Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Snakes Alive!
2025-01-13 10:00 - 2025-01-19 14:30 (Australia/Canberra) | ACT
This week-long exhibition showcases a variety of Australian reptiles and amphibians – many of which are threatened, endangered and rarely seen in the wild or in captivity.
Get up close and enjoy live displays, feeding and handling of snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles and crocodiles while learning more about these fascinating animals.
Location: Banksia Centre, ANBG
There are four sessions a day at 10am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm.
BOOK HERE.
Adult $10.84, Concession $9.78, Child $8.72
Alternative 40-minute low sensory sessions are available to book for 9 am on 14 and 18 January 2025.
All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Black Mountain Weeding Work Party
2025-01-04 08:30 - 11:30
We plan to remove lots of woody weeds.
Meet: at the electricity sub-station, Frith Road, Acton.
Bring: your gloves, if you wish.
Wear: hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, stout shoes. We shall break for delicious morning tea at about 10:00am
Please book: if you are planning to come, please let us know by booking at https://www.trybooking.com/CXWCG

Black Mountain Weeding Work Party
2024-12-07 08:30 - 12:30
Dear Friends,
As usual for the first Saturday of the month, we look forward to seeing you at the next work party on 7 December. We will be meeting at a different place.
Thank you very much to our wonderful weeding work party for removing more than 300 woody weeds, including mature woody weeds last month in the grassland area of Black Mountain Nature Reserve.
Details of the next weeding work party (including the booking link) are:
Date: Saturday, 7 December 2024, 8:30 to 11:30am
We plan to remove lots of non-local acacia and other woody weeds.
Meet: at the electricity sub-station, Frith Road, Acton.
Bring: more of your friends if you wish, as everyone is welcome.
Wear: hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, stout shoes.
We shall break for delicious morning tea at about 10:00am
Please book: if you are planning to come, please let us know by booking using this booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CRZWE
This helps us to let you know if arrangements need to change at the last minute (for example, adverse weather conditions).
If you need further information, please contact Linda by phone 0437 298 711.
We look forward to seeing you at our next weeding work party.
Linda Beveridge
Convenor, Friends of Black Mountain

Prof Peter Kanowski ‘Reviving the Arboretum Dream: the making of the National Arboretum Canberra’
2024-11-28 12:30 - 13:30
The National Arboretum Canberra was more than 100 years in the making; a large arboretum was envisaged as part of Canberra’s design from the outset. Peter Kanowski will reflect on how that longstanding idea finally took shape, and the shape it took.
Biography
Prof Peter Kanowski is Professor of Forestry at the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society. He works on forest governance issues internationally, nationally and locally.
Peter is an ANU forestry graduate who completed his DPhil at Oxford University’s Forestry Institute, and was a lecturer there, before returning ANU as Chair of Forestry in 1995. He took leave from ANU to be Deputy Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research 2012 – 14, and has also been Master of University House at ANU since 2014. Peter’s academic work currently focuses on international forest governance (with the University of Freiburg), tree plantations and smallholder tree growing (with The Forests Dialogue and ACIAR), and urban forests (with ACT, ANU and Singapore colleagues).
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXM
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXM
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Friends of the ANBG Photographic Group Annual Exhibition: illuminate '24
2024-11-28 09:30 - 2024-12-15 16:30
The Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens Photographic Group presents their 11th Annual Exhibition: illuminate ‘24.
‘Illuminate’ has two meanings: one is about physical light, and the other is about intellectual or spiritual enlightenment.
The Group aims to share their passion for discovering, appreciating and valuing Australia’s unique flora and fauna as seen through the lenses of their cameras.
The exhibition is in the Visitor Centre Gallery. Entry is free.

Photo: Phil Green

Tasha James ‘Endemics on the Edge - Investigating threat management in an island population of endangered endemic species - A case study at Mt. Imlay, NSW’
2024-11-21 12:30 - 13:30
Tasha, recipient of the Don Beer Memorial Scholarship, will explore if and how endemic species on Mt Imlay might persist in situ in the face of different threats, and to build knowledge to inform effective in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.
Abstract
Substantial resources are allocated to managing threatened and endemic species in situ, with an increasing reliance on ex situ conservation methods. Yet little is known about how different species will persist in situ in the presence of various threats. Further, ex situ conservation methods, such as establishing insurance populations, are often approached with little information about population genetic structure or species biology. This research will explore if and how species might persist in situ in the face of different threats, building knowledge to inform effective in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.
Mt Imlay will form the study site for exploring how threats influence the survivability of locally restricted endemic species1. Mt Imlay is recognised by the NSW Government as an Asset of Intergenerational Significance, along with several threatened species endemic to the mountain1. These species include Eucalyptus imlayensis (Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act and a top 110 priority species in the Threatened Species Strategy 2021–2031), Hibbertia circinata, Boronia imlayensis, Oxylobium ellipticum and Olearia rugosa subsp. distalilobata.
The long-term persistence of these species is likely to be impacted by threats occurring on different temporal and geographical scales, including climate change, Phytophthora dieback, and recent intense fire. Island (in this case mountain-top) endemic species are inherently more vulnerable to threats, therefore, understanding the true impact upon them will help determine the potential for species persistence in situ.
This research will inform both ex situ and in situ conservation strategies and will advance the emerging discipline of ‘conservation horticulture’. This includes informing how resources can be best allocated to horticultural techniques, e.g. for management of genetic diversity in ex situ collections.
Biography
Tasha James, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra, and recipient of the Don Beer Memorial Scholarship.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXL
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXL
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Shiona Mackie 'Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh'
2024-11-19 14:45 - 15:45
Shiona Mackie, an active volunteer at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE), will be visiting Canberra in November and will be doing a talk about the RBGE – its history, the restoration and renovation of the glasshouse, and the scientific and conservation work that is currently underway.
When: 2.45 to 3.45 pm Tuesday 19 November.
Where: ANBG Theatrette
Cost: Free
No bookings required

In the Gardens, After Dark
2024-11-15 19:00 - 21:00
Cost $20, bookings essential
Friends members are invited to a special after-dark tour of the Gardens. Led by one of the rangers, the walk will take us through a landscape which looks quite different at night, and is home to nocturnal creatures great and small!
This magical experience will happen on Friday 15 November 2024. We will gather at 7 pm for after-dinner refreshments, then set out on our adventure in the Gardens, finishing at about 9 pm.
Please be aware that the walk will be outdoors, at night, and dress accordingly.
The cost is $20 per person. This event is specially for Friends members, and is suitable for ages 12 and over.
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CWDAQ Please book early as numbers are limited.
The Friends of the ANBG wish to thank the Gardens for the offer of this experience at a significant discount.
Queries to: events@friendsanbg.org.au

Josh Coates ‘Australian alpine pollinators in a changing world’
2024-11-14 12:30 - 13:30
Josh, a PhD student from the Fenner school at ANU, will present his research in pollination ecology in Kosciuszko National Park, from the community level down to a few case studies of charismatic species such as the Bogong moth.
Abstract
Pollinators in Australia’s alpine ecosystems display unique adaptations that allow them to persist in a cold climate. Despite being buried under snow for half of the year, these harsh environments support a diverse array of flowering plants and insect pollinators. Unfortunately, these environments will also see some of the earliest and most severe effects of warming under climate change. Josh, a PhD student from the Fenner school at ANU, will present his research in pollination ecology in Kosciuszko National Park, from the community level down to a few case studies of charismatic species such as the Bogong moth.
Biography
Josh Coates is a final-year PhD Student at the Fenner School of Environment and Society ANU. His research focuses on alpine pollination ecology, which he fell into after a life-long interest in creepy crawlies. He also works at CSIRO’s National Insect Collection, and as part of the ACT Snake Removal service.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXJ
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXJ
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Shelley Rowntree ‘Unpicking the complexity of Chrysocephalum (Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae)’
2024-11-07 12:30 - 13:30
Shelley, a holder of a Friends ANBG scholarship, will look at questions about the Chrysocephalum genus, the limits of its species, and dominant processes affecting the breeding and conservation of Chrysocephalum.
Abstract
The Gnaphalieae (paper daisy tribe, Asteraceae) are the largest tribe of Asteraceae in Australia, with c. 500 species. Relationships within clades remain unresolved, and generic concepts are often based on few morphological characters rather than demonstrated relatedness and inference of synapomorphies.
Chrysocephalum Walp is a medium-sized genus in the Australian Gnaphalieae occurring across all states of Australia. The Australian Plant Census currently recognises nine species of Chrysocephalum and two phrase-name species. In revising the C. apiculatum / semipapposum complex, Wilson (2016) recognised 29 and 5 subspecies, respectively, based on morphological characters. The subspecies are highly complex, with some appearing as distinctive as traditionally recognised species and, in some cases, having previously been recognised as such (e.g. C. asperum Steetz). The project aims to answer the questions: (1) Does Chrysocephalum represent a cohesive genus? What is its relationship with other genera? (2) What are the limits of species within Chrysocephalum? What evolutionary processes explain the morphological complexity of the genus in eastern Australia? (3) What are the dominant processes affecting the breeding and conservation of Chrysocephalum?”
Biography
Shelley Rowntree, PhD Candidate, University of New England, and recipient of a Friends ANBG scholarship. Shelley left behind a career in IT to pursue her passion for plants. She is now doing a PhD at the University of New England, Armidale, in collaboration with CANBR. Her interests include the systematics and evolution of flowering plants, especially Asteraceae (daisy family) and Cyperaceae (sedges). She is passionate about documenting biodiversity and uses DNA sequence data and morphology to help make sense of diverse plant groups and evolutionary processes.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXH
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXH
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Black Mountain Weeding Work Party
2024-11-02 08:30 - 11:30
Thank you very much to our wonderful weeders for removing more than 835 woody weeds at our October work party in the grassland and woodland area of Black Mountain Nature Reserve.
We look forward to seeing you at the next work party on 2 November. We are starting at 8:30am now that it is Summer time.
Date: Saturday, 2 November 2024, 8:30 to 11:30am
We plan to remove lots of non-local acacia and other woody weeds
Meet: Caswell Drive entry on the mountain side.
Drive from Belconnen Way southwards along Caswell Drive towards Glenloch Interchange, Woden, or Tuggeranong. Note the yellow diamond shape advisory sign showing access road on left (mountain side) and the blue and white “P” sign for parking. Pull into the carpark carefully. Look for banners.
Bring: more of your friends if you wish, as everyone is welcome.
Wear: hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, stout shoes.
We shall break for delicious morning tea at about 10:00am
Please book: if you are planning to come, please let us know by booking using this booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CRZWD
This helps us to let you know if arrangements need to change at the last minute (for example, adverse weather conditions).
If you need further information, please contact Stuart by phone 0435 964 028.
We look forward to seeing you at our next work party.
Linda Beveridge
Convenor, Friends of Black Mountain

Dr Mitzy Pepper ‘How geomorphology controls biodiversity (especially lizards) in the Australian deserts’
2024-10-31 12:30 - 13:30
Dr Mitzy Pepper, an ARC DECRA Fellow at ANU, will focus on the exciting synthesis of biology and geomorphology in understanding the evolution of both the biodiversity, and the landscapes of the Australian deserts.
Abstract
The distribution of lizards in arid Australia is an example of the complex influence of geology, climate and geomorphological processes in shaping contemporary genetic patterns. Mitzy’s talk will focus on the exciting synthesis of biology and geomorphology in understanding the evolution of both the biodiversity, and the landscapes of the Australian deserts. She will touch on case studies in the rocky Pilbara region of Western Australia and contrast this to evolutionary patterns we see in the low-lying dune systems of eastern Australia.
Biography
Dr Mitzy Pepper is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Fellow in the Keogh Lab at the ANU. Her areas of interest are evolutionary biology, herpetological systematics and biogeography. She uses genetic data to understand where biodiversity is high, where it is low, how species in different parts of Australia are related to one another, the timing of evolutionary events and how the demographic history of populations has changed through time. Mitzy is particularly interested in understanding the influence of historical climate change and the evolution of the Australian landscapes on genetic patterns in Australia’s arid regions.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXG
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXG
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Special viewing of Visitors Centre and Tasmanian Rainforest Fogging system
2024-10-24 16:30 - 17:15
All Friends of the ANBG are invited to a Special viewing of the new display in the Visitor Centre foyer, and the new fogging system in the Tasmanian Rainforest section.
This free event will commence from the Visitor Centre at 4:30pm following the AGM.
Please RSVP by 21 October 2024 (acceptances only) by booking at https://www.trybooking.com/CWHAN

Friends AGM 2024
2024-10-24 15:00 - 17:00
The 36th Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the ANBG will be held in the ANBG Theatrette at 3pm, followed by light refreshments in the Dickson Room.
Please arrive at 2.45 pm for a 3.00 pm start. If you plan to attend the meeting, please advise by email to secretary@friendsanbg.org.au. This will assist us with catering, and it will also assist in ensuring that we have the required quorum of 25 members present.
Elections will be held for the position of President, Secretary, and three Ordinary Members. If a current member of Council nominates for and is elected to another vacant position, there will be an additional vacancy for an Ordinary Member or Office Bearer. This may result in an election for the position of Vice President.
The agenda includes proposed amendments to the Friends Constitution, to accommodate the establishment of a Gift Fund, and to revise provisions relating to dispute resolution. The resolution is “That the Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens Incorporated adopt by Special Resolution the draft Constitution dated September 2024.”
Notices and further details of the meeting will be available on this website and through our e-newsletter nearer the date, along with meeting papers and nomination forms.
The agenda and meeting papers can be downloaded from the following links. Please check these documents as we will not be providing hard copies to everyone at the meeting, to minimise our environmental footprint.

All 2024 AGM papers (revised 2024-10-09) (Zipped, 2MB)

or as individual files:

AGM Agenda October 2024 (revised 2024-10-07) (PDF, 75KB)
Draft Minutes – 35th AGM 2023 (PDF, 342KB)
Draft Constitution September 2024 (PDF, 354KB)
Audited Financial Statements 2023-24 (PDF, 1.22MB)
President’s Report 2024 AGM (PDF, 81KB)
Treasurer’s Annual Report AGM 2024 (PDF, 97KB)
Nomination Form for FANBG Council 2024 (PDF, 91KB)
Appointment of Proxy for FANBG AGM 2024 (PDF, 154KB)

Anna Howe ‘Southern California meets Australian Native in Canberra in the 1970s’
2024-10-24 12:30 - 13:30
Anna will look at how the influence of southern Californian ideas for town planning and architecture were overtaken by Australian native garden movement in in Canberra. Some shared characteristics of both areas now face some common challenges that raise concerns about the future of our Bush Capital.
Abstract
The growth of Canberra in the 1970s saw many ideas of town planning and architecture transplanted from southern California. Transplanted elements of garden design and landscaping were however soon overtaken as the emergence Australian native garden movement that saw local indigenous plants spread in private gardens and public landscaping. Some shared environmental and botanical characteristics however mean that both areas now face some common challenges that raise concerns about the future of our Bush Capital.
Biography
Anna Howe PhD
Anna’s BA and MA were in urban geography, and her PhD at Monash was a geographical analysis of systems of aged care in Melbourne which took her into a career in research and policy work in ageing and aged care. Anna retired about 12 years ago and moved back to Canberra around that time. Anna lived here in 1975 when she worked in the Department of Urban and Regional Development, and again from 1989-93 when she was head of the Office for the Aged in the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. Anna is finding many avenues for exploration of trees, parks and gardens through the National Trust, the Australian Garden History Society and the Arboretum as well as the ANBG Friends.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXD
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXD
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Walcott Gardens visit
2024-10-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-12 10:00 - 12:00
The Walcotts will provide a guided walk for Friends through the native garden that they established after settling in Canberra.
Numbers are limited to 20 per session, so bookings are required. Please choose the appropriate date at https://www.trybooking.com/CVMYI
Entry is $5 with proceeds to Friends of ANBG.
Coffee, tea and nibbles will be provided by Friends.
Address: 10 Wickham Crescent, Red Hill. Parking is along Wickham Crescent and Vancouver Street.

Plant Recognition Group: "Getting to Know Plant Datasets" with Anna Monro
2024-10-17 14:00 - 16:00
Anna Monro, of the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, will focus on electronic plant databases: Australian Plant Census (APC), Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), Australian Plant Image Index (APII), Australian Virtual Herbarium (AVH) and possibly other national and state/territory plant nomenclature and related datasets. Various datasets will be displayed on the large screen, with explanations of what they are and how to navigate them. Participants may be able to mirror the presenter on their personal devices.
When you book for the session, could you suggest a particular species to be investigated, please? No prior knowledge of these datasets is necessary.
When: 2:00pm until 4:00pm, including some free time for practical work Thursday 17 October 2024.
Where: Celia Rosser Room, Banksia Centre, ANBG
Booking ESSENTIAL: Please send your name and phone number to plantname@friendsanbg.org.au. Seats are limited for this session, so booking ahead is mandatory. Please advise at least a day in advance if you need to cancel your booking, so that a member on the waiting list can be offered the place.

Don Beer Memorial Lecture 2024 - Dr Rebecca Pirzl ‘Bending the biodiversity curve’
2024-10-17 12:30 - 13:30
Rebecca will provide perspectives on achieving transformational change to conserve biodiversity in striving for nature restoration and a nature positive future.
Biography
Dr Rebecca Pirzl has worked in science and organisational leadership roles across research, government and business, and was appointed to oversee the ANBG in October 2023. In her role as Branch Head for Science and ANBG with Parks Australia, she has responsibility for strategic science planning and partnerships for the Commonwealth’s terrestrial, marine and island protected areas, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research/Australian National Herbarium joint venture with CSIRO, the National Seed Bank, the Australian Biological Resources Study and the Office of the Chief Remote Pilot. She joined DCCEEW after 10 years at CSIRO, where she led an interdisciplinary research group in sustainability science, and worked on biodiversity assessment and approaches to achieve nature positive. Her prior experience includes private consulting, green technology commercialisation and roles in government in oceans policy and protected area joint management. Rebecca has a background in ecology, systems thinking and Indigenous partnerships and is committed to facilitating scientific research for real world outcomes. Her other governance roles include member of the Steering Committees for NESP Resilient Landscapes and Marine and Coastal Hubs, Advisory Board of the Atlas of Living Australia, and the Steering Committee for Bush Blitz.
Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXC
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXC
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

53rd Black Mountain Spring Wildflower Ramble (FULLY BOOKED)
2024-10-12 09:30 - 12:00
Our very popular Annual Spring Wildflower Ramble celebrates the spring flowering on beautiful Black Mountain with a social ramble for wildflower lovers in the tradition established by Nancy Burbidge, continued by George Chippendale, and then Jean Geue.
Discover the surprising diversity of tiny orchids, bush peas, wattles and billy buttons on easy bush tracks with experienced guides and good company. All springs are not the same. The pattern remains but timing and abundance vary with the weather; after the rain we have had this year we are anticipating a special display of flowers.
Friends of Black Mountain welcomes everyone, be they experts or those who have never slowed down to see the somewhat cryptic diversity. We plan several guides, with helpers, who will take different directions.
Please allow time to park and walk to the meeting point.
There will be some books for sale, including Black Mountain a natural history of a Canberra icon by Ian Fraser and Rosemary Purdie.
Meet at Belconnen Way entry just before Caswell Drive turnoff – watch for balloons or banners
BYO morning tea, water, hat, sunblock and stout shoes.
Donation (suggested donation is $5
FULLY BOOKED

Growing Friends Spring 2024 Native Plant Sale
2024-10-12 09:00 - 11:00
The Growing Friends will hold their Spring Native Plant Sale on Saturday 12 October in the car park between the Banksia Centre and the Crosbie Morrison Building. While a little later than last year, this still allows sufficient time for plants to be established before the challenges of summer.
The sale will run from 9:00-11:00 (unless sold out earlier). As regular attendees know, demand is high and stock moves very quickly.
A full list of the plants and their descriptions (PDF, 516 KB) is now available.
The sale includes a variety of groundcovers and small and large shrubs suited to the Canberra climate as well as some species better suited to the South Coast of NSW.
There will be:

a good selection of banksias, including Banksia ericifolia “Red Clusters” which has long red flower spikes in autumn and winter and is a good screening plant;
numerous pots of the beautiful, structural grass tree Xanthorrhea johnsonii with its 1.8 metre flower stalk; and
many varieties of correas, grevilleas, leptospermums, myoporums, prostantheras and thryptomenes, including species endemic to the ACT. These plants will add interest to gardens year-round as well as providing floral resources for pollinators.

All plants for sale are propagated by the Growing Friends from cuttings or seeds sourced from the Australian National Botanic Gardens with the support of ANBG staff. Plants will only cost $6 each with payment by card. Proceeds from sales go to support the Gardens via the Friends of the ANBG.
Prospective buyers are encouraged to socially distance and bring their own carry bags and boxes.

Graham Gall ‘Flora in focus: the Art of Botanic Photography’
2024-10-10 12:30 - 13:30
Graham, an internationally awarded photographer, will describe his artistic approach to photographing botanic subjects and will give practical insights into producing exhibition quality shots of flora and associated fauna, from the tallest tree to the most detailed macro view of flowers, fungi and associated pollinators.
Abstract
When faced with a botanical subject that requires photographing Graham does a SWOT analysis. This may be very quick if it’s small and involves fauna as well; a bird on a banksia flower requires immediate assessment and quick reaction. However, it will take some time if it’s a very large tree or landscape; and often do a recce first and a shoot another day. If a client is involved, as is the case with Commissions, then consultation on the choices is necessary.
In this presentation Graham will discuss what his SWOT involves and then the artistic choices that emanate from that analysis. From there he needs to choose the appropriate lens to achieve his creative choice. The shoot itself is quite technical and really is mostly of interest to keen photographers. For macro photography different techniques are involved and he will discuss my approaches here as well; including intimate extreme closeups of a flower and how to capture pollinators at work. Graham will briefly touch on the gear he uses and how with all his work he approaches minimalist post-processing.
Biography
Graham Gall is an internationally awarded photographer based in Canberra. While he shoots a wide variety of genre his passion is Australian flora and fauna. Graham is a Birdlife Photography Australia Gold medallist, is widely published and is regularly commissioned for themed shoots for Exhibitions.
Graham was commissioned in 2021 and 2023 to shoot and produce multiple frames for two Tree Week Solo Exhibitions for the ACT Tree Network. His clients ranged across Federal, State and Local Government Estates and included both native and exotic species. In 2023 the exhibition featured wildlife and trees thereby combining both his passions. When asked ‘why Graham?’ his Tree Network Clients quickly answer not only does Graham bring great artistic photography skills, his background in horticulture, work as a Park Ranger and past Australian Open Garden Scheme participant means he understands the ‘tree tribe’ intimately. Graham has been engaged locally to run nature photography workshops and is in demand as a speaker. He is also a Committee member of the ANBG Photographic Group and lead Judge for the 2024 Schools Photographic Competition.
Graham has a large social media following on Instagram and Facebook – @gallpix. Continuous improvement is his professional goal and continuing to exhibit, teach and sell his work his every day focus.
Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXA
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFXA
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Orchid Walks on Black Mountain - booked out
2024-10-06 00:00 - 23:59
Discover some spring-flowering native terrestrial orchids and learn something more of this fascinating group of plants with Matt Mullaney, Jean Egan, Shoko Okado, and Tobias Hayashi.
DATE Sunday 6 October, 9:30am–12 noon and repeated 1:30pm–4pm
MEET at the car park on the mountain side of Caswell Drive. Look for FOBM banners;
(from Belconnen Way drive south towards Glenloch Interchange)
BYO enthusiasm, hat, sunblock, water, stout shoes, & hand lens if you have one, and snacks of you wish.
BOOK Limited numbers for each walk; all places have now been taken, sorry.

Black Mountain Weeding Work Party
2024-10-05 09:00 - 12:00
Thank you very much to our wonderful weeders for removing more than 1760 woody weeds at our September work party in the grassland and woodland area of Black Mountain Nature Reserve.
We look forward to seeing you at the next work party on 5 October.
Details of the next weeding work party (including the booking link) are:
Date: Saturday, 5 October 2024, 9:00 to 12 noon
We plan to remove lots of non-local acacia and other woody weeds
Meet: Caswell Drive entry on the mountain side.
Drive from Belconnen Way southwards along Caswell Drive towards Glenloch Interchange, Woden, or Tuggeranong. Note the yellow diamond shape advisory sign showing access road on left (mountain side) and the blue and white “P” sign for parking. Pull into the carpark carefully. Look for banners.
Bring: more of your friends if you wish, as everyone is welcome.
Wear: hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, stout shoes.
We shall break for delicious morning tea at about 10:30 am
Please book: if you are planning to come, please let us know by booking using this booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CRZVZ
This helps us to let you know if arrangements need to change at the last minute (for example, adverse weather conditions).
If you need further information, please contact me by email friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com or phone 0437 298 711.
We look forward to seeing you at our next weeding work party.
Linda Beveridge
Convenor, Friends of Black Mountain

Dr Alex Wall ‘Traps'n'Maps: collecting data today to better understand the past tomorrow’
2024-10-03 12:30 - 13:30
Alex, from the ANU, will talk about the value of fossilised pollen for understanding environmental changes over time, and measuring the amounts and types of pollen across Australia today to understand the links, including collection by VegeMap, a citizen science project.
Abstract
Fossilised pollen is a little-known but essential part of our understanding of environmental changes over time. Our team of researchers analyses pollen preserved in sediments, aiming to reconstruct historical vegetation and landscapes. This research helps to explore how vegetation has responded to factors like climate, fire, and human activities through time.
But the association between pollen and actual plant abundance is difficult to assess. This is due to the complexities inherent in pollen production and dispersal. Variations in size and shape as well as the different amounts of pollen produced by different plants all affect the amount of pollen preserved. So, we’re measuring the amounts and types of pollen across Australia today to understand these links.
An integral part of our data collection comes from VegeMap, a citizen science project. Through VegeMap, participants build pollen traps and survey nearby plants. VegeMap enables us to gather more data and involve a wider community in real ecological research.
Biography
Dr Alex Wall is a former teacher and informal educator. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian National University working in the fields of palaeoecology and palynology. That is, he uses fossil pollen to understand how ecosystems have changed over time. To improve, he also educates students and the general public about palynology through a citizen science project called VegeMap”
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFWW
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFWW
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Photography Group - September meeting
2024-09-27 00:00 - 23:59
Our speakers this month are Photography Group Committee Members who will share their post-processing hot tips and workflow with the Group. Show and Tell by members, with a maximum of 6 images each, will proceed as usual.
The meeting will take place in the ANBG Theatrette. All members of the Friends are welcome to come along. The Photography Group members have a range of skill sets and cameras, from digital ‘point and click’ cameras to more complex SLRs. If you would like to attend, just turn up, email photo@friendsanbg.org.au, or contact a committee member.

Professor Nerilie Abram ‘Emerging tipping points in Antarctica’
2024-09-26 12:30 - 13:30
Nerilie, climate scientist from ANU, will review evidence for climate change vulnerabilities in Antarctica, including using past, present and future perspectives to assess the potential for tipping points in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. This will include a description of the 2023/24 Denman Terrestrial Campaign to characterise the Denman Glacier, the deepest known glacier on Earth.
Abstract
Antarctic has not always responded to human-caused climate changes as expected, and the development of human-forced trends have potentially been masked by the very large natural variability in this region. This has resulted in low confidence in predicting future changes in this region and suggestions that some parts of the Antarctic system might be largely protected from the effects of climate change in the short to medium term, in contrast to the Arctic where amplified climate change impacts are evident and multiple abrupt climate tipping points are known to exist. This talk will review our evidence for climate change vulnerabilities in Antarctica, including using past, present and future perspectives to assess the potential for tipping points in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. This will include a description of the 2023/24 Denman Terrestrial Campaign – a major interdisciplinary campaign to characterise Denman Glacier which is the deepest known glacier on Earth and holds the potential to alone raise global sea levels by 1.5 metres.
Biography
Professor Nerilie Abram is a climate scientist at the Australian National University. Her research uses Antarctic ice, tropical corals and climate models to understand how Earth’s climate system behaved over the last millennium, at both regional and global scales. Her multidisciplinary approaches have brought critical perspectives to modern day human-induced climate change, including bushfire, drought, the onset of anthropogenic warming and the ways that climate change is altering natural climate variability. She is a Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science and the Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, and was a coordinating lead author on the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. In 2024 she was elected as a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFWS
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFWS
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Parliament House Spring Courtyard Tours
2024-09-20 10:00 - 2024-09-21 12:00
The Public Programs Officer at Department of Parliamentary Services has issued a warm invitation to Friends of the Australia National Botanic Gardens to their upcoming Spring Courtyard Tours at Parliament House. This is a fun opportunity to tour the beautiful Parliament House courtyards in their blooming Spring glory, while discovering more about the private areas of Parliament House.
The tours are run for 1-hour on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 September 2024, from 10.00-11.00am, 11.00-12.00pm, and 12.00-1.00pm.
The cost of these tours is :
Adult – $38
Concession – $29
Adult + Refreshment package – $48
Concession + Refreshment Package – $39
Full details can be found on the website: Spring Courtyards of Parliament House – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)

Dr Tobias Hayashi ‘The sexual chemistry of greenhood orchids’
2024-09-19 12:30 - 13:30
Tobias will talk about research from his PhD on pollination in greenhood (Pterostylis) orchids. Greenhood orchids attract their male fungus gnat pollinators by mimicking the sex pheromones of the female fungus gnats.
Biography
Dr Tobias Hayashi completed his PhD on orchid pollination at the Australian National University in 2021 and is a co-author of ‘Field guide to the orchids of the Southern Tablelands’. He now works at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFWR
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFWR
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Anthony Whalen ‘CSIRO has a new building – what will this mean for Australia’s national biodiversity collections?’
2024-09-12 12:30 - 13:30
Anthony, Director of the National Research Collections Australia CSIRO, will outline the careful planning for CSIRO and ANBG’s precious national collections of preserved plants, vertebrate and invertebrate animals and other organisms, and how new laboratories and technologies will contribute to new ways to biodiversity research.
Abstract
CSIRO is home to national collections made up of preserved plants, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, algae, tree seed, insects, and many other organisms. CSIRO’s botanical collections are a shared responsibility with the Australian National Botanic Gardens. In 2024, CSIRO completed construction of a new state-of-the-art building to accommodate many of these collections as part of a new collection’s precinct. This presentation will outline the careful planning that went into accommodating these precious national resources, what new laboratories and technologies have been included, and how these will contribute in new ways towards biodiversity research.
Biography
In late 2023 Anthony became the Director of the National Research Collections Australia, with responsibility for managing CSIRO’s preserved biodiversity collections and research programs. Anthony is also Director of the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, which is a joint partnership between Parks Australia and CSIRO, centred around the Australian National Herbarium.
Anthony’s early career provided a background in biology, environmental science and as a working botanist in Sydney and Canberra. Since 2005, his work has been focused on developing and managing Australian Government policies, programs and data systems relating to Landcare, taxonomy, conservation, and policies relating to wildlife trade and heritage. He has also managed the Australian Biological Resources Study and was Acting Executive Director of the Australian National Botanic Gardens in 2022-23.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFWP
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTFWP
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
