Sherwood Arboretum
Autumn 2021 Newsletter
‘Connect – Promote – Protect’
FBBGSA PO Box 39 Sherwood QLD 4075 ACN: 607 589 873 ABN: 20 607 589 873
Welcome back to The Friends’ Lilygram newsletter, the first for 2021.
Produced 4 times a year the Lilygram will contain all our news plus other articles and events of interest together in an easy to read format.
Members are welcome to submit pictures and stories you may wish to share.
Each month a shorter e-news will be sent with ‘What’s on’ for the month.
You will notice our new bright colour ways. Our thanks go to Jim Dobbin, FBBGSA webmaster and graphic artist for his work with the board in producing a new suite of promotional material.
Members are also encouraged to help with compilation of the newsletter, contact Annette Irish via secretary@fbbgsa.org.au
Wednesday Speaker’s Series May 12th 6:30pm start
Hardy Orchids for the Sunny Garden
Speaker: Hendricka Kwan
Orchids in the Garden
Orchids are an underused species in gardens in Brisbane and surrounds. In particular the Vandaceous group, Dendrobium/Dockrillea species and others such as Spathoglottis make spectacular additions to any Brisbane garden.
Where: Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Auditorium
When: 6:30 pm start May 12th
Bookings on-line only:
Limited to 50 in the auditorium dependent upon COVID19 restrictions at the time.
Bookings are open to the public so FBBGSA members get in quick before you miss out
Members : $10 Non-members $15
Please ensure if you are booking on behalf of another guest the booking must be in their name with their contact details, not yours …. necessary for COVID tracing.
Read more
PLANT SALES on the night from The Tropic Gardener 
https://thetropicgardener.com.au
The fabulous orchid growers from Tropic Gardener nursery at Kenmore will be bringing along Vanda, Dendrobium/ Dockrillea and other tempting orchids for you to purchase on the night. The orchid featured is one of their progeny.
Enrol Now –
The Friends Photo Club
‘It’s all about Photograph-ing …. Not Camera-ing’
For the beginner through to intermediate skilled photographers, this program isn’t about how your camera captures the image. This program is called ‘photographing’, not ‘camera-ing’. These skills, along with some creative habits to develop, will set you up for a lifetime of learning whilst bringing joy from lesson one. Too many photo programs start with all the technical stuff, which in reality can’t be utilised until you understand what makes good photos. Importantly, a good camera does not guarantee a good photo, just like a commercial kitchen does not guarantee a perfect meal.
About your host ….. Jim Dobbin:
Jim is a national award-winning photographer with extensive experience covering various types of photography, from commercial studio, architecture, portraits, aerial, reportage, stock, magazine and now drone photography. He is also developing more advanced programs, specialised guides and videos.
Program structure
Will be delivered with a mixture of onsite classes with walk and talk at the gardens, notes and tasks via email with homework if you wish.
- Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha Auditorium.
- Some onsite sessions may include the City Botanic Gardens and Sherwood Arboretum.
- Gather at the Gardens: Fourth Thursday morning of each month meeting at the auditorium
- Monthly Photo Emails: Each email will include themed homework; include images submitted by members, examples shot by Jim to illustrate the lesson – and time, date and place of next meeting.
Cost for 6 month program by Enrolling on-line.
Non-members fBBGSA – $275.00 includes 1 year membership of $30.00
At half the standard price of equivalent programs.
THE FRIENDS’ Program of Activities for 2021 – 2022
From our planning sessions held February and March we received many suggestions and lists of interests from the 33 members involved. Thank you so much to all those who took the time to share your ideas.
It was agreed that whilst trying to do and be everything for everyone it is more prudent and within our capacity to concentrate on 3 main focussed areas until end 2022.
Arts and Crafts – Artistic Activities in the gardens
History and Development – Brisbane Botanic Treasures – the history, shared memories, new ‘botanical’ experiences
Plant Life – MasterGardener program series
The Thursday ‘Let’s Learn and Share together’ sessions will have a number of programs happening in the auditorium or gardens during the day and up until 8:30pm if the call for night time programs are received. The Friends have the auditorium and adjoining courtyard all to ourselves 9:00am to 9:00pm. All groups will be limited in size so as to provide great learning and sharing opportunities.
The first programs will be starting May 27th
- Join the ‘The Friends’ Photo Club’ with Jim Dobbin and runs for 6 months – 9:30 to 11:30 am – May 27th – see detail in Lilygram bookings on line
- ‘Nature Journaling – with the Friends workshop’ at our gardens – May 27th 10am – 12 noon with Bethan Burton – invite to book coming soon
- Seasonal care of your plants and soil after the rains- Annette Irish, Horticulturist – May 27th Lunch time talk 12:45 – 1:30 – invite to book coming soon
- Native flowers and foliage floral display with Elizabeth Teeland – June 17th 9:30 to 11:00 – invite to book coming soon
Others being planned:
Presenters and team coordinator opportunities
You may wish to share your skill with us…… let us know by contacting Annette Irish on secretary@fbbgsa.org.au
April 28th
89 members and guests passed through the gates during the morning … and all were ecstatic that it was a beautiful day that nature had provided for their ramble. The weather was perfect with beautiful bright blue skies setting off the colours and textures of the plants, flowers and leaves sparkling in the last of a little overnight dew. Rescheduling the day was certainly a positive in the end as the gardens were even more spectacular after the earlier week of rains.
Robin and Scott happily shared some stories of their garden with the eager listeners.
Thank you to the Friends members who volunteered as guides on the day – Patty Munro, Elizabeth Teeland, Peter Starkey and Thulasi Rajah and our special thanks to Roger Jackman for the extra assistance when setting up and doing those extra fiddly tasks that help so much on the day.
Our COVID plan worked well, so that was a bonus.
fBBGSA we re privileged to be invited by bRobin and Scott to visit the garden, our sincere gratitude to support us…..
Now we seek other fabulous gardens to explore. Please ‘dob’ in any fabulous gardens, big or small, by sending a message to events@fbbgsa.org.au
Brisbane Botanic Treasures gardens history team
Wish to research, collate and publish the history of the Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens? This team will be carrying on the work of revered member, Dr Jean Sim, in expanding the information on the FBBGSA Brisbane Botanic Treasures website. Read more…..
‘What’s Flowering’ project team
Do you have a keen interest in plant names, origins and cultural requirements? This team will be researching plant growing conditions in Brisbane, updating & enhancing the information on the plants featured on the FBBGSA website page ‘What’s flowering this Month’ and adding new plants not yet included. A background in plant identification, photography, research skills, plant nomenclature, or knowing and growing plants in Brisbane will be helpful.
Read more……
‘Let’s Learn n Share Together’ – Artistic activities support team
Meeting every 4th Thursday of the month the team will support the activities in the auditorium with the opportunity to run workshops. A background in arts, drawing, painting, weaving, floral displays and floral art, sewing, crafts, displays, dyeing, working with garden materials would be handy but not obligatory. Read more……
More projects to read about here
REGISTER for these new projects by e-mailing volunteers@fbbgsa.org.au or complete the form on https://fbbgsa.org.au/volunteer-programme/
all NEW MEMBERS over the last 15 months
Thank you for your support by joining as FBBGSA members.
We look forward to introducing our new programs
and learning and sharing together
for the benefit of our members, our community and,
importantly, the botanic gardens.
Anne Elliott
Lyndal Carstenson
Helen Kearney
Anne Clair
Maria Bosaans
Jasmine Ross
Victoria Henry
Roebynne Birtles
Beverley Rosenberg
Sam Kelly
Katherine Nickolich
Tony Billett
October 2020 – April 2021
Jacqueline Belisle
Mathew Jeremy
Penelope Morris
Roger Jackman
Kristina Row
Sheree Clancy
Nichole Stephenson
Carol Watters
Meg Moller
Linda Guerin
Sue Parry
Elizabeth Friend
Susan Poole
Congratulations to our two
Lucky Winners of
Joseph Banks’ Florilegium
Patty Munro
Thulasi Rajah
CALL FOR PROMOTION TEAM MEMBERS
‘Become a Friend’ – FBBGSA Booth
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
Sunday May 30th 9:00am – 2:30pm.
Time to volunteer: 1, 2. 3 or 4.5 hours.
Botanic gardens across Australia and New Zealand are celebrating our passion for people and plants.
The team at the gardens will be conducting all sorts of activities.
Come along and enjoy a variety of activities including:
- The BCC hugely popular pollinator workshops with our Education team
- Take a free guided walk with the Volunteer Guides.
- Meet and learn about the Friends of Brisbane Botanic GardensLearn
- or enjoy a free concert on the Bandstand Lawn from 1-4pm.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens
ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING!
FOR VOLUNTEER GUIDES AT
BRISBANE BOTANIC GARDENS MT COOT-THA & CITY BOTANIC GARDENS
Training
The training programme is one day per week over ten weeks, with Staff and Guides facilitating sessions to provide prospective guides with the knowledge and skills needed to help make the visitor experience to the gardens enjoyable.
Becoming a volunteer
The next intake for Volunteer Guides will occur during May 2021. Expressions of interest required by the Volunteer Guide Officer
More information
For more information about becoming a Volunteer Guide and the training programme and selection process please telephone the Volunteer Officer – 3403 2535
or email botanicgardens@brisbane.qld.gov.au
Congratulations to our First Winners of the ‘Gardens Story’ Photo competition
Mary Peden and Karl Granzien
Mary’s Garden Story S PRINGTIME REFLECTIONS IN THE JAPANESE GARDEN
The Images of the Pink Trumpet Tree (Handroanthus impetiginous formerly Tabebuia) and flowering shrubs mirrored on the surface of the pond, are a Reflection of the passion and enthusiasm, I have shared for more than thirty years with hundreds of visitors to the Japanese Garden
Mary Peden OAM
Karl’s Garden Story “The Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens holds many great memories for me, both family joy and in the love of nature, it’s always bursting with new and diverse life. The abundance of frogs and arthropods of so many forms is a testament to it’s diligent keepers. This photo, to me, represents joy and wonder at the magic of nature.
Karl Granzien To view more fabulous ‘Garden Story’ photographic entries go to
https://fbbgsa.org.au/seasol-photo-competition-1/
Enter for a chance to win a great Seasol starter pack
Brisbane City Council Events in the City Gardens
Discover a stunning open-air art exhibition in the heart of Brisbane City at
Botanica – Contemporary Art Outside.
May 7th – 16th leading contemporary Australian artists and designers will transform Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens City with large-scale projections, surprising installations and interactive artworks.
Linger longer on Friday and Saturday nights to discover a range of unique experiences for all ages. Enjoy guided twilight walks, thought-provoking talks, children’s art trails, delicious food trucks, an outdoor bar and live music.
View the full Botanica events program . starting Fri 7 to Sun 16 May 2021 Sun-Thu: 5-10pm Botanica Live Nights: Fri & Sat nights, 5-10pm
Find out more on our Botanica- Contemporary Art Outside event page.
Our special thanks to all our volunteers. We are blessed to have your enthusiastic support and dedication to ensure our activities continue to advance the Friends’ standing in the gardens community.
To the Kitchen Garden, Growing Friends, Plant Label Audit and Seedy Friends team members –
Thank you for the vital roles you have played over the last 5 years.
To the team coordinators – Patty Munro, Julie Lumsdale, Marie Hollingworth and Annette Irish – your commitment to FBBGSA is greatly appreciated.
The board and members of FBBGSA.
The FBBGSA webpages of What’s flowering this month. Click on the pic to go to the site.
The Friends’ ‘Views from Above’ project is now in production .
The brief for the project is to produce a combination of drone overhead visuals produced by Jim and a series of videos of the climatic zones and plant collections within the garden produced by Mary Jo. Mary Jo is recording the voice overs.
If the rushes are anything to go by the videos will be fabulous and we will be for many treats!
Stay tuned for the first in a series over the next 12 months.
Tasmanian Garden Tour
Bookings Email: info@jonbainestours.com.au www.jonbainestours.com
OUR PATRON Paul De Jersey and wife Kate
The Patron of the Friends of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Sherwood Arboretum is His Excellencey the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland. For More information about the Governor of Queensland please visit the Government House Queensland website here
Dr Jean Sim – Director Senior Advisor
Arno King – Gardens Volunteer Program Manager
Annette Irish – Director Secretary & Membership coordinator
Hendricka Kwan – Events planning with Social Media added February 2021
Phillip Jack – Director Support
Thulasi Rajah – Director support
Dale Arvidsson – Ex-Officio – BCC rep Curator Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Board Meeting March 2021 – welcomed a new casual director
Nichole Stephenson – Director Finances holding this position until the 2021 AGM at which time Nichole may again nominate for the position.
Board Structure:
In 2018 the Board implemented a rotating Chair of Meetings. Each Director manages their portfolio with reference to the board for advice and ratification. All financial matters are approved by the board members before being expended.
The Secretary provides a central point of communication for all FBBGSA matters including press releases, external marketing and promotion and BCC communications.
Emails:
Secretariat – Business , planning, correspondence and BCC comms: secretary@fbbgsa.org.au
Membership including annual volunteer registration enquiries: members@fbbgsa.org.au
Events planning : events@fbbgsa.org.au
Gardens Volunteer program management (not annual volunteer registrations): volunteer@fbbgsa.org.au
The fBBGSA operates within the guidelines of our COVID19 Management Plan.
The current plan can be found at http://fbbgsa.org.au
ALL of our events are managed to comply with our plan’s COVID Safe Event Checklist
– Be prepared to leave your contact details for tracing purposes
– Follow the rules and keep us all safe
– Practice social distancing
– Wash your hands regularly
Please refrain from attending if you have been in contact with COVID 19 in the last 14 days, or exhibiting any symptoms. You may be refused access if on the day you have any symptoms.
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