Here you will find a calendar of Friends’ activities in the Gardens including lunchtime talks, social events, exhibitions and the ever-popular spring and autumn plant sales. In addition to events arranged by the Friends, we include some events arranged by the Gardens and by other organisations. A full list of events arranged by the Gardens is in their What’s On webpage.
Thursday 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 thank all those who have donated. Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are 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. Some 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
The 19th Annual Art Exhibition of the Friends’ Botanic Art Group will be held in the Visitor Centre Gallery at the ANBG from 10 April to 3 May 2026. It features artworks of native flora, with a special focus on wetland plants and habitats.
The next Cameras and Café Walk will be held on Saturday 18 April 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 individually. We reconvene for a chat at Pollen Cafe at around 10.30 am.
Jane Cottee will be facilitating a plant recognition workshop on the Myrtaceae family, focussing on practical identification tips and useful botanical features and terminology.
![Designing Resilient Gardens [Sustainable Gardening Australia]](https://friendsanbg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-28-204036.png "Screenshot 2026-03-28 204036")
Join horticulturist Alistair Kirkpatrick for a practical, inspiring session on creating a garden that can handle Australia’s changing climate. Learn how to use plant layering, diversity and smart design to build shade, improve soil, and reduce watering.
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.
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.
Gavin Smith – Topic to be advised
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 commence at 11am and 2pm each day. Meet at the clock near the café bridge.
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.
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.
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.
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.