Friends' special events
Friends' events and activities are also listed under each Garden: see Royal Botanic Gardens, Mount Annan and Mount Tomah for a full list of all activities in each Garden.
Friends' special events each year include
Botanica 2010
Treasuring our Plants - Treasuring our Planet
The Friends' annual botanical art exhibition is known for the high quality of work shown, attracting buyers from around Australia and overseas.
Botanica 2010 - Treasuring our Plants - Treasuring our Planet Our theme this year recognises the need to preserve our heritage. Our climate and limited water supplies dictate very different gardens, garden maintenance and plants used than twenty years ago.
We are planning to show artists' works that look at botanical subjects with truthfulness and observation in a bold and modern way. Nature up close often reveals forms that are architectural and minimalist, with strong organic compositional elements that have a contemporary art appeal, images that evoke what is happening now and are intended for today's house.
Botanica 2010 will be held from Friday 16 to Sunday 25 April with the exclusive Opening Night Party on Thursday 15 April. Tickets for the Opening Night Party will be available from Mid November 2009.
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 2009, including conditions of entry, submission deadline, etc.
Plants
The Growing Friends volunteers propagate tubestock from seeds and cuttings of plants growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah and Mount Annan Botanic Gardens. 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 Gardens at lunchtime, most Monday to Fridays. See our Growing Friends' plant notes. We also hold plant sales on the second Saturday of most months, 9 am-1 pm, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, and at Mount Annan Botanic Garden in Autumn and Spring each year.
Books
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 Gardens. Profits from the sale support our donations to the Botanic Gardens Trust Library. The next book sale will be on Friday 9 October, 11.30 am to 2 pm and Saturday 10 October, 10 am to 4 pm. Donations of second-hand books are welcome throughout the year at the Friends' office.
Each year in spring Friends of The Gardens presents superbly crafted work in a variety of media, on themes of plants and nature. The interior and garden of Lion Gate Lodge in the Royal Botanic Gardens are filled with original works for sale. Works include collectables such as textiles, glass, ceramics, and jewellery; sculptures, mosaics and more for the garden.
Artisans in the Gardens 2009 will be held from Saturday, 24 October to Sunday 1 November.
Tickets for the Opening Night party are SOLD OUT.
If you are an Artisan who would like to submit work for Artisans in the Gardens 2010, please contact the Friends' office on 9231 8182 or email Friends@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
The Royal Botanic Gardens 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 Gardens have exclusive rights to buy tickets for entry to the Mare and Foal Lawn within the Royal Botanic Gardens. You can enjoy the relaxed ambience of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 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 Gardens to book tickets. Tickets for New Year's Eve 2009 are SOLD OUT.
In winter/spring 2009, the Friends will be offering Master Classes in Botanical Painting and Drawing with Beverly Allen and Victorian artist Steph Goss for artists with some experience wishing to improve their skill and two General Classes covering Acrylic Still Life Painting with Charlotte Thodey. For more information about classes, click here. |
