and simple actions they can take to address this, we have an opportunity to have a significant impact and demonstrate botanic gardens as leaders on the sustainability stage.

With this in mind, BGCI, in partnership

Compost workshop – North Carolina Botanic Garden

with Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are developing a new project – The Sustainability Challenge. We aim to develop a series of simple, small-scale sustainability challenges, with associated incentives, that aim to bring about behavioural change amongst garden visitors.

This project will include the establishment of mentor gardens, provision of ideas and methodologies, and will make funding available to gardens wanting to develop new sustainability actions. If your garden

Dragonfly Lake and Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay. Photo: Allie Caulfield

is interested in incorporating sustainability actions into its business or the way it influences visitors, or you would like more information about The Sustainability Challenge please get in touch at helen.miller@bgci.org.

For more details see https://www.bgci.org/ our-work/projects-and-case-studies/bgcisustainability-challenge/.

Download BGCI’s Technical Review: https://www.bgci.org/news-events/ bgci-publishes-new-technical-review-on-

Fribourg Farmers Market – Botanical Garden of the University of Fribourg

environmental-sustainability/.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

Living on the edge Professor Adrienne Nicotra, Australian National University and Associate Professor Andy Leigh, University Technology Sydney on behalf of the Living on the Edge Team

ABOUT: Living on the Edge is an ARC Linkage collaboration comprising of: Adrienne Nicotra, Verónica Briceño, Stephanie Courtney Jones and Rosie Harris (ANU); Andy Leigh and Alicia Cook (UTS); Bryony Horton and Keith McDougall (DPIE); Lydia Guja (ANBG); Cathy Offord and Maurizio Rossetto (SBG); and, Leon Bravo (Uni La Frontera, Chile).

How do plants in extreme thermal environments cope when pushed to their limits?

Of all the climatic factors determining species distributions on Earth, temperature is arguably the most important1. It is extreme temperatures – rather than averages – that are responsible for driving species evolution2, so it is concerning that extreme temperature events are increasing in frequency and intensity3. Because plants are (largely) sessile they are particularly vulnerable to increasing extremes, especially plant typical of extreme environments, and threatened ecological communities. This is because threatened ecological communities already face numerous other pressures in the landscape such as land-use change and drought. Given the importance of plant diversity to ecosystem function and human survival, it is imperative that we understand the response of plants in threatened ecological communities to extreme temperatures.

How are deserts analogous to mountain tops?

All organisms have a characteristic thermal tolerance breadth: an upper and lower temperature threshold, beyond which physiological damage occurs. In general, species in cold regions can withstand colder temperatures than species in hot regions and vice versa; however, there is variation in tolerance within a given region4,5. Many organisms also have an acquired thermal tolerance: their thermal tolerance thresholds can shift up or down as they acclimate in response to prevailing conditions6.

In extreme environments, distributions are likely set by limits of biological tolerance. Thus one could imagine that alpine mountain tops may represent a vanishing point for many species: as temperatures increase, plants with thermal tolerance and optima at lower temperatures must follow the cold by moving ever further up mountains, adjust to or tolerate the warmer conditions,

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or perish. Deserts are rarely viewed in this light, yet may be analogous if we consider that physiological processes fail above a certain temperature, therefore acclimation of thermal tolerance upwards simply may not be possible.

Plants in both arid and alpine environments are exposed to both very low and very high temperatures. On a summer day in the Australian alps, air temperatures range from sub-zero to over 30° C and leaf and soil temperatures can reach 40° and 50° C,

Plants around Mt Kosciuszko, NSW, withstand extreme cold when not protected by snow

respectively. Similarly, even an autumn or spring day in the Australian desert can be over 35° C and drop to 0° C at night. Research has begun to reveal mechanisms for cold tolerance of alpine plants7 and heat tolerance of desert plants4. By contrast, little is known about high temperature thresholds of alpine plants or low temperature thresholds of desert plants – this is a fundamental gap in our understanding, with profound implications for our ability to predict how these species will respond to climate change and other stressors, to manage these landscapes, or rehabilitate

In the Strzelecki Desert, NSW, plants live at the upper edge of biological tolerance in summer

them following perturbation.

Do alpine and desert plants push both upper and lower limits?

Insight into upper and lower temperature thresholds of plants in extreme environments is crucial if we are to understand species distribution and survival under more variable climate regimes.

Reduced snow cover is already causing colder temperatures for plants previously protected from sub-zero temperatures under an insulating snow layer. Similarly, in deserts, heat-waves are increasingly common in spring and autumn, but frosts persist.

The Living on the Edge project, funded under the Australian Research Council Linkage Program, commenced in December 2019. Between now and 2022 we will address questions about how plants of extreme environments will respond to increased frequency of extreme events under climate change. For example, we will determine whether alpine species have a limited ability to cope with hot daytime temperatures and examine how desert species function under cold spring nights.

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As well as cold temperatures, alpine plants close to the ground are exposed to very hot summer temperatures

Desert plants can experience hot days and freezing nights in a single day during spring and autumn

To address these questions, it is necessary to determine the capacity of alpine and desert species to acclimate their thermal tolerance breadth – the difference between upper and lower thresholds. It is also important to understand how this capacity differs as a plant develops from seed to seedling to mature individual. Our research will compare thermal thresholds of Australian alpine and desert plant species representing threatened ecological communities across NSW. The research includes experiments on plants growing both in situ where they naturally occur and under controlled environments, where we can apply experimental stress conditions to seed germination and emerging seedlings.

In our first season, the Living on the Edge team navigated fires, hailstorms and most recently COVID-19 travel restrictions as we assessed thermal tolerance of over 70 plant species in Kosciuszko National Park, Gundabooka National Park and the Illawarra Rainforest. Preliminary results demonstrate that species of both alpine and arid regions have wide thermal tolerances, and perhaps paradoxically, that desert species in particular are highly resistant to freezing.

However, it’s early days yet, and, while our field work is suspended, we have the luxury of a tremendous dataset to explore while working remotely. Over the next few months, we look forward to probing the mysteries of these diverse Australian species.

Preliminary results demonstrate that species of both alpine and arid regions have wide thermal tolerances and that desert species in particular are highly resistant to freezing.

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FEATURE ARTICLES As we gain a better understanding of the thermal tolerance breadth of these species, we will be able to assess whether breadth varies with season, and whether species with large range sizes have greater thermal breadth. We will also explore how genetic diversity varies with thermal breadth, within and across species. Finally, working with a broad network of botanists with expertise in alpine, arid and temperate rainforests, we will determine the extent to which the above data correspond with expert judgement about which species are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Throughout this project, we will apply our results to develop informed plans for management of threatened ecological communities found within extreme environments.

This exciting collaboration brings together researchers from the Australian National University (Research School of Biology), University of Technology Sydney (School of Life Sciences), NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (Save our Species program), Parks Australia through the Australian National Botanic Garden and Friends thereof, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Universidad la Frontera, Chile. In addition to established researchers, our team includes several outstanding early career researchers and students and we benefit from extensive input from the wider community of conservation and management practitioners in these areas.

This project will provide critical data on the physiological tolerances of nearly 75 Australian native plant species from these threatened ecological communities. By including both sensitive and community dominant species, the work will not only provide predictive power for developing models about the future of these communities, but also specific insight for a broad range of species. By understanding the thermal biology of these species, we aim to make important contributions to efforts to conserve, manage and restore these ecological communities and the species found in them. By bringing together such a diverse range of knowledge and skills across our investigative team, we will ensure that the project outcomes will be directly applicable to decisions about on-ground management programs and potentially translocation projects.

References: 1. Tattersal et al, 2012, Comprehensive Physiology. 2. Gaines and Denny, 1993, Ecology. 3. Carter et al, 2007, Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 4. Curtis et al, 2014, Oecologia. 5. Knight and Ackerly, 2002, Oecologia. 6. Nicotra et al, 2015, Ecology and Evolution. 7. Briceno Rodriguez et al 2014, Environmental and Experimental Botany.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

Alpine species less likely to adapt to a warming climate Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Together with a team of scientists at The University of Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Post Doctoral Fellow Seed Science, Dr Meg Hirst has investigated the impact a warming climate has on plant survival.

They discovered that alpine endemic species were less likely to benefit from warming than widespread species and that closely related species tended to occur in areas with similar annual precipitation.

Brachyscome spathulata in flower on Mt Howitt.

Photo: Meg Hirst

The team investigated the impacts of evolutionary and ecological history on responses to warming by exposing a group of 19 related Australian daisies from the genera Brachyscome and Pembertonia to higher soil temperature, focusing particularly on species from the alpine environment.

Dr Hirst said by studying this iconic Australian genus, we can look at species more likely to be at risk from the effects of climate change and potential reasons for this.

Brachyscome dentata. Photo: Meg Hirst

“This information could then help us protect these species.”

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The team also learned that evolutionary history did not have an impact on warming responses, nor did climate. The species that showed a positive response to warming did not necessarily originate from warmer environments, with several species from hot climates showing relatively poor growth when exposed to higher soil temperature. In this case, it appears that warmer soil temperatures have unpredictable effects on species, regardless of where they come from.

“We will use the results of this study to inform further research,” said Dr Hirst.

For the early view please follow this link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aec.12885 Brachyscome spathulata. Photo: Meg Hirst

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MILESTONES

One hundred and sixty years after the Sale Botanic Gardens was founded in 1860, when approximately 20 hectares was set aside for a botanic garden, the gardens have celebrated another milestone with the opening of the Garden for Life in March this year. Situated in the Central Gippsland town of Sale on the shores of Lake Guthridge, the Sale Botanic Gardens’newest addition – the Garden for Life – is celebrated and championed by the Friends of Sale Botanic Gardens and officially opened on 2 March by the Mayor of Sale, Alan Hall.

Opening of the Garden for Life Heather Harrington, President, Friends Sale Botanic Gardens

The Friends of Sale Botanic Gardens is proud to have been involved in the newest addition to our gardens – the Garden for Life – which was officially opened recently.

Plants are integral to our lives. They provide food, shelter, fabric, medicine and building materials. They clean the air and water and produce the oxygen we breathe. This garden aims to raise the profile of the plants around us and help the community understand our reliance on plants for our very survival.

Designed by Andrew Laidlaw and his team at Laidlaw & Laidlaw Design Landscape Architects, the garden comprises several significant aspects. These include the Woody Meadow, which showcases naturalistic

L to R: Chris Russell (BGANZ President and Director Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne Gardens), Helen Booth (John Leslie Trust), Laurie Paton (Latrobe Valley Authority), Alan Hall (Mayor of Wellington Shire Council), Heather Harrington, Helen Jewel, Evelyn McAdam, and Helen Farley (Friends of Sale Botanic Gardens).

planting of Australian shrubs that can improve the appearance and function of low maintenance landscapes.

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A copse of Ginkgo biloba or Maidenhair Tree on a gentle undulating lawn, with its glorious golden autumnal foliage, complements the colourful seating in the existing cluster of Ailanthus altissima, commonly known as the Tree of Heaven, a small tree from northern China. A thicket of Bamboo, an evergreen perennial flowering plant of the family Poaceae, when it matures will no doubt prove to be a popular play space for local children.

In the meantime a water feature provides lots of fun and laughter, and has already proved popular especially in the warmer months before the shutdown due to COVID-19.

Colourful seating in the cluster of Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) planted in the early 1900s, forms part of the new Garden for Life.

Photo: Heather Harrington

Peacocks continue to roam the gardens alongside the purple swamp hens who live in and around our gardens, providing continual delight for visitors to our gardens.

The Friends of Sale Botanic Gardens have also been working on a project to have trees labelled, which will enable visitors to identify the trees we have in our gardens. We are also looking forward to starting our free guided tours when the coronavirus pandemic is over.

In March, Wellington Shire Council Mayor Alan Hall welcomed the opening of the Garden for Life at Sale Botanic Gardens as a brilliant addition to the already outstanding Sale Botanic Gardens.

“The Garden for Life is an exciting contemporary addition to the Sale Botanic Gardens, which was already acknowledged as the pre-eminent public gardens in Gippsland.

“The garden has already been explored and well-used by locals and visitors, with children especially enjoying the water play space on warm days.”

Wellington Shire Council received $200,000 from the John Leslie Foundation in support of the project. As well, the Latrobe Valley Authority supported the project with $130,000 along with funds to engage a project engineer to assist with the delivery of the project.

The Garden for Life showcases the myriad of ways plants support life and the ways we interact with and use them. Water plays a major role in the garden design, with a zero depth water play space incorporating water jets where children can play and appreciate the link water has with plants.

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FEATURE GARDEN

A botanic treasure in Melbourne’s wild west John Bentley, President Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden

The Melton Botanic Garden (MBG) has been booming and blooming thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers from the Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden (FMBG). The garden, officially gazetted by Vic Place Names in February 2011, now attracts visitors from across Melbourne, Victoria, interstate and internationally. Many international visitors are taken to the garden when visiting family friends but we have found some who have been recommended to specifically visit the garden to see the collections of plants and especially the large collection of Australian natives. The garden has an outstanding Dryland Eucalyptus Arboretum, holding over 100 species of dryland eucalypts, which is a nationally registered collection with Plant Trust attracting visitors and researchers and of course those who love gum trees (although we have not seen a koala there yet). A booklet detailing each eucalypt species can be found on the FMBG website.

The overall theme of the Melton City Council-owned 26-hectare garden is dryland, with most plants representing regions with an annual rainfall around or below 450 mm, or able to tolerate dry conditions once established. Melton’s long-term average rainfall is around 450 mm (yes, Melton is in a rain shadow). An important aspect of plant selection is the ability to survive on low rainfall once established. Nevertheless, the plants are spectacular in form, structure, foliage and flower. The dryland theme is reflected in all of the themed garden areas: Southern African Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Californian, Central and South American Garden, indigenous plantings, Bushfoods Garden, Indigenous People’s Garden, Victorian Volcanic Plains Garden, Western and South Australian Garden and the Dryland Eucalyptus Arboretum. The development and maintenance of the gardens is being managed and carried out by FMBG volunteers.

Of the 26-hectare site, over 70 per cent of the garden now has plantings and established garden beds. Another 20 per cent is currently in development, and includes the Eastern Australian Dryland garden and major indigenous plantings. This leaves only 10 per cent to develop. The last area to develop on the east side

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Eucalyptus lansdowneana hybrid.

Photo: John Bentley

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of the main lake will one day be the main arrival area, with a botanic garden and environmental centre containing a cafe, conference and education rooms, information desk and area for plant sales. The COVID-19 pandemic has of course affected planned developments for 2020. AÂ skeleton crew of volunteer workers is doing essential work such as weeding, some limited planting, potting on and hand watering nursery plants during the emergency period. The garden has not been closed during this time and is being used for exercise by an increasing number of locals.

Visiting the garden is free and it is open to the public 24 hours a day. Dogs are permitted on a lead.

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Some social media endorsements for the garden: • I love these gardens. Really well laid out and well signed so that you can find out the species of the plants. Very well managed.

• A magnificent effort by a community based group. Well worth a visit at least every month to follow the seasons and all the changes that they bring. So much to see and an excellent place to participate as a volunteer. The people are fantastic, never a dull moment.

• I am blown away by these marvellous gardens and what the friends group have achieved, with the help of a supportive council. I have travelled many remote tracks in Australia and seen wonderful botanical delights; to be able to see them again in the beautiful Western Australian gardens here is a

Dais cotinifolia in the Southern African Garden. Photo: John Bentley

treat. Then to have the chance to buy the plants as well at the Friends nursery!

• A Beautiful Serene Garden with great variety of indigenous plants, a home to lots of birds, bees and insects! ... As a new member of Friends of Melton Botanic Garden, I love to volunteer there with my two sons.

• What a great place. A calm peaceful place. Lovely old gums around the lake. I’ve really enjoyed my visits, particularly the walk through the specialised Koori plantings.

• What a stunning haven of extraordinary and rare native plants.

• The purchasing nursery run by the ‘Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden’ was also very alluring. We did not leave empty handed!

• Lots of plants to discover; good facilities. Free.

• The wife, dog and myself enjoyed the walk. So many plants to look at and plenty of spots to stop and ponder.

• This is a gem of a place for any plant nerd or anyone who likes a stroll in the bush on Melbourne’s western outskirts.

• Getting better with every visit.

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FEATURE GARDEN Garden themes and collections In the northern section of the garden there is a new mixed garden area, which is like a mini Melton Botanic Garden, with beds representing all the major themed areas. This area is great for people who can only walk a short distance and for environmental classroom activities on plant biodiversity and adaptation. Being near the plant nursery, it is easily accessible by customers, who can readily be taken there to see some of the plants on sale.

Another recent addition to the garden is a one-kilometre Lake Walk around the main lake.

This is a pleasant walk along a concrete path, over two bridges and a boardwalk to see local indigenous plants and birdlife.

No matter what time of the year you visit there are always plants in flower. And you will find some eucalypts in flower in whichever month you visit. The most prolific time for flowers is in late winter and spring. From April you can see many of the succulents, especially the Aloes in the Southern African Garden, which commence their main flowering period at that time.

The Mediterranean Garden displays plants that are representative of the Mediterranean basin. There are seven species of Oak, which, although still small, will be a wonderful legacy for future generations.

The Olive Grove has 13 forms of Common Olive Olea europaea. There is a Mediterranean perennial bed, which is in full bloom in late spring and early summer.

There are many species of edibles, including Figs, Pomegranates, Carob trees, Capers, and Crabapples.

The Bushfoods Garden contains over 70 edible native plant species and has good informative signage. It is located next to the public car park.

The Western Australian–South Australian Garden beds represent some of the bioregions from WA and SA, which are similar to Melton in climate. This was the second major development project commencing in 2014. The Western Australian–South Australian garden occupies about a hectare and was built in three stages.

The first stage was a display bed featuring highlights such as a field of paper daisies and beds representing the Geraldton Sandplains, Esperance Plains and Avon

(top to bottom): Mediterranean Garden and Amphitheatre. Mallee Bioregion Bed Western Australian Garden. Photos: John Bentley

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FEATURE GARDEN raised and mulched with a coarse red sand. Over the following two years the remaining Western Australian and South Australian beds were developed and planted. We are now revamping and refreshing some of these beds. The display bed is an eye candy of wildflowers from August to November. The South Australian beds have an Eyre Yorke Block bioregion and an inland South Australian bed. The Correa pulchella in these beds are particularly stunning when in flower through winter.

The Southern African Garden boasts an impressive display of Proteaceae as well as holding about 16 of the 26 Southern African salvia species. The Erica Bed is also a real treat of colour throughout winter and early spring.

We have been very appreciative of plant material and advice supplied by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Geelong Botanic Gardens, Ballarat Botanical Gardens, Bendigo Botanic Gardens, St Kilda Botanical Gardens, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Waite Arboretum to enhance the MBG collections. The BGANZ network has been

(top to bottom): Protea King White Southern African Garden. Sensory Garden.

Photos: John Bentley

invaluable in supporting the Friends and the MBG.

Garden development and management FMBG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2012 with Melton City Council, which outlines the shared goals and objectives for the development and management of the Melton Botanic Garden. The MOU outlines responsibilities for both the council and FMBG. It is due to be reviewed in 2021.

The Friends have responsibility for the garden development and maintenance but work closely with council on all aspects of the garden. A council liaison officer was first appointed in 2006 to work directly with the Friends. The liaison person has a changed a number of times but we have moved up the chain of command in council over the years. Adrian Cope, Senior Open Space Planner has been the liaison officer since 2014. The relationship with council is strong. Council has assisted in many ways, including use of their landscape architect team to produce plans for redevelopment of garden plans when they change from the original landscape design plan (2009).

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There is a formal monthly meeting with the liaison officer and emails, phone conversations and onsite visits as required. Council manages the public toilets, BBQs, mowing, major tree pruning/ removal, and repairs infrastructure damage or graffiti. FMBG can lodge Customer Action Requests for council action.

Council initiated a review of the master plan so it can consider its contribution, direction and FMBG partnership. The report and recommendations are due sometime this year.

Funding for the garden is achieved through grants, donations, plant sales and direct council funding. Council support has been an average of $35,000 since 2013 and pleasingly in 2018 council approved base funding to FMBG for garden development and maintenance of $35,000 per year to 2023. This provides the Friends with some surety in planning and funding for the garden development.

Every area of the garden being developed or established has a curator and/or project manager. There are coordinators for each area of the garden that have teams working in them.

The coordinators are generally the curator or project managers for that area. The teams choose their own names. Teams include: Bushies (Bushfoods Garden), Creekers (Ryans Creek), Lakers (the main Lake), Gumnuts (Eucalyptus Arboretum and WA–SA), Safaris (Southern African), Sunseekers (Mediterranean), Odd Jobbers and the Nursery Team. Ancillary groups include Water Babies doing water testing at the lake, and Tweeters involved in bird watching and recording.

Each team is responsible for preparing its own plant labels with support from the Odd Jobbers who assist with making and installing labels and garden signage.

FMBG obtained a council grant in 2019 to purchase the cloud-hosted version of IrisBG. Lists of plants from 2008 that are in various formats are being entered into IrisBG and an accessions process has been established. FMBG are paying the annual license fee for IrisBG. In 2012 a depot was built to facilitate a base for garden development followed by a nursery within the depot compound in 2013. The nursery was to help propagate and tend plants for the garden development but has evolved into a major source of funding through plant sales as well.

The friends have utilised Work for the Dole programs to help build the garden from 2011 to 2018. Without these participants the garden would not have progressed to the extent it has.

The various Work for the Dole projects of six-month’s duration were able to provide up to 15 participants for 15–25 hours per week at the garden. We progressed from two days per week in 2011 to five days per week in 2016. Since the Work for the Dole program finished we have replaced the Work for the Dole participants with over 20 Centrelink Volunteers to help develop and maintain the garden, each one providing up to 15 hours per week assistance. With their age being over 55 and most over 60 they are not as physically able as the participants on the Work for the Dole program, but their contribution is nevertheless invaluable to the garden.

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(left to right): Volunteers celebrating at the end of a Grow The Garden Day in February 2020.

Volunteers at work making paths on a hot day in February 2020. Photos: John Bentley

All regular volunteers require a valid Working with Children Check to meet the FMBG child safe requirements. Over 100 volunteers have completed the check. The requirements for volunteering and induction can be found on the FMBG website under ‘volunteer’.

The friends The friends formed as a result of a community meeting about the support for a botanic garden in Melton in 2003. The mission of the friends is: “To enrich the community and the environment by fostering, promoting and supporting the development and activities of the Melton Botanic Garden”. Gardening personality, Jane Edmanson OAM, became Patron of the FMBG in 2012 and makes regular visits to the garden to monitor the development, and promotes the garden through public speaking engagements and contacts.

The commitment of the friends has resulted in a huge number of hours of labour contributing to the development and maintenance of the garden over the years. The volunteer recorded hours in the financial year 2018–19 were over 16,000. Hours have been increasing each year as we gain more volunteers and create and expand the groups. There are over 300 financial members and 18 corporate members.

Nursery sales are held every Tuesday, Thursday, second and fourth Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm.

Volunteers to help build and maintain the garden are always welcome, as are partnerships with other organisations.

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FEATURE GARDEN Garden tours are organised on request for clubs and groups, and public tours are held during special events such as the National Sustainability Festival, National Eucalyptus Day, Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and the Seniors Festival. FMBG have also hosted tours for a number of other botanic gardens staff.

Information about the garden and FMBG is available on social media and at www.fmbg.org.au Contact the Friends of Melton Botanic Gardens on +613 9743 3819 or at friends@fmbg.org.au

In conclusion The garden is enhancing tourism in Melton as it is promoted as a premier tourist destination in the region.

The garden is achieving the aspirations and recommendations in the Feasibility Studies of 2003 and 2004 in: tourism with guided tours and visitations; conservation of indigenous species; community involvement through volunteering and passive recreation; education with school groups, signage and plant labelling; botanic collections in the species plantings, and is instilling a sense of community pride in having a botanic garden.

The garden is well worth a visit just to see what has been achieved by volunteers in partnership with council and of course to see the plant collections.

Note: This article is based on and expanded from an article published in the Gardener’s Gazette, Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria, autumn 2020 by the same author.

Seasol is proud to be supporting the Botanic Gardens Australia & New Zealand

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PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS

A Wollemi a day – BGANZ Professional Scholarship Award report Bec Stanley, Curator, Auckland Botanic Gardens (ABG)

In November 2018 I was very grateful to receive BGANZ funding to attend the BGANZ NSW regional meeting at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden and the Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) conference in Canberra. The Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens funded Emma Bodley, the Records and Conservation Specialist at ABG, to join me.

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah The BGANZ meeting was a chance to visit the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden for the first time and meet (and catch up with) BGANZ members from New South Wales and Victoria. One of the strengths of our industry is having colleagues in another country that you can call on for advice and to share best-practice. Part of the meeting included some professional development in the form of a seed collecting workshop run by Gavin Phillips, who is a seed collector based at Mount Annan. As always with botanical and horticultural groupings, the trip to dinner involved a roadside stop to look at orchids,

Bec and Emma with Wollemi pines at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden

trigger plants, scribbly gum and more (with the two kiwis looking carefully at every foot placement for snakes). It was also particularly exciting to see Wollemi pine as near to its natural habitat as I am going to get. It set the scene for our trip as we really did see a Wollemi almost every day of our trip. The Puya alpestris was also in flower, providing a spectacular display and inspiring us to plant this species BGANZ Seed collecting workshop

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in the rock garden at Auckland Botanic Gardens.

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The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan On the way to Canberra we visited The Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan and John Siemon showed us around PlantBank which is quite mind-blowing for people living in a country without a purpose-built native seedbank.

During our visit a botanical drawing workshop was being run at the seedbank, highlighting the multiple roles such a facility can offer in addition to science and conservation, as it also contributes to education, engagement and inspiring creativity. The native plants in the gardens at Mount Annan are also impressive and we enjoyed seeing some familiar genera

Colourful native plant display at the Australian Garden, Mt Annan

(such as Leptospermum) as well as spectacular Australian plants so different from our flora we felt lucky to see them in a garden with labels!

Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) 2018 conference, Canberra Both Emma and I presented talks at this conference. Emma outlined the incursion of myrtle rust in New Zealand and I talked about the role of botanic gardens in conservation in New Zealand.

The theme of the 2018 Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) conference was plant translocations. Conservation is a key role of Botanic Gardens worldwide, therefore exsitu conservation of plants is an area of great interest to gardens. The conference was themed to coincide with the release of the Third edition of the ANPC’s Threatened Plant Translocation Guidelines. This has become the default international guideline for plant translocation, and it is also the reference used in New Zealand. Plant translocations are more commonplace in Australia than New Zealand, partly because legislation permits this as a mitigation for development, so there are several decades of examples to learn from.

It was also useful to get updates on the Australian experience with the incursion of myrtle rust and hear more about the species in Australia that have shown steep declines in the wild; for example, Rhodamnia rubescens and Rhodomyrtus psidioides, which have similar forest understorey habitats to the most affected species in New Zealand, Lophomyrtus bullata.

While in Canberra we visited the Australia National Botanic Garden (ANBG) and the seedbank. It was a great contrast to PlantBank, showing us that seed banking is possible in less spectacular buildings.

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PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS

(left to right): Knitted poppies at the Australian War Memorial on Armistice Day 2018, 100 years since the end of World War I. Luring visitors to the Plants with Bite exhibit in the Calyx.

At ANBG we saw volunteers working in all parts of the seedbank and again reinforced the roles gardens and seedbanks have in bringing people together for conservation. While in Canberra we also visited the National Arboretum and were impressed by the magnitude of this project.

(We want to revisit in 200 years’ time!).

We arrived in Canberra on Armistice Day 2018, one hundred years after the First World War ended, and by chance caught the ceremony at the Australian War Memorial commemorating this anniversary. Surrounding the memorial building were 62,000 handcrafted (knitted and crocheted) red poppies, which symbolised Australian lives lost during that war. It was a stunning sight and seemed appropriate to visit on my BGANZ-funded trip, being both representative of New Zealand’s shared relationship with Australia, and also botanical with the display of poppies.

Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney On my way home I visited the Calyx at Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, which featured the Plants with Bite exhibit. Even if I hadn’t been walking there with purpose to visit, I would have been lured in by the retro comic-style banners outside the gardens.The display gardens of various carnivorous plants, along with misty wetland pools evoking wild habitats, were stunning and it was great to see lots of children enjoying the experience.

My trip was a great learning experience and I am fortunate to work in a botanic gardens which is a member of BGANZ that promotes and supports trips like this. I have made contacts that I have been in touch with since my trip, and brought home many ideas to share. I recorded a blog (and photo diary) of each botanical experience. If you want to learn more about my trip go to https://becstar18.wordpress.com/.

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BCARM BGANZ Collections and Record Management Working Group John Sandham, BCARM Convenor This article is to inform you of the BCARM Working Group and how it is progressing.

For those of you who are reading this for the first time the following explains our vison and overall areas of botanic garden business We believe that plant records and their development are not a business on their own. They are there to support the collections and their development. It is believed that plant record officers can still be part of this working group but be joined and supported by the curatorial managers within each garden to give actual context to the plant records themselves.

We want to supply everyone with communication and consultation to enable a conduit to various networks.

The working group will address the actual plant data of each garden, but use the group to understand the various pressures being incurred. These would include resources and the required funding along with the effects of new pests and diseases and climate change.

It would also support the need for collective action across all BGANZ gardens to ensure the development of appropriate strategies for the security of the living collections.

The working group intends to supply: • Support across all BGANZ gardens • Security around collections and their long-term survival • Duplications for security • Standardisation Collection thematics • Research and Development networks around: • pests and disease • weeds • climate change.

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The BCARM working group met on Monday 24 February 2020 and there are various issues of interest that we would like to impart to the wider membership. Our intention is to have six meetings a year. These to date are by teleconferencing but we are looking into video possibilities. We also realise communication over any issue can happen between these meetings and welcome communication at any time.

We would like to advise that we now have our own page on the BGANZ website. It is up and going so please take a look at https://www.bganz.org.au/category/bcarm-resources/. We are all grateful for the effort put in by Emma Bodley from Auckland Botanic Gardens. Please use this to inform yourself of our working group, who we are and where we come from.

Many of the Australian botanic gardens will be developing and assisting in their local Bushfire Recovery Plans. It will be interesting to know how known wild-origin material held in their living collections have aided these important tasks.

Many of the Australian botanic gardens will be developing and assisting in their local Bushfire Recovery Plans.

We have started the discussion around the compilation of all taxa grown in Australia and New Zealand. Once we have compiled the data it will lead to us having a handle on what we hold in total. This hopefully will lead to us having an understanding of our national collections, which then will lead to the possibility of meta collections or similar. It is also appreciated that due to biosecurity issues there will have to be two collections reflecting the separate Australian and New Zealand collections. Investigations as to how this will progress is the initial foundation work required by this working group. As a start it was suggested that data around the family Proteaceae and the genus Acer be among the first plant groups examined.

Before BCARM was established BGANZ Victoria had entered into a project to find a readily available record management system that could be made available for many of our smaller botanic gardens. This group has now become part of BCARM. An update follows.

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PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS

BGANZ Record Management System update Tex Moon, chair, BGANZ Botanic Gardens Record Management System Project For several years BGANZ Council recognised the need for a low-cost accessible and user-friendly plant records database that could be made available for BGANZ members in support of their record keeping and documentation.

Many BGANZ members may recall answering one or two surveys questioning the effectiveness of plant record keeping within their gardens. The responses from these surveys, summarised below, demonstrated a clear need for capacity building within this area: • 84 per cent of the botanic gardens are collecting plant records in variety of formats (mostly in Excel and hard copy) • only 10 per cent of gardens reported being satisfied with their current record-keeping system • 97 per cent of gardens agreed that an appropriate (user friendly) plant records management system tool would help achieve better plant records.

BGANZ Council, through the Botanic Gardens Collections and Records Management Group (BCARM) identified the database project as a high priority. In 2019 council endorsed a BCARM working group to explore a commercial arrangement with suppliers of plant records systems to provide a multiuser (or centralised database) that could be made available for member gardens in support of their record-keeping activities.

An EOI went out to the market back in November and BCARM appointed an evaluation panel made up of people from across the network with relevant skill sets. The evaluation panel is working through shortlisting the applicants and is asking for more information where necessary.

The next phase of the project will be to get a clear understanding of costings associated with each of the shortlisted systems and the working group will work closely with council to explore models of how this can be rolled out to the BGANZ membership.

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PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS

BCARM welcomes your input on any of the above matters. Please get directly in touch with either Tex Moon or John Sandham, to bring your needs and expertise to this exciting BGANZ working group.

At the time of going to press our workplaces are being affected in many ways due to COVID-19. We have an opportunity to think about the importance of plants and the living collections we hold in our wonderful Botanic Gardens.

BCARM wishes you well in all your different and important roles and in keeping safe.

Your input – our contacts: We hope to have more information to update mid-year, so watch this space. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to either John or Tex directly.

John Sandham at john.sandham@sa.gov.au or on 0412440843 Tex Moon at Terence.moon@parks.vic.gov.au

BGCI Latest news from Botanic Gardens Conservation International Brian Lainoff, Head of Membership Strategy and Services, BGCI Greetings from all of us at BGCI! While we are all working from home – the work does not stop!

We are doing as much as we can to support the global botanic garden community during the COVID-19 pandemic and we hope that we can help support our friends in BGANZ.

BGCI’s new online forum Open to the whole botanic garden community, BGCI launched an online forum with the aim to support botanic gardens, arboreta, and other botanical institutions through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initially – the forum will focus on the impacts of COVID-19 and will act as a safe space for members of the botanic garden community to discuss impacts, recommendations, and more.

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Members of the community can freely comment, share experiences, and upload photos on other media. At first, BGCI will moderate the forum, but after some time we will open up the forum to be moderated by trusted members of our community. Members of the International Advisory Council, who will continue to provide significant support and engage in the discussion forum, first tested the platform.

While initially focused on COVID-19, BGCI will open up topics to include plant conservation, education, sustainability, BGCI’s Accreditation Scheme, and more.

Visit the online forum at forum.bgci.org

BGCI’s technical review: the role of botanic gardens in practising and promoting environmental sustainability BGCI’s new technical review on the role of botanic gardens in practising and promoting environmental sustainability represents an overview of sustainability practices carried out by botanic gardens worldwide. This review looks at both in-house practices and the ways in which gardens motivate and incentivise visitor behaviour change. It includes over 40 case studies encompassing water management, energy consumption, carbon offsetting, waste, recycling and composting, and sustainable food. Learn more here: https://www.bgci.org/resources/bgci-toolsand-resources/bgci-technical-reviews/.

BGCI’s Accreditation Scheme BGCI’s Botanic Garden Accreditation is aimed at botanical institutions wishing to establish their credentials as botanic gardens. Activities that botanic gardens do uniquely well – such as documenting, understanding, growing and conserving plant diversity across the taxonomic array – are not sufficiently recognised by policymakers and funders. This has led, for example, to the erosion of the values and activities that define a botanic garden compared to a public park.

As such, BGCI’s Botanic Garden Accreditation assesses and places a high value on the unique skills, knowledge and data in botanic gardens. We believe that accreditation motivates and informs botanic gardens, thus empowering them to do more plant conservation so that we can better achieve our collective missions.

Accreditation can result in tangible benefits for participating gardens – such as recognition, peer comparison, creating standards for excellence, and funding – and will act as a motivator for botanic garden leadership.

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To be accredited as a BGCI botanic garden, institutions will need to show that they carry out a range of conservation-related policies, practices and activities. BGCI assesses the policies, infrastructures and practices of candidate gardens through several mechanisms through an online application form, uploaded evidence and declarations.

Over 60 botanic gardens across the world have completed and achieved BGCI accreditation.

We are pleased to share the following gardens in the BGANZ community have already achieved BGCI Accreditation: • Auckland Botanic Garden (BGCI Accredited Botanic Garden) • Wollongong Botanic Garden (BGCI Accredited Botanic Garden and BGCI Accredited Conservation Practitioner) • Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and Domain Trust (BGCI Accredited Advanced Conservation Practitioner).

To learn more about BGCI’s Botanic Garden Accreditation Scheme visit: https://www.bgci.org/our-work/services-for-botanic-gardens/bgci-accreditation-scheme/.

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Calendar of conferences and events Botanic gardens biosecurity webinar series fortnightly from 20 May to 26 August Join the Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Network for a series of eight webinars exploring plant biosecurity and surveillance in botanic gardens.

From 20 May to 26 August 2020 the Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Network will host a half-hour webinar every second Wednesday at 2 pm AEST. Presenters will include experts in biosecurity and surveillance, representatives from several Australian botanic gardens, and members of other biosecurity networks.

During the webinar series we will cover topics including the basics of plant biosecurity and surveillance, biosecurity and surveillance activities currently happening in Australian botanic gardens, pests in your backyard and specific pests such as myrtle rust.

Register to attend the webinars on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/103293967036 For the latest updates on the webinar series follow the network on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BGBNetwork

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CALENDAR OF CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

Influence and action: botanic gardens as agents of change 27 September to 1 October 2021 Influence and Action: Botanic Gardens as Agents of Change, will explore how botanic gardens can play a greater role in shaping our future. With accelerated loss of biodiversity across the globe, increased urbanisation, population growth and climate change, our need to work together to find new solutions for the future has never been greater.

Hosted by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, the 7th Global Botanic Gardens Congress (7GBGC) will run from 27 September – 1 October 2021.

Join inspiring speakers, fascinating workshops, panel discussions, and symposia, in addition to a specially curated evening cultural program.

With a focus on influencing the future, for the first time in the history of the Congress, 7GBGC will deliver a Youth Program for future Gardens’ leaders aged 18–24 – young people actively involved in horticulture, ecology, environmental and conservation science, and land management.

To register your interest and for more info visit: 7GBGC.ORG

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INFLUENCE & ACTION Botanic Gardens as Agents of Change Influence and Action: Botanic Gardens as Agents of Change will explore how botanic gardens can play a greater role in shaping our future. With accelerated loss of biodiversity across the globe, increased urbanisation, population growth and climate change, our need to work together to find new solutions for the future has never been greater.

Hosted in the glorious city of Melbourne, Australia, the 7th Global Botanic Gardens Congress (7GBGC) will run from 27 September – 1 October 2021.

Explore our most liveable city and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s stunning and contrasting landmark gardens at Melbourne and Cranbourne. Together we will celebrate Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s 175th anniversary at this important international gathering.

7th Global Botanic Gardens Congress 27 September – 1 October 2021 Melbourne Australia

Join inspiring speakers, fascinating workshops, panel discussions, and symposia, in addition to a specially curated evening cultural program focusing closely on Australian aboriginal culture and the vibrant contemporary creative and food scenes for which Melbourne is globally renowned.

With a focus on influencing the future, for the first time in the history of the Congress, 7GBGC will deliver a Youth Program for future Gardens’ leaders aged 18-24 – young people actively involved in horticulture, ecology, environmental and conservation science, and land management.

Register your interest at THE BOTANIC GARDENer | ISS 54 JUNE 2020

7GBGC.ORG

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www.bganz.org.au