FLORA EXPLORER HANDBOOK - friendsanbg.org.au€¦ · Web viewTake a postcard tour and explore the...

FLORA EXPLORER HANDBOOK

(Version: February 2019)

Guidelines and procedures

Interpretation aim

Take a postcard tour and explore the gardens within the Gardens as you discover Australia’s landscapes and ecosystems in relaxing style.

Key messages

The role of the Australian National Botanic Gardens is to maintain the national living collection of Australian native plants, valued for scientific research, conservation, learning and recreation.

The Gardens is the national living collection of Australian plants, with nearly one third of Australia’s plants represented in this location.

The Gardens has thematic plantings; taxonomic, ecological, geographic, and ethnobotanical, horticultural, and conservation.

Tour Logistics

Length of Tour: 45 mins

Route: See the 45min Flora general tour route map (see page 4). Flora Explorer tours must be driven on the specified route and direction determined for the specific tour only. Note: When preparing for new tour or special tours, new routes must be approved by Visitor Services staff. For special events different tour routes may be specified by Visitor Services staff.

Designated Tour stops 45 min standard tour:

The bus will be parked at the cafe bridge before the tour. Passengers may not board the bus at the cafe bridge but should be asked to board at the Visitor Centre.

Stopping Points: At all stopping points the guide will park to the side of the road and remain on the vehicle to address passengers. (Only get out of the vehicle at designated main tour stopping points if you feel that this is necessary.) Mini-stops are permitted at any point on the tour route but guides must stay in the vehicle.

Passengers should remain on the vehicle at all times during the tour (* exception, see below).

Introduction: Visitor Centre

Optional mini stop: Eastern mallee

Optional mini stop: Brachyitons at top of rainforest

Optional mini stop: Western mallee

1Version: February 2019

Main Stop: Red centre

Main Stop: Sydney Region / Eucalypt Lawn

Main Stop : Overlooking the Rock Garden

Main Stop: Rainforest where main path crosses road

(* At the end of this stop, passengers may be given the option of alighting and walking down through the rainforest to finish their tour)

Conclusion: Road between Tasmanian and Victorian rainforests

Passengers should exit the bus at the cafe and the vehicle should be left parked here.

Right of way: Flora Explorer has right of way over other Gardens vehicles, however please be aware of other users in the Gardens and park to the side of the road to ensure that you don’t block the road for prolonged periods. Please report any concerns or issues with right of way to the Volunteer Guide supervisor.

Bookings

Bookings and payment for tickets are taken at the Bookshop.

Bookings can be taken up to a month ahead of the desired date.

Dangerous conditions: Partial/Full Gardens closure

Flora tours will be cancelled during a partial or full closure of the Gardens. The Ranger will notify the guide and the Bookshop as soon as a decision is made on cancellation. Tickets may be exchanged for an alternative date or refunded. (see Cancellation Policy at end of this document).

Guide arrival Procedures

Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the time of your rostered tour. Sign in at the guides office.

30 minutes before tour, notify the Ranger at the Visitor Centre (or phone 0417 021 558) that you are ready and able to complete your rostered Flora tour.

Collect a radio and test, ensure it is carried with you, audible and accessible during the whole tour. Be aware that the Ranger may contact you via radio at any point in your tour.

Collect microphone headset. Check once on board the bus that this is working – the ignition key must be turned on for the speaker system to work. (Before using the microphone for the first time, please ensure you have had a brief training session with a Ranger.) Please check with the Ranger before leaving whether there any ‘no broadcast’ zones due to weddings or events.

Collect first aid kit, ticket punch.

When driving the vehicle from the café bridge to the Visitor Centre, do not carry any passengers, as the extra weight may damage the tiles outside the Visitor Centre. Do not stop the vehicle on the tiles.


Starting the tour

Tickets - Check, punch tickets and return to passengers.

Tour meeting point - The bus will be parked near the cafe bridge to attract customers but should be driven up to the Visitor Centre about 10 minutes prior to the tour start time.

Formal Tour start point – The tour begins at the Visitor Centre.

Seatbelts – Ensure all participants have their seatbelts on while the bus is moving. (The guide should also be wearing a seatbelt.)

Children’s safety harnesses – two child carriers are stored in the vehicle and should be used for children under 18 months by the child’s parent or guardian.

Getting on and off the bus – participants can get on or off the bus from either side. There are two steps in the Guides Office. Take one of these out and have it in readiness and offer it in case anyone needs it. Leave it near the wall and put it away after the tour.

Passenger Storage – large items such as prams, walkers are to be left in the Visitor Centre.

Vehicle Operation manual - A copy of the vehicle Operation manual will be kept at the Visitor Centre and can be referred to at any time by drivers.

Reporting Flora issues

Please report Flora faults and issues on the day to the Rangers.

For ideas about Flora management, the Flora tour route and possible other Flora management report to Megan Donaldson.

For training and interpretation issues or ideas please report to the Volunteer supervisor.

Comfort hints

Warn people about any speed bumps.

Blankets are stored in the guides office. Load the vehicle with blankets on cold days, as people might decide to use them half way through tour.

Interpretation hints

Avoid interpreting anything very tall (unless from a distance) as it is not possible to see it through the canopy of the bus.

Avoid interpreting anything that cannot be seen as those passengers who are not capable of exploring the gardens further on foot will only be frustrated by being told that ‘there is lots of great stuff just out of view’.

Please cater presentations to front and back of the bus. Note people in back seat see route in reverse. Avoid using the words LEFT and RIGHT if there are passengers in the back seat facing the rear.


Use the amplification system when possible so all participants can hear you. Otherwise make sure you project your voice.

Direct, Describe, Interpret: Direct the attention to the feature (eg, look uphill about 5 metres from the bus), Describe the feature so the audience can zero in on it (eg, see the large tree with a bottle shaped trunk) and then Interpret the feature (The bottle tree is well adapted to...)

FLORA ROUTE – 45 minute tour

Yellow – standard route 45 minutes

Red – ignore this route, as Glasshouse is now closed. Flora should not be driven into the Red Centre Garden as the path is not strong enough for the weight of the vehicle.


Example schedule for 45 minute tour

(Note: this is an example only – guides may prefer different timings and focus)

Route: as per yellow route on map

Arrive at the Gardens at least 30 minutes prior to tour start time.

Let Ranger know you are present.(It is useful to check with Bookshop how many passengers have bought tickets.)

Collect microphone, radio, ticket punch and first aid kit, (and rugs if it is cold). Proceed to bus at café bridge, and check bus. Turn on microphone (and ignition key) and check. 10 minutes prior to the tour start time drive up to the Visitor Centre.

Park just beyond the Visitor Centre doors (do not stop on the tiles), and board any passengers. Have step (from Guides Office) ready, in case it is needed.

The example tour assumes that the guide is using the microphone and headset, so can speak to passengers while driving. In this example tour, the guide does not get off the bus, but could do so at the longer (Main) stops if preferred. Passengers do not get off the bus during the tour, but may be given the option to leave the bus at the rainforest/conifer stop, and walk back down through the rainforest.

Time Stop time

10.20 - 10.30 Outside Visitor Centre

Greet passengers, check tickets, organise seatbelts, rugs, (find out about passengers if time allows)

10.30 Depart Visitor Centre.

Drive slowly up the hill and en route provide brief introduction. Additional general information about the Gardens can be imparted while driving between other Main Stops.

On reaching Eastern Mallee, provide brief description of Eastern Mallee, compare with rainforest as you proceed uphill.


10.34 3 min Stop at junction (on the right) of rainforest road.

Opportunity to talk about Brachychitons, Xanthorrhoea, point out end of rainforest and start of natural gully.

Driving on past the pump house provides an opportunity to talk about the risk of fire in the Gardens, and the emergency water system. Mention Black Mt vegetation and remnant gardens on the left; could mention walk up to Black Mt tower.

Options: point out chubby Brachychiton on the left; Allocasuarinas on the right.

Turn right, down the hill, and briefly point out the Melaleuca and the entrance to Western Mallee.

Opportunity to talk about Aboriginal plant use (Melaleuca), Western Mallee, birds in Gardens.

10.43 6 min

Main Stop

RCG

Drive about half way down the hill and stop on hill, overlooking the Red Centre Garden (just past the trees beside the road). This provides an overview of the RCG. Talk about the main features of the RCG.

Drive down hill and pause briefly at entrance to RCG, pointing out Thorny Devil, termite mounds and inviting further individual exploration of the RCG and children’s trail later.

10.50 5 min

Main Stop

Sydney Region

Stop at Sydney Region entrance, just below where the main path enters.

Options: talk about Sydney Region Gully, use of sandstone from Bundanoon quarry, flowers in bloom (e.g. waratahs, heath, banksias, flannel flowers, wattle); Eucalypt Lawn - talk about Eucalypts (& Angophora, Corymbia), also use of lawn for picnics/concerts etc.

11.00 4 min

Main Stop

Drive down hill, turn right, driving slowly past Hakeas, Asteraceae Garden, Acacias, Rock Garden. Stop at some point/s along here.


Rock Garden

Options: Acacias, Rock Garden, Alpine Garden, Gymea Lilies, other plants in flower, prostrate and low growing plants, WA plants. Also Asteraceae Garden, Friends shelter & Friends’ contribution to the Gardens

11.06 4 min

Main Stop

Conifers

Drive on and turn left, and stop just before main path crosses road.

Options: Conifers / Wollemi Pine / Rainforest; epiphytes, Backhousia citriodora.

Option: Invite passengers to alight and walk down through rainforest.

11.14 1 min

End of Tour

Drive down hill, pointing out Seed Bank (opportunity to talk about scientific research).

Stop on Bass Strait and wind up your tour.

Passengers alight.

(Leave vehicle parked here.)

Stops and length of stops can be varied to suit the guide as long as overall time is kept to 45 minutes. This is important as this tour is advertised as a 45 minute highlights tour, and needs to be consistent.


APPENDIX: FLORA EXPLORER - RESOURCES

(some suggestions and ideas for guides)

Introduction

Main points

The Australian National Botanic Gardens was established in 1949, opened to the public in September 1967, and officially opened by Prime Minister John Gorton on 20 October 1970.

The Gardens features over 6,300 species representing one-third of Australia’s known native plants with over 65,000 plants growing on site. It is the only place in the world you can see this diversity of Australian native plants in one location.

This national living collection of Australian native plants is valued for scientific research, conservation, learning and recreation

The Gardens is involved in the conservation of endangered species in the wild through cultivation and propagation trials and the collection of seeds for preservation in the seed bank for study, or reintroduction into their native habitats

A popular destination for international, interstate and local visitors, our 40 hectares of developed gardens attract over 400,000 visitors per year.

Today you will see some of the iconic features of the Gardens including the Rainforest Gully, the Rock Garden, RCG, the Sydney Basin, the Eucalypt lawn, the Mallee section, and several sections featuring iconic Australian plant families like the Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas (Proteaceae) and Bottle-brushes – showcasing Australia’s plant diversity adapted to our contrasting environments

On the drive to our first stop, you will be driving through a section managed by the Gardens that contains a combination of Canberra bushland and special collections plantings.

Drive along Boundary Road

This area introduces 50 years of the Australian National Botanic Gardens, showing where we have come from. You can contrast it with what has been planted as you enter planted areas of the Gardens. (colour contrasts)

The plantings in these areas of the Gardens are not maintained in the same intensive way as the showier parts of the Gardens. These secret and less well visited areas include plantings to help secure the collection.

Eastern/Western Mallee

The Living Collection displays in the Gardens are arranged according to a set of themes


taxonomic – closely related plants ie Families like Myrtaceae which includes tea trees, bottle brush and Eucalyptus or Proteacae which includes Banksia, Grevillia and Hakea.

ecological and geographic - grouping species from plant communities or geographic areas e.g. Tasmanian alpine heath or Rainforest

horticultural – to demonstrate how to use Australian plants aesthetically in home gardens and horticultural displays. (e.g. Banks walk)

ethnobotanic – exploring plant use by indigenous Australians, settlers, explorers, and modern Australian people for food, medicine, fibre and tools.

conservation – plantings to highlight and preserve rare and endangered plants.

Mallee sections examples of ecological plantings in the Gardens; western mallee (WA/SA) in contrast with eastern mallee (NSW/VIC); links to habitat and conservation

Western Mallee

This section is an example of an ecological planting in the Gardens; western mallee (WA/SA) in contrast with eastern mallee (NSW/VIC); links to habitat and conservation

Name: Mallee – Aboriginal word for a tree - Water Mallee (Eucalyptus socialis) – water from roots when cut.

Distribution: Found across southern Australia (not in Nullabor Desert though) in semi-arid regions (eg 250 to 400 mm rainfall) (also in difficult sites – alpine region); little surface water

Ecological planting at ANBG reflects the habitat: Soil in the ANBG mallee sections specially prepared addition of sand and the alteration of the soil pH (acidity); the sites are well drained

Important habitat not only for plants but also for:

Native mammals eg Eastern Quoll; Mallee Ningaui – tiny marsupial;

Birds eg Mallee fowl (mound building bird)

Reptiles – ¼ of all Australian reptiles occur in mallee

This is a taste of the semi-arid zone plants of southern Australia. Mallee plants have special adaptations to arid conditions and fire.

Special adaptations of plants in the Mallee

Well spaced plants

Leaves adapted to minimize water loss (reduced surface area; reduced number of leaves; leaves hanging vertically, edge to sun; rolled leaves ; hairy leaves)

Leaves adapted to reflect heat: light coloured; shiny leaves with waxy cuticles

Deep roots


Low growing

Mallee trees include up to 100 species form 30 – 50 % canopy cover. They are often multi-stemmed; from a swollen underground root (lignotuber) from which they sprout after fire

A lignotuber is a large woody mass below ground that produces roots and shoots. (Victorian mallee roots are good for fuel; early settlers needed to create and use a ‘stump-jump plough’ to be able to cultivate the mallee land)

Mallee understorey includes porcupine grass (deep roots; shades surrounding area too); salt bush; wattles; dense heath;

The aspect of this location is favourable for many of these plants that we cannot grow well in other areas of the Gardens.

Red Centre Garden

The Red Centre Garden was opened as part of celebrations for Canberra’s centenary (2013)

The aim of the garden is to highlight Central Australian plants and landscapes

Features of the Red Centre (e.g. Rocky escarpment, sand dunes, dry river bed, rocky outcrop, use of red and yellow sand, art work)

Source of rocks, soils. Desert plants propagated in Gardens

Australia's deserts have 1/3 the nitrogen and phosphorus (the two most important plant nutrients) of other deserts worldwide. (Many people have no idea just how nutrient-deficient Australian soils are). Pea-like plants (Fabaceae et al) such as wattles do well in arid areas because of their ability to fix nitrogen and convert it into energy.

(Nitrogen Fixing: Nitrogen fixing is the process by which free nitrogen (N2) is extracted from the atmosphere and converted (fixed) into nitrogen compounds which are plant nutrients (fertilizer). In nature, this process is carried out by certain bacteria (present in the root nodules of legumes such as beans and peas), blue-green algae, and the lightning flash.)

Desert leaves are often covered in tiny white hairs which help to reflect heat. Leaves are also often thick as they tend to be more able to withstand heat damage.

Adapted to cold desert nights

Irregular rainfall encourages many short-lived annuals which respond rapidly after rain (daisies, Sturt’s Desert Pea)

The site is north-facing thus mitigating the effects of Canberra’s cold winters. The thermal mass of the rocks also helps retention of heat.


Sydney Region / Eucalypt Lawn

Main point

The Sydney region section showcases the extraordinary diversity of flora of the Blue Mountains and Sydney sandstone region with over 600 different plant species showcased in this section of the Gardens. The sandstone formations of the Sydney Basin support one of the world's most diverse range of plants.

There are (as at September 2014) 105 Eucalypt plants comprising 1 Angophora, 5 Corymbia and 64 Eucalypt species on the Eucalypt Lawn, representing 70 species. (According to Wrigley and Fagg (2010) Eucalypts, there are 10 species of Angophora, 93 of Corymbia, 758 of Eucalyptus, giving a total of 861 species that can be called “Eucalypts”)

Optional ideas

The entries to the Sydney gully have been designed using recycled boulders and soil material from the Bundanoon quarry in the Sydney region, providing specialist soils in which some of these otherwise tricky-to-grow plants grow naturally :

Sydney region definition: stretches in a semi circle from coastal Newcastle in the North to Singleton and Rylston and Taralga out west and down to Nowra on the coast in the South

The Eucalypt lawn is a mix of remnant trees and trees planted from all over Australia, including rare, unusual and rarely cultivated species

Different bark types

What is a Eucalypt?

Overlooking Rock Garden

Main point

Discover some of the smallest, most intricate plants in the Gardens nestled into specially prepared garden beds. Special soils in the Rock Garden allow cultivation of a wide variety of plants which naturally occur in habitats ranging from alpine areas to deserts.

Optional ideas

The rock garden contains many unusual and threatened species from South Australia and Western Australia, as well as alpine plants, and plants from regional NSW Southern Tablelands

The rock garden was formed from one of three dry gullies transformed with a pond & waterfall; lawn; shelter & sundial (Friends)

Gardens’ horticulturalists have created conditions and microclimates to grow a large diversity of plants


Rocks from excavations from a local freeway (Tuggeranong Parkway) and boulders on lawn from another local development (Harcourt Hill) – the thermal mass help to hold heat and act as buffers to harsh winters

Wide range of plants:

Gymea Lillies

Acacias

Telopea

Grass trees

Prostrate forms

Canberra views

Resident population of water dragons in warmer months

Conservation stories:

Hakea pulvinifera – threatened species – 150 in the wild; ANBG cultivating and growing in the Gardens (including the rockery)

Dwarf Mountain Pine – growing in the waterfall spray; 250 plants left in the wild

Acacia Section

The Acacia section is an example of a taxonomic planting in the Gardens

Wattle/acacia section is one of the earlier planted areas of the Gardens

Acacias dominate the Australian landscape – from the forests of Tasmania to the arid red centre

The genus Acacia previously contained roughly 1,300 species, about 960 of them native to Australia, the rest around the tropical to warm-temperate regions of Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and the Americas. However, in 2005, the genus was divided, the genus being retained for the majority of the Australian species. (from Wikipedia article on Acacias)

The generic name derives from akakia, the Greek word for the characteristic thorns of most original non-Australian species (akis: "thorn").

Defining features:

In Australia – no prickly Acacias – there is an example of a prickly South American one Vachellia caven in the collection (changed name from Acacia caven)

Flower – ball shaped or rod shaped – usually cream to bright yellow

Leaves – “true” bipinnate (if you use this, please define it) (25%) but mainly modified ones of various forms and shapes – phyllodes (flattened stems) yielding different shapes allowing


adapation to different conditions – e.g. needle shaped to minimize water loss due to evaporation

Nectar glands on leaves

Seed pods

Ability to fix nitrogen

Edible wattles: Only about 50 of the wattles are edible – others toxic e.g. contain mimosine which inhibits DNA synthesis in the hair roots and causes hair to fall out. It was tested as an early biological defleecing agent – as an alternative to shearing

National significance: Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is the floral emblem of Australia proclaimed formally 1 September 1988; Wattle day 1 September.

Wattles feature on Australian Honours medals – Order of Australia, Australian Bravery Decorations and Long Service Awards; also on the Australian Coat of Arms.

Rainforest where main path crosses road

Main point

The cool, shady environment of the Rainforest Gully makes it one of the Gardens' most popular attractions. Here you can take a journey from Tasmania to Queensland through the diverse rainforests of Australia’s eastern coastline. (we are currently around NNSW, and will get off near cooler rainforests)

Optional ideas

Conifers on the Rainforest Edge are an example of a taxonomic planting in the Gardens – links to Gondwana

As we go down the hill on the north side of the bus, you will see the seed bank of the Gardens. Seed banks are a vital ex situ conservation tool for preserving the diversity of flora. Each seed holds all the genetic information needed to reproduce a plant. Seeds stored correctly in a seed bank can remain viable for hundreds of years, if not longer.The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) is home to a large and ever-increasing collection of Australian native seeds, and in particular holds the largest national collection of Australian alpine seeds.

Rainforest plants and characteristics

Wollemi Pine

Backhousia citriodora

* Some visitors may want to end here and walk back through the rainforest to cafe or Visitor Centre.

The conifer loop on the Rainforest Edge is an example of a taxonomic planting in the Gardens – links to Gondwana


http://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/living/collecting/field-trips.html

Seven groups/genera of conifers are native to Australia (not true pines)

Cypress pines (Callitris sp)

Plum pines (Podocarpus sp)

Kauri pines (Agathis sp)

Tasmanian cedars (Athrotaxis sp)

Celery-topped pine (Phyllocaldus sp

Huon pine (Lagarostrobus franklinii)

Bunya and Hoop & Wollemi Pines (Auraucaria sp)

Conifers are gymnosperms

More ancient than flowering plants (which arose 130 mya)

Around at the time of dinosaurs (245 mya)

Australia was still part of the supercontinent Gondwana, covered in rainforests with ferns not grasses

Some of these plants found in other contintnts which were part of Gondwana (Eg Hoop pine)

Properties of conifers and gymnosperms

Non-flowering plants with cones

Seeds not enclosed in a fruit

Pollinated by wind

Distribution of conifers in Australia is now limited to rainforest or rainforest verges such as here

Much less abundant than before European settlement – logging, vulnerability to fire

The Rainforest gully is the result of a transformation of a dry creek bed.

The Rainforest Gully is an example of an ecological/geographic planting in the Gardens.

Planting started in about 1970

Horticulturalists created a microclimate by planting rotective species (quick growing wattles and Euclaypts) to provide cover for slower growing frost sensitive rainforest plants and adding water, e.g. ahead of you - Eucalyptus grandis – most widely planted hardwood worldwide; planted early in RF gully development to protect frost sensitive rainforest plants along with Acacia melanoxylon


Goes from cool temperate rainforests (eg Tasmania) to warmer ones (NNSW, SE QLD), where we are now – we’ll be getting off at the cooler rainforest

Rainforests in Australia are now largely confined to a narrow coastal strip from the far north QLD to Tasmania

Rainforest Characteristics

Upper canopy with emergent trees towering above the canopy

Understorey

Rotting debris on forest floor

Rainforest plants

Adapted to trap light by having surfaces horizontal to the light to intercept as much as possible

Plants on forest floor tend to have larger leaves to present a greater surface for sun

Water repelling, shiny surfaces of leaves for the water to run off as well as drip tips

The canopy of a warmer/subtropical/tripcal rainforest has many more species of trees than that of a cooler one

Notes: Tropical rainforests comprise ¼ of all Australian plant genera including 90% of epiphytic orchids and over half of the ferns

Total area of Australia rainforests fit into 1% of the land mass (20,000 sqkm) just a dot on the map of Australia

Wollemi nobilis (Araucariaceae)

Recent discovery – previously known only in fossils and thought to be extinct

End tour - road between Tasmanian and Victorian rainforests

Main points

Idea to explore: Is there a way to use that part of the Rainforest to conclude our themes – conservation, horticulture (rainforest in Australia, diverse ecosystems from all across AU in our one site, ethnobotany?

Downhill of the bridge is primarily Tassie rainforest, along the bridge includes Tassie and Victorian rainforest species

A fogging system, funded by the Friends, creates humidity and moisture with low amounts of water


This is the conclusion of our tour of some of the highlights of the national collection of Australian plants.

I hope you will be inspired to explore the many areas within the Gardens in more detail at your leisure.

Optional ideas (likely need to be very brief)

Role of rainforests in water cycles and CO2 sequestration

Conservation (Tasmania) Acacia melanoxylon all but logged out in Tasmania.

Ethnobotany: Aboriginal use of Dicksonia antarctica as food; Xanthorrea sp at beginning of RF bridge – Aboriginal use

Overview of the biodiversity of Tasmanian Rainforests and Victorian Rainforests

Rainforest role in regulating water cycles and CO2 sequestration

Conservation (Tasmania) Acacia melanoxylon all but logged out in Tasmania. Chinese are now cultivating and exporting to Australia in furniture or laminate

Eucalyptus regnans (Mountain Ash) tallest flowering plant (and tallest hardwood plant) in the world. California Redwood tallest non-flowering plant (and therefore tallest softwood);

Ethnobotany

Xanthorrea sp at beginning of Rainforest bridge – aboriginal use of flower heads used as shaft of spears for fishing. Resin-coated seals of trunks burned to leave residue of resin used as adhesive to attach stone spear head to shaft

END TOUR - road between Tasmanian and Victorian rainforests

Ideas for engaging children on Flora tours (Marion Jones)

Good opening question: Who ate plants for breakfast? – the response to this is usually “yuk” which is great as it enables us to drill down and analyse just what everyone had and to discover that there is almost nothing which does not require some type of vegetation.

Everything we eat comes from, or needs, plants. So, could we survive without plants? The tour can then be centred on the many uses of plants and you can choose various examples from those seen on the tour.

A lot of younger kids come on Flora tours, many because they think it will be exciting and in this case they can soon lose interest. So here are a couple of themes for engaging them, depending on ages, of course. Somewhat surprisingly, I have had many comments from adults who have been fascinated by the way children respond and the questions they ask and have often told me that they have learned a lot.


Adaptation: At the Eastern Mallee, say, you can start by asking kids what they think is the biggest difference between plants and animals (i.e. people). This brings forth some interesting ideas but usually, among them, is the fact that plants can’t move. So tell them that you are going to be looking at ways that plants cope in very diverse climates. Ask how the lignotuber might help. Tell them to have a good look at the plants in this section and then when we drive up past the rainforest they can tell you how they differ and why that might be.

(Eg size, colour and shape of the leaves, the size of the plants. Are they close together or spread out – why?)

Then we can look at the bottle trees – they live in very hot dry places – what can they do to look after themselves in those conditions – what do we do if we are very hot?

Red Centre Garden: do these plants look more like the rainforest or the Mallee? Would rainforest plants like to live here? Why or why not? Would the same animals live here?

For adults and older kids it is good to tell them that Australia's deserts have 1/3 the nitrogen and phosphorus (the two most important plant nutrients) of other deserts worldwide. (Many adults have no idea just how nutrient-deficient Oz soils are). Point out pea-like plants (Fabaceae et al) such as wattles do well in arid areas because of their ability to fix nitrogen and convert it into energy. Desert leaves are often covered in tiny white hairs which also help to reflect heat. Leaves are also often thick as they tend to be more able to withstand heat damage.

Hakeas: What do they notice about their leaves (very thick, tough, often spikey). Tough leaves hang on for grim death which means plants don’t have to expend much-needed energy to grow more leaves – very useful in poor soils. You can also ask the question “do you think this might be why Australia has so few deciduous plants and so many plants with tough, strong leaves?”.

Wattles: Apart from lignotubers, does anybody know of other types of roots which are useful in a really dry climate. Eg Mulgas and their taproots. You can also ask if they know why we call them wattles in Australia – many kids have learned about wattle and daub houses in Australian history classes.

Rock Garden: Would the big rocks make plants warmer or colder? If water dragons are around: are they on the rocks and, if so, why?

Wollemi Pine and Backhousia: both always interesting to kids who have mostly heard about the “dinosaur plant” and they love to smell lemon myrtle leaves.

Don’t forget to give the option of hopping off here and walking back through the rainforest


Additional Story ideas may be found on the Guides website.

Additional points of interest which may be added at any point in your tour if desired

All year, the Gardens offers events and activities for all ages ranging from a summer concert series, exhibitions, school programs and special events to guided walks and public lectures.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens conducts plant research as a partner in the Centre for Australian Biodiversity Research (partner with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CSIRO)

A strong community of volunteers helps us – we have more than 2000 Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens. You can get information about becoming a Friend at the Visitor Centre.

The Gardens living collection is watered by non potable water, extracted from Lake Burley Griffin, saving up to 170 million litres of drinking water.

There are many walks you can take throughout the Gardens’ 120 km of track. The main path is 1.5km and takes about 45 minutes to an hour. We have a children’s discovery walk (who lives here)

Free guided walks are available every day at 11am and 2

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Current protocols for Flora Wet Weather ticket cancellations:

Customers can swap their ticket for future specified date at the bookshop, or

The shop can issue a ‘rain check’ voucher which can be redeemed for a tour with three months of issue

In the case of visitors from overseas/interstate where there is no possibility of them returning to the Gardens within three months, the shop will provide a full refund.

We are not advertising these cancellations options; the shop will offer them when requested by customers.

In the case of a cancelled tour, staff and Flora drivers should refer customers directly to the shop staff.


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