Here you will find a calendar of Friends’ activities in the Gardens including lunchtime talks, social events, exhibitions and the ever-popular spring and autumn plant sales. In addition to events arranged by the Friends, we include some events arranged by the Gardens and by other organisations. A full list of events arranged by the Gardens is in their What's On webpage.
Calendar
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See all lunchtime talks | See all recent events
| Event title | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Postcards from Black Mountain - Morgyn Phillips | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 - 9:30am to Sunday, 8 February 2026 - 4:30pm |
Come to the ANBG Visitor Centre Gallery to see an exhibition of postcard drawings in ink and coloured pencil by Morgyn Phillips. You can meet Morgyn in the Gallery on Saturday afternoon, 17 January, from 1:30 to 4pm. |
| Cameras and Cafe Walk | Sunday, 18 January 2026 - 8:40am to 10:30am |
Join members of the Photographic Group for a stimulating and friendly photo walk. Meet at the bus stop at 8.40 am. We then disperse, either individually or in groups, to capture in images the beauty (and sometimes the beasties) that make the Gardens such a special place. We get back together for a chat and a snack at Pollen Cafe at around 10.30 am. Any level of photographic knowledge and equipment is most welcome. |
| Butterfly Walks | Sunday, 18 January 2026 - 10:30am to 12:00pm, Sunday, 18 January 2026 - 1:30pm to 3:00pm |
Join us to hunt for Imperial Jezebels, Australian Painted Ladies, Common Brown butterflies and others. Join our local expert, Dr Suzi Bond to see and hear about butterflies and the plants they like in the ANBG. Cost: $10 (All proceeds go towards projects in the Gardens.) Bookings can be made at https://www.trybooking.com/DGXFX. |
| Butterfly Walks | Sunday, 18 January 2026 - 10:30am to 12:00pm, Sunday, 18 January 2026 - 1:30pm to 3:00pm |
Join us to hunt for Imperial Jezebels, Australian Painted Ladies, Common Brown butterflies and others. Join our local expert, Dr Suzi Bond to see and hear about butterflies and the plants they like in the ANBG. Cost: $10 (All proceeds go towards projects in the Gardens.) Bookings can be made at https://www.trybooking.com/DGXFX. |
| Bruce Lindenmayer Memorial Lecture - David Lindenmayer 'Re-imagining fire in the land of fire' | Thursday, 5 February 2026 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm |
This special Memorial Lecture will be held at 6pm at the Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre, ANU. Australia is the most fire-prone continent on earth. This talk discusses many new insights into the ecology and management of wildfire and other kinds of fire in Australian landscapes. It charts a new path towards better understanding fire and its management in the land of fire. Bookings open 15 December and close the night before the talk or when seating limits are reached. (Tickets are Free but a donation on entry will be accepted.) Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DHLPY |
| Roger Farrow ‘Back from the brink or a resilient survivor: The case of Key’s Matchstick Grasshopper, Keyacris scurra’ | Thursday, 12 February 2026 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
A tale of mystery and suspense involving two geneticists, some cemeteries, a taxonomist, a survey, sheep, habitat loss, citizen scientists and a sceptic. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. (Tickets are Free but a donation on entry is appreciated.) This talk will be held in the ANBG Theatrette. Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DHLQC |
| Bushland Nature Ramble | Saturday, 14 February 2026 - 9:30am to 11:30am |
The Bushland Nature Walk meanders through the Bushland Precinct of the Australian National Botanic Gardens through open forest and with expansive views to Canberra City and Parliament House. This walk is for Friends of the ANBG only. Meet at the Visitor Centre ANBG. Cost $10. BYO water, hat, sunblock and stout shoes. Bookings open soon. |
| Plant Recognition Group – Can you tell a rush from a sedge? | Monday, 16 February 2026 - 1:30pm to 3:30pm |
The first PRG workshop of 2026 will be on these two key wetland families - rushes and sedges. Participants will be able to know the main features of these plants, Juncaceae and Cyperaceae with the aim of being able to distinguish between these, using local species, by the end of the workshop. Bookings essential. Please send your name and phone number to plantname@friendsanbg.org.au |
| Talk on threatened species records and wildlife camera data | Wednesday, 18 February 2026 - 10:00am to 1:30pm |
This professional environmental practice talk offers an opportunity for you to gain an insight into the Atlas of Living Australia’s (ALA) need for more threatened species records and for wildlife camera data. For more information and to register, visit https://www.eianz.org/events/event/act-threatened-species-records-and-wildlife-camera-data |
| Craig Moritz ‘Discovery diversity across Australia's tropics’ | Thursday, 19 February 2026 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
Craig, from the ANU, will talk about the true species diversity of vertebrates in the monsoonal tropics, and how this matters for science, conservation, and ecological management. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. (Tickets are Free but a donation on entry is appreciated.) This talk will be held in the ANBG Theatrette. Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DHLQD |
| Chris Mobbs ‘Bragg Street Park, Hackett – Increasing biodiversity through water harvesting’ | Thursday, 26 February 2026 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
Chris, Convenor Bragg Street Park Volunteers, describes solving a drainage problem and creating an urban oasis with great increase in the diversity of native plants. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. (Tickets are Free but a donation on entry is appreciated.) This talk will be held in the ANBG Theatrette. Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DHLQG |
| Bernadette Duncan ‘Indigenous plant names and tea tasting’ | Thursday, 5 March 2026 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
Kamilaroi woman Bernadette Duncan works with her community bringing people to language and knowledge through local teas. Taste the teas as Bernadette leads a talk about using native plants for teas and bush medicine. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. (Tickets are Free but a donation on entry is appreciated.) This talk will be held in the ANBG Theatrette. Booking Link - https://www.trybooking.com/DHLQI |
