You’ve got a friend
Expand your horticultural horizons by joining the Friends group at your local botanic garden, where a whole new world of plants, people and activities awaits, as AB BISHOP reports
The benefits of joining the Friends’ group at your local botanic garden
For some, it’s the growing or planting days, where they get to play in the dirt – someone else’s dirt – while yakking to like-minded people. For others, it's access to special talks and tours, or to parts of the Garden normally closed to the public. Everyone has their own reasons for joining the Friends group at their local botanic garden, but one thing unites them – a love of plants.
There are at least 70 Friends groups throughout Australia, and all play an integral role in developing, maintaining, supporting and promoting their affiliated Garden. The oldest group, founded in 1977, is the Friends of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide. Some groups have thousands of members and are connected to historical institutions, such as the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, established in 1816.
Others, such as the Friends of Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens, which opened in 2013, have a more modest membership. But what they lack in numbers, they make up for in drive. The Lismore group of 55 members is so passionate about their local subtropical lowland rainforest, known as The Big Scrub, that they've created an incredible botanic garden from scratch, using only indigenous rainforest plants. Member Ros Little says, “The place was literally an old dump covered in weeds. It’s fantastic to see the changes in the 12 years
I’ve been a member. I feel so proud of what we’ve achieved.”
how the groups work
Friends groups vary in structure and size, and what they offer for members and the public. Groups usually work in collaboration with the local council or sometimes with the Garden directly.
Anybody can become a member, regardless of age, ability or experience, and there are no expectations – you can be involved as much or as little as you like. Some Friends take an active role, while others maintain their membership purely to support the Garden financially.
Membership fees vary from about
$15 to $70 per year for an individual, with concessions for pensioners and students. There are also family options.
When you join a Friends group, you meet people from all walks of life. It can be exciting to discover that some of your fellow members have expertise in fields such as botany, horticulture or ecology, which is a boon for any botanic garden. However, many seemingly unrelated skills, such as accounting, admin, IT or building, can prove hugely valuable, too.
Like volunteers the world over, people in Friends groups are generous by nature and eager to ‘give back’ any way they can, creating a gratifying symbiosis between Friends and the Garden. In other words, you will always be appreciated!
what will I do?
Usually, people become a Friend so they can participate in gardening-specific activities, learn about plants and show their support for a particular Garden. However, there are often nature-related special-interest groups within the group, so if you fancy turning your hand to natural dyeing, basketry, paper making, botanical art, potpourri, or knitting, crocheting or sewing (with a floral or faunal bent, of course!), then it’s likely your Friends group has you covered. Photography is very popular and, as you would expect, groups tend to focus on improving their nature photography skills.
You might like the idea of becoming a guide, leading small tours of the Garden for other members or the public. You could even put your hand up to lead a group in your specific area of interest. Sarah Jane Connop was a student when she became a member of the Friends of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens in 2012. The confident birdwatcher started taking guided bird tours twice a month and now also shares her wisdom about the natural world with preschool-age children every month. “The wealth of knowledge among members is invaluable,” she says. “Being a Friends member is great for networking, especially for younger people. It’s offered me a lot of opportunities.”
Most botanic gardens have special plant collections, such as camellias, roses or natives, that members may be able to work on. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart has a unique collection of plants from subantarctic islands that are housed in a specially constructed building, as well as a Chinese collection, a Japanese garden and a cactus and succulent house. You may also have the opportunity to learn about collecting,
storing and propagating seeds. Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens in the ACT can do this when they volunteer to help in the revered National Seed Bank, which conserves seeds, particularly of rare and threatened Australian flora.
growing together
Many botanic gardens hold numerous planting days throughout the year, and these are popular with all ages. Digging, planting and installing tree guards while chatting with kindred spirits is extremely enjoyable. And the backbone of many Friends groups is the ‘growing’ team, comprising dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who spend hours propagating and nurturing seedlings for planting in the Garden and for selling at the on-site nursery, if there is one.
These nursery plant sales are usually well known on the gardeners’ grapevine, and they're greatly appreciated by those who flock to snap up a bargain. Friends of Kings Park, for example, specialises in growing and selling garden-worthy Western Australian flora, with the aim of showcasing the state’s floral diversity.
Proceeds from the plant sales, which can reach many thousands of dollars, are spent on projects, signage and other infrastructure, as well as research, or sponsorship of an individual, to benefit the Garden. This money is integral to ensuring the Garden continues to thrive, both literally and figuratively.
By joining a growing team, you’ll learn the hands-on intricacies of cultivating plants from seed and cuttings, including watering and potting techniques. Almost by osmosis, botanical names will become familiar, as will identifying features and particular requirements of plants. The growing teams are very popular, so if this is your main motivation for becoming a Friend, check first with the group that positions are available.
benefits of joining
Ask any member what they have gained and the first thing they usually talk about are friendships and connections. Other benefits might include regular activities, access to tours and parts of the Garden not normally open to the public, book and DVD libraries, discounts at the on-site nursery and participating shops, and a chance to assist with research projects. Many Gardens invite members to expert talks and publish fabulous newsletters, and there’s associated social media to contribute to or simply enjoy.
There’s also a sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you’re contributing and helping others. A new Sensory Garden at the Melbourne Gardens (Royal Botanic
Gardens Victoria) has been funded largely by the Friends. Mali Wilson, a member for 10 years, says, “I like the fact that our group isn’t owned by the Gardens and we can choose where our donations and earnings are spent. We have a special committee that consults with the Gardens’ director. The Sensory Garden is a wonderful place that people with disabilities can enjoy.”
For more information, visit friendsbotanicgardens.org