The Growing Friends monthly meetings are the place to learn how to propagate and grow Australian native plants.
The group is made up of knowledgeable, interesting and friendly people who share a deep passion for the Australian flora and a desire to learn more about it.
New members are very welcome! There is no cost involved, but membership of the Friends of the Gardens is essential.
Regular meetings
The Growing Friends normally meet in the Crosbie Morrison Building at the Gardens on the first Saturday of every month from 9.30am until 12 noon. Occasionally, meeting times change, so please check beforehand by emailing growingfriends@friendsanbg.org.au. Meetings include the sharing of information about plants being propagated by the group, as well as hands-on propagation. No previous experience in propagating is required.
If you would like to attend a meeting of Growing Friends it would be appreciated if you could send an email to growingfriends@friendsanbg.org.au beforehand.
As well as the monthly meetings, working bees are held each Tuesday to pot cuttings as well as undertake other jobs, as required. Members are free to attend these, if or when they are available.
Propagated plants are grown in dedicated facilities in the Gardens.
We would not be as successful as we are if we did not get the excellent support that the Gardens' staff give us. This ranges from the people who help us select cutting material to propagate, the nursery area which provides us with potting mixture and the Rangers who prepare our meeting rooms each month and the Banks building car park for our sale.
Plant sales
Plants propagated by the Growing Friends are usually offered for sale to the public at very popular plant sales in spring and autumn. All plants are propagated from cutting material or seeds obtained from plants in the Gardens. Most of them are also chosen for their ability to grow in Canberra's challenging climate of low rainfall, hot summers and frosty winters. Sales typically bring in over $6,000 which is used by the Friends to support the Botanic Gardens. Sales are publicised on this website and in the press.
For information about upcoming plant sales, keep an eye on the 'Coming Up' and 'Latest News' sections of the Friends' website.
