Shady splendour: deep-dive into Melbourne Gardens’ Fern Gully
Melbourne Gardens’ Fern Gully is a summer sanctuary, providing the perfect microclimate for plants and visitors alike. Originally...
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Melbourne Gardens’ Fern Gully is a summer sanctuary, providing the perfect microclimate for plants and visitors alike. Originally...
From towering columnar cacti reminiscent of spaghetti western landscapes to small and jewel-like specimens boasting colourful whorls of...
The Perennial Border is a seasonal must-see at Melbourne Gardens! Flowering throughout spring and summer, it boasts beautiful contrasting...
There’s no better way to spend a lazy summer arvo than lounging in a comfy deck chair or lying on a picnic rug, surrounded by the sights,...
On your visit to the new Arid Garden at Melbourne Gardens, you’ll discover a remarkable collection of arid plants. From towering columnar...
Be the best plant parent your cacti and succulents could ask for with these expert tips from Horticulturist Chris Jenek!
Trace Balla is an award-winning author and illustrator, known for her beautiful nature-journaling inspired children’s books. She is the...
Australia is an orchid-rich country, with 95% of species found nowhere else in the world, and Victoria has arisen as an orchid hotspot,...
Though every orchid species that the Orchid Conservation Program works with is endangered, some are so rare that they’re down to...
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Orchid Conservation team, led by Dr Noushka Reiter working with colleagues from RMIT and ANU, discovered...
An abundant sea of colourful blooms, The Orchid Conservation Program’s shade houses at Cranbourne Gardens are a secret...
Whether you’ve been sent a fragrant bunch of flowers as a lockdown pick-me-up, or you’ve decided to bring some vibrant spring blooms...
If you’ve ever fallen in love with a photo of a cute critter on our Instagram or Facebook pages, chances are it was taken by the Manager...
With Victoria Nature Festival, enjoying nature can still be part of each day from home! There are plenty of free, nature-based virtual...
It’s not just flowers that are blooming throughout Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens this spring; it’s hope. The weather is warmer, the...
Flower pressing is a fun, creative way to preserve your favourite spring blooms so that you can enjoy them year-round! All you need are...
From an in-depth look into the fascinating history of Melbourne Gardens’ aromatic Herb Garden, to tips and tricks for growing herbs at...
While Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens are temporarily closed, the cute critters that call Cranbourne Gardens home are enjoying the peace...
The days are getting sunnier, the breeze is getting warmer, and it’s time to help your garden say hello to spring! Most of our gardens...
Plant dyeing is an all-natural method of dyeing fabrics using pigments found in plants. All you need are some kitchen staples and fresh...
Many studies have shown that humans as a whole are less stressed and generally healthier when we are close to plants. Houseplants can boost...
Terrariums are a low maintenance and eye-catching way to bring a little slice of nature indoors. Comprised of small and intricate plants...
More time at home is a great opportunity to get into the garden. Why not start producing some of your food, saving money and getting some...
As we enter July, camellia season has well and truly arrived at Melbourne Gardens! Revered across the globe, these brilliantly-coloured...
Kangaroo Paws are a bright and beautiful staple of Cranbourne Gardens, with many of us growing these glorious Western Australian natives in...
Spending more time at home has meant many of us have developed a newfound love for houseplants! As well as beautifying your living space,...
For centuries, herbs have been grown for their delightful scent, delicious flavours and medicinal properties. If you’ve got a herb...
Join John Arnott, Manager Horticulture at Cranbourne Gardens, for a step-by-step planting of Eremophila ‘Murchison Magic’ in the Future...
Four new board members have been appointed to the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria, by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate...
We chatted to Head of the Gardens, Tim Entwisle, about exciting new developments, favourite species and conservation projects, and...
Plant-dyed Playdough Easter eggs Try your hand at using plant pigments to colour playdough eggs this Easter, using ingredients from your...
Orchid researchers at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) and Kings Park and Botanic Garden (KPBG) in Perth have together made a major...
Confined to a tiny section of moist, moss-covered rock and receiving just the right amount of backsplash from a subalpine waterfall on the...
An extensive rejuvenation project is underway for one of the most popular Living Collections at Melbourne Gardens, the Arid Garden.
Melbourne Gardens October – March Daily, 7.30am – 7:30pm April – September Daily, 7.30am – 5.30pm Closed: drinking fountains...
Enjoy the launch of award-winning author Trace Balla’s latest book, Landing with Wings.
As part of our celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with Manager Horticulture, Melbourne Gardens Clare Hart. Clare is...
Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens are closed to all visitors until further notice. All public, schools and events programs are now...
In honour of World Wildlife Day this Tuesday, we’re celebrating one of the wonderful native species that call Cranbourne Gardens home,...
Here are some expert tips which will help make sure your garden survives the hot weather!
Unwind with a Forest Therapy experience, set within a native landscape.
According to Dr Dave Kendal from the University of Tasmania, in the next 50 years, 20-50% of current plant species in botanic gardens and...
Hibiscus-hunter extraordinaire Dr. Todd McLay, a recent addition to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria team, has been poring over thousands...
Pests are inevitable in any garden. For Melbourne Gardens however, a proximity to the city and large numbers of visitors creates something...
If you’re looking for a simple way to create a beautiful, low maintenance garden which provides precious Australian fauna with a cozy...
Some of the heritage gems dotted across Melbourne Gardens aren’t always obvious to passers-by. Entering the Fern Gully, it takes a keen...
Artists Charles Green, Lyndell Brown, Paul Gough and Jon Cattapan have harnessed their experiences as war artists to create remarkable...
The intricate Nareeb Gates might have caught your eye while strolling through Melbourne Gardens D Gate entrance – highly decorated, they...
There are few celebratory items in the Gardens, other than commemorative trees, but one exception is the Temple of the Winds, designed and...
Meet Nepenthes erucoides, a newly discovered (and very hairy) Pitcher Plant species!
Melbourne Garden’s charming Gate B rockery, built in the style of a grotto (small cave) around 1887 boasts a special claim to fame -...
Congratulations to proud parents Francis and Louise who are raising 6 beautiful cygnets on Ornamental Lake!
Did you know that the Australian continent is the single richest region of carnivorous plant diversity in the world?
The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants is the law for naming all algae, fungi and plants
Artist Cara Johnson’s new installation in the Indigenous Grassland on Observatory Lawn is an ode to the fragility and preciousness of...
The mitigation of urban heat island effect is one of the most significant impacts of the abundance of flora in Melbourne Gardens, and...
With orchids comprising 17% of our most rare and threatened native flora, ensuring these species survive is more important than ever before.
Congratulations to our National Herbarium of Victoria team who have added their 950,000th specimen record to the collections database!
Large old trees are biological treasure troves. The many unique characteristics that they develop as they age including hollows, bark...
Lenka Vanderboom, a multi-cultural Yawuru woman, has been a Learning Facilitator at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria since 2016, and gave...
The majority of home gardeners probably haven’t tried their hand at bulb and seed chilling or freezing, but it’s a great way to have...
Terms & Conditions The prize consists of one double pass to see Apollo 11. 1. The Competition is conducted by Royal Botanic Gardens...
Sign up to the Gardens eNews for your chance to win a double pass to see Apollo 11 directed by Todd Douglas Miller. Celebrate the 50th...
There are almost 6000 trees growing in the Melbourne Gardens, and the arboriculture team, made up of Manager Will Jones and his two...
Sign up to the Gardens eNews for your chance to win a family pass to visit the Eureka Skydeck 88 and a family ride on the Garden Explorer....
Terms & Conditions The prize consists of one family pass (2 Adults + 2 children) to visit the Eureka Skydeck 88 and one family trip on the...
Welcome in the spring with music entwined with nature.
This tiny native herb, Ballantinia antipoda (Southern Shepherd’s-purse), is a member of the mustard family and one of Victoria’s rarest...
Known only from small populations located in and around Bunyip State Park, fires have potentially entirely exhausted the soil seed store of...
Known from just a handful of plants in the wild, Caladenia audasii (Audas’ spider orchid) has long been one of Victoria’s most...
The only known Victorian population of Nematolepis wilsonii was completely eradicated in 2009 as Black Saturday Bushfires tore across the...
Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is a temperate refuge for the tropical plant species. Sheltered from human impact at more...
The Tecoma Pavilion is being restored to its former glory thanks to the help of generous donors. The restoration project has been...
From her first role as a temporary Technical Assistant through to numerous published works and impressive award honours, Helen Isobel Aston...
When Alice Eastwood first visited the California Academy of sciences in 1891 she arrived unannounced ready to consult with renowned...
The Gondwana Garden at Cranbourne is a lush haven of ancient plant families which have existed since Australia was part of Gondwana and...
When Mary Harriet Bate began collecting in 1881 she made quite a salubrious start. That very same year, Victoria’s first Government...
Historically, women in natural history have often been relegated to the rank of amateurs, but many 19th-Century female plant collectors and...
Forest Therapy (Shinrin-yoku) Slow down, immerse your senses and move through a range of beautifully calming and healing activities in this...
Explore the unusual volcano sprouting from Melbourne Gardens.
Join a First Nations guide to gain a deeper understanding of wareeny (wombat) season.
Cranbourne Gardens Seek and Find Nature Cards Set your little ones on an adventure exploring the wonderous scenery, plants and creatures of...
Enjoy contemporary performances exploring the theme of climate change.
Dive deep into the world of gin in an evening of sensory discovery.
Journey through the Gardens with a First Nations guide and learn about the importance of different seasons.
Hear about Melbourne Gardens Master Plan and its evolutionary process to date.
Celebrate National Eucalypt Day with a free guided tour.
Uncover composting techniques in this earthy workshop for families.
The Raising Rarity project team have been working on an exciting project which has the potential to save rare and threatened species from...
Discover the amazing work David Robbins and his team are doing to save the Leafy Anchor Plant from Extinction in the Orbost region.
A rare specimen collected by Charles Darwin himself has been discovered in the depths of the Herbarium.
From Melbourne to Montreal, seeds from an extinct Toromiro tree have crossed the globe to give an extinct tree a new lease on life!
Discover the hidden world of biofluorescence and how it creates such stunning, alien-like flowers.