NEWS OF COMING EVENTS

2021 Schools Photographic Competition now open

The Friends have run this competition for the last 23 years, but the closure of the Gardens in 2020 meant we could not hold it last year.

The Competition is back for 2021! This is a great way to encourage young people to express their appreciation of Australian native plants through artistic creativity.

Entries are now open for primary, secondary and senior college students. The closing date is Friday 24 September.

Photos must feature some aspect of the Gardens, such as its plants, wildlife, scenery or its community. There are prizes in several categories, commendations, prizes for schools, and a Peoples' Choice award. Prizes will be awarded in early November, followed by an exhibition of the winning entries in the Visitor Centre gallery.

Find out more, get entry forms, and view prizewinning entries from previous years.

ANBG Photographic Group - July meeting

Friday, 30 July 2021 - 10:00am

(Attendees welcome to meet for coffee at Pollen Cafe at 9:30am)

Guest speaker: Robert Campbell, Buvelot Picture Framers

Location: Theatrette opposite the Visitors Centre

Buvelot Picture Framers in Phillip has earned the reputation as one of the most respected picture-framing businesses in Canberra since being established in 1974. The business is currently managed by Robert Campbell who took over the business from the founding Luton family in 2018. Robert will be presenting at the July meeting.

Colour in Winter - free guided walks

Monday, 9 August 2021 to Sunday, 15 August 2021
Morning walk 11am to 12pm
Afternoon walk 2pm to 3pm

The Volunteer Guides dedicate a week each month to special themes. They conduct additional afternoon walks, as well as their regular morning walks, during the theme week.

The theme for August is 'Colour in Winter'. Sometimes people don’t associate colour with gardens in winter, thinking of them as rather drab at this time. However, in this walk we can see all the colours of the rainbow plus a few others in these gardens.

Meet at the clock near the rainforest bridge. No booking required.

Thursday Talks

Bookings are essential: A special booking link will be provided for each week’s talk (see the Friends website). Bookings are open from the Friday prior to the talk until Wednesday night, or until seating limits are reached. All tickets are free. Please notify us if you have booked but are unable to come, on 0437 298 711 or 0407 299 704.

COVID-19 safety: Check in on arrival using QR code or, if unable, give your first name and phone number for contact tracing. Please follow organisers' directions on seating and social distancing. Do not attend if: you have been in a hotspot within the last 14 days; are unwell; or are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.

Time and place: Talks are held from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm in the ANBG Theatrette, unless stated otherwise.

Entrance: A small donation on entry to help support the Gardens is appreciated.

22 July 2021 - Dr Natasha Robinson
‘Reintroducing Bandicoots and Quolls to Booderee National Park’

[Date changed] Natasha is a Research Fellow with the National Environmental Science Program, Threatened Species Recovery Hub.  Natasha will talk about what mammal species have been reintroduced to Booderee National Park and what has been learnt so far regarding their ecology and threats to their survival.

29 July 2021 - Linda Groom
‘Threatened alpine species: an update on the campaign to save them from feral horses’

Linda, a volunteer with Invasive Species Council’s 'Reclaim Kosci' campaign, will talk about some of the Australian alpine plants threatened by feral horses and how those plants function as natural water managers. She will also provide an update on recent developments in the 'Reclaim Kosci' campaign.

5 August 2021 - Professor Andrew Cockburn
‘Love Life of Blue Wrens’

Andrew is an Emeritus Professor at ANU where his research centres on the evolution of mating systems in birds. DNA fingerprinting of fairy wrens debunked the myth that these birds lived in faithful monogamous pairs. But why are the birds in declining numbers?

12 August 2021 - Roger Farrow
‘Recovery of native vegetation from the recent catastrophic fires: a “remarkable” phenomenon or a natural response. The Nerriga experience.’

For many years Roger has studied the sandstone flora of Moreton National Park along the Nerriga Road with members of ANPS. After the park was entirely burnt by the 2019-2020 fires, a unique opportunity arose to examine the regeneration of the vegetation, as there was great concern that some species could have been lost.

19 August 2021 - Dr Leo Joseph
‘Australian bird names are all sorted out. Yes? No? Maybe?’

Leo, Director of the Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, will focus on birds from northern Australia to show where knowledge of the names we need to apply to birds still needs a lot more work. Examples from lorikeets, friarbirds, orioles, quail-thrush, whipbirds, black-cockatoos, pigeons and maybe a few more!

26 August 2021 - Professor Justin Borevitz
‘Precision Landscape Regeneration’

Justin, Professor, Research School of Biology Center of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, ANU, will introduce the components of precision landscape regeneration and the outsized role Australia can have in the world. Landscape Genomics methods in Eucalyptus foundation species re-build agro-ecosystems and boosting soil carbon with microbes and management. Integrating and scaling these land-based solutions can build planetary health and resilience.

Exhibitions at the Visitor Centre Gallery

Open daily 9.30 am - 4.30 pm

23 June - 25 July 2021 - Australia’s Megafauna

An exhibition featuring original large-scale paintings of Australia’s Megafauna by Australian wildlife artist, author and paleontological illustrator, Peter Schouten AM.

Peter Schouten has an international reputation for his specialised area as a Paleontological Reconstructionist, which is the rebuilding of a fossil species. David Attenborough termed his skills as “rare and precious” and among the world’s best. Peter has published some of Australia’s most outstanding wildlife publications.

28 July - 15 August 2021 - Fruit, Flowers, Feathers and Fur

An exhibition of botanical and wildlife treasures by four local artists - Wendy Antoniak, Maria Boreham, Cornelia Buchen–Osmond and Vivien Pinder.

Black Mountain Summit Ramble

Saturday, 24 July 2021
Morning walk 9:30am to 12:00pm
Afternoon walk 1:30pm to 4:00pm

Join our ANBG Guides, and FoBM guide Michael Doherty, a local plant ecologist, to hear about some of the winter flowering plants in the gardens and on the mountain as well as other plants during a ramble up the north-eastern slopes from the clock near the ANBG entry bridge up to the Summit of Black Mountain. Michael will also be talking about some very old trees (with ‘elephants’ feet’?), and how trees and shrubs that show scars and rejuvenation cope with fire.

The Summit Walk has steep sections, so it is suitable for fit walkers (including children over the age of 12).

Meet at the clock near the entry bridge, Australian National Botanic Gardens.

Cost Gold coins donation

Bring Friends, water, and snacks, if you wish.

Wear Sturdy shoes, hat, and sun cream … and remember winter woollies in case it is cold.

Bookings essential - Places are limited on these very popular rambles, so please email your name and phone number and whether you wish to attend the morning or afternoon walk to friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com, or phone Julie (6251 8972) or Linda (0437 298 711).