Many of the world’s finest botanical artists have created works with black backgrounds and the results are always striking and original. This two day workshop aims to inspire you to create one of these rare and wonderful works for yourself. We will look at inspiring examples and some of the different techniques involved and will take the time to examine a couple of methods in depth. This workshop is suitable for students who have had some experience of botanical illustration or are at an intermediate level.

A materials list is available from the Friends’ office.

When:
Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 and Friday 5 April, 10am to 4pm

Where:
Whirling Room Studio, Observatory Gate, RBG Melbourne

Cost:
$295 Friends, $349 Non-members
includes morning and afternoon teas

Bookings/enquiries:
Bookings open 1 March
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398 

This intensive four-day course is an introduction to botanical art via pencil and watercolour.

Students will begin to develop skills in outline drawing, foreshortening, tonal work and rendering of surfaces, basic colour work and paint application.

The cost of the course includes equipment to be used during the workshop - drawing materials, paint, watercolour paper and brushes.

When:
Tuesday 9 - Friday 12 April, 10 am to 4 pm

Where:
Whirling Room Studio, Observatory Gate, RBG Melbourne

Cost:
$295 Friends, $349 Non-members
includes morning and afternoon teas

Bookings/enquiries:
Bookings open 1 March
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398 

Alowyn Gardens extends over 4 acres and is the passion of Prue and John Van de Linde. There are a number of clearly defined areas within the gardens. The formal parterre garden which is built along 17th century design principles, leads through a series of small individual courtyards and garden spaces.  After an introductory talk we will be free to explore at our leisure. The gardens will be open to us exclusively. A relaxing lunch in the courtyard cafe will complete our 3 hour visit.

Following Alowyn we will travel 5 minutes back down the highway for a private visit to Lubra Bend, one of the founding properties in the area where a magnificent homestead presides over a vast garden including the dry garden designed by Phillip Johnson.

When:
Thursday 18 April at 11 am

Where:
Take Melba Highway towards Yea. Through the second roundabout Alowyn is 1 km on right hand side. Look for red flags. Plenty of parking available (Approximate travel time 1 hour). Melway 267 G9

Cost:
$35 Friends, $45 Non-members
Cost includes morning tea, lunch and admission fees to both gardens

Bookings/enquiries:
Booking form (MS Excel (.xslx) spreadsheet, 14 kB)
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398 

Popular teacher Janet Matthews returns to the Whirling Room for a three-day workshop in which she will show students how to combine colour pencil and watercolour to create realistic leaves of many types. Students will learn Janet’s techniques of layering colour to depict leaves ranging from soft grey-green Eucalypts to shiny dark green Camellias.

This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as students at a more advanced level.

A materials list is available from the Friends’ office.

When:
Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April 10am to 4pm

Where:
Whirling Room Studio, Observatory Gate, RBG Melbourne

Cost:
$295 Friends, $349 Non-members
Includes morning and afternoon teas

Bookings/enquiries:
Bookings open 1 March
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398 

This course will be held over two weekends and combines theory and practical outdoor photography.  Participants will be introduced to the beauty of our natural world and in-camera solutions for many of the technical problems associated with photographing the natural landscape. Basic to Intermediate theory is provided through stunning visuals, hands-on practical photography sessions and a group feedback session. Glenn Guy is a professional photographer and teaches at several TAFE colleges in Melbourne. He runs a photography educational blog at www.travelphotographyguru.com.

When:
Saturday April 13 & April 20, 10 am to 4 pm

Where:
Mueller Hall, National Herbarium, Birdwood Avenue

Cost:
$250 Friends, $300 Non-members
Includes morning tea and lunch both days
Numbers strictly limited

Bookings/enquiries:
Booking form (MS Excel (.xslx) spreadsheet, 14 kB)
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398 

The Wurundjeri clan of the Woiwurrung people cared for the area of Darebin Parklands and used it for shelter and food. When European settlers arrived, they started dairy farming and market gardens. Later the land became a public reserve and a tip. But since 1975 after it was purchased by government authorities the land has been a pioneer of urban land reclamation and revegetation. It is beautiful bushland with vistas across water towards stark rock banks.

There is now a Spiritual Healing Trail along a fairly rough bush track down to Darebin Creek and around the park. Walk along the creek with reflections of the bush, across a bridge and back over stepping stones.  The Chief Ranger will introduce us to the parklands and the trail. At the end of our walk we will be treated to morning tea in the bluestone picnic shelter. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water for this ramble. Be ready to spot birds, wildflowers and even exotic trees.

When:
Tuesday 30 April at 10am

Where:
Meet in the car park next to the parklands to the left at the end of Separation Street. Melway 31, C9.

Cost:
$20 Friends, $25 Non-members

Bookings/enquiries:
Booking form (MS Excel (.xslx) spreadsheet, 14 kB)
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398 

We will meet first for morning tea then walk across to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Library at the National Herbarium of Victoria to discover some of the many beautiful and important treasures that comprise the State Botanical Collection. This is an exclusive tour for members only.

This tour will provide insight into the extraordinary life of Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, whose personal book collection became the basis for the library we have today. Also on display will be one of the oldest types of botanical texts – a 16th century German illustrated herbal and a selection of important botanical publications and exquisite paintings by some of Australia’s leading botanic artists.

When:
Thursday 9 May at 10 am

Where:
Meet at Gate Lodge

Cost:
$20 members only
Morning tea will be served before the walk

Bookings/enquiries:
Booking form (MS Excel (.xslx) spreadsheet, 14 kB)
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398 

Xinjiang in China’s north-west is the Middle Kingdom’s biggest province. This region is home to famous fruit crops grown by the Uighur people renowned for their horticultural prowess.  Terry will talk about her trip to Xinjiang where she visited the world’s lowest altitude botanical garden. Turpan Eremophyte Botanical Garden has a rainfall average of 16 mm per year. Deep karez (an ancient underground well and channeling system) provide essential water. Among the collections the garden has a section of wild fruit trees featuring apples and pears as well as many remarkable local species that grow in the extreme conditions.

When:
Wednesday 15 May at 6 for 6.30 pm

Where:
Mueller Hall, National Herbarium

Cost:
$15 Friends, $25 Non-members
Refreshments will be served before the talk

Bookings/enquiries:
Booking form (MS Excel (.xslx) spreadsheet, 14 kB)
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398 

Why did Marcel Proust have bonsai beside his bed? What was Jane Austen doing, coveting an apricot? How was Friedrich Nietzsche inspired by his ‘thought tree’?

In his new book Philosophy in the Garden, philosopher and writer Damon Young takes you on a scenic tour of the profound thoughts discovered in parks, backyards and even pot plants.  Philosophy in the Garden does not provide tips for mowing overgrown couch grass, or mulching a dry Japanese maple. It is a philosophical companion to the garden’s labours and joys. In a special event for Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Damon

Young will reveal one of literature’s most intimate relationships: great minds and their gardens.

When:
Thursday 6 June at 6 for 6.30 pm

Where:
Mueller Hall, National Herbarium

Cost:
$15 Friends, $25 Non-members
Refreshments will be served before the talk

Bookings/enquiries:
Booking form (MS Excel (.xslx) spreadsheet, 14 kB)
Bookings essential
Enquiries – (03) 9650 6398