Signs for the time, caring for rare plant species

FOSTERING KNOWLEDGE AND ENJOYMENT IN THE NAME OF CONSERVATION... Having successfully received funding from the Victorian Government's Growing Victoria's Botanic Gardens Program, the Friends of the Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton (FABGS) were pleased to officially launch their engaging interpretive signage, Care for the Rare (plant species) on Wednesday, March 22. The signs and brochures, that were also presented were researched in collaboration with the friends' group, Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand as well as local environmental groups. Pictured (from left) is FABGS president Jill Grant with Sally McPhee from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Photo: Natasha Fujimoto

By Natasha Fujimoto

BENEATH the majestic eucalypts, refreshed and fragrant after a night’s rain, the Friends of the Australia Botanic Gardens Shepparton (FABGS) were pleased to officially launch their interpretive signage and brochures, Care for the Rare plant species on Wednesday, March 22.

With the aim of fostering enhanced enjoyment and knowledge about the garden’s notable collection of rare plant species and their care, FABGS submitted a grant application for signage in July 2020 to the Victorian Government’s Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens Program with the support of the Greater Shepparton City Council (GSCC)

FOSTERING KNOWLEDGE AND ENJOYMENT IN THE NAME OF CONSERVATION… Having successfully received funding from the Victorian Government’s Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens Program, the Friends of the Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton (FABGS) were pleased to officially launch their engaging interpretive signage, Care for the Rare (plant species) on Wednesday, March 22. The signs and brochures, that were also presented were researched in collaboration with the friends’ group, Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand as well as local environmental groups. Pictured (from left) is FABGS president Jill Grant with Sally McPhee from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Photo: Natasha Fujimoto

Wanting to turn the tide on the dire decline of native plant species, the beautiful signage is both informative and engaging with research compiled in collaboration with the friends’ group, Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand, GSCC and local environmental groups.

Providing visitors with easily identifiable plant species, the signage and brochures detail the selection of rare species’ unique characteristics as well as their threat status and original (likely) regions of growth.

With the installation of the signage completed in November 2022, the way forward for the botanical gardens’ rare plant species will continue to be well taken care of with assistance and advice being forwarded by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Cranbourne, who also had representatives present at Wednesday’s launch.

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