Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Kristy Gould ‘Conserving Canberra: Healing country through restoration’ [NEW VENUE: Crosbie Morrison Bldg]
2026-05-07 12:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Crosbie Morrison Building, ANBG, Clunies Ross Street, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
Kristy, from the ACT Office of Nature Conservation, describes a project to improve restoration through development of spatial planning tools, on-ground work at three key sites, and engaging the Ngunnawal community in Healing Country.
NEW VENUE: Crosbie Morrison Bldg
Abstract
The Office of Nature Conservation (ONC) led a project as part of the Conserving Canberra Budget Initiative (2023 2025) to improve restoration through development of spatial planning tools, deliver on-ground work at three key sites and provide opportunities for the Ngunnawal community to be engaged in Healing Country. The project partnered with four Ngunnawal Cultural Advisors to help embed cultural practices into land management, engaged specialised bush regenerators for on-ground work and a spatial ecologist to develop online tools. Volunteer groups contributed many hours to the project and ONC worked closely with Parks and Conservation Service and the Natural Resource Management Team as delivery partners. This work is continuing for another 12 months ongoing though various other initiatives.
Biography
Kristy completed her BSc (Environmental Science) at Charles Sturt University in 2004 and has had over 23 years of experience in land management working with ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS). Kristy has worked in most areas of PCS as a ranger and an area manager implementing programs including invasive pest and plant, visitor, asset maintenance and fire management. During this time Kristy has led several restoration projects including the Grassland Improvement Project (2006- 2008) and the ACT Woodland Restoration Project (2012-2017). Kristy is now working in the Office of Nature Conservation team as a Restoration Program Manager.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DHLQN
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.
This Talk will be held in the Crosbie Morrison Building due to work at 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.
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.

Kim Pullen ‘More treasures–insects in fens and bogs’ [NEW VENUE: Crosbie Morrison Bldg]
2026-05-14 12:30 - 13:30 | Crosbie Morrison Building, ANBG, Clunies Ross Street, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
Kim will discuss bogs and fens as an insect habitat, the variety of ecological niches that insects occupy and some threats to the fauna. She will give some local examples of the fauna of this habitat.
NEW VENUE: Crosbie Morrison Bldg
Biography
Kim grew up in Canberra and inherited an interest in nature, and particularly insects, from his father who was a professional botanist (and a boyhood butterfly and beetle collector). On leaving school he worked first at the ANU, and later at CSIRO, assisting with research in grasshopper genetics, pheromone-based control of insect pests, and insect-based biological control of imported weeds. Kim then spent six years in Mexico collecting and evaluating weed biocontrol agents for exportation to Australia – as well as teaching English – before returning to Canberra with a family. He eventually came back to CSIRO to assist with faunal studies in South Australian mallee and subsequently on Murray River floodplains, and prepare a taxonomic inventory of Australian weevils, among other projects.
After retirement, he took up a CSIRO Honorary Fellowship, allowing access to the Australian National Insect Collection. This helped Kim carry out a long-running ambition to compile a catalogue of the insects of the ACT. He now enjoys identifying insects for the general public on citizen science platforms and on social media (when their grandchildren allow it).
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DHLQK
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.
This Talk shall be held in the Crosbie Morrison Building due to work 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.
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.

Growing Friends – Plant Propagation Sessions
2026-05-19 09:30 - 11:30 | Potting space, outside the Banksia Centre, ANBG, ANBG Clunies Ross St, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
Growing Friends will be holding hands-on propagation sessions, and a guided walk through our “Igloo” to view our growing plants. Come along and learn how to propagate and pot on your own plants at home. Book early as numbers are limited.
Date: Tuesday 19 May 2026
Time: 9.30 am – 11.30 am (two one hour sessions: 9.30 – 10.30 or 10.30 to 11.30)
Location: Potting space, outside the Banksia Building (follow the signs)
We will supply all materials (free event).
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DLYMG
(enquiries to: events@friendsanbg.org.au)

Botanic Art Group – Have a Go at Botanical Art
2026-05-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Celia Rosser Room, Banksia Centre, Australian National Botanical Gardens, Canberra, Australia
The Botanic Art Group is delighted to invite people to come and HAVE A GO AT BOTANICAL ART. We will be painting a leaf, an easy subject with which everyone is familiar. A number of our members have volunteered to act as mentors. Materials such as watercolours and coloured pencils will be available to try, but if you have watercolours, coloured pencils or a small brush please bring them along.
Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Time: 10 am to 12 pm
Location: Celia Rosser Room, in the Banksia Centre, ANBG
Bookings: If you are coming along please RSVP to kateramsey23@gmail.com

Masterclass - Creating a Wildlife Haven: The Must-Know Essentials
2026-05-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Zoom session, Australia
Want more birds, bees and butterflies in your garden? Join Claire Bickle to learn easy, practical ways to support local wildlife. Discover how to choose the right plants, create shelter and water, and make your garden a safe haven—starting this winter. Perfect for beginners or anyone wanting to make a real difference.
Book your online Zoom session here: https://weteachme.com/classes/1047138
Are you eager to boost local biodiversity but feeling overwhelmed by all the sheer volume of information and advice? Perhaps you want to attract butterflies, bees, birds or dragonflies to your garden? Did you know that winter is an important time to support wildlife and support the natural ecological balance of your garden ready for spring. So lets help you get started this winter…
Join this one-hour Master Class with Claire Bickle and walk away with the essentials—and the networks—that will help you make a real impact.
In this session, Claire will guide you through the importance of:

Understanding your climate
Getting to know your soil and garden aspects and how to make use of verges or nearby public spaces
Simple design basics and practical ideas to get you started
Identifying your “target audience”—the insects, marsupials, birds, reptiles, frogs, bats and more that may call your garden home
Choosing the right plants and layering them from ground covers to grasses to trees
Different water sources and why they matter for different species
Creating shelters, especially for insects like bees and dragonflies
Why even small actions can create wildlife stepping stones and nature corridors in urban areas
Building community connections: where to next—catchment groups, wildlife societies, native plant clubs, and more
Ways to stay informed and keep learning through reading and connecting with others

If you want to support nature in your neighbourhood and feel confident doing it, this class is the perfect place to start.
All sessions are recorded and those booked in will receive the recording link which is active for two weeks. Friends of SGA receive a 15% discount on Master Class full price tickets. You can become a Friend of SGA here. Green Garden Professional (GGPs) receive a 30% discount.

Andrea Wild ‘Awe and wonder in CSIRO’s collections’
2026-05-21 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Andrea, from CSIRO, will share stories from the new science book Wild Collections. Learn about sharks living in sponges, orchids flowering underground, Spotted Handfish guarding their eggs, quirky tales of worm bums, Darkling beetles undertaking a decathlon, and much more.
Abstract
There are 15 million specimens in the National Research Collections Australia, from caddisflies to daisies, to a single albatross.
They’re not part of a museum, so what do we use them for?
We wonder, we discover and we take action. We’re using the 50 000 native bee specimens in our collections to discover what native bee species exist and where they live. This will help people take action to preserve the pollination benefits they provide to native plants and make use of their pollination services for agricultural plants.
Andrea will share some of the stories from the new popular science book Wild Collections. Learn about sharks living in sponges, orchids flowering underground, Spotted Handfish guarding their eggs, weevils rolling dung just like scarabs do, Giant Kelp towering in Tasmania’s seas, quirky tales of worm bums, Darkling beetles undertaking a decathlon, the curlicues of shark’s eggs and much more.
Biography
Andrea Wild is an author and science communicator who works with the biodiversity collections at CSIRO. She has written three books: The Very Stinky Fly Hunt, Wild Collections and AmAZed, CSIRO’s A to Z of Biodiversity.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZFY
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.
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.

Plant Recognition Group 'Getting to know agaric fungi (mushrooms and toadstools)'
2026-05-21 13:30 - 16:00 | Solander Studio, Banksia Centre, ANBG, ANBG Clunies Ross St, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
The next Plant Recognition Group workshop will focus on agaric fungi (mushrooms and toadstools). Heino Lepp from the mycology collection of the Australian National Herbarium will talk about the macroscopic features that help identify agarics and will have fresh specimens on hand. A compound microscope is necessary for the identification of many species but, even for an expert, the first step in identification is a look at the macroscopic features. The aim of the session is to help you learn how to look at agarics in that first step. Binocular microscopes and other aids for identification will be available for the workshop.
When: 1.30 – 4.00 pm on Thursday 21 May 2026.
Where: Solander 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.

Bushland Nature Walk – Catch a View!
2026-05-23 09:30 - 11:30 | Visitor Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australia
A special guided walk to explore the Gardens’ Bushland Precinct, across the Black Mountain road from the main part of the Gardens. The Bushland Nature Walk meanders through open forest and features expansive views to Canberra City and Parliament House. Some of the plants are labelled and you will find interpretive signs about the biodiversity, fire ecology and soil of the area. The walk culminates at a viewing platform offering spectacular views across Lake Burley Griffin. Return is via the same path.
The walk is easy to medium on uneven ground, with a few stairs and short steep sections. There are some places to rest along the way. Distance: 3.2 km
Wear a shady hat, sunscreen, and sturdy walking shoes and bring your bottle of water.
Date: Saturday 23 May
Time: 9.30 am to 11.30 am
Location: Meet at the Gardens Visitor Centre at 9.25 am
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DLKGL
Enquiries: email events@friendsanbg.org.au or contact Linda on 0437 298 711.
Cost: $10 (towards projects in the Gardens)

Photographic Group – Camera and Café Walk
2026-05-24 08:40 - 10:30 | ANBG Bus Stop, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australia
The Photographic Group invites you to join us on a CAMERA AND CAFÉ WALK in the Gardens. Bring along your camera (the camera in your phone is fine!) for a guided walk led by experienced photographers, followed by morning tea and a chat at Pollen Café.
Date: Sunday 24 May 2026
Time: Meet at 8.40 am
Location: Meet at the bus stop shelter at the top of the car park.
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DLYVV
(enquiries to: events@friendsanbg.org.au)

Dr Roger Farrow ‘Back from the brink or a resilient survivor: The case of Key’s Matchstick Grasshopper, Keyacris scurra’
2026-05-28 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Roger, formerly of CSIRO, will tell a tale of mystery and suspense involving two geneticists, some cemeteries, a taxonomist, a survey, sheep, habitat loss, citizen scientists and a sceptic.
Biography
Dr Roger Farrow is an “unretired” entomologist following a career in CSIRO Entomology. Since retirement he has pursued his interest in insect natural history, publishing an ecological and behavioural guide to the insects of south-eastern Australia (CSIRO 2018) and is currently studying insect pollination. This links to his other interest, namely native plants and their ecology. This has developed through his membership of the Australian Native Plant Society and the opportunity to participate in field trips to identify plants in a range of different habitats.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZFZ
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.
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.

Charlie Blumer and Jon Darvill ‘Flower power and no bad bees: Getting the big picture on pollinators in the ACT’
2026-06-04 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Charlie Blumer and Jon Darvill explore the identities and ecology of some of the 200-odd native bees and other pollinators in the ACT. They identify why they matter, the threats to them, and how we can help them.
Abstract
Charlie Blumer and Jon Darvill explore the identities and ecology of some of the 200-odd native bees and other pollinators in the ACT. They identify why they matter, the threats to them, and how we can help them. We also balance this against the presence of European honey bees, essential for the pollination of most of our food crops, and the likely impact of the Varroa mite as it spreads across the ACT.
Biography
Charlie Blumer was trained in zoology and epidemiology, before working as a public servant in the health area. Now retired, he keeps bees and enjoys being present in his own little ecosystem, watching it all happen. However, he does also get out, and out of his comfort zone, to spread the word in various fora.
Jon Darvill is a natural beekeeper with 11 years’ experience of keeping honey bees in Warre and Kenyan top bar hives. These lend themselves to a bee-friendly approach to beekeeping. He is also a member of the Canberra Region Beekeepers Association, serving on the committee and teaching in the club’s beekeeping courses.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGA
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.
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.

Dr Heidi Zimmer ‘Why do orchid names change?’
2026-06-11 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Heidi, from Australian National Herbarium, will give an overview of taxonomic and nomenclatural principles, provide a gentle introduction to modern methods used in orchid taxonomy and discuss some interesting orchid case studies.
Biography
Dr Heidi Zimmer is a botanical research scientist at the Australian National Herbarium.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGB
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.
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.

Up Close and Personal Themed Walks
2026-06-15 11:00 - 2026-06-21 14:00 | Clock near the bridge, ANBG, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
Join a free guided walk to get up close and personal to our wonderful Australian flora. Are they roots on the outside of that trunk? The young of that tree has very different leaves to its parents. Where are the petals on that bottlebrush flower? This walk will focus on the interesting details of Australian plants that we might not notice at first glance.
These one-hour guided walks are held at 11am and 2pm each day, from Monday 15th June to Sunday 21st June.
Meet at the clock near the cafe bridge.
No booking required for individuals, but groups of more than six people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.

Plant Recognition Group Workshop 'Getting to know Banksias'
2026-06-15 13:30 - 15:30 | Daniel Solander Room, Banksia Centre, ANBG, Clunies Ross Street, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
The next Plant Recognition Group workshop will focus on Banksia (family Proteaceae). Many species are planted in the Botanic Gardens, especially the garden outside the Banksia Centre that features species from WA. Dr Rosemary Purdie (Honorary Associate, Australian National Herbarium) will explain key identification features and terminology commonly used in flora keys, and depending on what’s in flower at the time in ANBG, will have selected samples available for participants to work with. Binocular microscopes, hand lenses and other aids for identification will be available for the workshop.
When: 1:30 – 3.30 pm on Monday 15 June 2026, with extra time for personal practice if you wish.
Where: Daniel Solander 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.

Dr Rosemary Purdie ‘After the rain and floods: chasing the blooming flora’
2026-06-18 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
In March 2025 south-western Queensland experienced widespread heavy rainfall and floods that subsequently created ideal conditions for spectacular wildflower displays. A 17-day trip through the area in August traversed mulga, gidgee, Mitchell Grass downs, dunefields, channel country and alluvial plains. This talk will provide a glimpse of what these landscapes looked like 5 months after the deluge, and the rich variety of plants that had responded.
Biography
Rosemary trained as a botanist/plant ecologist before joining the Queensland Herbarium as part of the Western Arid Region Land Use Survey team. After moving back to Canberra she entered the Australian Public Service, initially helping edit Flora of Australia volumes at the Bureau of Flora and Fauna. She then spent 12 years with the Australian Heritage Commission before shifting to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and later becoming the ACT’s independent Commissioner for the Environment. Since retiring and focussing on plants again, she has been an Honorary Associate at ANBG, including four years as the Honorary Living Collections Botanist, and at the Australian National Herbarium where she has become a ‘botanical sleuth’. She remains an active plant collector and will ‘go bush’ at the slightest excuse.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGC
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.
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.
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.

Dr Fiona Fraser ‘Threatened Species Action Plan: progress and partnerships’
2026-06-25 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Fiona, Threatened Species Commissioner, will talk about progress with implementation of the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 and the importance of partnerships to achieving threatened species recovery success.
Biography
Dr Fiona Fraser is the current Threatened Species Commissioner and has a PhD in threatened species and fire ecology in northern Australia. She has worked for the Australian Government for over a decade playing lead roles in Indigenous caring for country and natural resource management international environment policy and the bushfire wildlife recovery response.
Before joining the public service, Fiona worked with First Nations organisations in northern Australia on caring for country programs and joint management of protected areas.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGD
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.
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.

Dr Gina Newton ‘Darling to sea- Murray River endangered ecological community listing’
2026-07-02 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Gina will talk about the critically endangered wetlands and floodplains of the lower Murray, downstream of the Darling, her involvement in the ecological assessment, and what needs to be done.
Abstract
As of February 2026, the lower Murray River, its wetlands, and floodplains downstream of the Darling River are listed as Critically Endangered under Australian national environmental law, facing imminent ecosystem collapse within a decade.
Critically Endangered Listing: The listing applies specifically to the Lower River Murray, including the Coorong and Lake Alexandrina, because of systemic ecological decline.
Key Threats: The system is heavily impacted by climate change, excessive water allocation, flow regulation (dams, weirs), salinisation, and acidification.
Scientific Involvement: Dr. Gina Newton has previously undertaken large-scale aquatic assessments to list endangered ecosystems like the River Murray.
Ecological Impact: The river has lost significant habitat complexity, including old-growth vegetation, and faces high pressures on native flora and fauna.
The emergency status suggests that urgent, long-term restoration efforts are necessary to avoid ecological collapse of this vital waterway.
Biography
Dr Gina Newton, a specialist in ecological assessment and threatened species, has been involved in assessing the Murray River ecosystems under the EPBC Act.
Gina is passionate about nature and the environment. As a qualified a marine biologist, zoologist and science communicator, she has undertaken research and published many related articles
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGE
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.
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.

Professor Rod Peakall ‘The magic of chemistry in the pollination and evolution of Australian terrestrial orchids’
2026-07-09 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Rod, from ANU, will discuss how orchids use specific floral volatiles to attract pollinators, highlight new insights on the evolution of Australia terrestrial orchids and outline his ongoing project on the pollination of the mysterious NSW underground orchids.
Abstract
As ideal subjects for exploring a range of interesting scientific questions, orchids and their pollination have featured strongly across his research career. His research on sexually deceptive orchids, in particular, has captured the imagination of the public, educators and scientists around the world. Drawing on his research that spans across fields, he will describe how orchids use specific floral volatiles to secure pollinator attraction and highlight new insights on the evolution Australia terrestrial orchids. He will conclude the talk with a brief outline on his exciting, but challenging, ongoing project on the pollination of the mysterious underground orchids of NSW. The talk will be illustrated by beautiful photographs and fascinating video clips.
Biography
Professor Rod Peakall is Head of Ecology and Evolution Division, ANU
His parents passed on their love of nature. They chose to bring up their five children on the outskirts of Perth, Western Australia, with nearby forest as a playground. They spent their holidays camping at remote and wonderful locations, with hiking, canoeing, birdwatching and orchid hunting all part of the adventure.
He completed his BSc (Hons) in 1984 and PhD in 1987, both at the University of Western Australia (UWA), then took up an ARC funded 5-year postdoctoral position at Macquarie University in Sydney in 1988.
He joined The Australian National University (ANU) in 1993. He has also held visiting fellowships at Rutgers University, USA (1992) and at ETH (2003), Zurich, Switzerland.
Orchids have featured strongly in his research as ideal subjects for exploring a range of interesting ecological, chemical, molecular and evolutionary questions. His research on sexually deceptive orchids, in particular, has captured the imagination of the public, educators and scientists around the world.
He is the first author of the widely used population genetics software package, GenAlEx: Genetic Analysis in Excel (Peakall and Smouse 2006; Peakall and Smouse 2012).
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGF
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.
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.

Dr Phillip Kodela ‘Wattle in Your Pocket, the Bank-notable Wattles – science behind the Next Generation Banknotes of Australia’
2026-07-16 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Philip, from the Australian Biological Resources Study, advised on the design and five species of Acacia to be used in the Next Generation Banknotes. He will tell us why there was a need for the new banknotes, why these wattle species, and some of the technical issues and challenges with the project.
Abstract
Acacia is the largest genus of vascular plants in Australia with over 1000 species. They are a prominent part of the Australian flora, growing in a wide range of plant communities and habitats, from coastal to subalpine and tropical to arid. Wattles are readily recognised in the landscape by their array of mostly yellow-hued flowers, and they feature through much of our culture. Acacia is represented in the national floral emblem (Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha), the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, Order of Australia medals, currency, stamps, literature, the arts, crafts and design. Over tens of thousands of years, indigenous cultures developed a detailed knowledge about acacias and their wide range of uses, from wooden implements to food and medicine. In more recent times, acacias have been used for their wood, tannin and oil; as stock fodder, cut flowers and a source of food; and in horticulture (countless ornaments in parks, gardens and landscaping), land rehabilitation and soil stabilisation. It is appropriate therefore that the iconic wattle features on our latest Australian banknotes. As a subject matter expert Phillip advised the Reserve Bank of Australia on the five species and designs used in the Next Generation Banknotes program which began c.2015. Phillip will talk about the species and their morphological features represented on each of the banknotes. He will also address why there was a need for the new banknotes, why these wattle species, and some of the technical issues and challenges with the project.
Biography
Dr Phillip Kodela is Botanist and Executive Editor of the Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Parks Australia Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
For over 40 years he has worked in the fields of botany, biogeography, ecology, palynology, science communication and education. His areas of research and interest include wetlands, rainforest, rare plants, weeds, environmental assessment, management and conservation, forensics, horticultural botany, plant taxonomy, plant identification and botanical information resources including floras, bioinformatics and the curation of herbarium specimen and living collections.
He started researching Acacia, including taxonomic studies, in 1990 when he began a long association with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney where he was based till 2017. He has been involved with a number of major Acacia projects, including flora treatments for the Flora of New South Wales, WattleWeb, PlantNET New South Wales FloraOnline, Flora of Australia and the various incarnations of WATTLE, as well as assessing rare plant taxa and vegetation communities, curating collections, teaching, maintaining databases, and producing numerous reports and papers, including the publication of new species.
Phillip has worked on the Australasian Virtual Herbarium, Australian Plant Census, Australian Plant Name Index, Global Plants Type Digitisation Project, Weeds in Australia, Blue Mountains World Heritage Assessment, Next Generation Australian Banknotes, counter-terrorism and other forensic projects, N.S.W. Vegetation Classification and Assessment projects and numerous vegetation surveys. From late 2017, Phillip has been with ABRS involved with the eFlora of Australia, taxonomy project grants, research, science communication, botanical inquiries and advising government and other stakeholders.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGG
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.
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.

Plants Through Time Themed Walks
2026-07-20 11:00 - 2026-07-26 14:00 | Clock near the bridge, ANBG, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
Come on a free guided walk through the Australian National Botanic Gardens and look at the life story of plants on earth, the main evolutionary changes that have occurred in plants over 3 billion years and how plants have changed our planet. To keep a grasp on that time scale we will condense that 3 billion year period into a calendar year.
These one-hour guided walks are held at 11am and 2pm each day, from Monday 20 July to Sunday 26 July.
Meet at the clock near the café bridge.
No booking required for individuals, but groups of more than six people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.

Dr John Turnbull ‘Trees, woods and man’
2026-07-23 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
John, formerly with CSIRO, will trace the importance of trees from earliest times to the present day.
Biography
Dr John Turnbull has a BSc Forestry degree from the University of Wales and a PhD in eucalypt genecology from ANU. He is a former Senior Forestry Research Scientist at CSIRO and Chief Scientist at the International Forest Research Centre in Indonesia. He has managed collaborative forest research projects and provided consultancy services to many countries on the use of Australia trees in plantations. He was consultant to China’s one-million-hectare multi-species plantation project. Since retiring in 1999 he has been a Volunteer Guide at ANBG.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGH
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.
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.
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.

Bruno Ferronato ‘TurtleWatch ACT: citizen-science, monitoring and conservation of turtles in Canberra’
2026-07-30 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Bruno will talk about the biology of the Eastern long-necked turtles, their adaptations to flood-dry cycles in Australia, their active life in suburban areas, and recent findings in the turtle monitoring program in Canberra.
Biography
Bruno Ferronato (PhD) is an ecologist and turtle specialist, who works at the Ginninderra Catchment Group. He runs TurtleWatch ACT, which monitors turtles in Canberra with the help of volunteers. Bruno is originally from Brazil and has been involved in turtle research since 2004, working in Brazil, Peru, USA and Australia.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKXYN
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.
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.

Emeritus Professor Patrick De Deckker ‘On the extraordinary expedition of Dumont d’Urville that discovered Antarctica in 1840’
2026-08-06 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Patrick, from the ANU, will present many of the Dumont d’Urville’s expedition’s findings between 1837 and 1840, from 6740 pages of text, 481 plates of illustrations and 77 maps of Antarctica. He will also show slides of the surroundings of the French Antarctic station called Dumont d’Urville.
Biography
Emeritus Professor Patrick De Deckker is at the Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University. Patrick is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
Originally from Belgium, Patrick arrived in Australia about 50 years ago where he continued his university education in geology, micro-palaeontology and zoology at several institutions. He has been at ANU since 1981 except for 2 years at Monash and has worked on salt lakes, their biota and geological history, plus on the evolution of the oceans in our region related to climate changes. He has recently published a book “The Belgica expedition 1897-1899”.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGI
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.
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.

Dr Veronica Briceno Rodrigez ‘From lab coats, hiking boots, and hot desks to plant conservation at the ANBG’
2026-08-13 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Join Vero, Conservation Horticulture Manager at the ANBG, as she shares her journey from plant ecophysiology research to conservation policy, and ultimately bringing it all together with hands-on plant conservation at the ANBG.
Biography
Dr Veronica Briceno Rodriguez is a plant ecologist, with experience spanning Chile’s temperate rainforests, the Southern Andes, and Australia’s alpine, desert, and rainforest ecosystems. After completing her PhD at the Australian National University and holding postdoctoral roles in both Chile and Australia, she shifted into conservation policy with the ACT Government to help bridge the gap between science and on ground action.
Vero is now the Conservation Horticulture Manager at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, where she leads the development of the ANBG Threatened Species Conservation Framework and oversees the Living Collection Strategy. Her work brings together research, policy, and practical conservation to deliver meaningful outcomes for Australia’s unique flora.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGL
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.
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.

Seeds of Wonder Themed Walks
2026-08-17 11:00 - 2026-08-23 14:00 | Clock near the bridge, ANBG, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
Science week in 2026 has the theme ‘Seeds of science: Nurturing knowledge for all’. Seeds of plants come in all shapes and sizes. Seeds, with their packed lunch on board, are a place where time can stand still. But seeds don’t stand still, they move around the environment. Come for a free guided walk in the Gardens and discover some of the amazing properties of seeds.
These one-hour guided walks are held at 11am and 2pm each day, from Monday 17 August to Sunday 23 August.
Meet at the flag near the café bridge.
No booking required for individuals, but groups of more than six people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.

Jo Harding ‘Bush Blitz Driving New Approaches to Working with Traditional Owners’
2026-08-27 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Jo, from Bush Blitz, will share how Bush Blitz is improving the way they work with Traditional Owners and the practical approaches that have made these partnerships successful.
Abstract
Bush Blitz is Australia’s leading species discovery program, uncovering more than 2,000 species new to western science since 2010. Working closely with Traditional Owners and indigenous rangers, recent expeditions—from Nitmiluk in the NT to the Pilliga region of NSW—have revealed species not previously recorded and strengthened scientific understanding of culturally significant landscapes.
This presentation will share how Bush Blitz is improving the way they work with Traditional Owners and the practical approaches that have made these partnerships successful.
Biography
Jo Harding is the Manager of Bush Blitz, leading national biodiversity expeditions that bring together scientists and Traditional Owners to uncover species new to western science. She champions collaboration across communities and disciplines, emphasising the value of shared knowledge in revealing and protecting Australia’s unique natural heritage.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGN
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.
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.
