Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Leo Joseph '12 Birds, 3 Books, 5 Cities, and 3 Continents: An Ornithological Life Not Yet Finished’
2026-04-23 12:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Sydney) | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Leo, recently retired from CSIRO, appreciates how pivotal it was for him to see certain species of bird in the wild in Australia and South America and the happy pursuit of a career studying evolution of birds, especially in these countries.
Abstract
Triggered by glimpses in childhood of Adelaide Rosellas and further ignited by experiences of almost inhaling books on Australian birds, seeing with awe museum collections of birds and not to mention a lifetime of camaraderie with like-minded friends and colleagues, I will look back (and ahead) on a life studying the evolution of Australian birds (with a little more yet to come). Having recently retired from CSIRO where I was Director of the Australian National Wildlife Collection from 2005-2025, I can look back and appreciate how pivotal it was for me to see certain species of birds in the wild, and to travel across Australian and South American landscapes, while all the while avidly absorbing the literature of ornithology and working with many colleagues. The result was perhaps dogged yet always happy pursuit of a career studying evolution of birds especially across Australia and South America.
Biography
Leo joined CSIRO as Director of the Australian National Wildlife Collection in November 2005. Originally from Adelaide, he developed an early but lifelong interest in the evolution of birds and especially in a museum collections environment, one that has always guided his work. He did undergraduate and Honours degrees at the University of Adelaide in 1977-79 and 1981, respectively. Then he worked in Australia and travelled in South America until doing a PhD at the University of Queensland from 1989-1994. For his thesis, he investigated the history of habitat diversity in eastern Australian rainforest birds. Then, from 1994-97, he held a Visiting Professorship in the Laboratorio De Evolución, Faculdad De Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay where he worked on shorebird evolution and the evolution of bird migration. His interest in integrating ecological diversity and evolution was by then well-established. In 1997 he took up a position in the Department of Ornithology at the then Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, in the USA. From 2003, he was Chair of the Department but returned to Australia in 2005. At CSIRO, he developed an extensive network of collaborators including fellow researchers in Australia, Europe and North America, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students and Honours students. He has amassed a body of work on the phylogeography and more recent evolutionary history of Australo-Papuan birds. He was awarded the D. L. Serventy medal for publication in Australian ornithology in 2018. In 2020 he was elected as a Fellow of the American Ornithological Societies. Despite all that, he remains a birdwatcher at heart and plans to do a lot more birdwatching in the coming years.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DHLRE
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.

Photographic Group April Meeting
2026-04-24 10:00 - 12:00 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The next regular meeting takes place on Friday 24 April at 10.00am in the Theatrette.
Stephen Hunter, the Photographic Group’s publicity officer, will talk about planning for overseas travel from a photographer’s perspective. He will illustrate his talk with stories and images from visits to Uzbekistan, Italy, India, Peru, Ecuador (Galapagos Islands and Amazon Basin), and the wilds of Patagonia.
Stephen will also bring along examples of the photo books he has compiled on his travels as well as the gear he uses to transport photographic equipment including in the field.
The meeting will also feature a further selection of images submitted for inclusion in the Gardens 2027 calendar
The regular show and tell session is on again. Bring up to six images on a thumb drive to share with your fellow PG members. You can include videos of up to ten seconds each if you choose.

Associate Professor Brad Tucker ‘The past, present and future of Mt Stromlo: Celebrating Mt Stromlo’s 100th anniversary’
2026-04-30 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
In its 100 years Mt Stromlo has been at the forefront of astronomical discoveries, but much of its history has remained hidden. Brad, from ANU, will talk about its past and how it is shaping the future of astronomy and Canberra, and how it is helping to combat light pollution.
Biography
Brad is an Astrophysicist/Cosmologist and Associate Professor at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mt. Stromlo Observatory and the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, at the Australian National University.
Brad has Bachelor’s degrees in Physics, Philosophy, and Theology from the University of Notre Dame and a PhD in Astrophysics and Cosmology from Mt. Stromlo Observatory at the ANU. He’s involved in programs using space telescopes to find stars within the first hours of explosion, as well as surveys to measure the growth rate of the Universe. He’s developing an ultraviolet space telescope, as well as uses machine learning to combat light pollution as well as gaining insights into the public’s understanding of science.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DHLRH
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.

Australian Parliament House Autumn Courtyard Tours
2026-05-01 10:00 - 2026-05-23 12:00 | Australian Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Led by one of our knowledgeable guides, this walking tour offers a rare opportunity to explore courtyards not usually open to the public and view the renowned Budget Tree. This autumn, discover Parliament House not only as the home of Australia’s democracy, but as a landmark of landscape architecture and design.
Tour schedule
On Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 23 May at 10:00 am, 11:00 am and 12:00 pm.
Accessibility friendly tours
On Friday 8 May and Friday 22 May at 10am. Please book via the Accessible Tour accessible tour link. For further details regarding accessibility at Parliament House, please contact us on 02 6277 5399.
Identification requirements
All participants must present valid photo identification. Without photo ID, a private areas pass cannot be issued and entry to the tour will be denied.
What to expect
This is a walking tour that travels through internal spaces and outdoor courtyards. Participants may encounter uneven surfaces and varying weather conditions. Comfortable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.
Please arrive at Parliament House 10 minutes before your tour, as the event will begin on time.
Optional refreshment package
You can add a refreshment package to your ticket, which includes a freshly baked scone and a hot beverage of your choice from Queen’s Terrace Café.
Bookings
Bookings are essential and can be made online at the Parliament House website

Black Mountain Weeding Work Party
2026-05-02 09:00 - 12:00 | Caswell Drive entry on the mountain side, Caswell Drive, Aranda, ACT, 2614, Australia
We thank our volunteers at our April work party who removed almost 600 woody weeds, some of which were more difficult to remove than others.
We look forward to seeing you at our next weeding work party and morning tea:
Date: Saturday, 2 May 2026, 9:00am to 12noon
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.
Wear: HAT, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, stout shoes.
We shall break for delicious morning tea at about 10:30am
Please book: if you are planning to come, please let us know by using this
booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/DIFKU
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 298711.
Linda Beveridge
Friends of Black Mountain

Way out West (Flora of WA) Themed Walks
2026-05-04 11:00 - 2026-05-10 14:00 | Clock near the bridge, ANBG, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
The South-West of Western Australia is a Biodiversity Hotspot, one of two in Australia, with only 35 recognised globally.
These free one-hour guided walks will look at the riches of WA flora, with their amazing adaptations to the environment. We will also learn about the efforts taken to get them to grow at the ANBG in very different conditions to their native habitat.
Walks commence at 11am and 2pm each day.
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.

Kristy Gould ‘Conserving Canberra: Healing country through restoration’ [NEW VENUE: Crosbie Morrison Bldg]
2026-05-07 12:30 - 13:30 | 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.
This is part of the Friends celebration of Botanic Gardens Week which runs from 18 – 24 May 2026.
To be part of it you need to be at the bus stop at 8.40 am. Participants can choose to move around the Gardens as a group or head off with their camera and/or phone individually. We reconvene for a chat at Pollen Cafe at around 10.30 am.
Several members of the Friends of ANBG Photographic Group Committee will be there to get things started, orchestrate introductions and provide advice to anyone who needs it.
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.

Photographic Group May Regular Meeting
2026-05-29 10:00 - 12:00 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The regular Photographic Group meeting takes place at 10.00 am Friday 29 May in the Theatrette.
As advised earlier, unfortunately, the speaker who had originally been scheduled to join us in May is no longer available.
Instead, Graham Gall will make a presentation titled “Flora in Focus” which will be especially relevant to our Group’s interest in capturing images of the Gardens.
For those of you who do not know Graham, he is a highly respected, exhibited and awarded Canberra photographer. He has a long association with the Friends Photographic Group.
We will also have our normal show and tell segment. Bring up to 6 images on a thumb drive to share with fellow members. You can include videos of up to ten seconds each if you choose.
See you there!

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.

Black Mountain Weeding Work Party
2026-06-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Caswell Drive entry on the mountain side, Caswell Drive, Aranda, ACT, 2614, Australia
HAPPY VOLUNTEER WEEK
We celebrate and thank very much all of our Valuable Volunteers for their contribution to the range of activities of the of the Friends of Black Mountain. Their volunteer hours, knowledge and skills are so valuable towards conservation of the biodiversity in the Black Mountain Nature Reserve; such as weeding work parties, guided walks, flora and fauna surveys, and bird observations.
We wish you all the best and are looking forward to your continued involvement.
We also look forward to seeing everyone who is available at our next weeding work party and morning tea.
At our May work party our valuable volunteers removed almost 1300 woody weeds, most of which were saplings. As we all know, one needs to revisit areas to control weeds, and this is FoBM’s sixth re-visit in our program to weed the grasslands area in the south-west corner of the Black Mountain Nature Reserve.
Date: Saturday, 6 June 2026, 9:00am to 12 noon
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 the access road on the left (mountain side) and the blue and white “P” sign for parking. Pull into the carpark carefully. Look for banners.
Wear: Hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, stout shoes.
We shall break for delicious morning tea at about 10:30am.
Please book: if you are planning to come, please let us know by using this
booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/DIFKV
This helps us to let you know if arrangements need to change at the last minute (for example, adverse weather conditions).
Linda Beveridge
Friends of Black Mountain

Professor Rick McRae ‘Fire on Black Mountain: Fire in the ACT in the 1990s'
2026-06-11 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The 1990s saw a lot of fire on Canberra’s hills and ridges. Things have changed a lot since then – for better or worse. Rick McRae was tasked with recording events while working as a Planning Officer or Arson Investigator, giving him a unique perspective on events.
Biography
Professor Rick McRae trained as a plant ecologist and mapped vegetation in many key reserves of the south-east. He served as a headquarters technical specialist in what evolved to become the ACT Emergency Services Agency in Canberra from 1989 until his recent retirement. He worked in business planning, arson investigation, multi-hazard risk assessment, as planning officer for major incidents, weather specialist, and as a research scientist focusing on extreme wildfires. He is now an Adjunct Professor with the Bushfire Research Group at UNSW Canberra.
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.

Cameras and Cafe Walk
2026-06-20 08:40 - 10:30 | ANBG Bus Stop, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australia
The next Cameras and Café Walk will be held on Saturday 20 June 2026.
It is a chance to get to know members of the Photographic Group and welcome the new members who often come along.
To participate meet at the bus stop at 8.40 am. You can choose to move around the Gardens as part of a group or head off with your camera individually. We get back together for a chat at Pollen Cafe at around 10.30 am.
At least one person from the Friends of ANBG Photographic Group Committee will be there to get things started, conduct introductions and provide support to anyone who needs it, especially new members, or members with new cameras or lenses.

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.

Photographic Group June Regular Meeting
2026-06-26 10:00 - 12:00 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The next regular Photographic Group meeting takes place at 10.00 am Friday 26 June in the Theatrette.
The feature of this meeting will be a session conducted by Cristy Froehlich to constructively critique images brought to the meeting by members specifically for this purpose.
Cristy is a highly respected Canberra photographer and an experienced photography judge. She is skilled at giving constructive feedback on photographic images, as several Group members can attest. If you wish to participate, bring up to three images on a thumb drive for Cristy to review.
In addition, we will also have our regular show and tell session. Bring up to six images (including video clips of up to ten seconds), again on a thumb drive.
See you there!

Dr Gina Newton ‘River Murray—Darling to Sea: listing Australia’s first river system as threatened’
2026-07-02 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Gina will discuss the first ever listing of an Australian river system, the River Murray—Darling to Sea, as a threatened ecosystem under national environmental law, including: what it is, why it’s threatened, how it was assessed, the challenges involved, the benefits of listing, and priority recovery actions. (Photo: Ben Good)
Abstract

The River Murray, downstream of the Darling River, and associated aquatic and floodplain systems (known as the River Murray—Darling to Sea) was listed nationally as a Critically Endangered ecological community (aka ecosystem) in January this year.
This listing represents a first for Australia, although its journey was challenging—scientifically, socially, and policy-wise. A similar attempt in 2013 saw it being the first disallowed entity in the history of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The decades long decline of the River Murray—Darling to Sea is due to many compounding threats, with water extraction, invasive species, and climate change impacts, prominent. The listing, along with efforts under the Basin Plan, represents a positive and hopeful way forward for the Mighty Murray and its dependent biodiversity.
Biography
Gina is a marine biologist, zoologist and science communicator. She has worked for several decades at the science-policy interface with the Australian Government, in a range of environmental areas, including fisheries, state of the environment reporting, climate change science, and Murray-Darling Basin ecology. A career highlight has been undertaking assessments for listing several world-first, landscape-scale aquatic threatened ecosystems under Australian environmental law.
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.

Black Mountain Weeding Work Party
2026-07-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Caswell Drive entry on the mountain side, Caswell Drive, Aranda, ACT, 2614, Australia
We look forward to seeing you at our next weeding work party and morning tea:
Date: Saturday, 4 July 2026, 9:00am to 12 noon
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 the access road on the left (mountain side) and the blue and white “P” sign for parking. Pull into the carpark carefully. Look for banners.
Wear: Hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, stout shoes.
We shall break for delicious morning tea at about 10:30am.
Please book: if you are planning to come, please let us know by using this
booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/DIFKW
This helps us to let you know if arrangements need to change at the last minute (for example, adverse weather conditions).
Linda Beveridge
Friends of Black Mountain

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.

Cameras and Cafe Walk
2026-07-11 07:00 - 09:00 | ANBG Bus Stop, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australia
The next Cameras and Café Walk will be held on Saturday 11 July 2026.
This walk will be a special one. The Gardens are very kindly allowing us to commence at 7 am, which is just before dawn. This will maximize the chances of capturing fog and/or frost in the early hours of light.
To be part of it you need to be at the bus stop at 7 am.
At least one person from the Friends of ANBG Photographic Group Committee will be there to get things started, orchestrate introductions and provide advice to anyone who needs it, especially new members, or members with new cameras or lenses who would like extra help and support.
