Friends' events

Diary of Events

Friends' events and activities are also listed under each Garden: see the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah for a full list of all activities in each Garden.

Summer raffle!

Over $17,000 worth of prizes! Win spectacular botanical artworks, framed photographic prints, stunning jewellery, kids prizes, adventure packages, gardening tools and much, much more! Buy books of tickets as Christmas gifts for friends or family members, or treat yourself for your chance to win! Buy tickets in the Friends' Summer Raffle today.

Special Events

Friends' special events each year include:

Gardens in Focus Photography Competition - a free public exhibition of the highly commended and winning photos
Artisans in the Gardens - an exhibition of superbly crafted work in a variety of media, on themes of plants and nature.
Botanica - an exhibition of fine botanical art - click here to view Botanica 2010 web pages
Plant Sales - plants propagated from stock in the three Botanic Gardens
Book Sale - pre-loved books on horticulture, environment and a number of other topics
New Year's Eve - join Friends on the Mare and Foal Lawn within the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney
Friends' Art School - an opportunity to join classes on botanical painting and still life with acrylics
Friends Basketry Program - discover the ancient and contemplative craft of basketry with professional basket maker Meredith Peach
Tours - special interest tours for garden enthusiasts and nature lovers

Gardens in Focus Photographic Competition

The 2011 competition is now open. Go to www.gardensinfocus.com.au for full details.

Artisans in the Gardens 2011

Each year in spring Friends of the Botanic Gardens presents superbly crafted work in a variety of media. The interior and garden of Lion Gate Lodge in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney are filled with original, eclectic works of art for sale. Works include collectables such as sculpture for the garden, glass, ceramics, jewellery, mosaic work, papier mache and beautifully hand made or hand dyed textiles.

Artisans in the Gardens 2011 will be held from Saturday, 8 October to Sunday 16 October.

To book tickets for the Opening Night party on Friday 7 October click here or phone the Friends' office on 9231 8182 or email Friends@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

Botanica 2012

�The Masters and Moore�

An Exhibition of the finest Botanical Art from all over Australia.

An outstanding exhibition of Australia�s internationally known �Masters� of Botanical Art and emerging artists of the nation will open on the evening of Friday 30 March at the Maiden Theatre and the Moore Room in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney.

The scale and beauty of these rooms are the perfect venue for exhibiting the work of the finest Botanical artists in the country - an event not to be missed by collectors and art lovers alike!

Join special guests and the artists for the opening night celebration and a chance to view (and buy) the works before the exhibition opens to the general public. Opening night tickets will be on sale from the middle of November.

Botanical illustrators can also submit works of black & white scientific botanical illustration for the prestigious Margaret Flockton Award. Click here for details of the Margaret Flockton award 2012, including conditions of entry, submission deadline, etc.

Plant Sales

The Growing Friends volunteers propagate tubestock from seeds and cuttings of plants growing in the Royal Botanic Garden, the Australian Botanic Garden and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. The stock includes unusual and hard-to-find plants, many drought-resistant. Plants are sold at the Growing Friends' weekday plant sales in the Royal Botanic Garden at lunchtime, most Monday to Fridays. See our Growing Friends' plant notes for Exotic or Australian plants propagated. We also hold plant sales on the second Saturday of most months, 9 am-1 pm, at the Royal Botanic Garden, and at the Australian Botanic Garden in autumn and spring each year.

Book Sale

Friends' Book Sale each year in autumn in the Maiden Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Pre-loved books on horticulture, the environment, garden design and related topics, as well as craft and cooking, are sold each year in the J.H. Maiden Theatre at the Royal Botanic Garden. Profits from the sale support our donations to the Botanic Gardens Trust Library. Donations of second-hand books are welcome throughout the year at the Friends' office.

New Year's Eve with the Friends SOLD OUT

The Royal Botanic Garden will be closed to the public for New Year's Eve, to protect the valuable plants. Huge crowds will throng to the Domain and Mrs Macquaries Point. Members of Friends of the Botanic Gardens have exclusive rights to buy tickets for entry to the Mare and Foal Lawn within the Royal Botanic Garden. You can enjoy the relaxed ambience of the Royal Botanic Garden, in a spacious area, and have a great view of the fireworks at 9 pm and midnight. You must be a member of Friends of the Botanic Gardens to book tickets. Tickets for New Year's Eve 2011 SOLD OUT.

Art Master Classes

In 2011, the Friends be offering a variety of classes. Acclaimed botanical artist, Bev Allen, will present a Master Class with an emphasis on the finer details that bring a painting to life, a special class on painting on vellum and a Master Class to help refine your techniques for painting white flowers. Bev�s classes are for artists with some experience wishing to improve their skills. Melbourne artist, Steph Goss, will once again guide you through the application of water colour washes using large brushes to create a larger than life painting. Charlotte Thodey continues her very successful classes in Acrylic Still Life Painting which encourage the student to look passionately at fruit and vegetables. For more information about classes, click here.

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