No. 19 February 2016 Quicklink Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY

3 Wednesday Botanical Illustrators – Talk on Garlic with Penny Woodward 7 Sunday Brunch in the Forest of Figs **Subject to weather, see entry below 11 Thursday Open House Elliot Centre – Creating the Cranbourne Gardens’ Herbarium Collection with the Herbarium Collectors 16 Tuesday Botanical Illustrators – Garlic painting irritans on Howson Hill Workshop with Helen Burrows 21 Sunday Workshop – Grasses and other Monocots. Workshop – Grasses & other Monocots You may think that the grass is always greener on the other side, but is it really a grass? MARCH The first all-day workshop for 2016 focuses on grasses and other allied monocots. (rushes, sedges, Lomandra spp. and members in the ornamental iris family such as Diplarrena, Libertia and Patersonia). 5 Saturday – 14 Monday The monocots, especially those such as Lomandra, are often lumped into the grasses category by the Australian Textile Exhibition nursery industry and we aim to help you develop the skills to distinguish them, as well as grow them in 10 Thursday gardens and revegetation projects. These add a different texture to a garden, and are extremely Open House Elliot Centre – Soils ain’t important for habitat as well as a food source for many insects and birds. Soils with Rodger Elliot Joining us for the workshop will be Dr Graeme Lorimer, a leader in the field of Victorian grass, Brian Bainbridge on native grasses for cultivation, Ian Clarke will speak about his new book ‘Name those 19 Saturday – 20 Sunday Grasses’, Sue Murphy on reconstructing & managing grasslands, Rodger Elliot on Monocots. outside Growing Friends Sale Victoria and Neville Walsh will give a botanical overview of the Monocots. that aren’t grasses. APRIL It will be a fascinating, jam-packed day, so come join us and receive a 4-plant pack. 13 Wednesday Sunday 21 February, 9.30 am – 4 pm Discovery Day – Dandenong Ranges Australian Garden Auditorium, RBGV Cranbourne members $60 non-members $75 students $30 14 Thursday Open House Elliot Centre – A thing of

Brunch in the Forest of Figs Open House beauty, Basketry using native plants with Lynn Lochrie and the Basketmakers Let’s launch 2016! BYO brunch or purchase food & drinks from the Kiosk. Elliot Centre This is a ‘weather permitting’ event. Keep an eye on Bring your lunch and join the Friends of the Royal the weather and any Fire Bans that might prevent us Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne for a Booking Form from gathering. So far we’ve had lovely mornings for calendar of interesting and inspiring presentations this event, which has become a popular start to the with plenty of time for discussion afterwards. year. New members especially encourage to come! 1 pm – 4 pm, every second Thursday of the Sunday 7 February 9.30 am Expressions of Interest month (except January). Forest of Figs , north end of the Australian Garden. Talks start at 2 pm. Western

Wildflowers Tour Botanical Illustrators – Garlic 11 February - Creating the Cranbourne This is likely to be for a period of about 3 Workshop with Helen Burrows Gardens’ Herbarium Collection with the Herbarium Collectors weeks in Spring 2017. It is envisaged that This one-day workshop will involve painting from a it may concentrate on an area mainly fresh garlic specimen with artist Helen Burrows. 10 March – ‘Soils ain’t Soils’, how to south of Perth, which could cover from It is a rewarding exercise and it helps tackle a ameliorate your soils, with Rodger Elliot Perth to Kalgoorlie and south of that line to multitude of other subjects. Beginners to advanced. The Elliot Centre Library will also be open for include Norseman, Esperance region.

Tuesday 16 February. 10 am – 3 pm Friends to enjoy! Also, the Growing Friends members $80 non-members $105 Nursery is open every Thursday.

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne Inc. • 1000 Ballarto Road, Cranbourne, Victoria 3977 For any further information, please refer Inc no. A0025281B ABN 43 551 008 609 to your most recent copy of Naturelink. http://www.rbgfriendscranbourne.org.au/ Growing Friends Nursery

Open every Thursday 10 am – 2 pm

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne Inc. www.rbgfriendscranbourne.org.au

GROWING FRIENDS AUTUMN

PLANT-SALE

Rhododendron viriosum Drawing John Armstrong All Australian Plants Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 March

10.00 – 4.00 Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne www.rbg.vic.gov.au Melway 133 K10 Cash or Cheque only

A0025281B ABN 43 551 008 609 March 2016