BGANZ Open Day

Date posted: 10 May 2016

On Sunday 29 May you’re invited to attend our three botanic gardens (Adelaide, Mount Lofty and Wittunga) to celebrate the inaugural Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) Open Day!

There’ll be special themed guided walks (on the plants of Gondwana, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island) and a planting of the very rare Mount Lofty Speedwell (Veronica derwentiana ssp. homalodonta) by some passionate Adelaide schoolchildren.

Peruse the program below and get set to celebrate the important work carried out by botanic gardens, particularly when it comes to the conservation of plants (because our lives depend on it).

BGANZ is the professional body that represents the members of botanic gardens, arboretum and gardens across Australia and New Zealand.

The inaugural Open Day has been launched to:

• Enhance public knowledge of the vital importance and work of botanic gardens;
• Provide support and community for all botanic gardens, members, supporters, volunteers and visitors.

Adelaide Botanic Garden

At 10am students from Gilles Street Primary School will undertake a planting of Veronica derwentiana ssp. homalodonta (Mount Lofty Speedwell) at the Garden in a garden bed just south-west of the Cascade sculpture (south of the Bicentennial Conservatory). Mount Lofty Speedwell is endemic to SA and is very rare and critically endangered. Small populations can be found on the Fleurieu Peninsula and Mount Lofty Ranges. Gilles Street Primary has been involved in saving the plant from extinction through its participation in the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre’s SEEDS Project. A guided walk of the garden will then take place at 10:30am, departing from the Schomburgk Pavilion.

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden

Take a guided walk around Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, comparing plants from far-flung parts of the globe and look for clues of their shared origins from the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Departs from the Lower Carpark, off Lampert Road, at 10:30am.

Wittunga Botanic Garden

This Wittunga Botanic Garden guided walk will guide you through the fascinating plants from Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula. Wittunga’s KI collection includes the endangered Daisy Bush (Olearia microdisca) – endemic to the island – that gives off a distinct curry aroma; while the Garden’s Fleurieu collection features native plants from the region that stretches between the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and Cape Jervis. Departs from the carpark on Shepherds Hill Road at 1:30pm.