LABCON 2012 tour to the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Karen's Friday choice at Labcon 2012 was to travel to the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne for a program called Landscapes for Learning.  An air-conditioned bus picked us up at 9:30 AM and took us on a 45 minute ride north into the city.  The RBG in Melbourne extends over 38 hectares and displays more than 50,000 plants in a picturesque park setting.  http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au

We were greeted by a Bot Garden program facilitator who introduced us to several of the 50 various environmental education programs for students from K-12:

• Biodiversity on the Yarra
• Water Management
• Science of Soil
• Plant Power
• Climate Change
• The Aboriginal Resources Trail - designed to give students a greater understanding and respect for the local Kulin culture, indigenous plants, and to understand the significance of Waa (the raven) and Birrarung (Yarra River). Experiences include making and using ochre paint, string-making using cumbungi and a hands-on exploration of tools. The emphasis is on diversity and examining sustainable land practices used by Aboriginal people.
• Water 4 Life
• Sustainable Gardening - a hands-on program, exploring water conservation, organic gardening methods, composting and worm farming.
• Plant Toxicology - a journey to discover the hidden power of plants and how they fight for survival in the face of constant attack from animals. Learn about the poisons that plants make in order to defend themselves and the effects these have on humans and other animals.
• Plantworks
• Plant Evolution & Diversity

After a "get to know you" activity we learned about the fine art & benefits of worm farming;  marvelled at the architecture & design of the heritage kitchen garden;

Our Bot Garden facilitator in the Heritage Kitchen Garden

 
 investigated plant & protozoan diversity of the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden pond;

Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden

observing plant diversity

 

Discovery Pond

Pond life materials

strolled under enormous oak trees that were alive with the sound of Cicadas while being informed of the deadly death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides) - one 10 species that grow beneath these trees;  were told of the excellent program called the Aboriginal Resources Trail and the historical significance of the Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii);  learned that the Bot Garden uses recycled water for irrigation (purple taps);  visited the Tropical Glasshouse where beautiful species of orchids & bromeliads, cocoa, coffee & bananas as well as the carnivorous Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes truncata) cohabit in the humid & warm environment;

Tropical Glasshouse

Orchid variety

Bomeliad

Carnivorous Pitcher Plant

learned that the iconic eucalypt variety of tree includes 25% of the 28,000 tree species in Australia;  observed a huge beehive living in a Cockscomb Coral Tree and humming with activity;

Beehive

 
briefly visited the herb garden and camellia collection before returning to the RBG Education Centre to board our bus back to Hemisphere Conference Centre at 12:30 PM.  A most enjoyable morning spent on a perfect, sunny day in Melbourne..!!