Friends of Cranbourne

 

Special Event:

Afternoon Talk

‘Fascination of Orchid Pollination’ with Mitch Smith

Sunday 13 August 2017

2 pm to 3:30 pm

Australian Garden Auditorium, RBGV Cranbourne Gardens

This talk is being held as an accompanying event with the ‘Native Seduction’ Art Exhibition that is open through August.

There is so much that we do not know about how pollination of many Australian plants occurs. By coming to this talk which has the subtitle of ‘Sex, Lies and Seduction’ you are sure to become much better acquainted with what has been discovered in recent times especially with Victoria’s terrestrial orchids.

Mitch Smith has no formal training and is a self-professed ecologist/environmentalist whose interest is to preserve our diminishing biodiversity. The ground breaking work by Mitch with Rudie Kuiter on Victoria’s orchid pollinators is believed to be the most comprehensive work to date, with pollinators described for approx 150 species of orchids. This is citizen science at its best!

Mitch owns Woolenook Native Plant Nursery in Maffra where he has lived for about 10 years ago. He works on local re-vegetation and restoration projects and has accumulated knowledge and insights on many aspects of the environment. He is now spearheading, with the help of local enthusiasts and advice from Dick Thomson, a grassy woodland plains enhancement program for Gippsland. Mitch also acts an advisor to current land managers on environmental matters, mostly to do with orchids and grassland management in his local area.

Mitch is a very enthusiastic knowledgeable person and this shines forth in his stimulating presentations.

Make sure you do not miss this talk!

For more information, please call 0448 013 892.

Costs:

Members $20
Non-members $25
Students $10

Download the special booking form here.

About the Cranbourne Friends

The Cranbourne Friends, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Inc, is a vibrant group of more than 600 members who share a love of Australian plants and nature, and support Cranbourne Gardens.

Being a Friend gives you a special involvement in the ongoing development of Cranbourne Gardens through the award-winning Australian Garden and the conservation of the important remnant bushland and its many creatures. Friends may also participate in the following groups and activities:

  • Growing Friends propagate and grow plants for sale and use in the Gardens Education program. 
  • Herbarium Collectors gather and process plant material to preserve for the Gardens and National Herbarium.
  • Seed Collectors collect and conserve seeds for use in the Friends Nursery.
  • Botanical Illustrators work together, exhibit their works in local galleries, hold morning teas with guest speakers, and run botanical art classes.
  • Botanical Fabricators work with fabrics themed on native plants.
  • Friends In Focus have fun, learn about photography, take photos and enhance and practise photographic skills.
  • Activities (garden visits, tours, talks, workshops and other social activities) are offered throughout the year, advertised through the website, our quarterly newsletter, Naturelink.

Benefits

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne receive the following benefits:

  • our quarterly newsletter, Naturelink
  • QuickLink online
  • discount rates for both Melbourne and Cranbourne Friends activities
  • 15% discount on plant sales at Cranbourne Gardens
  • Friends-only plant sales
  • 10% discount at the shop (Melbourne and Cranbourne)

Membership is open to all

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne belong to the Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens.

Contact us

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne
1000 Ballarto Road
Cranbourne VIC 3977
T 03 5990 2200
W rbgfriendscranbourne.org.au