Winter Lunch @Truffleduck -guest speaker John Arnott Join the Friends and guest speaker John Arnott for lunch at our premier fundraising event in a beautiful setting in Fyansford, overlooking the delightful garden. John Arnott, manager of horticulture at Royal Botanic Garden Cranbourne, will be speaking on ‘Conservation in Botanic Gardens’.  An impressive raffle is always a feature of this event. Book online here or at the Friends’ office by Wednesday 14 June.      

Thursdays Online at 12.00pm. Starting on Thursday 15 June, this year's series covers a variety of topics, Members, and non-members are $15 for all three lectures. A Zoom link will be emailed for series and recordings sent out after each lecture, in case you miss it. 15 June:  Norman Houghton 'Otway Hotels and Shanties' 6 July:    Liz Benetto 'The Wadawurrung Connection' 20 July:  Stephen Ryan and Craig Lidgerwood 'Gardens of North West France' DISCRIPTIONS: Otway Hotels and Shanties: Description on its way.   The Wadawurrung Connection: Geelong Botanic Gardens has a long-standing connection with Geelong’s first people, the Wadawurrung. Our first Curator, Daniel Bunce, had travelled widely and was a strong defender of the first Australians, respecting their skills and culture. He learned about their plant use and introduced Australian plants to early Botanic Gardens across Australia.  His friend, Willem Baa Niip (King Billy, 1836 - 1885) was one of the last of the Wadawurrung in Geelong. This presentation will look at the story of the Wadawurrung their use of plants their care of Country ‘The Wadawurrung Connection’ is the name of a current project in Geelong Botanic Gardens. We have received a First Nations Cultural Heritage Grant which will enable us to enhance community awareness of Wadawurrung culture through plantings, signage and celebration. Liz has been planning with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners for some years to develop this project, which will soon become a reality. Hear all the details on July 6. Gardens of North West France: Description on its way.

Come and learn about ferns and how fashions in the GBG have changed from John Raddenberry, the 2nd Curator’s renowned Fernery begun in 1885, to our modern natural Fern Glade established in 1982.  It has recently been refurbished with most species of ferns, the Conservatory allowing for the inclusion of tropical ferns. Gold coin donation is appreciated. Meet your guided at the front gates.

Join us for a self-drive day out in the Fyansford and Lovely Banks areas. Early birds might like to commence at 10 am with a coffee or browse the boutique shops and galleries at the Fyansford Paper Mill complex, before a guided tour by Highton Rotary volunteers of the wonderfully historic Paper Mill at 10.45. Then move on to the nearby Fyansford Pub, where you may purchase your own lunch, before moving on to Suealoe Garden at Lovely Banks. Afternoon tea follows a guided tour of this extensive garden, which features succulents, Australian natives, and garden sculpture. Suealoe opened in 2022 for OGV and some plants and sculptures are for sale. The ticket includes 2 guided tours and afternoon tea. Morning tea and lunch at own expense. $30 Members, $40 Non-member.   

Volunteer Week Lunch Volunteers are invited to celebrate Volunteers Week with a soup lunch in the large meeting room in appreciation of thier dedication and passion for the Friends and the Gardens.  Followed by a viewing of the DVD movie “Juliet of the Herbs” – a whimsical documentary about the extraordinary life of a horticulturist who lived an alternative lifestyle amongst her goats and the natural world.   Free Event for volunteers only. Book your place here or RSVP to the Friends’ office by Friday 12 May for catering purposes.   info@friendsgbg.org.au or 5222 6053

Discover some of the amazing trees that grow around our Pacific Rim.  Some of these are rare and threatened in their native habitat.  This important collection is displayed in the attractive southern extension of the Geelong Botanic Gardens. Meet your guide at the front gates, gold coin donation is appreciated. 

Meet your GBG Guide at the front gates of the Gardens. We are in Wadawurrung Country and will hear stories of the people who lived here for many thousands of years before Europeans arrived. The Gardens are among the oldest in Australia (established in 1851) and include many interesting structures, as well as stories of earlier times. Our ancient trees also tell stories: visit the Discovery Table to hear more amazing tales. Gold coin donation is appreciated.

Our indigenous plants from the Geelong and Bellarine regions are well represented in the Gardens, from the Red Gum by the gate to the yam daisies on the hillside and the vanilla lilies at the far end. Come and explore some wonders of our local plants. Meet your guide at the front gates. Gold coin donation is appreciated.

From the vegetables on our plates to the delicious fruit we eat; from spices and herbs to tubers and rhizomes - the Gardens has many of these amongst the thousands of plants growing here.  Join your guide to explore the stories and uses of these essential plants. Gold coin donation is appreciated. Meet your guide at the front gates, gold coin donation appreciated.

NOW FULLY BOOKED Seniors Week "Welcoming Seniors to the Geelong Botanic Gardens"  9.30 am: Guided Walk & 10.30 am:  Morning Tea Join the Friends' trained Guides for a guided walk through the Camelia Walk and Fern Gully at Geelong Botanic Gardens. This will be followed by a professionally catered-for morning tea and a welcome to the Gardens by members of the Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens. The Friends wish to encourage Seniors to actively enjoy the Gardens, and learn a little about the camellia and fern collections, in the company of other Seniors and the Friends. Proudly funded by The City of Greater Geelong, Positive Ageing Grant Bookings are essential.  Please contact the Friends' Office 03 5222 6053 or info@friendsgbg.org.au to book your place and receive a confirmation itinerary.

GEELONG SCHOOL OF BOTANICAL ART Large Meeting Room at the rear of Geelong Botanic Gardens (parking at the rear of the Gardens for this event). Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 January 2023 9.30 am to 4.30 pm This intensive 3-day workshop will focus on drawing from observation starting with graphite pencils and moving to watercolour to achieve realistic renderings of botanical subjects.  This will incorporate developing skills such as tonal variation, different mark making techniques, understanding how basic geometric shapes can be found in nature and translating them into your painting.  Suitable for beginners with little to no experience in botanical art. More details including materials list on the Friends’ website.    Please note the cost of materials is not included in the workshop fee, materials will have to be purchased separately. $290 FGBG members and $320 non members

GEELONG SCHOOL OF BOTANICAL ART Large Meeting Room at the rear of Geelong Botanic Gardens (parking at the rear of the Gardens for this event). Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 January 2023 9.30 am to 4.00 pm Large Meeting Room at the rear of Geelong Botanic Gardens (parking at the rear of the Gardens for this event). This 2-day workshop focuses on the simple seed pod. You will construct careful graphite drawings of varying compositions looking closely at the details. After considering the important elements of composition, we will transfer these drawings into watercolour paper and complete detailed paintings following the practise of botanical watercolour art.  All students will go home with at least one completed painting.  More details including materials list on the Friends’ website.     Please note the cost of materials is not included in the workshop fee, materials will have to be purchased separately. $180 members and $210 non members