Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens Number 93 December 2019

President Max Bourke Vice President Linda Beveridge Secretary Jann Ollerenshaw Treasurer Helen Elliot General Committee Wendy Antoniak

David More Rainer Rehwinkel Alan Henderson Qualup Bells, ANBG Peter Heaume Lynden Ayliffe Public Officer Wendy Antoniak Exec.Director ANBG Dr Judy West In this Issue Post: Friends of ANBG, GPO Box 1777, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia Telephone: (02) 6250 9548 (messages) 3 Qualup Bells - Pimelea physodes - a showstopper Website: www.friendsanbg.org.au 4 Now you see them, now you don’t: a threatened Friends’ activities and contacts Fronds Committee: Anne Rawson species walk Barbara Podger 6 From 'Banksia Centre Garden for the Disabled' to Cathy Robertson Denis Warne 'Banksia Garden' for all Pam Rooney [email protected] 8 Friendly Chatter Membership Lesley Harland Botanic Art Groups Pam Cooke Growing Friends [email protected] Growing Friends Maurice Hermann Plant Science Group Guides Lesley King Photographic Group Botanic Art Groups Helen Hinton Volunteer Guides Photographic Group Jim Gould Plant Science Group John Busby 10 Life Membership – Anne Campbell Social Events Tricia Morton Talks Convenor Jan Finley Schools Photo Exhibition For all these groups contact: [email protected] 11 Collaborating for the future Booked Walks: Book Review [email protected] 12 - 13 Snapshot of celebratory events 2020 Fronds welcomes your articles and photographs. Fronds is published 3 times per year; the deadline 14 Friends Annual General Meeting; major projects and for articles is mid-February for the April issue; mid- related activities June for the August issue and mid-October for the December issue. Email or post material to the Fronds 15 Report to the ANBG Friends AGM, Dr Judy West Committee at the above address or place in the Friends letterbox, located inside the Gardens’ Visitor 16 Plants from the past — plants for the future Centre, between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm, every day, Editorial messages: telephone (02) 6250 9548. 17 Gardens Shorts Design and layout: Pam Rooney 18 Friends Briefs Printing: Union Offset Printers 20 Botanical Bookshop ISSN 2207-6492 21 What's On at the Gardens, including Thursday Talks

Cover: Banksia spinulosa, ANBG, photo – Pam Rooney

2 December 2019 Fronds 93 Qualup Bells - Pimelea physodes - a showstopper Rainer Rehwinkel

raving Canberra’s cold, and flowering from the repeatedly grazed in its grassy habitats. I have seen this spe- end of June through July and August, and still cies attain the stature of a shrub to a height of 45cm at one going strong in early September, is this beautiful ungrazed site. Western Australian, the Qualup Bells (Pimelea These eastern riceflowers bear little resemblance to the spectac- Bphysodes). Whenever I’ve seen these over the last few ular Qualup Bells. Endemic to south-western WA, this species months, they’ve been a showstopper, with passers-by invari- has, to the untrained eye, large petals. Closer inspection reveals ably pausing to admire them and taking a photo or two. that small flowers are indeed arranged in clustered heads at the These plants are in a bed beside the main path, between the tips of the branches, and the “petals” are, in fact, leafy bracts Visitor Centre and Pollen. that surround the flowerheads. If you look carefully at the I’ve always admired riceflowers (Pimelea spp.), with several Slender and Smooth Riceflowers, you’ll notice that their flow- attractive species found in the dry forests, woodlands and erheads are also surrounded by leafy bracts, though in those grasslands of the Canberra region. The most common here is species, they’re certainly not as showy as in the WA species. the Slender Riceflower (P. linifolia) a low open shrub of the According to a factsheet by the Australian Native Plants Society, stony rises of Canberra. It bears its clustered creamy flower- Qualup Bells have long been favoured as bush-gathered cut- heads at the ends of its branches in spring. Similar, though flowers, though that practice has now been restricted. They are much more compact, and far less common, is the Smooth now being successfully cultivated for that purpose. Riceflower (P. glauca) of grassy groundlayers in grasslands and The ANPS factsheet states that the Qualup Bells requires a woodlands. Another grassland species, the Curved Riceflower well-drained acid soil, and a sunny position free from frosts. It (P. curviflora) has its flowers arranged along its stems, tiny apparently resents the humid conditions of eastern Australia. tubular affairs in greenish yellow, or rarely, reddish brown. The site at the ANBG seems to suit it well, with several shrubs The Curved Riceflower looks and behaves like a forb rather in the ground and one in a large tub. With seed available from than a woody plant, though this may be a function of it being Australian seed suppliers, and with a warmer, dryer climate, perhaps we’ll see more of these spectacular Western Australians in our future gardens. The riceflowers belong to family Thymelaeaceae, and are found mostly in Africa and Australia, with some Asian and European representatives. The best-known family member is the exotic Sweet Daphne (Daphne odora), prized for its sweetly scented flowers. Riceflowers had a very important use by Indigenous Australians. Their bark is characteristically stringy, a fact you’d realise if ever you’ve tried picking a flower off a shrub: the bark comes away in long strips. Many years ago, I saw a string-bag made of riceflower string, woven by Indigenous people of the Monaro. That bag had been in possession of a landholder for many years and it was still as pliant and flexible as if it had been made the previous year. The common riceflower that grows in that part of the world, Poison Riceflower (P. pauciflora), is a tall shrub, to three metres, with long slender branches (ideal for making long lengths of string). Its clustered small yellow tubular flowers, like those of the other eastern species, are backed by small green leaf-like bracts. Riceflowers: varied, beautiful and useful!

Rainer Rehwinkel is co-author of the book by Eddy, D, Mallinson, D, Rehwinkel, R and Sharp, S. (1998) Grassland Flora, a field guide for the Southern Tablelands (NSW & ACT). Environment ACT. Rainer Rehwinkel

Fronds 93 December 2019 3 Now you see them, now you don’t: a threatened species walk

Naarilla Hirsch, Volunteer Guide alks on Threatened invasion by garden escapees and by discovered in 1986 in a single population Species Day this novel biota, land degradation by feral of 10 plants. The last known wild tree September highlighted animals, dieback due to the root-rot died in 2003, but since then it has been the diversity of threat- fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, and translocated to the original site, with 120 Wened plant species and communities on climate change. These were common plants surviving in 2008. Recreational show in the ANBG, the range of threats threats to many of the plants we looked use of that area remains a significant faced by these plants and communities, at on the walk, as were inappropriate threat to this species. and the critical role the ANBG plays in fire regimes and impacts from a range of The Box Gum grassy woodland garden their conservation. human and commercial activities. is at the entrance to the main carpark. Over 1,300 plant species and almost Construction is a significant reason for At least 300 of the threatened plants 80 ecological communities are listed the critically endangered status of these as threatened under either or both listed under the Commonwealth communities which have a probable Commonwealth and State/Territory leg- legislation can be found in the ANBG. extinction rate of at least 50 per cent islation. The Commonwealth legislation in the immediate future. It is actu- categorises listings into extinct, critically The area around the Visitor Centre ally possible to see a construction site endangered, endangered and vulnerable; showcases a number of threatened plants across Clunies Ross St in the ANU, at least 300 of the threatened plants and plant communities. After view- from this site. As well as widespread listed are in the ANBG. ing the bogs and fenlands pipe pots we species such as Common Everlasting The Commonwealth legislation listing moved on to the Nielsen Park Sheoak (Chrysocephalum apiculatum), box gum covers not just plant species and eco- (Allocasuarina protuensis), listed as endan- grassy woodland contains threatened logical communities, but also threaten- gered (i.e.with a probability of extinction species such as Button Wrinklewort ing processes. Those affecting plants of at least 20 per cent in the immediate (Rutidosis leptorrynchoides) and Small include land clearance for agriculture, future). Despite occurring in the environs Purple Pea (Swainsona recta) and is also urban development and infrastructure, of Sydney Harbour, this sheoak was only home to threatened fauna such as the Superb Parrot. Button Wrinklewort is restricted to a few tiny sites in the ACT and south- western Victoria. Extensive research on its genetics by Andrew Young and others at CSIRO has highlighted some of the problems in restoring this threatened plant to the wild. One is that there are two chromosomal races – diploid popu- lations that are spread across the whole range, and tetraploids in the south- west of Victoria. Fertility is reduced if the two races interbreed, highlighting the importance of the data the ANBG hold behind each plant growing in the Gardens and seed in the seed bank. Button Wrinklewort has been found to be self-incompatible. This system works effectively in large, genetically diverse populations, but results in reduced fertilisation in small fragmented popula- tions. This suggests that seed collection for translocation projects for Button Wrinklewort should be from plants located several metres apart in order to minimise the relatedness of progeny. Naarilla Hirsch Grassy woodland garden, ANBG

4 December 2019 Fronds 93 Nearby is the Small Purple-pea Along Banks walk is Morrisby’s Gum per cent) are listed as endangered. Just (Swainsona recta), an endangered plant (E. morrisbyi). The main wild popula- past the Wollemi Pines is Headland only occurring in small populations, tion no longer produces seed, but a Zieria (Ziera prostrata), which occurs many of which are on railway ease- seed orchard was established in the on four headlands near Coffs Harbour ments. The ANBG has created a seed mid-1990s and hundreds of seedlings and has a soil seedbank of extremely orchard of this plant to produce seed have been planted along roads and on low viability. A cultivar known as and bulk up stocks for propagation. private property since then. Beside it in Carpet Star is readily available and is Some have been planted on a biodiver- the pipe pot is Border Boronia (Boronia a good ground cover. Further along in sity offset block in Williamsdale and, as repanda), listed as endangered but with the rock garden, the vulnerable Lemon- part of the Wandiyali Swainsona Project, no populations managed in conserva- scented Zieria (Z. citriodora) has a the ANBG has translocated 300 seed- tion reserves. Threats to it include fire pleasant perfume and could potentially lings to establish a new self-sustaining reduction activities, quarrying and inap- be bred in large enough numbers to be population near Queanbeyan. propriate seed collection. released to nurseries, providing money On our walk, we paused to reflect more Outside the café is a Tall Astelia (Astelia for conservation. on the status of our Eucalypts – of the australiana). This plant forms large On the main path, Zigzag Grevillea over 800 species, 61 (7.6 per cent) are colonies on humus-rich waterlogged (Grevillea flexulosa) was thought to listed as endangered. One is the Green soils in Nothofagus and E. regnans be extinct until rediscovered recently. Mallee Ash (Eucalyptus langleyi), which forests, reflecting its ancient origins Occurring in the Jarrah forest bio- occurs in a small area of scrubland near in the rainforests of Gondwana. Male graphic region, this species is threatened Nowra. Initially there were 32 trees, but (maroon) and female (green) flowers are by dieback from Phytophthora cin- only 20 remain following destruction separate and the pollination vectors are namomi and loss of habitat. Its lemon or of some during pipeline construction in unknown. Threats include the impact of creamy-white flowers are perfumed and 2000. Conservation measures include nearby timber harvesting and competi- attract butterflies, insects and nectar- design of walking tracks to minimize tion from other plants. feeding birds. the risk of recreational user damage, fire All except one Zieria are endemic to The walk ended with visits to the management and weed control. Australia, and 21 of the 60 species (35 Conservation and Research, and the Pomaderris gardens, both showcasing a number of threatened plants and the ANBG’s role in their conservation. We left appreciative of the opportunity to see almost 40 of our threatened plants and plant communities. M Fagg APII © M Fagg APII © M Fagg Rooney P. Rooney P. Button Wrinklewort Morrisby’s Gum Small Purple-pea Zigzag Grevillea Naarilla Hirsch Naarilla Hirsch Naarilla Hirsch Nielsen Park Sheoak Tall Astelia Headland Zieria Fronds 93 December 2019 5 From 'Banksia Centre Garden for the Disabled' . . .

In 1980, as part of the International Year of Disabled persons, the Gardens, assisting twenty local and twenty interstate organi- in its annual report, noted the completion of a major event, ‘the Banksia sations. In 1988-89, 2,080 people attended while Centre Garden for the Disabled’. by 1990-91 usage had grown to 3,900. The Gardens’ photographic collection, the Australian Plant Image Index In 1993 the Gardens decided that services for (APII), has a number of photos of this garden and its clients. It was an disabled people should be integrated with services easy-access garden with wide paths, many resting places, and some raised for people of all abilities, so the role of the beds with ‘colourful perfumed flowers and scented and textured foliage’. Garden changed. Over the years accessibility for Mrs Tamie Fraser, wife of then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, took a great all abilities has become a consideration through- interest in this development and opened the garden and the Banksia Centre out the Gardens' design. on 21 July 1982. In the 1990s the Banksia Centre was renamed the In 1983-84 the Centre promoted horticulture for disabled people, gave advice Banks Centre as part of a policy to name build- on accessible gardens, developed tools for disabled gardeners and welcomed ings after people, not plants, to avoid confusion. 1,800 people with disabilities to the Centre’s programs. It became the leading Where visitors once expected to see Banksias, advocate for therapeutic horticulture in Australia. By 1986 the Centre was there will now be Banksias. R Hotchkiss © APII

Raised beds Garden for the Disabled 1982 M Fagg © APII M Fagg National Capital Development Commission sign for development of Garden for the Disabled (later Banksia Centre), ANBG, 1981 R Hotchkiss © APII

Daisies on No Steps Trail, 1992 A Virtue R Hotchkiss © APII R Hotchkiss

Banksia Centre, Garden for the Disabled, garden bays, ANBG, 1982. © APII In later years, the curved timber walls were replaced with rock walls. Compare this with the photograph, lower right on page 7, and you see that that the curving paths and alcoves of the original design are retained in the new design Raised beds with exotic plants grown by clients, 1985

6 December 2019 Fronds 93 . . . to 'Banksia Garden' for all

The new Banksia Garden will open in April 2020, to celebrate the ANBG’s 50th anniversary. Gardens’ staff have been busy building the very beautiful sandstone walls and in September 2019 those of the central tiered garden bed had been completed. Major earthworks include removing clay from the area and spreading and mound- ing sandstone based coarse sand in preparation for planting. All watering will be from below so drainage and irrigation pipes are being installed. In the nursery, staff continue to be busy propagat- ing and maintaining plants. A transformation. Anne Rawson photos: Pam Rooney

Fronds 93 December 2019 7 Friendly Chatter

Botanic Art Groups Growing Friends Photographic Group NATIVE WILDLIFE EXHIBITION Growing Friends have been busy The Photographic Group provides propagating plants from the Gardens. opportunities for Friends who have an Visitor Centre Gallery Our next sale is on 28 March 2020. In interest in photography to share their 14 December 2019 - 12 January 2020 the past year, plant sales have raised over experience and learn about photography Closed Christmas Day $12,000. Propagation sessions are held while also extending their knowledge of Daily 9.30 am - 4.30 pm on the first Saturday of each month and the Gardens. Meetings are held on the are a great way to see different parts last Friday of the month in the the- of the Gardens and learn about the atrette opposite the Visitor Centre. To wide range of native plant families and join the group contact: species. If you are interested in join- [email protected]. ing, please talk to one of the Growing The Group had a successful 2019 with Friends, or telephone John Connolly presentations, two macro workshops, a (0477 257 188) or Maurice Hermann trip to the Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens (0429 361 256). and walks, both guided and unguided, Wendy Merritt Friends’ Botanic Art in our own ANBG. The committee Groups present annual Plant Science Group has worked hard to ensure that our members are provided with activities exhibitions of illustrated native Recent talks at the Plant Science Group flora. From time to time artists’ that stimulate them. And, with 2020 have ranged from pollination to chang- th work also features wildlife, which being the 50 birthday of the Gardens, ing taxonomic landscapes: th has proved very popular. So this year, the 30 birthday of the Friends, and August: A window to the past: using th for the first time, we are mounting an the 10 birthday of the Photographic museum specimens to study temporal additional exhibition featuring native Group, our plans to help celebrate these changes of plant-pollinator interac- wildlife exclusively. All Friends are occasions are well underway. tions (Francisco Encinas-Viso, CANBR invited to a preview on Friday 13 On Sunday 5 April 2020, a full- - CSIRO). December from 2 pm to 4.30 pm. day INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL September: Evolution of Australian PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP will be Be amongst the first to choose some- heliozelid moths and their pollination thing special and unique as a Christmas mutualism with Boronia (Rutaceae) held. The aim is to help participants present for someone in your family, or (Liz Milla, Postdoctoral Fellow, CSIRO understand the basic operation for yourself. Paintings will be in a vari- Black Mountain). and principles of their camera. It ety of styles and include a diverse range November: Acacia taxonomy and appli- is designed for people who have a of wildlife from birds, marsupials and cations (Dr Phillip Kodela, Australian camera and wish to utilise its many insects to marine life. All are for sale. Biological Resources Study) features. The full day workshop Entry is free. The Plant Science Group meets on the includes sections on theory and Our annual botanical art exhibi- first Monday of the month. For further practical. Cost is $170. (see p22) tion will be held from 18 April to 17 information contact: Helen Dawes May, 2020. [email protected] . John Busby Kate Ramsey Helen Dawes

Botanic Art Groups Images: Photographic Group members and other contributors were each presented with a copy Kristen O'Keefe, Rainbow Bee-eater of 'Australian Water Dragons' by Lisa Mitchell. They were some of the photographers who Vivian Pinder, Water Dragon submitted images for inclusion in the production of the book.

8 December 2019 Fronds 93 Volunteer Guides Noongar Aboriginal word kwongan has gardens: the various training, mentor- come into common usage to refer to this ing, planning and operational arrange- Thirty volunteer Guides from ANBG floristic region’s shrubland vegetation ments used by the different volunteer attended the 16th Australian Botanic and associated countryside (equivalent guide organisations. We could all relate Guides Conference 2019, at Kings Park, to South Africa’s fynbos) to the highly amusing depiction of Perth. Altogether there were 150 confer- flawed and good guiding techniques, ence attendees, with representatives The theme of Beauty rich and rare came highlighted in a training video produced from each state and territory (except to life – actually larger than life - when by Kings Park guides. the Northern Territory), as well as from the Adorable Florables, a group of Wellington and Christchurch, New wildflower characters, turned up at the Overall, the conference was an impres- Zealand. The theme of the conference conference soiree, to our amusement sive volunteer achievement: run by was Beauty rich and rare, which is a and delight. This was undoubtedly a volunteers for volunteers. It was a particularly apt description of the flora conference highlight. These characters, reminder of how much we, as volunteer featured in Kings Park Botanic Gardens who are actually Kings Park Botanic Guides, appreciate being part of a group and found across Western Australia. Gardens employees, can be found mean- that has a positive, encouraging and WA has almost half of Australia’s dering through the Gardens during the learning culture. As volunteers we are 25,000 plant species, and two-thirds of spring festival, entertaining visitors with always learning; and never more so than these do not occur naturally anywhere their lively banksia, bee, kangaroo paw when learning is part of enjoyable, social else on earth. and wattle personalities! activities and on location, in bush or botanic gardens. Conference participants were welcomed The conference also provided oppor- to country by Dr Noel Nannup, who tunities to learn from other botanic Lesley King spoke about the pleasure of walking on country, the importance of story-telling and the joy you get from discovering something about nature for yourself. We were immediately transfixed, thinking about how we can apply these ideas to our guiding. In the course of the confer- ence we also heard about initiatives to link Aboriginal experience with modern science (explored in a film available on

YouTube by Dr Nannup and Professor Janelle Chalker Hopper Synergies: Walking Together— Belonging to Country.) The strong emphasis on connecting with Aboriginal heritage was sustained throughout. The complementarity of gardens and ANBG Friends and Guides with an Adorable Florable, Perth bushland was also an ongoing theme, reflected in other presentations, in walks through the gardens, and the day excur- sion to nature reserves further afield. Presentations covered the development and management of the Kings Park Botanic Gardens, including their seed collecting and plant breeding activi- ties (Grady Brand, Luke Sweedman, Digby Growns); and the evolutionary

development of this biodiversity hotspot Trish Munro (Professor Kingsley Dixon). As an old landscape with a stable climate, the southwest (an area the size of England) is recognised as a global biodiver- Guides in their element discovering plant wonders in the Stirling Range National Park, WA sity hotspot for flora and fauna. The (post conference tour)

Fronds 93 December 2019 9 Friends Life Membership: Anne Campbell

As announced at the AGM, Life Membership for distinguished service to the Friends has been awarded to Dr Anne Campbell. Anne has been a Volunteer Guide since 2008 and often contributed to the development of special walks, as well as to the Red Centre Guiding Handbook. In 2012/13 she worked on the development of the Eucalypt Discovery Walk. She was also one of the original Flora Explorer drivers and helped develop the original route for the Flora tour. Her professional background enabled Anne Bird, Ky Trotter, Canberra College to support scientific activities – a Botanical Resource Centre volunteer in its early days, and subsequently convenor of the Plant Science Group. She organised a trip for both that group and the Guides to visit the PlantBank at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan. Anne served on Friends Council for four years and has been a regular volunteer at Summer Sounds and, more recently, at the Visitor Centre. Anne is the sort of committed volunteer that every organisation such as the Friends needs. Anne has moved back to her former home city of Adelaide, but will receive the award on her next visit to Canberra. Schools Photo Exhibition Dripping Bottle Brush, Amy Lancaster, UCSSC Lake Ginninderra College, Altered reality Local Shooting Stars were also able to enter “altered reality” One hundred and eighteen students from photographs thus stretching themselves local colleges, high schools and primary creatively. A group from the Friends schools competed in this year’s Annual Photographic Group judged the entries School Photographic Competition, and commented on the high standard of run by the Friends. In its 23rd year, the images this year. Nineteen cash prizes the competition attracted 294 entries were presented on 2 November at the from 14 schools across Canberra and ANBG theatrette. Highly commended Yass. It was the first time that primary and commended certificates were also school age students were able to enter awarded to 39 entries. The first and with prizes for colour and monochrome second placegetters came from 5 dif- works. College and high school students ferent schools, each of which received a House Made of Sticks, Samuel Wagner, Aranda Primary School cash reward. The featured photos on this page won first prize in each of the five categories. An exhibition of the works was held in the Visitors Centre from 30 October to 17 November 2019. It was wonderful to see the range of entries sparked by the flora and fauna of the ANBG. Cecilia Melano Banksia, Alyse Rooney, Sweden, Riley Wilson, Canberra High School Hawker Primary School

10 December 2019 Fronds 93 Collaborating for the future Book Review

In collaboration with Parks Australia, a new The Secrets of Great Botanists and What They Teach Us About charity, the National Parks Conservation Trust, Gardening. Mathew Biggs, Exisle Publishing, $34.99 was launched on 27 November 2019 to raise Reviewer: Cathy Robertson awareness and support for new conservation initiatives with lasting benefit for plants, animals and people in and around Australia’s remark- Welcome to a book filled with the Plants. She was appointed as the able Commonwealth reserves. These reserves are discoveries of 36 gardener-botanist- Royal Society’s Cytologist at the iconic places, some with World-Heritage listing. explorers, commencing with the Royal Horticultural Society at They include wild places, steeped in Indigenous father of Pharmacology, Pedaniua Wisley. In 1951, Ammal was invited cultures, such as Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Dioscordies (40 – 90 AD) and clos- by the Prime Minister of India to Booderee national parks; unique island reserves ing with the inventor of the green modernise the Botanical Survey of such as Christmas Island, Pulu Keeling and wall, Patrick Blanc b 1953. Biggs India. Among her many discover- Norfolk Island; and 58 Australian Marine Parks presents a personal selection of men ies were the origins of cultivated which include some of the last unknown frontiers and women who unlocked the secrets strawberries, the plant identifica- on earth. The ANBG is part of this extraordinary of botany and technology that are the tion method using chromosome portfolio. It is also the only one with a vitally bedrock of our society. The diverse counts and the effects of colchicine engaged group of Friends. range of discoveries include: the plant on the cell division of a number of classification system, medicine, cytol- plants including magnolias. Ammal’s “The new Parks Trust will largely focus on fun- ogy (plant cells and chromosomes), research identified that the Black draising in other Commonwealth parks,” Judy paleo-botany (fossil plants), botanical Mulberry, has the highest chromo- explained. “But on occasion, ANBG management photography, economic crops devel- some count of any flowering plant. may identify a major project that needs national oped by plant breeders and geneti- The gardening tip for this section support. In those cases the Parks Trust will create cists, botanical atlas creators and is: Modus macroura, a dwarf Black and manage the fundraising campaign and, if urban architecture. Divided into 35 Mulberry, as an ideal option for the Friends want to contribute, the Trust and the sections with botanical illustrations small gardens. Friends will collaborate.” for plants discovered by or named The Secrets of Great Botanists will News about fundraising for future conservation for each one, the author has included provide inspiration and practi- projects can be found on the Parks Trust website, cleverly researched and presented cal guidance for gardeners at all www.parkstrust.org.au. Trust Representative, tips to inspire reader-gardeners to levels, from successful plant culti- Sarah Kimball, is looking forward to connect- experiment with plants and growing vation to adding interesting plants ing people with projects. “Trust campaigns will techniques. Period botanical water to your garden. give people opportunities to learn about and colours and vibrant photographs get involved in vital conservation work, some of illuminate the elegant text and inspire which will be at the ANBG. There is so much we and educate the reader. can do to change the future for Australia’s natural Where Biggs has cultivated new and cultural heritage!” ground is by unearthing eight virtu- ally unrecognised women botanists. E.K. Janaki Ammal (1897-1984) is a remarkable illustration. Born in rural India, she was the first woman awarded a PhD in botany in the USA with a study of the chromo- somes in Nicandra physalodes, the shoo-fly plant, (a member of the potato family endemic to South America). Her research on breed- ing sugar cane strains enabled India to become a major sugar cane exporter. Later whilst working in London, Ammal co-authored the Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated

Fronds 93 December 2019 11 The Gardens are turning 50. The Friends are turning 30. Celebrate throughout 2020! 2020 marks 50 years since the Gardens opened to the public and to celebrate this milestone the Gardens and Friends are hosting an array of community events, exhibitions and programs A snapshot of celebratory events 2020 For more details on all these events see: Gardens website – https://parksaustralia.gov.au/botanic-garden and the Friends website – http://friendsanbg.org.au

Commencing Pre-Christmas 2019 21 November 2019 – 11 January 2020: Sunset Cinema 14 December 2019 - 12 January 2020: Native Wildlife, Friends’ Botanic Art Group Exhibition January 2020 12 January: Grow This in Canberra (Summer), take a walk with Growing Friends guide 13 – 19 January: Snakes Alive! See snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs and more 17 January – 1 March: Promiscuous Provenance, an exhibition at the Visitor Centre by artist Anna Glynn 18 January – 2 February: Summer Sounds 2020, relax and enjoy music on the Eucalypt Lawn on six evenings February 2020 6 February: Thursday Talks commence, talks in 2020 will showcase the ANBG’s science and conservation programs. See the Thursday Talks program in each issue of Fronds and on the Friends website. 28 February – 1 March: Bonsai Exhibition of Australian Native Plants March 2020 March: Enlighten Festival, Luminous Botanicus V, experience the Gardens at night 5 March – 12 April: Seeds in the Bank, an exhibition at the Visitor Centre. A glimpse into the collection of the National Seed Bank and the seeds collected to support the conservation of our native flora. 15 March: Grow This in Canberra (Autumn), take a walk with Growing Friends guide 21 March: Australian Native Plant Society Autumn Plant Sale 23 March: National Eucalypt Day, enjoy walks and workshops 28 March: Growing Friends Plant Sale, purchase a selection of native plants propagated from Gardens' stock April 2020 3 April: Sundial Afternoon, lecture, picnic, and visits to the ANBG and Mt Stromlo sundials 5 – 9 April: Australasian Seed Science Conference, hosted by the ANBG 5 April: Workshop – Introduction to Digital Photography offered by the Photographic Group for Friends’ members 10 – 13 April: Easter Bilby Trail at the Gardens 18 April – 17 May: Botanic Art Group Banksias, an exhibition at the Visitor Centre. Beautiful botanical paintings and drawings dedicated to Banksias. Artworks for sale 24 April – 3 May: Banksia Festival, a week-long celebration of all things Banksia, & Banksia Garden Grand Opening 28 April: Friends Bubbles and Banksias, an evening event with special guests, food and wine

12 December 2019 Fronds 93 The Gardens are turning 50. The Friends are turning 30. Celebrate throughout 2020! 2020 marks 50 years since the Gardens opened to the public and to celebrate this milestone the Gardens and Friends are hosting an array of community events, exhibitions and programs

May 2020 1 May: Canberra International Music Festival Concert at the Gardens. Hear the new work by percussionist Bree van Reyk, commissioned by the Gardens, to celebrate the anniversary year and the opening of the new Banksia Garden 20 May – 14 June: Paradise Lost – Solander, an art exhibition at the Visitor Centre commemorating the legacy of the Swedish botanist Daniel Solander. Presented by the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra and the Solander Gallery in Wellington 20 May – 14 June: Walk with a Gardens Guide to see plants collected by Banks and Solander 31 May: Botanic Gardens Day, Gardens around Australia and New Zealand celebrate the wonders of Botanic Gardens. June 2020 Mid-June: Grow This in Canberra (Winter), take a walk with Growing Friends guide 17 June – 12 July: Detritus, a beautiful display of glassworks and drawings at the Visitor Centre July 2020 15 July – 9 August: Talking with Trees, a special photographic exhibition at the Visitor Centre, complemented by public programs in the Gardens. August 2020 14 August – 13 September: Native Plants Through Visitors' Eyes, at the Visitor Centre, a joint exhibition between the Korean Botanical Art Group and the Friends Botanic Art Groups, illustrating the importance of Gardens and why they attract visitors from all over the world. September 2020 1 September: Wattle Week walks, celebrate our national floral emblem 16 September – 25 October: 50th Anniversary, at the Visitor Centre. See how the Gardens have transformed over the last 50 years in a special Anniversary exhibition, featuring Australian botanical artworks as part of the GLAM Arts Trail September – October: Wake up with the Birds, join our expert birding guides in a morning bird walk October 2020 17 October: Australian Native Plant Society Spring Plant Sale Mid-October: Grow This in Canberra (Spring), take a walk with Growing Friends guide 18 October: The Garden Party, veryonee is invited to the Gardens' birthday party! 22 October: Anniversary Dinner, Gardens’ Golden Anniversary Dinner October: Friends birthday party and AGM 28 October – 15 November: 24th Annual Friends School Photographic Competition, exhibition at the Visitor Centre November 2020 14 November: Growing Friends Spring Plant Sale, purchase a selection of native plants propagated from Gardens' stock 19 November – 6 December: Competition and Exhibition– Reflections. To commemorate the anniversary events in 2020 and 250 years since Joseph Banks visited Australia, the Friends of ANBG Photographic Group will organise a photographic competition as part of the Group’s annual photographic exhibition at the Visitor Centre 19 November – 9 January 2021: Sunset Cinema

Fronds 93 December 2019 13 Friends Annual General Meeting; major projects and related activities

Summary of the Report from A good IT system remains elusive. their popular exhibitions each year at the President Max Bourke Max commended the activity led by the Visitor Centre. David More and more recently by She applauded the tireless efforts of Friends’ President Max Bourke Alan Henderson to find a modern IT the Friends’ volunteers who had raised introduced his first annual report by system for membership/donations, $208,000 in income for the year, which, remarking that it had been an extraor- which is continuing. in the main, would be donated towards dinary year for the Friends and himself Max listed eight major Friends’ projects proposed by the Gardens. She and noting it was a steep learning funded projects including: Gardens also acknowledged the work of the curve, despite the handsome briefing 50th Anniversary Book written and Projects Committee which reviews for he had received from Lesley Jackman, illustrated by Murray Fagg; iconic funding many proposals during the year his predecessor. displays of large plants; employment and tables them at the Friends Council With the Gardens’ 50th Anniversary of a special science communicator to for discussion and decision. th and the Friends’ 30 Anniversary in publicise the work of the Gardens to Helen noted that the Friends had 2020, there had been a lot of plan- external communities; a video exhibi- donated $100,325 to the Gardens ning and spending. Simpler guidelines tion wall outside the entrance to the including $27,880 from the Public for project funding in line with the Theatrette promoting Gardens’ activi- Fund. The first tranche of $26,750 Friends’ objectives were needed and ties; the Banksia Garden’s interpretative (of the Friends $100,000 com- Max thanked David Coutts and his signage; an international speaker for mitment) was donated to the new team who undertook this activity. He the Australasian Seed Conference in Banksia Garden as well as $18,600 particularly mentioned the impor- April 2020; and a special seed exhi- towards the new Conservatory for the tance of the financial support given to bition in the Visitor Centre for this Interpretation Plan. Professor Adrienne Nicotra, ANU, who Conference. The Public Fund generously provided is also a Director of the Public Fund, Max acknowledged the engagement the Seed Bank with $24,880 worth for her long-standing project to unlock of Executive Director, Dr Judy West, of new equipment as well as x-ray secrets of plant behaviour at a time the General Manager Peter Byron and assessment of legacy collections. Helen when the world’s plants are facing a all the staff of the Gardens in work- reminded the meeting that it is a potential climatic disaster. ing collegially with the Friends and all registered charity, receiving tax deduct- He declared the Friends’ organisation members and colleagues on Council for ible donations from members and the to be in robust good health from both achieving the outcomes laid out in the general public. During the financial membership and financial perspectives, Friends’ Management Plan. He urged year it received $21,885 in donations with a huge range of services being the Friends to redouble our efforts in and tax deductible receipts were issued delivered by its interest groups and by the next fifty years. to all donors. all the Friends’ volunteers who dedi- Helen thanked all Friends’ volun- cated so much time and expertise in Summary of the Report from teers who work so tirelessly to gener- support of the Friends. the Treasurer, Helen Elliot for ate income and profile the steadfast Max thanked the Fronds team; the the year ended 30 June 2019 work of the Friends. She also thanked Growing Friends; the Photographic The Treasurer, Helen Elliot tabled her the Gardens’ management and staff, Group; the Art Groups; the Seedy Council members and other members Vols; Wendy Antoniak for the written report, the Auditor’s Report, the Friends’ Financial Statements and of the Friends for continuing their sup- monthly E-Newsletter; David Moore port and membership. and others for the updates to the IT the Friends’ Public Fund Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June Seed of Solanum sp. photographed by Seed system; Jan Finley and her team for Bank Volunteer, William Hall the Thursday Talks. 2019. She explained that although income from memberships is the larg- Max praised the work of the est income source, significant funds are Membership Team, Lesley Harland raised by the ongoing commitment of and Pam Cooke, who are ‘totally many special interest groups such as behind the scenes’. He mentioned that Thursday Talks, the Growing Friends through them last year, he wrote to with their plant sales, events such as many people who make significant tax Summer Sounds and Wake up with the deductible donations to the work of birds as well as the Botanical Artists, Friends which goes to the Gardens. and Photographic Group who hold

14 December 2019 Fronds 93 Report to the ANBG Friends AGM from Executive Director, Dr Judy West

This was another productive year The NSB contributes to international, Festival, Luminous Botanicus IV shade of growth and development at the national and local plant conservation of trees - an immersive, illuminated Gardens. We are currently in the through collection and banking of after dark experience which saw the planning phase for two major Master new seed collections, development of Rainforest to Red Centre area trans- Plan projects: the Ian Potter National germination protocols, supply of seeds formed with lighting, sound and digital Conservatory and the National Seed for research and supply of seedlings light projections; and ‘Magic Garden’ Bank (NSB). for display at the Gardens. During the Concert No 9 of the Canberra Music year, NSB accessioned 128 collections Festival included musicians scattered Funding has been secured for the of seed from 69 species from across across the Gardens. construction of the National Seed Australia (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD and In 2018 we upgraded the Flora Explorer Bank, ... Construction is planned Norfolk Island). 12-seater electric bus, facilitating popu- to commence in late 2020 and This year our IT team completed the lar tours for groups and visitors available completed by early 2022. public release of the web-based ‘Find on weekends and selected public holi- A Plant’ application (http://www.anbg. days. The images decorating the groovy The Ian Potter National Conservatory gov.au/fap) with funding support from bus were donated to our Australian project has gone through an intense the Friends. This mobile application Image Index by Kevin Thiele (previous period of design and light modelling allows visitors to find individual plants Curator of the WA Herbarium) to ensure ideal growing conditions for and garden beds using a map-based To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our unique collection of Australian interface displaying locations for more the Gardens in 2020, a series of events, tropical plants. Construction for the than 29,000 individual plantings to an programs and products are being devel- Conservatory is planned to commence accuracy of about one metre. oped to showcase the Gardens’ history in early 2020 and be completed by Our volunteer program continues to be and achievements over the past 50 late 2021. strong with over 200 volunteers work- years. Under the theme of ‘Celebrating Funding has been secured for the ing in 16 different programs across Australia’s Plants’, the 50th Anniversary construction of the NSB, the tender for the Gardens and Australian National provides a platform for staff recognition the architect is soon to be released to Herbarium (ANH). We successfully and public outreach, highlighting the the market. Construction is planned to recruited 15 new Volunteer Guides in Gardens as a world renowned scien- commence in late 2020 and completed 2018, providing them with an inten- tific institution, as well as a popular by early 2022. sive training program. Volunteers are Canberra tourism destination – both The completion of the Pomaderris an invaluable resource to the Gardens, now and into the future. Garden and the Conservation and assisting to support activities as Visitor In conclusion, I would like to acknowl- Research Garden, both featuring a Centre Hosts, Volunteer Guides, edge the importance of the Friends and range of significant, rare and threatened Herbarium Specimen Mounters, Seed its Public Fund for ongoing support of species, has augmented the genetically Bank Volunteers, Nursery Volunteers, the Gardens. representative collections available for Growing Friends and more. research, future translocations and We continue to attract visitors to the landscape enhancement. There was also Gardens by providing a variety of a significant increase in agreements with opportunities to engage, educate and external partners to deliver outcomes for inspire visitors. During the year, visita- high priority threatened species (more tion was 502,778, a 2.1% decrease on than 15 partnership projects are cur- the 2017-18 year. Student visitation rently active). increased to 15,334 from 14,487 the The Gardens will celebrate its 50th previous year, the highest visitation in Anniversary in 2020. The construction the last 11 years. of a Banksia Garden is well underway We worked with many new partners for Andrew Tatnell with an opening planned for 28 April. the first time to deliver new and signa- The design integrates many Banksia ture events and public programs. The elements into the infrastructure, materi- most successful of these included: the als and interpretative elements. It will Carramar Koala Quest with the theme display a wide range of species including of conservation of Australian native Volunteers painstakingly clean and sort almost 70 taxa of Banksia. flora and fauna; part of the Enlighten collections that have come to the Seed Bank from field trips

Fronds 93 December 2019 15 Plants from the past — plants for the future Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Inc. Conference, Wellington, NZ, October 2019

One hundred and ten delegates from A real diversity of speakers followed An amusing and very focussed talk by 30 botanic gardens in Australia and including Rob Tipa on traditional use of Greg Bourke (no relative), Curator of New Zealand gathered in Wellington endemic New Zealand plants. Professor the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, for the Bi-annual Conference of Alexandra Cook from Hong Kong and carnivorous plants expert, concen- BGANZ. They were presented with a University, a scholar of historical plant trated on the “value” of plants. By this feast of different ideas. theories told an intriguing tale of how he meant ways of communicating the Headline “acts” came from Wales, Hong the renowned philosopher Jean-Jacques social and economic value of plants as a Kong, Australia and New Zealand. Rousseau in the early eighteenth century key mission of botanic gardens. argued very strongly for the care of Robbie Blackhall-Miles plant grower There were numerous excellent papers endemic plants in their own locations (President of the Australasian Plant on methods for communication and rather than “exotic” species in botanic Society and Keeper of the British engagement of audiences in botanic gar- gardens, a thesis which resonates today. National Collection of South-Eastern dens and the ANBG’s Helen McHugh Australia Banksias) was a very impres- Dr Nick Waipara from Biosecurity was eagerly taking note of these ideas. sive opening speaker on the subject of New Zealand gave an outstanding As well there were many brief reports of “Plant Blindness” and really challenged presentation on the potential role of considerable achievements with tech- the garden representatives. His thesis, botanic gardens in dealing with both niques for dealing with issues related why do discussions about biodiver- invasive species and pests. He was par- to plants on the brink of extinction, an sity loss always seem to come back to ticularly interesting giving a deep set issue that almost all botanic gardens are animals, raised issues for all garden of reasons based on his Maori heritage working on intensely. and the role that Marois should play managers. He gave some quite brilliant An excellent conference presented in a in biosecurity of their own substantial concepts for ‘marketing’ the role and brilliant venue, the famous museum Te estate within Aotearoa. function of botanic gardens to try to Papa, on the shore of Wellington Harbour. reverse plant blindness. Max Bourke

And looking forward... Australian Friends of Botanic Gardens’ Biennial Conference, Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane May 22 – 24, 2020

the theme of the Conference will be 2018 Conference a celebration of the botanical collect- in Benalla, ing work of Joseph Banks and Daniel Victoria. Solander who accompanied Cook on Guided walks the voyage. After circumnavigating through the Mt New Zealand, the ship travelled up the Coot-tha gardens east coast of Australia with Banks and during the conference will have a Banks Solander collecting large numbers of and Solander theme. The conference botanical specimens at each stop. dinner will also be held at Mt Coot-tha The Friends of the Brisbane Botanic The logo for the conference is the on the evening of Saturday 23 May. Gardens and Sherwood Arboretum are Cabbage Tree Palm, Livistona australis, A pre-Conference tour to the Sunshine hosting the next biennial conference of that was first collected by Banks and Coast is proposed, as is a post-Confer- the Australian Association of Friends of Solander. ence tour to the Gold Coast. The local Botanic Gardens (AAFBG) at the Mt A full program of interesting speakers is botanic gardens in both of these areas Coot-tha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane proposed and once again the Conference are inspirational and should not be from 22-24 May, 2020. will devote considerable time to presen- missed. As 2020 represents 250 years since tations from small regional gardens – a More information about the conference Cook's first voyage on HMS Endeavour, very popular initiative introduced at the can be found at the AAFBG’s website, www.friendsbotanicgardens.org. 16 December 2019 Fronds 93 Garden Shorts Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Inc. Conference, Wellington, NZ, October 2019 Grow your own Australian of Ipomoea (sweet potato), Cajanus importance of seed banking. The Seed National Botanic Gardens plants (pigeonpea), Glycine (soybean), Musa Banking in Australia $1 stamps feature Ask your local nursery for native plants (banana), Oryza (rice), Sorghum (sor- the seeds of native plant species, each of now available under the Australian ghum), Solanum (eggplant) and Vigna which is threatened in the wild. Each is National Botanic Gardens label for your (mungbean, cowpea). also secured in seed banks around the home garden. It is now possible to get The project has created great opportuni- country. One of the three pictures used, plants uniquely selected by our expert ties for two-way knowledge sharing with Epacris petrophila (alpine shrub from the staff for their horticultural potential, Indigenous land managers plus train- Australian Alps and high-altitude areas interesting aesthetic appeal or first time ing oppotrtunities for collecting and in Victoria and Tasmania) is an image availability commercially. Some of the processing seed from these important from seed stored at the National Seed plants being reviewed for potential sale species. This local traditional knowledge Bank here at the Gardens. Seed bank- are rare and threatened species in the gives our staff a better understanding of ing is a crucial insurance policy in the wild. Each plant featured under the when and where to harvest for optimum conservation of native flora species and seed maturity. the resilience of our botanical world. This practice is recognised through these The project partners from the three stamp designs. Australian Grains Genebank, George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens and You can purchase the special issue of Indigenous land managers, have col- stamps both in-store or on the Australia lected 18 and identified 22 species of Post collectables website and spread crop wild relatives across Kakadu. The the word about the importance of seed project is coordinated by the Australian conservation by using these beautiful Seed Bank Partnership, funded by the seed stamps. Global Crop Trust in collaboration with Australasian Seed Science the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Conference 2020 A new form of seed dispersal with The Gardens is proud to host the Australian Seed Bank stamps Australasian Seed Science Conference Australia Post Collectables, in col- from 5 - 9 April 2020, presented by laboration with the Australian Seed the Australian Seed Bank Partnership. Bank Partnership, has issued a special The Conference will be held at Kambri, series of three stamps to celebrate the Australian National University. Delegates will have the opportunity to Asterolasia ‘Lemon Essence’ is one of meet and share ideas and attend work- the plants currently available under the shops with leading experts, focusing on Gardens label. the importance of seed science to the future of plant conservation and food Gardens label undergoes a rigorous security. Conference themes include trial process under industry conditions seed biology and evolutionary ecology, before it is released for sale. Sales from seed sourcing and end use, seed and every plant purchased will go towards gene bank management, and seeds in supporting our living collection and culture and society. Visit the confer- threatened species conservation pro- ence website to register your interest grams at the Gardens. and receive updates on the program, including keynotes, abstracts, events and Australian Crop Wild Relatives conference sponsorship opportunities at The Gardens is excited to be part of www.seedscience2020.com.au. the Crop Wild Relatives project which

is identifying and collecting crop wild William Hall relative species in Kakadu National Park for conservation. Crop wild relatives The seed of the near threatened Epacris are wild plant species that are geneti- petrophila is normally only visible under cally linked to common food plants. a microscope, but from now you will see it all over the country as a $1 stamp on Seeds of Balloon plant, Cardiospermum Australia’s wild relatives include species envelopes and maxicards. halicacabum var. halicacabum

Fronds 93 December 2019 17 Friends Briefs

A Range of New Projects for the Gardens Wake up with the Birds, 2019

Each edition of Fronds usually has a • Speaking to our existing and This year the weekend guided walks detailed story about one of the projects potential audiences will be the aim enabled many visitors to see the early funded directly by Friends through of the next project. A contract for a morning bird activity in the Gardens. our diverse fund raising efforts or specialist science communicator to We were lucky the weather was fine, through donations given under the put together a program of science sometimes cold, sometimes warm and tax deductible Public Fund program communication relevant to the we found several nests. run so ably by Barbara Podger and her Gardens. This project will run over As usual, the Red Wattle Birds were most team. The Council, Public Fund and two years. active defending nests and feeding young the Management of the Gardens have • First-time or even repeat visitors will and attacking any birds which dared recently signed off on a suite of new benefit from a Video Wall which to sup from their nectar laden plants. projects which have commenced rolling will run short videos introducing Some people were lucky enough to see out and will do so over the next few people to features of the Gardens. the yellow gape of the insatiable young- years. This will be located at the entrance sters. Other honeyeaters were spotted, Eight new projects have been agreed, to the Theatrette. although the numbers seemed down on five direct from Friends’ funds and three • Interpretation signage for the new previous years, including the Yellow-faced from the Public Fund. The total cost Banksia Garden, to open in 2020, and White-naped Honeyeaters returning of these projects will be approximately will be funded through the Public from their migration, and the resident $295,000 spread over the next three Fund. New Holland Honeyeaters and Eastern Spinebills. A pair of Magpie Larks built years. • Funds will be provided for an inter- a tiny mud nest over the café pond and In brief, the projects are: national speaker for the Australasian were feeding young by the last weekend. • A Hearing Loop in the Theatrette Seed Science conference in Wood Ducks had a batch of ducklings has already been installed and is Canberra in April 2020 and other for us to watch as they grazed and the working very well making lec- engagements (Public Fund). tures for hearing impaired much • A special seed exhibition in the more enjoyable, and bringing the Visitor Centre for the Seed Science Theatrette up to the standard of conference in April 2020 (Public most public hall spaces. Fund). • Support for a special book on the Several additional projects are under Gardens for the 50th anniversary discussion and may be approved later. next year. Murray Fagg is well The ability of the Friends to provide advanced on producing what will be this funding is only possible due to the louise prosser a handsome coffee-table publication excellent support for the Gardens by to be sold through the Bookshop. Friends members. Thank You. It calls not only on Murray’s vast Max Bourke, President knowledge of the history of the Red-browed Finch, ANBG Gardens but his expertise in pho- tography both historic and current. • Making the presence of the ANBG more obvious is a key to better visita- tion. So the Horticultural team have come up with the idea of an iconic display of spectacular large plants particularly around the entrance. From time to time mature species of large specimen native trees and

shrubs come on the market and these Alison Milton will be acquired to proclaim “this is a botanic garden”!.

Gathering nesting material, ANBG, Striated Thornbill 18 December 2019 Fronds 93 Telling the time by the Sun – an enlightening afternoon

Australian Magpie decorated a nest with Using the apparent movement of the blue tape again. sun to mark the passage of time goes The male Blue Satin Bowerbird was seen back to antiquity, with many different at his bower just off the main path and cultures having devices using a light seemed to attract females, however he spot or a shadow to record time. Before has some competition – several adult clocks were invented, sundials were used birds, and another bower was seen being in public places to mark the hours of constructed nearby. the day. Many of the visitors were delighted at Today many gardens large and small the behaviour of the Eastern Yellow feature a sundial. Canberra is fortunate Robins near the Sydney basin. The to have a number of publicly accessible Tawny Frogmouths selected a tree left sundials; several of them devised by the for faunal use on the Eucalypt Lawn Adelaide based physicists Marg Folkard to make their nest but the young were and John Ward of Sundials Australia. yet to show. Red-browed Finches On Friday 3 April 2020 we have an and a Grey Shrike-thrush were glean- opportunity to hear Marg Folkard talk ing insects from the lawn nearby. about the history and science of sundi-

Crimson Rosellas and Galahs were als, as well as the exacting art of creat- Pam Rooney nesting or preparing holes for nesting ing them. She will focus in particular in the Eucalypts and a pair of Spotted on two sundials – the armillary sphere Pardalotes was seen. in the ANBG and the analemmatic or Armillary Sphere, ANBG Some visitors saw the Common human sundial at Mt Stromlo. Bronzewing nesting and being The Sundials Afternoon will start in the Australian Garden History Society attacked by a Magpie, and others ANBG Theatrette. After this, we will (AGHS), as part of celebrations for were lucky to see the Owlet Nightjar inspect the sundial near the rockery the AGHS’ 40th birthday, the ANBG emerging from its hollow to bask in in the ANBG, enjoy afternoon tea Friends’ 30th birthday, and the 20th the early morning sun. together, and then drive to Mt Stromlo anniversary of the gifting of the sundial Many thanks to the guides and help- to tell the time by our own shadows in to the ANBG by the Friends. Bookings ers who volunteered to make it really the late afternoon light. will open in early February 2020. We enjoyable to 'wake up with the birds' at This event has been organised jointly will publicise the arrangements and cost the Gardens. Thanks to all participants by the Friends of the ANBG and the closer to the time. who have given a considerable dona- Lynden Ayliffe, Friends of the ANBG tion to the Friends to support the work Nancy Clarke, AGHS of the Gardens. Jonette McDonnell

Summer Sounds 2020, Volunteers needed Planning for the Summer Sounds 2020 concert season is well underway. The 2020 concerts will be held onSaturday 18, Sunday 19 & Saturday 25, Sunday 26 January; and Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 February. The success and smooth running of the concerts has always been dependent on a small army of volunteers. This year volunteers are once again needed to assist with collecting entry fees, supervising car parking, driving assistance vehicles to and from the Eucalypt Lawn, and helping at the Information Tent. You might even find time to relax and enjoy the concerts! A link to the online sign-up is on the Friends’ website under Summer Sounds 2020. If you have not been involved with the concerts before, and would like further information,

Alison Milton please contact: [email protected]. White-browed Scrub-wren, ANBG Fronds 93 December 2019 19 The Complete Guide to those of us who find it quite difficult Ins_p_i_r_e_. _R_e__p_le_n__is_h_._ _C_o_n_n_ect Australian Birds, 2018 identifying the owners of those amazing piles of shaped twigs! Where friends can just 'Be'. George Adams, Soft cover, 574 A great bird guide for every wildlife 10% friends discount on all pages, Colour photographs & enthusiast and an excellent book for the treatments & services* maps, $45.00 beginner and experienced birdwatcher! Groups and special events. What a great photographic field guide *not redeemable on gift vouchers. for Aussie birds! Not just a field guide, Somewhere in Australia, Ring: this beautifully illustrated book contains 6257 8777 fascinating information about the birds, Marcello Pennacchio, 2013, Soft www.jindii.com.au ____ including common and scientific names, cover, 23 pages, Colour illustra- tions, $16.00 Australian National size, description, behaviour, preferred Botanic Gardens habitat, feeding habits, voice, status and Feel like singing a story to the chil- breeding. A very sensible layout means dren?...join little Joey and his friends the information about the birds, the dis- in this glorious Australian counting book based on the classic rhyme ‘Over in the tribution maps and identification pho- Meadow’. Beautiful colour illustrations by Danny Snell bring each page to life, tographs are all arranged across a double and the verses take us on a journey around Australia, including the Top End, the page so it is easy to see all you need for Outback, Tasmania, east and west coastlines and even a platypus living in a river each species that you are looking up. going out to sea gets a look in! We loved all the verses and were especially excited to Another thing we like is the photo- see the Wollemi Pine and Thorny Devil feature, both these can be seen here at the graphs...there are often a couple of Gardens (the Wollemi a part of the living collection, the Thorny Devil an amazing pictures for each species, and they show sculpture in the Red Centre Garden). the bird in different poses that you may We know you are already humming the song so here’s one verse to practice on… likely see in the wild e.g. in flight, roost- "In the centre of Australia, near a place called Uluru, ing, feeding, swimming, in a flock, with lived a mother kookaburra and her little chicks two. their young, etc. ‘Laugh,’ said the mother. ‘We laugh,’ said the two, Also, some birds are photographed in as they laughed and they flew over a rock called Uluru." their nests which is very helpful for

Always welcomes Friends! with a 10% discount on purchases over $10, including the purchase of gift vouchers, on production of the customer's membership card for the person whose name is on this card. No discount on redemption of gift vouchers. www.botanicalbookshop.com.au more information on our Facebook page at 'Botanical Bookshop'

20 December 2019 Fronds 93 What’s on at the Gardens December 2019 to April 2020

Details of events are correct at the time of printing. For changes and updates please check the Friends’ website at www.friendsanbg.org.au or the Gardens’ site at: www.anbg.gov.au

Guided Walks 2020 Summer Sounds Program Daily at 11 am and 2 pm 5.30 – 7.30 pm Meet a volunteer guide at the Visitor $5 adults, $3 child and concession, 3 years and under free Centre for a free one-hour tour of the PARTY WEEKEND – Top 40 hits of the 70s, 80s, 90s and today Gardens. Saturday 18 January - Purc Randall Se-Lah Flora Explorer tours Sunday 19 January - Something Like This Weekends & public holidays, 10.30 TRIBUTE WEEKEND – A celebration of music icons Fleetwood Mac and Aussie am and 1.30 pm. Cost: $8 for adults, rock and pop legends $5 for children and concessions. Saturday 25 January – Sweet Little Lies Children under three travel free. Sunday 26 January - The Bad Henrys featuring Purc Randall Se-Lah Forty-five minutes of discovery around JAZZY WEEKEND – Smooth jazz and swing the Gardens. Purchase tickets from the Saturday 1 February – Annie and the Armadillos bookshop. Sunday 2 February – The Liam Budge Jazz Quartet Storytime in the Gardens Kids Activities 10 am — 11 am. Cost: $5.00 per child There’s fun for the kids in the Gumnut Hut - face painting, storytelling and First Friday of every month, Suitable for arts and craft pre-schoolers. Food and Drink Le Petit Breton – French crepes Sunset Cinema Lenton Bar – Beer, wine, coffee Thursday 21 November – Saturday Cannoli Brothers – sweet and savoury cannoli 11 January 2020 every Wednesday, Capital Woodfired Pizza Thursday, Friday and Saturday Pure Gelato Enjoy latest releases, family and classic Aussie BBQ (Australia Day only) films on the Gardens’ Eucalypt Lawn. Information on the ANBG website. Volunteers Wanted for summer Sounds : see page 19

Grow this in Canberra for Summer Friends 30th Anniversary event Exhibitions 12 January, 10.00 am Visitor Centre Gallery, Open Daily 9.30 am – 4.30 pm, FREE Take a walk with experienced Growing Friends guides to find summer-flow- ering or fruiting plants in the ANBG 21 November – 8 December: Treasures that are suitable for Canberra gardens. Friends' Photographic Group annual exhibition. Free, bookings essential – see Friends 14 December – 12 January: Native Wildlife website. Stunning artworks by the Friends Botanic Art Groups of native fauna including birds, marsupials, insects and marine life. 17 January – 1 March: Promiscuous Provenance Special Edition Anniversary An exhibition by artist Anna Glynn exploring a new world of flora and Gin fauna while re-interpreting images of Australian colonial painters. Get a taste of the Australian National 5 March – 12 April: Seeds in the Bank Botanic Gardens with a special gin developed by Underground Spirits A glimpse into the collection of the National Seed Bank and the seeds using botanical ingredients from our collected to support the conservation of our native flora. very own Gardens.

Fronds 93 December 2019 21 What's on (contd.)

Snakes Alive! The Friends Thursday Talks will support the ANBG’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2020 by showcasing the ANBG’s 13 – 19 January: Crosbie Morrison science and conservation programs. Building Get a feel for real-life snakes, lizards, The ANBG, as we know, is one of the progress on developing the world’s best places in the country for Australians most comprehensive and authoritative turtles, frogs and more. Hosted by the to appreciate, enjoy and learn about index of known living species. An April ACT Herpetological Society. Australia’s flora but it is also an Talk will showcase the ANBG’s Banksia NatureArt January School Holiday internationally recognised scientific data conservation work to coincide with the Program and research institution. Thursday Talks opening of the new Banksia Garden. in 2020 will feature some of the great In May, taxonomy will be showcased 28 – 31 January, 10:00 - 2:00 pm, $70 science, data and conservation projects through the work of one of our in-house Explore and learn about our local flora and partnerships that the ANBG and taxonomists, Haylee Weaver from the and fauna with Nature Art Lab’s unique Biodiversity Science sections are directly Australian Biological Resources Study, art and science School Holiday Program! involved in. and in June, Dr Chris Cargill, from the For example, on 5 March we have Cryptogam Herbarium at the Australian Children will venture into the gardens invited an international speaker from National Herbarium, will open the door and explore local wildlife with a range of the Catalogue of Life Global Team. into the fascinating world of cryptogam science topics and creative art and craft The Team, which will hold its annual research. activities. Our program also includes meeting next year at the ANBG, leads Thursday Talks Committee nature journaling for children to promote observation and creative thinking skills. Grow this in Canberra for Autumn Telling the Time by the Sun Book online on ANBG website Friends 30th Anniversary event Friday 3 April Bees, Birds and Butterflies - 15 March, 10.00 am Friends 30th Anniversary event Listening and Learning Workshop Take a walk with experienced Growing Information, p 19 22 February, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Free Friends guides to find autumn-flowering Time and cost to be advised Find out what you can do to support or fruiting plants in the ANBG that Bookings open early February. Details pollinators in your suburb and what are suitable for Canberra gardens. will be on the Friends website. plants provide food and habitat. Free, bookings essential – see Friends Book online on ANBG website website Bubbles and Banksias, Banksia NaturExplorers: Flowers Australian Native Plant Society, Garden Autumn Plant Sale 1 March, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon, $40 28 April 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm 21 March: 8.30 am Southern carpark NatureArt Lab is proud to launch Friends members are invited to a Select from a range of local species. NaturExplorers! Our new Nature celebration of the opening of the new Journaling club for families. Grab your National Eucalypt Day Banksia Garden, with sparkling wine nature journal and spend quality time 23 Mar: Enjoy walks and workshops and delicious morsels. Enjoy an even- with the family exploring Canberra's ing walk around the new Garden, with Growing Friends Plant Sale music and special guests. natural environments. Suitable for the 28 March, 8.30, Crosbie Morrison Bookings essential – see Friends web- whole family! Adult attendance is free Carpark site for more details. and required for children aged under Plants propagated from Gardens' stock. 15, under five attend free with a paying older sibling. Book online on ANBG website Workshop: Introduction to Digital Photography Bonsai Exhibition Sunday 5 April 9.00 am — 4.00 pm; $170; Crosbie Morrison building 28 February – 1 March: Crosbie Morrison Building This photographic workshop is available to all Friends. If you would like See a diverse selection of bonsai to understand your digital camera settings and improve your photography Australian plants. techniques, this may well be for you. The Friends of the ANBG Photographic Group are running the workshop as a fund-raising event. Enlighten Festival: Luminous The full day course will be conducted in two sessions - theory and practical. Botanicus V Places are limited so register your interest early. March: The Gardens will come alive at Contact [email protected]. night as part of Canberra’s Enlighten Festival. Registration forms are also available at the ANBG visitor centre. 22 December 2019 Fronds 93 Thursday Talks: February — April 2020

Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November in the Gardens’ Theatrette. Talks last for one hour. Admission is by gold coin donation. There is no need to book but please note that for safety reasons the ANBG Theatrette seating is strictly limited to 90 people. 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. The Friends use the ‘gold’ coin donations received at each activity to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday Talks are available to Friends from the ANBG library. A donation to the Friends for the use of this material will be gratefully accepted. For more details on speakers’ topics and biographies see the Friends’ website https://www.friendsanbg.org.au/calendar Please direct queries about Thursday Talks to Jan Finley; [email protected] For more details on speakers’ topics and biographies see the Friends’ website https://www.friendsanbg.org.au/calendar

February ‘violent pyroconvection’ characteristic of Peter is Deputy Director, Naturalis extreme bushfires, as well as recent work Biodiversity Center, The Netherlands and Thursday 6 February aimed at predicting extreme bushfire the Executive Secretary of Species 2000. Professor Peter Kanowski ‘Forests occurrences. He will discuss the Catalogue of Life, Near and Far: Issues in a Warming the world’s most comprehensive and World’ Thursday 27 February authoritative index of known animals, David Newby and Graham Fletcher plants, fungi and micro-organisms, Peter, Professor of Forestry, ANU, will 'The Australian School of Gardening – created in 2001 as a partnership talk about the world’s forests which What is it, and why do we need it?' between the Global Species 2000 and are under pressure from deforestation the American Integrated Taxonomic David, a former lawyer and business and degradation and increasingly from Information System. This global index man, and Graham, a former academic, climate change. Australian forests, of species names and synonyms, now will discuss the aims of The Australian including those locally that make counting 1.9 million valid species, will School of Gardening, including career Canberra liveable, are also threatened. further science and promote sensible paths through continuing education, Peter will review the situation, and our measures in the context of climate opportunities for professional gardeners, options and priorities in responding to change and biodiversity loss. these challenges. and inspiration and education for non- professional gardeners through a range Thursday 12 March Thursday 13 February of events. Dr Rosemary Purdie ‘Simpson Desert Dr Todd McLay ‘Phylogenomics and Revisited – More Than Plants!’ Taxonomy of Native Hibiscus’ March In July 2019 Rosemary, a plant ecologist, Todd, from CSIRO, will talk about Thursday 5 March spent two weeks botanising on a camel- his work on Hibisceae species which Dr Peter Schalk ‘Biodiversity Science supported walk in Munga-Thirri National occur in Australia, and are common in in the Future. Creating Order in the Park in the eastern Simpson Desert. rainforests, monsoon tropics, and the Acronym Soup of Organisations’ She will talk about the landforms and arid zone. Many of the taxa associated with the drier parts of Australia have not had a taxonomic treatment since their original description in the mid-1800’s. Todd’s research shows the power of collections-based research to combine new molecular methods with traditional taxonomy for species discovery and broad-ranging insights on the evolution of the Australian flora.

Thursday 20 February Dr Jason Sharples ‘Understanding Extreme Bushfire Development’

Jason, from the University of New Rosemary Purdie South Wales, will highlight the role that dynamic fire propagation plays in driving ‘deep flaming’ events, which appear to be critical in triggering the March 12, Dr Rosemary Purdie ‘Simpson Desert Revisited – More Than Plants!’

Fronds 93 December 2019 23 Friends Benefits Thursday 9 April As a Friend you are entitled to: associated plants and animals seen Dr Francisco Sanchez-Bayo ‘The Three issues of Fronds a year during the dry conditions, cultural Decline of the Entomofauna and its Three hour free parking pass artefacts in the area traversed, and what Drivers’ happens when you “just add water”. Discount at: Francisco, from the Department of Botanical Bookshop (most items) Thursday 19 March Environment and Energy, Canberra, Pollen Dr Linda Broadhurst ‘Connecting works on the environmental impact Jindii Eco Spa Indigenous and Scientific Plant and risk of chemical contaminant and Cool Country Natives in Names’ ecology. He will discuss the serious and Pialligo dramatic rates of decline worldwide in Australian Choice, Canb. Linda, from CSIRO, will discuss a the biodiversity of insects. The main Centre proposal to co-develop processes and drivers are: habitat loss; pollution; You also receive: practices with Indigenous communities biological factors; and climate change. to connect Indigenous and scientific Advance details of lectures Advance bookings for some events plant names to improve the conservation Thursday 16 April Discounts on some events and management of our Australian Dr Anna Howe ‘Planting Democracy: ANBG library membership – flora. The current approach to naming Plantings, Places and People in the borrow books, serials, videos, plants does not recognise Indigenous Parliamentary Triangle’ plant names and concepts, and fails to DVDs plus use of computers and acknowledge the deep understanding Anna, an urban geographer, has interactive CD ROMs of our biodiversity held by Indigenous discovered on her many walks around Function facilities – special rates Australians. the Parliamentary Triangle, how those for functions at ANBG who created this landscape have And opportunities to: Thursday 26 March expressed our democracy and changing Join Botanical Art Groups Professor Adrian Gibbs ‘The History of national identity. Now facing increasing Growing Friends the Potato and its Viruses’ and diverse demands, how will this Photographic Group centre of the nation continue to evolve? Adrian is a virologist. Potatoes were Plant Science Group part of the trans-Atlantic Columbian Thursday 23 April Assist with Gardens' research Exchange of the 16-17th centuries. The Dr Chris Cargill ‘The 3 R’s: Riccia, projects details of the origin of the European Riella and Research’ Become a Guide potato have provided lively debates, Relax in the Friends Lounge however molecular palaeontology is now Chris, Curator of the Cryptogam in the Ellis Rowan Building, sorting out possibilities, not only for the Collections at the Australian National open to members 9.30 am to potato, but also its pathogens, especially Herbarium, will talk about her latest 4.30 pm. Relax with tea/coffee potato virus Y. Adrian will discuss the research on the fascinating and beautiful and lots of interesting reading. latest findings. thalloid liverwort Riccia. Chris will also discuss her collaborative projects with April colleagues from Victoria to Valencia on the enigmatic, aquatic liverwort Thursday 2 April Riella and the halophytic Monocarpus Dr Si-Chong Chen ‘Latitudinal sphaerocarpus. Gradients in Seed Predation, Seed Defence and Seed Dispersal’ Thursday 30 April David Taylor and Kevin Collins ‘The Si-Chong is an ecologist working on the New Banksia Garden at the ANBG’ macroecological patterns in seed ecology at the Millennium Seed Bank, Royal David Taylor, Curator of Living Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom. Collections, ANBG, and Kevin Collins, Dr Chen’s research tests the hypothesis Banksia specialist from Western Australia, that seed predation and seed defence are will talk about the new Banksia Garden more intense at lower latitudes, finding at the ANBG. They will take you through that both pre-dispersal seed defences and some of the challenges, thinking, predation are more significant in more planning and collaboration that has gone tropical climates at higher latitudes than into bringing this garden to reality and previously expected. why all the efforts are worthwhile.

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