NEWS OF COMING EVENTS

Book launch: Discovering Australian Flora by Fanny Karouta-Manasse

Friends are invited to the launch of Discovering Australian Flora at the Botanical Bookshop, ANBG, at 11am on Saturday 27 May. The speaker at the launch will be Ian Fraser. Refreshments will be provided.

A guide to the spectacular floral diversity found in Australia's beautiful botanic gardens.
Through exquisite colour photographs taken at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Fanny Karouta-Manasse celebrates the minute and intriguing details of these plants.

A member of the Friends since 2009, Fanny volunteers at the National Seed Bank, combining her passions for nature and photography. She held a solo photographic exhibition on native plants and birds in 2013, and in 2015 one of her seed images was 'Highly Commended' in the Australian Museum's Eureka Prize. Find out more about the book at http://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7719/

If you plan to attend the launch please RSVP to shop@botanicalbookshop.com.au

Musical Mystery Tour with National Film and Sound Archives (NFSA)

Under our 'Friends Around the Lake' arrangements, members can participate in a special tour arranged by NFSA. You can join the Friends of the NFSA on a mystery coach tour of the new suburb of Moncrieff (named after famous singer Gladys Moncrieff) – where all the streets are named after well-known Australian musical identities. The well-known musical identity David Kilby will be the guide, playing the songs and film clips to accompany his expert commentary as they cruise the streets, stopping en-route for afternoon tea.

National Botanic Gardens Open Day

Talks at 12.30pm each Thursday in the Theatrette

25 May - Dr Brian Cooke
Galapagos : the continuing battle against invaders
Brian recalls his time as resident scientist at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the island of Santa Cruz.

1 June - Dr Brian Hawkins
Birds and Plants in subtropical NSW
Brian is a scientist with Bush Blitz and describes his earlier work as an ecologist in Northern NSW

8 June - Dr Brett Howland
Recent results of the effects of fire on grassland plants and animals
Brett describes his work within the ACT Conservation Research Unit.

15 June - Ben Walcott
A walk through some great gardens
Ben will walk us through some gardens in Europe and elsewhere with differing styles and plant choices.

Full details of talks are on the Friends website, including any changes to the program. A small donation to the Friends at the entrance is appreciated. Such funds support the Gardens.

Limited numbers: Thursday Talks have become so popular that, for safety reasons, we have to ensure that we don't exceed the upper limit of 90 in the Theatrette. The Talks team will monitor numbers and decline entry once all seats have been filled - so please arrive early to secure a seat.

Friends of Black Mountain weeding party - ANBG Bushland Precinct

We are looking forward to our June weeding work party. We will be removing woody weeds from the Bushland Precinct of the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

Date: Saturday, 3 June 2017, 9:00am to 12:00 noon

Meet: at the junction of Clunies Ross Street and Black Mountain Drive. Look for the balloons.
It may be a good idea to park at the bottom of the ANBG southern car park (closer to the Black Mountain Drive) and walk across the road from the bottom gate to the meeting point.

Bring:  Enthusiasm, your family and friends, water (and your favourite pruning saw or secateurs, if you wish). Everyone is welcome.
Wear:  hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, stout shoes.

A delicious morning tea will be provided about 10:30am.

Please book: if you are planning to come, please email your name and phone number to friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com or phone 0437 298 711. This helps with the catering. Also, having your contact number helps us to let you know if arrangements need to change at the last minute (for example, adverse weather conditions).

Gardens Library

We are sorry to let members know that the long-standing librarian, Catherine Jordan, has retired from the ANBG. We convey our sincere thanks to Catherine for all her help over many years. Janine Chandler will be standing in as librarian 3 days per week for the time being. Members may remember Janine stepping in for much of 2016 when Catherine was on long service leave. Janine will normally be at the library on Wednesday to Friday.

The library can be contacted through ANBG.Library@environment.gov.au or (02) 6250 9480. For urgent matters on Mondays and Tuesdays, contact Anna Monro on anna.monro@environment.gov.au  or (02) 6250 9530. Anna’s office is on the ground floor of the Botany Building (downstairs from the library) if anyone needs to talk to her about library matters.

Pollen

Members may have already noticed that there have been changes at the Gardens café. It is now known as Pollen and there has been major refurbishment. The new décor is fresh and exciting and there have been major changes to the menu, supported by excellent service. Members of the Friends will still be given the 10% discount on production of your membership card.

Bookings at Pollen can be made through hello@pollencafe.com.au or (02) 6247 7321

Paintings and Photos added to Gardens collection

At the Thursday talk on 11 May the President of the Friends, Lesley Jackman, presented to the ANBG Executive Director additional botanic art works from the recent art exhibition and photographs from the photographic group’s exhibition in November. These works will be added to the collection that has been building up over recent years. Some of the artworks are on display in the Dickson room and hopefully arrangements can be made in the future for wider display of what is gradually building to be major collection.