Editorial insights

Rebecca Harcourt, Managing Editor

Welcome to issue 55 of THE BOTANIC GARDENer, and my first issue as Managing Editor. I must say that I am very impressed with the quality and content of the articles I have had the pleasure to read.

Rebecca Harcourt.

First, a little about me. I love nature, and especially plants. As a teenager, I wanted to be the female equivalent of my hero, David Attenborough. Rather than a general science degree, I was persuaded to study a more practical version, agricultural science, which surprisingly, for a city-bred girl, I really enjoyed. I went on to do a PhD at the University of Cambridge, England in wheat breeding and genetics and worked for many years in labs in the UK and Australia. I worked not just with wheat but with other cereals, and even eucalypts at CSIRO in Canberra. I visited the ANBG many times on a professional level to sample their Eucalyptus globulus leaves, as well as on a personal level for pure enjoyment. Over the years, I discovered that I preferred communicating about the research more than practicing it, and had a bit of a knack with words. Fast-forward to now, where I get to immerse myself in the glorious world of botanic gardens and their stories.

In this edition, I chat to fellow David Attenborough fan Eric Ralls, founder and CEO of PlantSnap, with whom we have very recently partnered. In the Feature Interview, Eric describes how in PlantSnap, a plant identification app for mobile devices, he has merged technology with a love for nature and our planet.

Our Feature Articles perfectly address this issue’s theme, ‘Botanic gardens: stories of recovery and regeneration’. Greg Bourke gives a harrowing first-hand account of protecting the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah throughout last summer’s bushfires, while Ian Allan describes how this remarkable garden is recovering from such a destructive event. Michael Anlezark provides us with some handy hints on what to do when your botanic garden burns down in a fascinating and very human account of the fires that impacted the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden on New Year’s Eve. Last, but not least, Wolfgang Bopp and Bede Nottingham tell us how Christchurch Botanic Gardens has survived within the last decade, not just a devastating earthquake but the disruption and uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In our Pollinating Great Ideas section, we hear from three self-admitted tree geeks who are creating COVID-safe, self-guided tree tours throughout San Francisco. We also hear about another self-guided activity, designed for children, from Roana O’Neill at Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.

In the Hort section, Ariana gets in touch with the newly appointed Director of Horticulture at the Botanic Gardens Greater Sydney, John Siemon, and Director Research and Chief Botanist, Dr Brett Summerell at the new Australian Institute of Botanical Science.

Our Feature Garden this issue is the ANBG, where Julie Akmacic and Toby Golson describe how nature got in the way of the gardens’ golden anniversary this year.

I think nature might have interrupted more than a few anniversaries and celebrations this year. Let’s hope that 2021 is a bit less disruptive.

I’d love to hear from you with any feedback on this issue or suggestions for future themes. Please feel free to email me at Managing.editor@bganz.org.au.

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.

nationalbotanicgardens.gov.au/gardens

Photo: Steve Rogers