On a warm morning in early May 2008, almost 60,000 people flocked into Sydney city and headed towards Mrs Macquaries Point for a chance to view the inaugural Sydney Flugtag event. Hailing from Austria, the tradition of Flugtag sees competitors construct and launch manned flying machines, on this occasion, into Farm Cove from the slope close to the Fleet Steps.
Following the conclusion of the event, most of the spectators strolled into the Royal Botanic Garden, and many of them climbed trees, including the old dragon’s blood tree in the lower gardens. Dracaena draco, thought to have been planted in the 1880s, is found naturally in the Canary Islands. Technically not a tree, but a woody monocot, it is more closely related to asparagus.
Garden rangers reported repeated incidents during the ensuing day where dozens of visitors at a time were instructed to descend from the tree.
A few days later, the poor old tree toppled onto its side, probably unaccustomed to such intense affection. It appears that the tree may have fallen gradually. An overseas visitor subsequently sent in a photograph in which the tree appeared to be at a jaunty angle, neither upright nor fallen. It eventually settled onto its side where it has since remained.
There were initial concerns as to whether the tree would survive. During the fall, considerable tearing of the tissues at the base of the trunk was sustained. The tree was quickly fenced off and, soon after, a shade structure was built to protect newly exposed parts of the tree from sun-scorch. After
a couple of years, the shade structure was removed and a permanent timber fence constructed around the perimeter.
The tree has survived and indeed continues to thrive in its current resting place and provides an interesting talking point for visitors. It serves as a wonderful illustration of the adaptability of plants. David Bidwell, Consulting Arborist and former Senior Arborist, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Photos:
Csilla Swain; Botanic Gardens of Sydney, A. Zuntini, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Christopher Sanders
Dragon’s blood tree before it fell over in 2008
Dragon’s blood tree near the sea wall
First Person Meet senior research scientist, Dr Jason Bragg
Artefact The secret language of flowers. When blooms spill the beans.
20 Travel Exciting new Friends’ tours and itineraries 27 Plants What to look out for in the Gardens this spring
30 What’s On Your guide to activities and events
Spring news
FROM THE NEW CE
I’ve always admired the work of Botanic Gardens of Sydney, so it’s incredibly exciting to have joined the team as Chief Executive. I am proud to be leading an organisation that is implementing critical conservation science to help save species from extinction and tackle biodiversity loss, all while welcoming millions of visitors annually and guiding global audiences to deepen their connection to plants.
I’ve honestly been blown away by the variety of initiatives our skilled teams deliver – across science, education, horticulture, world-class events and more. Just last month, we hosted the unique botanical masterpieces of global sensation Fleurs de Villes during their VOYAGE show at The Calyx, featuring breathtaking floral mannequins, inspiring horticultural talks, and florist demonstrations. It was spectacular.
I am inspired by our team’s incredible skills and knowledge. This expertise was showcased at the 8th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Singapore, which I was fortunate to attend. We connected with experts from around the world to explore innovative ways to safeguard our planet’s biodiversity. The Congress provided an important opportunity for collaboration, knowledge sharing and discussion of sustainable practices around the theme ‘People and Plants
for a Sustainable Future’ – something that has never been more important.
Securing plant species to ensure a sustainable future is supported by our ongoing investment in cutting-edge research and conservation science.
That’s why I am thrilled to see us involved with the Australian Museum’s Eureka Prizes – the country’s most comprehensive national science awards. We are proud to present the Australian Institute of Botanical Science Eureka Prize for Excellence in Botanical Science, for which one of our science teams is a finalist.
We are also excited to launch Alchemy of a Rainforest at The Calyx this spring – another unique visitor experience anchored in purpose. Ecological powerhouses, rainforests have been around for millions of years and are critical to nearly every aspect of the planet’s health. This immersive exhibition uses artistic advocacy to
tell the story, while highlighting First Nations connections and the role of conservation science in protecting our planet’s oldest living ecosystem.
On the subject of ancient plants, this year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the Wollemi pine and the following decades of incredible scientific work. A critically endangered species, in 2023 we shipped over 200 ‘dinosaur trees’ overseas as part of a global meta-collection project to ensure the species’ future by establishing insurance populations at international gardens.
My final message to share is that I have been welcomed to Botanic Gardens of Sydney with such immense kindness and commitment from our people. Their dedication to the beautiful gardens, science and education will ensure the survival of plants and all life that depends on them.
Simon Duffy AM, Chief Executive Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Simon Duffy AM
Wollemia nobilis
WELCOME 2025 WITH FOUNDATION & FRIENDS AT THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with us at the iconic Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Join Foundation & Friends for an unforgettable evening at the Mare and Foal Lawn, featuring stunning waterfront views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Since 1996, our exclusive BYO self-catered picnic has been a highlight of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with your favourite snacks and drinks, in one of the few NYE events where BYO alcohol is permitted. The secure, familyfriendly setting is perfect for all ages.
Tickets will be available in September, for Foundation & Friends members. Membership and ticket bundles will be available for purchase. Each member can buy up to 10 adult tickets.
Ring in 2025 with us and support vital science, conservation, education and fun at the Royal Botanic Garden. Happy New Year!
FROM THE CEO
This September marks the anniversary of one of the more important discoveries for the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. In a remote valley just 150 km from Sydney, a small pocket of unusual trees was identified by National Parks Officer, David Noble. These would soon be called Wollemia nobilis – or the Wollemi pine.
Since that first identification by non-Indigenous peoples, the Wollemi has become absolutely entwined with the identity and work of the Botanic Gardens – and that of Foundation & Friends. With less than 100 known Wollemi pines in the wild, the primary focus has been on conservation including a wide range of research that Foundation & Friends has helped to fund, such as seed conservation, understanding the unique reproductive mechanisms, through to identifying the perfect environments and locations for Wollemi to grow and flourish.
We continue to support the amazing scientists and horticulturists of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney to engage with international counterparts on our unique plants, including this unique tree. Foundation & Friends recently played a role in sending genetically diverse examples of Wollemi across the world to ensure their protection.
The main Wollemi specimen at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney stands
at the historic site of the original ‘wishing tree’ and is often the focus of Foundation & Friends walks and talks. The revival and survival of the Wollemi was touched on in the recent end of year appeal, which raised over $175K.
The wonderful and unique form of the Wollemi has inspired art at many of our exhibitions, in our classes and at our workshops. Foundation & Friends recently partnered with the Australian Watercolour Institute for their 100th exhibition. David Van Nunen AOM, the Chair, was the first to officially paint the Wollemi for then Chief Executive and good friend, Carrick Chambers.
This highly sought after jurassic tree continues to be a feature of our own Growing Friends Plant Sales. As with everything we sell, our specimens are top quality, often linking directly back to the original wild population. Our amazing volunteers get incredible support from the researchers and horticulturists across all our 600-plus plant varieties. With their help we have recently achieved our best sales year ever.
The Wollemi is only one small part of the living collection of your Botanic Gardens, but it symbolises so much about how you, and all of our incredible community, are truly and deeply engaged with supporting the Gardens.
Pete Thomas, CEO Foundation & Friends
Pete Thomas
The best New Year’s Eve ticket in town
Excited revellers arrive
TRANSFORMING OUR GARDENS: YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK
Thanks to the incredible support from Foundation & Friends members and donors, with contributions exceeding $500,000, we are embarking on a major revamp of the irrigation systems at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
Teeing off this project implements a state-of-the-art irrigation system, complete with a remotely accessible central controller and weather station. This upgrade will connect all our gardens and lawns to a centrally controlled, automated system, significantly improving water conservation and sustainability.
Interestingly, the new irrigation system uses the same advanced technology as top-tier golf courses. Maybe, the Mare and Foal Lawn will be humorously referred to in the future as Hole 5 – bringing a touch of golf to our gardens – as long as we have no golf spikes on our beautiful lawns!
Currently, approximately 50 per cent of the gardens and lawns are without an automated irrigation system. The upgrade will be vital for the summer months ahead. This initiative will ensure efficient water usage, in line with the Botanic Gardens’ Living Collections Strategy & Sustainability Action Plan and will save over 240 hours of hand-watering each summer. The new system will use smart sensors to monitor soil moisture and weather conditions, ensuring plants receive water only when needed, thus reducing wastage.
This transformation highlights the crucial role your donations play in protecting and enhancing our priceless living collections. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to roll out this vital project, ensuring a sustainable and thriving future for our gardens.
Thank you to everyone who has donated, your support has funded this vital improvement – an absolute hole-in-one.
ALCHEMY OF A RAINFOREST
Rainforests are the world’s most ancient ecosystems and they are also dynamic, ever-changing and evolving. Starting on 14 September, The Calyx at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will host Alchemy of a Rainforest –Explore a Vibrant Tapestry of Life, an immersive, sensory experience featuring spectacular rare and unusual tropical and subtropical rainforest plants.
Rainforests are the ultimate recyclers, and the exhibition will include staging, artworks and props created by artists who upcycle garden waste – including plastic pots and old banners – emphasising sustainability throughout. Visitors can explore a giant walk-through satin bower-bird bower woven from willow,
and view oversized representations of rainforest fruits, fungi and flowers that highlight our conservation stories.
The exhibition will showcase tropical plants from the living collection that are normally kept behind the scenes and hidden away from visitors, revealing a fascinating array of plants from the towering Livistona australis to Selaginella, hidden away in among the rainforest floors, and may even feature a sneak peek of Amorphophallus titanum (corpse flower).
The experience extends into the Australian Rainforest Garden outside, featuring First Nations stories centred around the cassowary and the various traditional uses of rainforest plants for food, medicine, shelter and more.
Photos: Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Marinco
Kojdanovski
Kayte Wilke among Amorphophallus titanum in its leaf stage
WHAT THE FLORA!?
Explore the new season of What the Flora?! on the Gardens’ YouTube channel, hosted by Vanessa Fuchs. Delve into the captivating world of plants with our botanical experts as they hunt for rare cycads, reveal cutting-edge science, and celebrate the discovery of the Wollemi pine.
The season starts with a bang, in ‘Saving Cycads from Extinction’. In this episode, our experts Michael Elgey, Curator Manager at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, and Scott Yates, Horticulturist at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, journey to the remote
wilderness of New South Wales
to reveal the elusive cycad. Watch their meticulous efforts to locate and preserve cycads, which are among the world’s most endangered plant groups. You’ll learn the extraordinary attributes of these ancient plants and the pioneering conservation strategies used to safeguard them.
Subscribe to the Garden’s YouTube channel BotanicGardensTV for new episodes of What the Flora?! and discover the remarkable world of plants.
YER’UNG – SPIRIT TREE
The recently unveiled Yer’ung – Spirit Tree, a Welcome to Country sculpture on Gadigal land, was created by Wiradjuri artist Darren Charlwood, who worked with Gadigal Elder, Aunty Rhonda. This totem, located at the entrance to the Robert Brown Building, symbolises rich living culture and connection to place. Carved from Blackbutt, a native hardwood, and coated in resin from Galgudya, (grasstrees) it features an aerial view of Warrane (Sydney Harbour). The sculpture celebrates First Nations cultures and their enduring wisdom in caring for Country. Field work
BRANCH OUT IS BACK FOR SEASON 10!
Botanic Gardens of Sydney’s Branch Out podcast returns for Season 10 with an investigative two-part series. The opening episode, ‘Exposing the Illegal Plant Trade’, tackles the explosive world of succulent and cactus trafficking.
Follow thrilling heists in Mexico and the infiltration of a smuggling ring in South Korea. Hear from Jared Margulies, Assistant Professor of Political Ecology at the University of Alabama and author of The Cactus Hunters, as he reveals a complex web where conservation and crime intersect.
Discover the surprising reality that sometimes smugglers and conservationists are one and the same. This season you’ll also learn about the deadly nature of certain fungi and the innovative uses of artificial intelligence (AI) to combat plastic waste.
Produced by Vanessa Fuchs, Bec Davis, Hannah Izzard and Dan Butler, follow Branch Out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform, and share the episodes.
SEEDS OF DISCOVERY: RECER LAB OPENS
The recent $15 million redevelopment of the Robert Brown Building heralded the opening of the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience (ReCER). Home to cutting edge equipment funded by Foundation & Friends, the lab will drive vital plant conservation and DNA research, and promote ground-breaking international collaborations.
Artist Darren Charlwood in front of Yer’ung – Spirit Tree
RAINFOREST REVIVAL & SURVIVAL
OUR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT
To all our wonderful supporters at Foundation & Friends of the Botanic Gardens, your support towards our Rainforest Revival & Survival appeal has led to a great outcome. We are thrilled to share the exciting result with you. Thanks to your support, we raised an outstanding $175,743, which is a 16.7% increase over last year’s appeal.
Thanks to you, we can continue to fund the dedicated work of our scientists through key initiatives such as the Rainforest Seed Conservation Program and the Restore & Renew Program. These cutting-edge programs are focused on developing innovative techniques to enhance seed banking, improve restoration strategies, and bolster the resilience of endangered rainforest species.
Your generosity fuels these critical efforts, allowing us to continue supporting numerous projects across our Botanic Gardens that preserve endangered plant species and address the challenges posed by myrtle rust, climate change and deforestation.
From the entire team at Foundation & Friends, we are deeply grateful for your wonderful contributions. Your support is vital in our mission to protect and enhance the beauty and biodiversity of our Botanic Gardens.
Thank you for being a vital part of our journey.
Pete Thomas, CEO Foundation & Friends of the Botanic Gardens
Australian rainforest
Photos: Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Jessica Lindsay
Your donation towards the Rainforest Revival & Survival appeal has helped raise funds for Botanic Gardens of Sydney initiatives, such as:
Critically endangered rainforest species Rhodamnia
RAINFOREST SEED CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Focuses on endangered rainforest species, many of which have seeds that cannot be stored by traditional methods and are therefore at greater risk of becoming threatened or extinct. Developing seedbanking techniques for these species will directly protect biodiversity and ensure that our rainforests remain intact for generations to come.
RESTORE & RENEW PROGRAM
This program addresses the critical needs of restoration practitioners by funding essential activities, such as collecting data from threatened species and creating detailed genetic maps to guide restoration strategies. By providing resources like additional staff, the program ensures accurate data collection and thorough analysis.
Impact:
35,148 species can be prepared for germination
Preliminary germination tests can be run for 3514 species
351 species can be assessed for breaking seed dormancy
176 species can be tested for climate change resilience using thermogradient plate.
Impact:
Maps can be created to identify areas for collecting genetically suitable and ‘climate ready’ seed
Seed production areas can be developed to increase the availability of resilient seed
Data collection and analysis can continue to rescue threatened species and manage rainforest biodiversity.
Dr Karen Sommerville examines Rhodamnia rubescens
rubescens under examination
BUILDING THE FLOWERING PLANT 'Tree of Life’
BOTANIC GARDENS OF SYDNEY SCIENTISTS HAVE HELPED A GLOBAL TEAM OF RESEARCHERS – LED BY THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW – TO ASSEMBLE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ANGIOSPERM ‘TREE OF LIFE’ EVER, SIGNIFYING A NEW MILESTONE IN UNDERSTANDING THE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF FLOWERING PLANTS.
New Flowering plant Tree of Life: time-calibrated phylogenetic tree for angiosperms reconstructed from 353 nuclear genes sampled from all currently recognised families. Reproduced from Nature.
Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms, dominate the surface of Earth today and sustain the lives of countless other organisms, including most terrestrial animals.
About nine in ten land plants are flowering plants. With about 300,000 species worldwide (including over 20,000 in Australia), retracing angiosperms’ evolutionary history has long been a daunting task. A new global study published in Nature and involving 279 co-authors, including Botanic Gardens of Sydney, set a new milestone in building the flowering plant Tree of Life (phylogeny) using a new ground-breaking genomic sequencing technology.
An unprecedented, high-resolution window into flowering plant diversification
To appreciate the significance of this new study, it is helpful to recall a key milestone published 30 years ago. In 1993, Mark Chase and 41 co-authors analysed the sequences of a single chloroplast gene named rbcL from 499 species of seed plants to reconstruct one of the very first comprehensive phylogenies of flowering plants based on DNA data. This paper laid the foundation for two decades of considerable progress in angiosperm molecular phylogenetics, leading to an entirely updated and more stable classification system.
Yet, with only 1428 base pairs, the power of rbcL to unravel relationships among flowering plant families was limited. Although standards in phylogenetics had progressed to use multiple genes and, over the past decade, entire chloroplast genomes, it is only very recently that genomic sequencing technology has allowed us to read the DNA of hundreds of genes at once from the much larger nuclear genome of plant cells. Our new study is based on the so-called Angiosperms353 bait set. Led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the new flowering plant Tree of Life is based on these 353 genes sequenced across 9506 species, or nearly 1.8 billion base pairs, representing a 2500-fold increase in data volume since the milestone paper of 1993.
What did we find? Sampling included all currently recognised orders (64) and families (416) of flowering plants, but also 58% (7923) of all genera. The new study gave us the most comprehensive critical test to date of established phylogenetic relationships across multiple scales, based on entirely new data. Fortunately, many previous results were confirmed this way, but the new tree also unravelled unexpected relationships among some families. However, our study went much further by adding geological time to the new Tree of Life using a combination of 200 carefully curated fossil calibrations and so-called relaxed molecular clocks. This allowed unprecedented resolution into the early diversification of flowering plants, revealing explosive expansion of lineages shortly after their origin in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods.
About
nine in ten land plants are flowering plants.
Big collaborations for big results
So how was such a grand project realised? Initiated as the Plant and Fungal Tree of Life (PAFTOL) project run by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with funding from the Calleva Foundation, the heart of this project has been a grand collaboration by the 279 co-authors, utilising the work of thousands of collectors and curators to sample as many flowering plant genera (almost 8000) as possible in the project timeframe. While led by Kew, a global network of scientists and curators was required to obtain samples from herbarium specimens, botanic gardens and in the field, to fill critical sampling gaps. In close collaboration with PAFTOL, the Genomics for Australian Plants (GAP) project was developed as a national collaboration to create a similar framework for the Australian flora.
The GAP project brought together researchers from all states and territories to sample over 95% of Australian flowering plant genera, utilising some data from the PAFTOL project, but sampling nearly 2000 additional species,
and so becoming a major contributor to the overall PAFTOL aims.
Expanding the value of our collections
The National Herbarium of New South Wales holds more than one million plant specimens and represents a critical research resource for documenting plant diversity, species discovery and understanding the evolutionary history of our flora. Each plant specimen is accompanied by scientific data, including when and where it was collected.
The past ten years have seen vast technological changes in digitisation (capturing specimen data and images), DNA sequencing approaches and computing storage and power for analysis of increasingly large datasets. This has wildly augmented the value of and access to our collections.
New South Wales contributed 168 genera (across 25 families) to this study, the vast majority directly sampled from the herbarium and some from the living collections of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. A unique collaboration saw 12 staff from our organisation working together to sample specimens and prepare them for sequencing. We developed a standardised methodology with stringent controls around sampling, data capture and tracking to ensure priority of care of our precious collection while taking advantage of the incredible new resource that access to the DNA of herbarium specimens provides.
Retracing angiosperms’ evolutionary history has long been a daunting task.
Dr Hervé Sauquet, Head of Plant Discovery and Evolution Research, Principal Research Scientist; Dr Hannah McPherson, Collections Manager, National Herbarium of NSW; Dr Russell Barrett, Senior Research Scientist
The Nature paper reference: Zuntini AR (+ 278 co-authors including Barrett RL, Duretto MF, Jobson RW, Lu-Irving P, McColl K, McPherson H, Nge FJ, Renner M, Sauquet H, Tooth I, Wilson TC, Woods LA from Botanic Gardens of Sydney) (2024) ‘Phylogenomics and the rise of the angiosperms’, Nature 629, 843–850. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07324-0
Photo: A. Zuntini,
My proudest achievements are those that have resulted in or contributed to ‘plants in the ground’ outcomes.
Dr Jason Bragg, pictured with Westringia fruticosa (coastal rosemary)
DR JASON BRAGG
SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST, BOTANIC GARDENS OF SYDNEY
From plants and bacteria to lizards and animals, Dr Jason Bragg’s genomic journey has been nothing short of fascinating. Dom Sweeney spoke to the research scientist about what makes him tick.
Where did your passion for biology begin? My journey in biology started in high school – I loved science but gravitated towards biology. That led to an undergraduate degree in environmental science with a focus on ecology. I was equally interested in plants and animals, but I chose animals and lizards for my undergraduate honours. I worked as a plant ecologist for a while but then made a big switch, moving abroad to start a biology PhD at the University of New Mexico in 2001. I became enchanted by bacteria and their genomes, in ways related to ecology.
What was the catalyst for you to start studying bacteria?
In a seminar I saw a picture of a DNA molecule and thought, there are a lot of nitrogen atoms there. I wondered if the quantity of nitrogen atoms that bacteria use to build their genomes might change in response to how much nitrogen is available to them. That question motivated me to start thinking more about bacterial DNA and proteins and asking questions of genomics inspired and motivated by ecological questions. A job in Boston followed, working on marine bacteria, thinking about how the content of their genomes was matched to their environment.
Marine bacteria genomics to plants – that’s quite a big move. It was! After Boston I returned to Australia, to the CSIRO where I was working on trees. After that was ANU where
I worked on lizards with a genomic emphasis. Then in 2016, I moved to start working on plants at the Gardens.
How does your expertise assist in areas like restoration and conservation?
In the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience (ReCER), we study plant genetics to inform conservation and restoration. When working on a species of conservation importance, or a threatened species, our chief concern is to ensure newly established populations of plants have enough genetic diversity to protect them from inevitable challenges. If people plant out a population, it’s hoped some number of individual plants carry the gene required to face, for instance, a new pathogen in 1,000 years, or face a drought in 20 years. The plants need that genetic diversity to respond evolutionarily to future challenges. With conservation, we make recommendations about maintaining or translocating endangered species from the Gardens’ nurseries. We also make recommendations about saving genetic diversity to try to avoid inbreeding. The principles are often similar: we collect genetic data, characterise patterns of variation in the species of interest, and then make recommendations on promoting genetic diversity without bringing together things that are too different.
What does your typical day look like? It varies. Right now, there’s lots of field work. Yesterday I went to collect a sample of beach spinifex, which as you can imagine is a fun plant to sample [laughs]. I’ve been working with some Melaleuca species, some of which are very important components of swamp habitats, so there’s been some swamp field work, and that’s been fun. Other days, as a computational biologist, I’m actively writing code. Apart from science,
I’m working with and mentoring early career researchers, which is a blast.
Tell us about your work with myrtle rust. Myrtle rust was first detected in Australia in 2010, probably arriving from overseas. It’s caused by a fungal pathogen. Some species have become critically endangered because of it. We’ve been working on Melaleuca quinquenervia (broad-leafed paperbark), a dominant species in swamps. Researchers have previously noted that it shows variable resistance to myrtle rust, so we’re interested in trying to understand the genetics of that. We did a study where we measured resistance in seedlings, then looked for genetic associations between variation at particular locations in the genome, and the measured rust resistance of seedlings. We were able to find some markers, and that’s work we’re now validating. It appears to be possible to find a small set of markers that are predictive of whether a seedling will be resistant or susceptible to this pathogen. Next, we try to develop a relatively inexpensive genetic test to be applied to seedlings. With revegetation, we try to promote both the genetic diversity of the planted population, and to make it more enriched than would usually be the case.
Aside from saving species, what gets you out of bed?
Outside of research and science, a few mornings a week it’s swimming and running that get me out of bed the most – I guess it’s important to think about the balance between work and hobbies!
What are your proudest achievements during your time at the Gardens?
My proudest achievements are those that have resulted in or contributed to ‘plants in the ground’ outcomes. Then there’s the other side – watching the progress of the students I work with. I feel incredibly proud of that.
THE HIDDEN LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS
FOR CENTURIES, MANY CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD IMBUED FLOWERS WITH MEANING, TO THE POINT WHERE A PARTICULAR ARRANGEMENT WAS USED TO COMMUNICATE A SIGNIFICANT, AND PERHAPS CLANDESTINE, MESSAGE. MIGUEL GARCIA REPORTS.
Throughout history, in all human societies, flowers have always held significant cultural meanings. Their representations in literature, art and use in social contexts have been used to convey messages for centuries. This form of coded or symbolic floral communication was dubbed ‘the language of flowers’ or floriography.
In France this art was called ‘le langage des fleurs’, in Japan ‘hanakotoba’, and in Mughal India, both Hinduism and Islam contributed their own cultural and religious sentiments. In Ottoman Turkey, as early as the 14th century, from the Imperial court down, the tradition of ‘sélam’ had a major influence on the language of flowers. This involved a sort of game where gifts, often containing flowers, were used to send messages, and their meanings interpreted through poetry.
Floral bouquets were originally worn in past centuries to mask the miasmas of city life and other bad smells, such as body odour. However, during the 16th
century, their purpose changed and they were often given to a love interest. The messages of flowers were determined by their cultural meanings along with legends and myths. In England, Europe and America, subjects such as botany, floral painting and flower arrangement became popular in the education of women.
However, it was Victorian England that provided floriography with the greatest complexity and spawned many books that focused and educated on the symbolism, cultural use and religious
‘Your Beauty & Modesty have forced from me a declaration of love’
and literary celebrations of flowers.
The social conventions of the Victorian era often imposed strict regulation on what could be expressed directly and on the proper means of doing so. Flowers were therefore used in a variety of ways from expressing sorrow, joy, celebration and romance. Flirtation was conducted clandestinely using messages hidden in single flowers and floral bouquets.
In ‘The Maid of Athens’, poet Byron captures the idea of floriography in an often quoted verse in many of the language of flower books:
By all those token flowers that tell What words can never speak so well.
Gifts of specific floral arrangements were used to send secret messages to the recipient, allowing the expression of feelings of romance, and prospective suitors, equipped with their floral dictionaries, could exchange ‘talking bouquets’ or ‘word poesy’, called nosegays or tussie-mussies, which could be used as a fashion accessory, carried in the hand, or worn as a decoration on hat or lapel.
Today, it is popularly known that a red rose indicates romantic love and white flowers celebration or sorrow. But in the Victorian era the floral palette of
Photos: Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Csilla Swain
emotions and messages was quite complex. There were many books on the subject, the first of note was the Le Langage des Fleurs published in Paris in 1819. It introduced a code that became extremely popular with the middle and upper classes of Victorian society.
The Daniel Solander Library has several Victorian-era books on the subject of floriography, in particular: Frederic Shobel’s The Language of Flowers with Illustrative Poetry … (1843); John Ingram’s Flora Symbolica or the Language and Sentiment of Flowers (1869); and Maria Callcott’s A Scripture Herbal, which focused on the medicinal properties of plants as well as their religious meanings in Christianity.
The symbolic meanings of flowers were often provided by their nature. For example, some popular Victorian floral meanings include the sunflower, Helianthus annuus, which is described in Shobel as: ‘… been made the emblem of false wealth, because gold, however abundant, cannot render a person truly rich.’ Then, there is the mimosa or Mimosa pudica, which supposedly represented chastity by virtue of its sensitive leaves that close up when touched, implying the idealised behaviour of a chaste person.
The religious symbolism of flowers has impacted the arts since time immemorial. In Callcott, the lily, or Lilium candidum, is seen as a symbol of purity because its form was used, according to the Bible, to decorate the capitals of the columns in the Second Temple and along the rim of the great libation bowl. Callcott also mentions the words from Jesus in the New Testament: ‘Consider the lilies of the field … Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of those.’ Likewise, the red rose and its thorns have been used to symbolise the blood of Jesus and his crown of thorns. Similarly, in Islam, the tulip, Tulipa x gesneriana, symbolises Allah (God) and the rose, the Prophet Muhammad. Both the shape of the tulip and the letters in
the Arabic word for ‘Allah’ bear a similarity to each other. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the lotus flower (Nelumbo nucifera) is the foremost symbol of beauty, prosperity, fertility, purity and divinity, and features as the national flower of India.
Not all floral messages were positive
The messages of flowers were determined by their cultural meanings along with legends and myths.
However, many of the meanings attributed to flowers in Western culture have varied over time. Many flowers had multiple associations in the plethora of books on the subject. One example is the dahlia, which is represented with several positive traits, such as dignity, elegance and good taste, but also the negative quality of instability.
In addition, the position of a corsage or nosegay could also affect the message
being sent. Pinned to a woman’s chest signified mere friendship, while pinned over the heart signified romantic love. Likewise the presentation of flowers by hand was also an answer to an implicit question between participants. If given with the right hand the answer was a ‘yes’, whereas handing it with the left meant ‘no’.
Today the rituals surrounding floral gifts and displays are not nearly so intricate but their Victorian meanings are preserved in books, some of which are held in our library. However the abiding inspiration and meaning that we humans attribute to flowers will remain with us into the foreseeable future.
REKINDLING CULTURAL BURNING:
THE NEXT CHAPTER AT MOUNT ANNAN
JOHN SIEMON, DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE AND LIVING COLLECTIONS, REPORTS ON RE-ESTABLISHING FIRST NATIONS CULTURAL BURNING AT MOUNT ANNAN.
On a chilly and dew-dampened midwinter morning, a significant milestone was achieved at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.
A cultural burn was undertaken; the first at the Garden since the dispossession of Aboriginal Peoples and the significant modification of the landscape, from native vegetation to agricultural pasture. This event marked a pivotal moment in the integration of Aboriginal cultural fire-management practices into modern land stewardship. The renewed interest in these traditional practices has surged, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating 2019–20 Black Summer fire season. This resurgence is not only transformative for Aboriginal communities, but it heralds a shift in how land managers handle fire and the environment, promising landscapes that will be more resilient to climate change and fostering healthy ecosystems. Cultural burning, or the right fire for the right Country, is a traditional practice where fire is used as a tool to manage the land, enhance biodiversity and maintain ecological balance. Aboriginal people have practised this for tens of thousands of years, understanding the intricacies of their
Cultural burning at the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland
environment, using fire to promote the health of the soil, plants, water systems and animals. This knowledge, passed down through generations, is deeply intertwined with cultural identity and responsibilities to the land, or Country.
The initiative at Mount Annan has been many years in the making, and it is through extensive consultation with the community that we have been able to make our critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland remnants available to help revive First Nations land management practices. Collaboration, trust and respect are fundamental to the success of this project and the Botanic Gardens of Sydney is committed to building strong, respectful relationships with the First Nations community.
Engaging the Aboriginal community is at the heart of this initiative. The project has been community-led, involving partnerships with local communities, the Rural Fire Service, government bodies and research institutions. Renowned Indigenous knowledge holder and cultural fire practitioner, Victor Steffensen from Firesticks, and Brad Moore of Greater Sydney Local Land Services, were instrumental in leading the training programs, sharing their expertise and rekindling traditional practices within the community. A particular thank you to Curator Manager, Michael Elgey, and Aboriginal Strategy & Development advisor, Brenden Broadbent, for their leadership
and guidance and for completing the extensive pile of necessary, but challenging, paperwork and approvals.
Walking on Country, prior to the start of the cultural burn, there was a wonderful buzz and a genuine feeling of excitement. The cultural knowledge holders and fire practitioners gathered with their trainees and it was thoughtprovoking to observe and listen to the knowledge sharing and exchange.
Every facet of the cultural burn had a purpose, and each element was tailored to the vegetation community that was being burnt. In the minutes leading up to the cultural burn, several grass clumps were ignited, their dry discarded leaves swiftly combusting. The slow smouldering of the grass bases generated light smoke trails that wafted delicately downwind, signalling to wildlife of an approaching fire and calling out to them to move to safety.
The outcome is a distinct mosaic of green and black – a signature of a culturally managed post-fire landscape.
As the cultural burn commenced, I commented to my colleagues how calm and serene the setting was. It presented such a contrast to historic hazard reduction or ecological burns at Mount Annan, where lines of fire fighters using drip torches, light strips of bushland typically in tinder-dry environments. By contrast the cultural burn is undertaken in the cooler months of the year when moisture content is high and only the combustible components ignite and then self-extinguish, taking with them fire-sensitive weedy species and preserving the fire-adapted native species. The outcome is a distinct mosaic of green and black – a signature of a culturally managed post-fire landscape. These green remnants quickly regenerate, providing grazing opportunities for larger wildlife and refuge for insects.
It was a truly empowering experience watching our staff join community to participate in the cultural experience.
Armed with ribbons of bark as ‘matches’, and small leafy eucalypt branches, which are used to dampen an overly enthusiastic patch of fire, the cultural burn participants randomly and methodically worked their way through the target woodland remnant, initiating a regenerative ecological process, rekindling the art of cultural burning and leading to a much richer tapestry of biodiversity in future years.
A key measure of success for me was watching the solitary Rural Fire Service vehicle redundantly sitting idle in the carpark. This level of trust in the process is one that, even just a few years ago, would not have existed.
The reintroduction of cultural burning is not only about managing fire; it’s about healing the land, preserving cultural heritage, and creating resilient ecosystems. Through this project, the Aboriginal community will regain and share their traditional knowledge, helping to transform modern land management practices. As these ancient techniques are woven into contemporary strategies, we move towards a future where our landscapes are healthier, our communities are more connected, and our relationship with the land is one of respect and sustainability. Through embracing traditional practices of Aboriginal Peoples we ensure that this knowledge continues to guide us in caring for Country for generations to come and forging reconciliation.
GREG BRAY, A KEEN GARDENER AND TRAVELLER, REPORTS ON THE RECENT FOUNDATION & FRIENDS 14-DAY TOUR TO JAPAN. PARTICIPANTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THE LANDSCAPE WHILE STUDYING THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CERAMICS AND TEA CULTURE.
Foundation & Friends recently sponsored a fully guided 14-day, 15-person tour to Japan, starting in Mito and concluding in Fukuoka.
The hidden value of joining a Foundation & Friends tour, is knowing that the itinerary has been completely researched and painstakingly designed as a labour of love by passionate and experienced volunteer guides. It is priceless when joining a small a tour like this, to travel with others who share the passion for horticulture, science and cultural pursuits. Years spent studying and living in Japan and guiding multiple tour groups through Japan, have furnished our tour leader, Relle Mott, and our local guide, Rocky Watanabe, with the knowledge, linguistic ability and cultural insights to offer us a beautifully curated, educational and fun Japanese tour.
From the outset we were immersed in Japanese culture, starting with the country’s cultural history of ceramics, meeting craftspeople proud of their skills inheritance, and exhibiting not only their beautiful and unique artistry, but also their unfailing generosity and willingness to share this cultural inheritance with us. Luckily for us, many of the ceramics are produced in the most picturesque mountain locations, with the traditional materials and techniques still employed, and available for us to watch and photograph.
Relle was a highly enthusiastic tour leader, whose energy, expertise and passion for Japanese culture made the trip truly unforgettable for everyone.
While we were experiencing our ceramic journey we were also exposed daily to the serene and respectful culture that the Japanese are regarded for. This culture embraces not only the landscape design of their parks and gardens, but also the architecture of their heritage buildings. The gardens feature manicured trees and shrubs, and beautifully designed layouts both on a large and small scale, which draw you in to contemplate the beauty that surrounds you.
The architecture of their buildings and the materials used in construction demand the visitor be quiet, respectful and calm – an atmosphere that is overwhelmingly present in all rooms, corridors and terraces of these buildings. On this trip we traversed the most magnificent scenery that is equal to anything that Japan has to offer. We spent two days within photographic reach of the awesome Mt Fuji, which emerged from a state of shyness
Photos: World Expeditions, Relle Mott
behind heavy cloud to reveal the full beauty of its landscape. We were able to observe it from every angle, including from our hotel rooms – wonderful.
And so on through Kyoto, tea farms and the Japanese Tea Ceremony, to steaming, mountainous, beautiful and Onsen-soaked Kyushu. The culture of Onsen was everywhere. We learned chapter and verse, acceptable Onsen hot spring protocols and had the opportunity to visit multiple natural editions of this cultural icon, in every destination.
The accommodation quality was excellent, and the check-in process was seamless in all locations, ensuring we could maximise the experiences awaiting us.
Kyushu also revealed to us the consequences of its proximity to South Korea and the historical impact of Korean migration. This is happening today with Fukuoka hotels filled with Korean tourists with interesting comparisons evident between Korean and Japanese cultures.
One aspect of Japanese culture that was not well known within our group, was the common practice to copy themes of other cultures. The Japanese do this on a grand scale and revel in the lifestyle reflecting the copied culture. And so, we found ourselves staying in Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park in the city of Sasebo, which recreates a Dutch town. It was all there, Dutch architecture, windmills, gardens and canals.
We returned to Fukuoka for a final self-guided tour before enjoying an exceptional French degustation at Hakata railway station, a perfect end to our beautifully curated Japanese tour.
Thank you, Relle, and your on-country guide, Rocky, for such an excellent cultural experience.
Don’t miss the next tour opportunity, where Relle Mott will lead a group through enchanting Bhutan – more details on page 20.
This tour was impeccably curated, allowing us to experience many aspects of Japanese culture in a diverse range of rural and urban environments. Whether it was ceramics, tea culture, or the stunning landscapes, this tour provided a trip like no other.
Mt Fuji Motosu Flower Park moss phlox fields
Tea farmer Matsunaga-san and Relle Mott at Ureshino Genbeigawa river walk, Mishima
Travel with Friends
SUPPORT YOUR BOTANIC GARDENS BY JOINING VOLUNTEER-LED TRIPS TO EXCITING DESTINATIONS, OPENING UP FASCINATING NEW WORLDS AND EXPERIENCES. OUR FULLY GUIDED TOURS ALLOW YOU TO EXPLORE BOTANIC WONDERS AND MORE AROUND THE WORLD.
For more information or to book, please visit botanicgardens.org.au/whats-on or contact us at foundation.friends@botanicgardens.nsw.gov.au
RAMBLES AND RHODODENDRONS IN BHUTAN
11 – 22 April 2025
Itinerary available
Grade: Moderate*
Accommodation: 12 days/11 nights in premium accommodation After acclimatising to the higher altitudes in Paro, we set off to explore ancient towns, fortresses and monasteries, including a day trip to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Enjoy the spring blooming on day walks in rhododendron forests, a visit to the Lamperi Royal Botanical Gardens with a local botanical expert, and beautiful rural valleys. Experience the timeless culture of Bhutan, and its philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Enjoy cultural highlights and premium stays on this once in a lifetime trip!
Other inclusions: All meals
Member price: $17,450 twin share (land content only)
Maximum tour size: 16 guests
Escort: Relle Mott
Tour operator: World Expeditions
TREK ON BHUTAN’S DRUK PATH
24 April – 4 May 2025
Itinerary available
Grade: Moderate/Strenuous**
Accommodation: 11 days/10 nights – 4 nights 4/5 star, 6 nights supported & fully catered camping Experience Bhutan’s classic Druk Path trek following an ancient trade route through rhododendron forests and alpine spring meadows, past yak herder camps, over high passes, with fully supported camping beside clear mountain lakes with spectacular views of the eastern Himalayan peaks. After the trek we visit beautiful rural villages and monasteries to learn about the fascinating culture of Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Visit the botanic gardens and the National Herbarium. This small group tour will start and finish in Paro, Bhutan. Other inclusions: All meals
Member price: $13,650 twin share (land content only)
Maximum tour size: 12 guests
Escort: Relle Mott
Tour operator: World Expeditions
NAMIBIA & SOUTH AFRICA
September 2025
Expressions of interest
Grade: Moderate*
Accommodation: 21 nights
This tour will feature the starkly beautiful desert landscapes and fascinating arid-adapted flora of the Namib desert, mass flowerings of intensely coloured Namaqualand daisies, the mind-boggling botanical diversity of the Cape Floristic region, and the fantastic megafauna of southern Africa.
Escort: Dr Peter Weston Tour operator: World Expeditions We are taking expressions of interest for a trip in 2025. Please contact us to register your interest.
TRAVEL TO COLOMBIA
We are taking expressions of interest for a trip to Colombia with Dr Peter Weston in 2026. Please contact us to register your interest.
*Moderate: The walking is moderate but at altitudes above 2000 m. A good level of active fitness is required for this trip. **Moderate/Strenuous While distances are short (maximum 12 km per day) this trek requires fitness and endurance for walking and camping at altitudes with daily ascents and descents of up to 1000 m at altitudes to 4200 m.
Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan
Photos: World Expeditions, Liz Light, wikimedia.com, Samantha Jade
Sand dunes of Sossusvlei, Namibia
Monastery monks, Bhutan
ARTISANS IN THE GARDENS
DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF ARTISANS 2024: FROM MICROBES TO MASTERPIECES. SUE WANNAN REPORTS.
Fine art made with microbes and earthworms. An ordinary bloke staring at a computer. An upcycled wine bottle. Ceramic techniques drawn from thousand-year-old traditions. Rusty nails and bone fragments. Seaweed creatively reimagined. Welcome to Artisans 2024 – an exhibition featuring 42 artists, both old favourites and new faces, showcasing work in sculpture, ceramics, feltwork, paper art, glassware, jewellery and textiles. From elegant scarves, tea towels and cards to dynamic outdoor sculptures, Artisans 2024 promises a rich trove of wonder and delight.
Meet Samantha Jade, a Master of Fine Arts from the National Art School, who graduated in 2024 as Dux with a near sell-out exhibition. Her work, acquired by the National Art School archive and the City of Sydney, is a testament to her unique approach. Jade is a photographic artist whose work is created not only in the garden but with the garden. She buries film, waits for the compost to do the developing, then produces fine art prints from the result. Her work ponders the often overlooked wonder of the garden and all its inhabitants, from pollinators to microbes and everything in between.
She is also exhibiting a sculpture of a hollyhock with a silver Euploea core (common crow butterfly) pupa hanging from the tip. The sculpture, made from cultured mycelium, incorporates silver extracted from photographic chemicals. ‘The sculpture is intended to eventually be composted and reintegrated into the garden as nutrients, while the butterfly pupa remains a valuable solid silver relic. This flips perceived notions of value; a prized flower decays while a “pest” becomes a prized artwork,’ Jade explains.
Another young artist gaining international attention is Jessica Murtagh. Using sand carving and engraving techniques, she creates narratives on glass, drawing inspiration from classical artefacts but infusing them with contemporary themes. Imagine an ancient Athenian woman staring at a computer screen, or a modern bar scene depicted in classical Greek style. Murtagh’s work questions what our contemporary culture will leave behind, reflecting on how artefacts made of stone, ceramic and glass allow us glimpses into ancient lives.
Artisans curator Libby Wright notes a significant trend towards using found objects and recycling. The trend has exploded this year, bringing exciting and challenging new techniques to the exhibition. Tanya Reinli, founder of , transforms glass bottles once destined for landfill into tumblers, tableware, vases and ‘eco pours’. Upcycled Glassware’s teardrop vases have a 3D-printed outer sleeve with an upcycled bottle insert, using polylactic acid – a polymer made from renewable resources.
Untitled, Upcycled Glassware
Upcycled Glassware
Ben Carroll (Made by Ben) is another remarkable creator who uses found materials. Over his life, Carroll has collected an enormous amount of remnant timber from jetties, old fishing boats, bridges, sheds and fence posts. He has chosen a simple form, the sphere, to display the colour and texture of his beloved wood. Carroll is sending six of his works to Artisans, ranging from large 300 kg spheres to smaller 40 kg versions. ‘Old materials have another unique property: soul. If I handle them properly then maybe that soul will show through,’ Ben says.
Owen Crick, a Pittwater-based artist, also uses repurposed material from local shipwrights, flotsam washed up on shore and found objects. Crick draws inspiration from his Indigenous background and horticultural practices to create quirky, aquaticthemed sculptural forms. ‘With rusty nails, bone fragments, verdigriscovered copper and twisted driftwood, each creature is unique in its construction and personality,’ Crick explains.
Some exhibitors at this year’s Artisans have international reputations, and Libby Wright and her team are justifiably proud of their inclusion. Katherine Boland ’s climate-changerelated works have featured in numerous international art exhibitions. Last year, Prime Minister Albanese gifted one of her works to President Biden during his official visit to Washington, DC. ‘For over 30 years, I’ve been making art about the beauty and mystery of the natural world. Since 2019 – 2020, I’ve been compelled to make art, often with fire itself, to raise awareness about the ecological perils facing the planet,’ Boland says. Boland’s work, including Aquarium II, blends photographs of seaweed foraged during a sargassum bloom with digital images crafted through artificial intelligence, bridging the gap between organic and digital realms.
Another international artist to look for is sculptural ceramicist Amy Kennedy. Her extraordinary work of leaf-thin delicacy is made with a unique clay/glaze material she developed that, when fired, hovers on the edge of melting. ‘I aspire to create work that brings forth a sense of wonder,’ Kennedy says.
Artisans 2024 will be open from Saturday 26 October until Sunday 3 November, at Lion Gate Lodge. Entry is free, and there will be a cafe on-site every day, offering lunch, tea, coffee and sweet treats.
From wonder, we move to sheer joy with Gabby Malpas, who paints detailed watercolours of flora and fauna, imbued with symbolism and a touch of fantasy. Malpas, a Chinese adoptee raised in New Zealand, fuses Western and Chinese styles in her work. ‘There’s a dash of botanical art thrown in too. But mostly, my work is about joy. If my images put a smile on people’s faces, then I consider it a job well done,’ she says.
That’s only eight of the 43 artists exhibiting at Artisans 2024. There are so many wondrous things to discover. From the exquisite, richly glazed ceramic totems of Sharon McEachern, to the massive sculptures of ironmonger Richard Moffatt, whose works you may have seen in the National Arboretum in Canberra. Moffatt’s wedgetail eagle on its nest and huge metal ball near Cooma airport are only two examples of his creations made from welded steel and abandoned farm machinery.
The exhibition also features everpopular birds, ranging from delightful little bird jugs by Dawn Oakford to Wendy Cummins’ felt wall hangings, which she describes as ‘drawing with wool’. Jenny Wiggins’ birds on a stick are predicted to be a big hit.
In jewellery and textiles, this year’s lineup includes Anja Jagsch with her delicate botanical earrings, high-end contemporary jeweller Tracy Hopkirk, contemporary jeweller Daria Fox with her fascination for ‘amulets and talismans’, and textile artist Rae Harvey, who uses recycled fabrics, especially vintage Japanese kimonos.
Photos: Dawn Oakford, Deb Garrett, Oneill Photographics, Sharon McEachern
Eastern Rosella Two-Tier Jug Short Beak, Dawn Oakford
Eclipse, Amy Kennedy
Small Fry, Owen Crick
Artist statement: Sharon
McEachern
Lived experiences and memories inform people’s beliefs and ideologies. I am interested in how the experiences of daily life shape us and create memories conjuring nostalgic thoughts. Scents, sounds and visuals deliver an essence of the past.
Nostalgia, coupled with an admiration and concern for native flora, informs my art practice. My detailed hand-built ceramic forms are inspired by the complexities of the natural environment, combined with deliberately recreated glaze finishes adopted from old decorative Japanese crockery, traditional blue and white ware, and English fine china. Through my works, the audience is free to morph their own memories into new and imagined ones: they are forced to question what is real and what is not.
My exploration of ceramics and research of the history of ceramic decoration and building techniques, has taken me to the historically rich city of Jingdezhen, China,
the heart of fine porcelain production by master craftsmen for over a thousand years. Joining an artist residency in 2017, 2018 and 2019, I have had access to the great ceramic and porcelain masters who taught ancient and modern technical skills, many of which have been handed down over hundreds of generations. Most recently, I have taken part in a ceramic residency and workshop in St Raphael, France, with Canadian artist Carol Gouthro. These experiences continue to influence and inspire my practice.
Sharon McEachern’s intricate ceramic works are featured on the cover of this issue, capturing the beauty and complexity of her unique artistic journey.
Native Inspired Series, Sharon McEachern
Dragon Lotus Pot and Peony Lotus Pot, Gabby Malpas
Artisans in the Gardens special events:
Opening night, Friday 25 October: drinks, canapés and the chance to see and buy first.
Workshops with ceramic and mosaic artist Jane duRand (dates to be confirmed).
The sought-after Curator’s Morning Tea: a walk through the exhibition with Curator Libby Wright, followed by a special morning tea.
Weed IV, Richard Moffatt
Selfie, Jessica Murtagh
Whispering Friends, Annarie Hiderbrand
PLANTS IN THE GARDENS
Acacia (wattle)
Family: Fabacae subf. Mimosoideae
At the time of writing this story, our Governor General, Sam Mostyn AC, was being sworn in at Government House in Canberra, wearing a sprig of the Commonwealth floral emblem, Acacia pycnantha (golden wattle), in her lapel.
The genus Acacia is in the family Fabaceae subf. Mimosoideae and is the largest genus of native plants in Australia. There are approximately 1,350 species throughout the world and close to 1,000 species native to Australia.
While ‘Wattle Day’ is officially celebrated on 1 September, most wattles flower in winter and spring. However, there is a wattle in flower somewhere in Australia every day throughout the year.
Acacia flowers are usually cream to yellow/gold, and a few are pink. Their
spectacular staminate flowers are either globular or cylindrical spikes and have a distinct perfume, which is often described as sweet floral, honey and woody. Wattle is often blamed for allergies, but tests rarely confirm this as the pollen is actually too heavy to travel far.
The fruits of Acacia are pods containing seeds, which are rich in protein and also contain potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. Wattleseed has been used in the diet of First Nations People for thousands of years, but not all species are edible. A number of bush food products using wattleseed are now available for culinary use.
The leaves on most Acacia are phyllodes, or flattened stems, which take on the appearance and function of leaves. This plant modification enables the plant to adapt to drought and
exposure to salt. Many Acacia seedlings initially have feathery juvenile leaves, which disappear as the plant matures.
Acacia species are fast growing and many are considered colonisers as the seeds have long viability and germinate quickly in disturbed soils and after fire. They also have nitrogen-fixing nodules on their roots, which enrich the soil and so they are often used as nurse plants when establishing trees and shrubs on exposed sites.
Australian native plants are becoming more appreciated for the important role they play in the environment and there is an ever-increasing variety of wattles available commercially in various forms, from trees and shrubs to groundcovers. There are also weeping forms, dwarf cultivars grafted as standards and a selection for use as hedging.
Belinda Moon, Growing Friends Sydney
Acacia boormanii
BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTANIC GARDEN
This year, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of a pivotal moment in botany; a discovery that resonated with plant lovers worldwide. It was the year when David Noble, an off-duty national parks officer, stumbled across a canyon holding an ancient stand of trees thought to be extinct – the Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis). This discovery, which captured the imagination of plant lovers the world over, marked the beginning of a journey that has been inextricably linked with the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah (BMBG).
Since then, Botanic Gardens of Sydney has championed this ‘living fossil’, with the oldest (and tallest!) cultivated groves of Wollemi worldwide growing in BMBG’s Gondwana Walk. This collection is set to hold the most genetically diverse in-ground collection of specimens with known maternal lines.
Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the discovery, this spring the BMBG, a key player in conserving the Wollemi
pine, will undertake a significant step in our ongoing conservation efforts.
The first stage of this project will acknowledge many individuals who have played essential roles in conserving Wollemi pines since their discovery, through a celebratory planting day where we will plant out the final genetic individuals yet to be held within Tomah’s slopes, completing our collection with a full representative sample of Wollemi pine genetics from the wild population. In addition to these initial plantings, there will be ex-situ plantings of Wollemi pines along Tomah Creek and the Grotto. These sites perfectly mimic the natural habitat where Wollemi pines are naturally found, offering a unique experience akin to viewing them in the wild. In the years to follow, the BMBG will continue to supplement these plantings with younger plants, creating age diversity among the collection. With these initiatives in place, we, the community, and the world, will be able to appreciate, study and be humbled by these magnificent trees for centuries to come.
Ash Filipovski, Curator Manager
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN SYDNEY
In spring, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney truly comes alive, offering a serene and picturesque retreat that celebrates the beauty and diversity of nature.
This will be my second spring as Curator Manager and I must say the team is doing an extraordinary job caring for the Garden. I use the word ‘caring’ as I recently attended a talk with Costa Georgiadis who mentioned he dislikes the word ‘maintenance’. I agree; we do more than maintain the Garden. We care for and are determined to continue to curate and present the living collections at a world standard.
Our iconic Rose Garden is always enchanting through the latter parts of spring. It becomes a fragrant oasis, showcasing a stunning array of colours and shapes. This year we are working on delivering the new rose bed situated at the top of the Garden Palace Steps. This garden will feature Buxus-lined borders with a timeline display from ancient species roses through to modern cultivars. While the garden will take a few years to mature, the bones will be in place and I think you will agree it is a great addition to our rose collection.
My must-see plant this spring is Dendrobium speciosum var. speciosum, commonly known as the rock orchid. It can be found along the east coast of Australia from up to 900 metres above sea level! It is highly variable and can be seen growing as an epiphyte or lithophyte and is absolutely stunning. Locations: Bed 12, Bed 35 (cultivar varieties), 50, 65i, 98b and in the fernery.
Jarryd Kelly, Curator Manager
Photos: Greg Bourke, Paul Nicholson, Glenn Smith, Jaime Plaza, Alamy.com
(Ines Porada)
Wollemi pine
Dendrobium speciosum var. speciosum
AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDEN
This spring marks three years since I joined the Horticulture & Living Collections team. Looking back at all the projects the team has undertaken, it is genuinely satisfying to see that the new landscapes, gardens and plantings we implemented have now come into their own.
As we approached spring last year, we encountered some challenges with our annual display due to some fungal issues. These were largely unseen issues to the casual observer, thanks to the swift and effective corrective care by our horticultural team. This experience prompted us to reduce the density of seed sowing, resulting in a significant reduction in fungal issues this year. Additionally, the horticultural team has introduced a new netting process for the paper daisy display. While the changes to netting and seed-sowing density may seem minor at first glance, they represent a strategic investment that has significantly increased the efficiency of caring for this display and freed up operational time to curate and care for other collection areas.
When you are about in the Garden this spring, enjoying the new Rainforest Creek Line (working title), the herbarium landscape with its sunken garden, or the spring wattles bursting with vibrancy, the kaleidoscope of paper daisies or any of the 2,500+ species we have on display, remember there is a small but mighty team of passionate conservation horticulturists caring for and curating these collections for all to enjoy. Michael Elgey, Curator Manager
GROWING FRIENDS
After a cold and unusually wet winter, it’s time to awaken the senses for spring. Visually, it is exciting to watch dormant plants producing new shoots or emerging from the soil. We also become aware of perfume in the air, which has been missing for most of winter. The choice of new-season fruits, vegetables and herbs inspire us to produce delicious food and there are the sounds of migrating birds and insects returning to the garden. Warm weather and longer daylight hours also remind us that spring has arrived. It is exciting to see the cool-climate plants growing so well in Royal Botanic Garden Sydney this spring, with cool temperatures providing more ‘chill time’ to initiate abundant flowering.
In particular, the Spring Walk is a riot of colour with rhododendron, magnolia, Prunus, Spiraea and many bulbs and annuals providing such joy with both perfume and colour.
The Herb Garden is looking beautiful and there you will find information about medicinal and edible herbs and the role of companion planting as a means of pest control. Visit the Rose Garden later in spring to see so many exquisite flowers and enjoy their perfume, and maybe take time out to look at the view.
The Growing Friends have been busily propagating plants, so make sure that you keep an eye out for upcoming sales. There will be a special sale of our magnificent Worsleya procera in late spring, as well as orchids and many other rare and unusual plants. Belinda Moon, Growing Friends
GROWING FRIENDS
PLANT SALES
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Monday – Friday, 11 am – 2 pm
Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 2 pm
Australian Botanic Garden
Mount Annan
Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm
Blue Mountains Botanic
Garden Mount Tomah
Monday – Sunday, 9.30 am – 5 pm
Acacia pycnantha
The Herb Garden
Anigozanthos ‘Landscape Gold’
WHAT’S ON
HERE IS JUST A TASTE OF WHAT IS ON OFFER ACROSS OUR THREE GARDENS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS, AND TO BOOK, VISIT BOTANICGARDENS.ORG.AU/WHATS-ON, SCAN THE QR CODE ON THIS PAGE, OR PHONE US ON (02) 9231 8182.
EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
ARTISANS IN THE GARDENS
Lion Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Garden
Sat 26 October – Sun 3 November, 10 am – 4 pm
Upcycled Glassware
Showcasing Australia’s best established and emerging artists and craftspeople with over 3,000 artworks including sculpture, ceramics, hand-blown glass, jewellery and textiles. Free
We look forward to seeing you at the official opening of the much-anticipated exhibition, Artisans in the Gardens. Mingle with artists and exhibition curator, sip on a glass of wine, enjoy delicious canapés, and view the exquisite pieces before the general public in the beautiful surrounds of Lion Gate Lodge. From $75
ARTISANS EXHIBITION TOUR WITH THE CURATORS
Lion Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Garden Wed 30 October, 10.30 – 11.30 am
Sit in the courtyard at Lion Gate lodge with a delightful morning tea followed by a tour of Artisans in the Gardens with the exhibition curators. Enjoy this exclusive small-group experience where you will be able to chat to the curators as they take you through the exhibition. Ask about your favourite artist or artwork to find out more about the background and inspiration. From $30
Photos: Upcycled Glassware, Jennifer Winstanley, Csilla Swain, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Charlotte Thodey, Jane duRand, Greg Lamont
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
PROPAGATION WORKSHOP
Maiden Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden
Sat 7 September, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
Join our Growing Friends’ Greg Lamont and Liz Jeavons-Fellows for a morning of top gardening advice and hands-on propagating. You’ll learn the fundamentals of potting mixes and plant care as well as lots of tips on propagating plants at home. Included is a walk around the Gardens to discuss cutting selection. A delicious morning tea will be provided and enjoy 20% discount at Growing Friends Plant Sales. From $70
GARDEN TO CANVAS
with Charlotte Thodey Maiden Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden Wed 18 – Thu 19 September, 9.30 am – 4 pm
A practical search for solutions in the still life genre. Explore composition, tone, colour and individual style ranging from a loose open brush to finely detailed work. Be inspired by seasonal fruit, foliage, vegetables, china and linen as props. Learn to make big decisions about small things and clear the mind. Lunch and refreshments provided. From $340
NATURE JOURNALLING
Waratah Education Centre, Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
• Introduction to Nature Journalling: Captivating Colours in Nature Sun 15 September, 10 am – 12.30 pm
• Nature in the Spotlight Sun 10 November, 10 am – 12.30 pm
Learn about and practise the benefits of nature journalling and connecting to the environment around you. Each session will be facilitated by a Garden Educator, an inspired artist and nature enthusiast, who will guide you to different parts of the garden, from the spring blooms, cascading waterfalls and the lush rainforest, and provide instruction and prompts to begin your nature journalling journey. From $81
CERAMIC BIRD SCULPTURE
with Jane duRand
Maiden Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden Thu 31 October – Fri 1 November, 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
During this workshop you will make either a 3D sculptural piece or a relief wall piece based on inspiration found in the Royal Botanic Garden, especially birdlife, which is a special interest of ceramic and mosaic artist Jane duRand. All clay and tools will be provided. By the end of two days, participants will have pieces ready for firing. From $750
GARDENING IN SMALL SPACES
Maiden Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden Sat 16 November, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
Living in small spaces is not a barrier to creating a beautiful lush and sustainable garden. Join Greg Lamont and Liz Jeavons-Fellows who share their passion and broad knowledge of horticulture to excite you about gardening. There will also be some hands-on basics about propagating and potting plants. A delicious morning tea will be provided and enjoy 20% discount at Growing Friends Plant Sales. From $70
WALKS & TALKS
ASTRONOMY AT MOUNT TOMAH
Waratah Room,
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
Fri 6 September, 5.30 – 8 pm
Join us for a night of astronomy and star gazing immersed in the heart of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. Over a glass of wine, understand the cultural significance of the night sky with First Nations astronomer Drew Roberts from Shared Knowledge, then travel through space to visit mysterious planets far from Earth with renowned astronomer Dr Angel Lopez-Sanchez. Suitable for 12+. From $55
UNDER THE CANOPY – THE STORY OF AUSTRALIAN RAINFORESTS WALK Foundation & Friends Terrace, Royal Botanic Garden
Thu 28 November, 10 am – 12 noon
Enjoy morning tea on the Foundation & Friends terrace, then join a guided tour learning about Australia’s unique and precious rainforests, finishing at the new rainforest exhibition in The Calyx. Hear about some innovative projects to conserve and restore these important ecosystems, including the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience.
From $40
ASTRONOMY AT THE CALYX
The Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden
Tue 22 October, 7 – 9.30 pm
Join us for a night of astronomy and stargazing at The Calyx in the heart of the Royal Botanic Garden. Over a glass of wine, understand the cultural significance of the night sky with First Nations astronomer Drew Roberts from Shared Knowledge, then travel through space to visit mysterious planets far from Earth with renowned astronomer Dr Angel Lopez-Sanchez.
Suitable for 12+. From $37
ABORIGINAL HARBOUR HERITAGE TOUR
with First Nations guides
Visitor Centre, Royal Botanic Garden
Every Thu, Fri, Sat (excl. public holidays), 11 am – 12 noon
Our First Nations guides will immerse you in the rich Aboriginal culture of the traditional custodians of the Sydney city area, the Gadigal. Stroll along the Sydney Harbour foreshore and listen to stories of Gadigal lifestyle, traditions, history and connection to Country and community.
From $27
GHOSTLY GARDEN
Woolloomooloo Gate, Royal Botanic Garden
Fri 20 September, 18 October, 1, 15, 29 November
Times vary according to sunset
Take a twilight adventure through the Garden in this spine-tingling event. Journey along shadowy tree-lined paths and hear spooky stories from the Garden’s past, as night creatures stare from the treetops.
Suitable for 12+. Under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult.
From $37
ABORIGINAL BUSH TUCKER with First Nations guides
Visitor Centre, Royal Botanic Garden
Every Thu, Fri, Sat (excl. public holidays), 1 – 2 pm
Walk with a First Nations guide to learn more about Indigenous bush foods and how they were used traditionally and adapted to the modern plate and palate. You’ll also take in the Cadi Jam Ora garden to learn about some of the hottest bush foods on the market, all while tasting some goodies for yourself.
From $27
Photos: Botanic Gardens of Sydney
KIDS ACTIVITIES
RAINFOREST IN A JAR
• Royal Botanic Garden
Tue 1, Thu 3, Tue 8, Thu 10 October, 10.30 am – 12 noon and 12.30 pm – 2 pm
Discover the powers of Country through dance and culture that have sustained First Nations people for millennia. Build your very own power pendant from natural materials
Suitable for 5+. Children must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
From $18
THE GREAT CHOCOLATE MYSTERY
–
OUTDOOR THEATRE
Rathborne Lodge, Royal Botanic Garden
Wed 2 October, 11 am and 1 pm
Will Sherlock Block and Miss Cocoa solve the mystery of chocolate? Who, what, where and how did this scrumptious treat find its way into our mouths? Join our heroes on a journey of discovery through South America to meet Montezuma.
A deliciously funny adventure!
Suitable for 12+. Under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult.
From $14
GHOSTLY GARDEN FOR KIDS
Woolloomooloo Gate, Royal Botanic Garden
Fri 4 October, 5.30 – 7 pm
Do you dare enter the Garden Gates after dark? Come on a journey along shadowy tree-lined paths and creep past gloomy ponds. Bats will flit above your head and night-creatures will stare from the treetops! You’ll hear spooky and kooky stories of the past, and visit the Garden’s oldest haunted houses. Suitable for 8+. Under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult. From $20
SUNSET SPOTLIGHT TOUR
Woolloomooloo Gate, Royal Botanic Garden
Wed 2, 9 October, 7.30 – 9 pm
Night-time is the best time to explore the Garden! We’ll visit biodiversity ‘hotspots’ to look for nocturnal animals – some who fly in for the night and others who are long-term residents. We’ll rely on our senses and some tech-gadgets and other field work techniques used by our scientists.
Suitable for 7+. Under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult.
From $17
SEEDLINGS NATURE SCHOOL
• Royal Botanic Garden
Tuesdays 22 October – 10 December
Thursdays 24 October – 12 December 10 am – 12 noon
• Australian Botanic Garden
Wednesdays 23 October – 11 December 9.30 – 11.30 am
Children will build, discover, play and engage their senses in the natural world. Each week’s program will be a combination of play-based activities and nature experiences as well as games and stories in the Garden. From $18.50
GROWING FRIENDS PLANT SALES
SPRING INTO SUMMER SALE
23 NOVEMBER – 1 DECEMBER
Shop unusual and hard to find plants propagated from the living collection. Celebrate the changing seasons with a burst of botanical brilliance.
Discounts are in full bloom for 9 days only, with 20% off all plants* and 40% off for current Foundation & Friends members ^ . While stocks last.
See page 29 for opening hours.
*Discounts do not apply to merchandise and selected stock items.
^Valid membership card required at point of sale.
†Spring into Summer discount not applicable.
†
Growing Friends Plant Sales, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Thu 5, 12 & 19 December, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
CHRISTMAS TWILIGHT SHOPPING
BE PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL!
We’re looking for volunteers to support upcoming exhibitions like Botanica and Artisans in the Gardens. From welcoming guests to assisting with sales, your contribution will make a difference. We are also looking for volunteers to add to the Growing Friends Mount Annan team, who propagate native plants from the living collection to help raise vital funds.
Interested in getting involved? Contact our Volunteer Coordinator at (02) 9231 8182 or visit botanicgardens.org.au/get-involved/volunteer for more information. Your passion can help make these events unforgettable!
2024 GREETING CARDS
Foundation & Friends of the Botanic Gardens Ltd, Cottage 6, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney 2000 Phone: (02) 9231 8182
Chief Executive Officer: Pete Thomas foundation.friends@botanicgardens.nsw.gov.au botanicgardens.org.au/foundation-and-friends Office hours: Mon – Fri, 9 am – 3 pm @FoundationandFriends @Foundation-and-Friends
EDITORIAL
Editor: Csilla Swain
Production Manager: Ted Rose
Copy-editor: Ariana Klepac
Designers: Lauren Sutherland; Pete Flannagan, Swell Design Group
Feature writers: Dr Russell Barrett, Miguel Garcia (Artefact), Dr Hannah McPherson, Dr Hervé Sauquet, John Siemon (Horticulture), Dom Sweeney (First Person), Sue Wannan (Exhibition)
Scientific Advisor: Dr Russell Barrett
Contributors: David Bidwell, Anne-Marie Bonner, Michelle Burke, Simon Duffy AM, Lily Durland, Michael Elgey, Ash Filipovski, Jarryd Kelly, Belinda Moon, Ted Rose, Csilla Swain
Printed in Australia on paper made from FSC-certified and other controlled materials. FSC® helps take care of the forests, and the people and wildlife that call them home.
Proudly presenting our 2024 greeting cards featuring artworks by David Van Nunen OAM, Angela Lober and Jenny Phillips. Available in blank and ‘Season’s Greetings’ styles on high-quality sustainable and recycled silk card with matching envelopes. Purchase at botanicgardensgallery.com.au Proceeds support the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
We honour and respect the First Peoples of the lands on which Botanic Gardens of Sydney and Foundation & Friends of the Gardens stand. We acknowledge the profound and enduring connection between the Traditional Custodians and these land, waters and skies – recognising their vital care and stewardship for this Country, and celebrating its significance to all who cherish and share in it today.
ARTISANS IN THE GARDENS
26 OCTOBER – 3 NOVEMBER 2024 10 AM – 4 PM
Showcasing Australia’s best artists & craftspeople, both established & emerging. Thousands of unique artworks, including sculpture, ceramics, hand-blown glass, jewellery & textiles. All works for sale.
LION GATE LODGE, MRS MACQUARIES ROAD — ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN SYDNEY
