National and international delegates visited our gardens for a day.
The Geelong Botanic Gardens are one of our most treasured icons. Hosting more than 4000
species spanning 400 genera and 100 plant families, these gardens have been
adored by generations of our residents since 1851.
Recently, our Gardens took centre stage as the venue for the
Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) network event. The event
extended a warm welcome to 80 delegates hailing from more than 20 organisations,
all gathering amidst the splendour of our exquisite Botanic Gardens.
BGANZ, the industry body championing botanic gardens in
Australia and New Zealand, provided a golden opportunity to present our
time-honoured 170-year-old gardens to peers within the field.
During the guided tour, a notable stopover was the Pacific
Rim garden.
This garden serves as a haven for rare plants hailing from regions
in the Pacific, under threat from deforestation and climate upheavals. The
garden is accentuated by an array of Conifer varieties, a testament to decades
of tireless curation by a dedicated local collector.
Celebrations were in full swing last July, marking the
150th year of the planting of an illustrious Redwood tree.
The story of this exceptional tree began over 160 years ago, when
a seed sent by Thomas Learmonth from California was germinated at the Geelong Botanic Gardens.
Once the seed was successfully germinated, the sapling was then planted 150 years ago by John Raddenbury, the second curator of Geelong Botanic Gardens. Coordinator Kellee Reissinger said the tree has flourished thanks to the meticulous
care and dedicated stewardship of those who have been involved with the
Gardens.
What sets this tree apart is not only its age, but its
steady growth. Over the years it has demonstrated a medium growth rate, with an
annual increase in height of approximately 10-15 centimetres.
Make a time to visit our Geelong Botanic Gardens soon, to
immerse yourself in nature, wander and unwind, step into the conservatory and
have a picnic on the lawn. You can even book an event or wedding in your
favourite garden space.