Editorial Insights

Rebecca Harcourt, Managing Editor

This issue’s theme, ‘What’s new in your garden?’, has attracted some excellent articles about the ever‑changing world of botanic gardens. As the thought‑provoking Peter Symes from Cooktown Botanic Gardens reminded me when I interviewed him for this Rebecca Harcourt

issue, botanic gardens were originally ‘physic gardens’, growing medicinal herbs. Most no longer fit this description. Botanic gardens have changed to adapt to the world around them, like the plants they contain. Who knows what the gardens of the future will look like, given the changing climate, and the political, economic and social environment, as well as advances in science and technology. They may look completely different, but I’m sure they will continue to play an important role in all our lives. In this issue, we hear about some new additions to existing gardens, such as the innovative new herbarium landscape surrounding the new National Herbarium of New South Wales in the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. This garden was designed to enhance the new herbarium’s seedpod‑shaped building. In the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, a new entry zone was constructed to display Tasmanian native plants in a contemporary setting rather than trying to replicate natural bush landscapes. We also hear about some exciting new initiatives, such as the autumn series of events developed by Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth. These were designed to celebrate the botanic garden, promote Western Australian native flora, and encourage people to connect with their gardens and green spaces. In Queensland, the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden has recently completed its first interpretive strategy. This strategy will guide the development of a full suite of interpretive services, from non‑personal to personal interpretive products and programs. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne is making great progress in expanding the ex situ conservation of an endangered species of oak, despite facing more than a few challenges in the process. Damien Wrigley and colleagues tell us about a new survey, initiated by the Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG) and BGANZ, that will help address the threat posed by the fungal pathogen myrtle rust. For those pondering the benefits or otherwise of the BGANZ‑recommended plant collection management software, Hortis, we hear from Dr Waheed Ashaad, Botanical Scientist, Botanical Software, on how BGANZ member Dr Charles Clarke, Curator Cairns Botanic Garden, an early adopter of Hortis, is using the product.

Finally, I felt I should share a letter I received recently. In my new role as BGANZ’s administration and communications officer, I wrote to Sir David Attenborough asking if he would be able to help us promote Botanic Gardens Day and our plant lover’s challenge. Despite his advanced age (he recently turned 96) and other commitments, he took the time to hand‑write a very polite reply. As I head to the polling booth this weekend, I wish that our politicians had his intelligence, integrity and love for the planet.

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