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Click on each month for a list of events.
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Events 2011
| January | ||
| February | ||
| March | Exhibition - "From Field and Beyond" Artworks of Fungi collected at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens by Maree Elliot | |
| April | ||
| Wednesday 20 | Nature is Fun A program for children from 4 to 12 years of age. Explore, learn and have fun during the school holidays. Join our guides for a fun day exploring the Gardens. Collect great specimens, learn about nature and make a craft item to take home. Come and see what lives in our garden. Mums and Dads are most welcome to join in the fun. Younger siblings must be supervised by a parent/grandparent or guardian at all times. Don’t forget to bring a hat, covered footwear and sunscreen. |
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| May | Exhibition: Gardens Sculpture Prize | |
| Sunday 8 | Mother's Day and Opening of Annual Sculpture Competition Live music by 'Jumpin Jukebox'. Winners of the 2011 Gardens Sculpture Prize will be announced. (Competition sponsored by Port Stephens Councils Cultural Projects Fund 2010-11.) |
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| Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 | Hunter Region Botanic Gardens - 25th Anniversary Celebration A ceremony on Saturday 28 May acknowledges the Gardens' Founders, Life Members and Sponsors which will take place on with long term volunteers receiving service medallions. The community is invited to join past and present volunteers for Open Day on Sunday 29 May. The Gardens' volunteers are proud to showcase their effortsvia extensive native and exotic themed gardens and will be happy to talk about the development and milestones the Gardens has achieved over the years. The 25th Anniversary Open Day is a rare chance to have a look behind the scenes of the Botanic Gardens. Sites such as the library, nursery, community education centre, original site offices and succulent garden will be open for inspection. Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to see how specimens are preserved in the Gardens' herbarium. |
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| June | ||
| Saturday 26 | Education Workshop - The Peculiar Behaviour of Fungi Children and adults with a curiosity for mushrooms, toadstools and other fungi will enjoy this hands on discovery session finding and examining fungi and making a spore print to take home. The workshop is conducted by Maree Elliott who has recently returned from a Fungimap conference workshop in Denmark, WA. 10.00am - 12.00 pm Education Workshops - Workshops are $20 for individuals, $15 for concessions and $30 for families. Morning Tea is provided. Please book for your Workshop by phoning 4987 1655 or email education@huntergardens.org.au. |
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| July | ||
| Tuesday 5 | Port Stephens Examiner Children's Discovery Day Kids, parents and/or carers are invited to discover the wonders of a botanic garden set in a natural woodland environment. The exciting and educational program includes the opportunity to learn how to propagate plants; make weird figures from seed capsules; make a grass head; nature craft; participate in a sketching competition - sketching something in the Gardens and the Botanic Discovery Hunt where children take on the challenge of following the clues to complete a questionnaire. Prizes awarded in various age groups for sketches, Discovery Hunt & Art Competition sponsored by Tomago Aluminium. Hunter School of Performing Arts will thrill children and adults with their music and marching skills while younger visitors will enjoy story telling presented by Raymond Terrace Library and Ship'O'Fools sponsored by Hunter Water. Keeping an eye on proceedings will be the Mine Subsidence Board's 'Maurie Mole' and 'Oggie the Froggie'. There will be plenty of interesting things to learn at the display stalls. On hand will be: The Koala Preservation Society; The Society of Frogs and Reptiles - & their slithery friends (SOFAR); the Native Animal Trust; Bee Keepers Association; CMA and many more. Loads of great information to challenge, entertain and fascinate young minds. |
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| Wednesday 13 | Nature is Fun A program for children from 4 to 12 years of age. Come an see what lives in our Garden! Explore the bush, collect specimens, make a craft item to take home, learn and have fun during the school holidays. Join our guides for a fun morning exploring the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens. Collect great specimens, learn about nature and make a craft item to take home. Mums and Dads are most welcome to join in the fun. Younger siblings must be supervised by a parent/grandparent or guardian at all times. Don’t forget to bring a hat, covered footwear and sunscreen. |
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| Saturday 23 | Education Workshop - Orchids for Beginners Noel Winney will share his vast knowledge with those who are starting out with an orchid collection including propagation, maintenance, composts, where to grow for the best display. The workshop may be held in the warm greenhouse. 10am - 12:30 pm |
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| Saturday 30 | Education Workshop - World Species Orchids Noel Winney will provide this workshop for those collectors or beginners who would like to know about orchids and their habitats from around the world. 10am - 12:30 pm Education Workshops - Workshops are $20 for individuals, $15 for concessions and $30 for families. Morning Tea is provided. Please book for your Workshop by phoning 4987 1655 or email education@huntergardens.org.au. |
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| August | ||
| Saturday 6 | Wattle Acacian Enjoy morning tea or coffee (wattle seed tea and treats) in the Acacia Garden. Drop into the Acacia Garden throughout the day find out about growing wattles and their uses. Meet Elaine and Gary our Acacia experts and pick up some seeds and plants to take home. Wattle seed refreshments will be available in the cafe. |
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| September | Biodiversity and Threatened and Endangered Species Month Display in the Visitors' Centre. Biodiversity in the Hunter Region – Sunday Tours During September the gardens will be offering tours for groups or individuals to explore the many communities of plants, animals, insects and trees that are representative of the hunter region. Guided tours are available on Sundays for a fee of $4.00 for larger groups and $5.00 for individuals or small groups. | |
| Saturday 3 | Introduction to Botanical Illustration with Chris Rockley Chris is an established natural history artist currently completing doctoral studies on plant classification and taxonomy illustration. During the workshop you may select a specimen using scientific principles from the gardens, and Chris will guide you through drawing construction, microscopy, lighting, compositing and rendering techniques. A list of necessary equipment is available from the Visitors Centre. 9am – 4pm. Fee: $85.00 |
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| Sunday 4 | Fathers' Day Bring the family for a relaxing day on the Eucalyptus Lawn with live music by 'Smokin' Horns Big Band' in the Rotunda. Light lunches available at the Kookaburra Café or bring a picnic (electric BBQ available). Trevia Children's Tree Sketching Competition An activity borrowed from Kew Gardens of London - a competition for children (parents too) during Biodiversity Month. The opportunity to 'get up close and personal' to nature by using your hands and eyes to feel and observe one of the Gardens' trees then record your findings. All entries will be displayed at the Botanic Gardens and a special Trevia walk around the trees at the competition's end will provide even more interesting details about Australia's Native Plants. Photography in the Gardens for Beginners - Children Welcome Bring your camera and learn to take a photo with the Gardens’ photographers Kevin Stokes and Bruce Stephenson. There will still be time to submit a photo that could win a prize in our Photography Competition. 10am – 12:30pm. Fee $20 and $15 concession $30 for families. Morning tea included. |
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| Saturday 10 | Garden Design ideas using Natives These workshops will include a walk in the Botanic Gardens to talk through ideas for using native plants in your garden, such as plants suitable for color and displays, hedging, clustering, borders and features. Take home a free plant. Stella and Anne are knowledgeable horticulturalists with many years of experience in design, growing and maintaining natives. 10am – 11:30am, 1:30pm – 3pm. Fee $5.00 with refreshments. |
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| Sunday 11 | Trevia Children's Tree Sketching Competition | |
| Wednesday 14 | ‘Close Up’ Photography in the Gardens for Adults Kevin Stokes will provide a one day workshop on the techniques of photography and using your camera. This workshop is for people familiar with Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras. 10am – 3:30pm. Fee: $30 and $25 concession. Refreshments included. |
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| Saturday 17 | Garden Design ideas using Natives | |
| Sunday 18 | Newcastle Herald Spring Fair Welcome the sights and sounds of Spring with great live music from 'Chikame', Raymond Terrace Lion's Club Hot Food Van, Devonshire Teas, Variety of Stalls, Displays/Information, Plant Sales, Tractor Tours - a day not to be missed. Bird watching • Early Morning Walks • Hunter Bird Observers Club A walk through the diverse sections of the forest and wetlands to discover the abundant bird life. Wear long pants, closed in shoes and bring binoculars. Diane Rogers is a highly experienced guide and lifelong bird watcher. Fee $5.00 with refreshments. |
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| Sunday 25 | Bird watching • Early Morning Walks • Hunter Bird Observers Club | |
| October | ||
| Wednesday 5 | Nature is Fun A program for children from 4 to 12 years of age. Come an see what lives in our Garden! Explore the bush, collect specimens, make a craft item to take home, learn and have fun during the school holidays. Join our guides for a fun morning exploring the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens. Collect great specimens, learn about nature and make a craft item to take home. Mums and Dads are most welcome to join in the fun. Younger siblings must be supervised by a parent/grandparent or guardian at all times. Don’t forget to bring a hat, covered footwear and sunscreen. |
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| Saturday 8 | Education Workshop - Cactus Jack meets Succulent Sally Geoff Taylor and his team who have created the magnificent Cactus and Succulent Garden will be available today to show off the garden and provide some hints on how to design your own. Some of the most vibrant flowers will be on show. You can pick up some plants to take home from the plant stall, and some cuttings down at the garden. 10am – 12:30pm. Education Workshops - Workshops are $20 for individuals, $15 for concessions and $30 for families. Morning Tea is provided. Please book for your Workshop by phoning 4987 1655 or email education@huntergardens.org.au. |
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| November | ||
| December |