Enjoy the delights of Australian native plants in flower when you join one of the regular guided tours (at 11 am or 2 pm daily) during Floriade, from September 15 to October 14. Meet at the Visitor Centre. No bookings are necessary unless there are eight or more in the group.
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Exhibition: Reflections of Country, 15 July to 28 August 2012
Visitor Centre Gallery
A special exhibition by Duncan Smith, recipient of the 2003 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artist of the Year Award.
![Launch of Flora Explorer Launch of Flora Explorer](https://friendsanbg.org.au/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/news/Launch%20of%20FE.jpg?itok=-4iAcq2S)
Launch of Flora Explorer
After a couple of weeks of trial runs Flora Explorer, the Botanic Gardens' new electrically powered mini bus (funded by the Friends), was officially launched on her way by General Manager Peter Byron and Vice President of the Friends, Barbara Podger.
![Poster for exhibition Poster for exhibition](https://friendsanbg.org.au/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/news/Flyer%20website%20small_0.jpg?itok=LxTeD5n4)
Friends' Botanical Art Groups 2012 Exhibition
Congratulations to the 31 artists and the organisers who contributed to the very successful 2012 Exhibition. The theme for the exhibition was “Bush Tucker”, and many of the plants in the artworks are to be found in the Gardens.
The exhibition raised a total of $2,250 for the Friends of The National Botanic Gardens. Well done BAG!
![Banksia marginata, one of the plants on the ClimateWatch Trail Banksia marginata, one of the plants on the ClimateWatch Trail](https://friendsanbg.org.au/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/news/Banksia%20marginata_small.jpg?itok=9sYHC7JK)
Australian National Botanic Gardens ClimateWatch Trail
The Australian National Botanic Gardens ClimateWatch Trail was launched on 22 May 2012 as part of the International Day for Biological Diversity celebrations.
![Campsis issue 38 - cover Campsis issue 38 - cover](https://friendsanbg.org.au/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/news/Campsis%2038%20cover.jpg?itok=QD7cAS1J)
Campsis - latest issue
Campsis is the newsletter of the Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens (AFBG), covering 51 Gardens in Australia plus Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Issue 38 has just been published.
![Fig 1. A waterfall in the northern New South Wales rainforest area Fig 1. A waterfall in the northern New South Wales rainforest area](https://friendsanbg.org.au/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/news/Fig1%20Waterfall%20in%20Nth%20NSW%20area%202012%200301%20003_small.jpg?itok=2lwMKz1N)
Just walking in the rain
The Rainforest Gully on 1 March 2012
By Linda Beveridge, Volunteer Guide
Canberra’s summer of 2011-12 had 202.4 mm of rain, compared with the historical average of 168.7 mm. The rain fell over 33 rain days, well above the long-term average of 22 rain days. Most of the rain fell in February which recorded more than twice its historical average rainfall. The wettest day in February was the 29th which reached 29.8 mm at the airport.
Floodlit rainforest for Friends
On Saturday evening, 28 April, 60 members of the Friends experienced a magical walk through the newly lit rainforest gully (a Friends funded project).
![Plant sale, April 2012 Plant sale, April 2012](https://friendsanbg.org.au/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/news/plantsale_apr12_IMG_0008.jpg?itok=QIR6LAnB)
Growing Friends plant sale
Over 1500 plants, of over 120 different species, went on sale at the Growing Friends autumn plant sale on Saturday 14 April. The Growing Friends run plant sales every autumn and spring, selling plants that have been propagated from cuttings taken from the living collection in the Botanic Gardens.
![New website New website](https://friendsanbg.org.au/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/news/friends_newwebsite.jpg?itok=vX84uPpn)
New website
We launched this new website on 16 April 2012. It is the culmination of over a year’s work, involving many members of the Friends, especially the various sub-groups and committees which make the organisation so vibrant and interesting.