Cranbourne Botanic Gardens

Our Visit to Cranbourne Botanic Gardens

Megan and Alison a new member of our group. 

We had a fabulous day at Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, because we were early due to a misunderstanding in time, we were lucky enough to be invited to a presentation on seed collection of Alpine plants, trees and shrubs in the wild, by Russell and Matt with Megan chipping in when needed. Joining another Group the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club. Seed collection is all run on a shoe string with funds in short supply, but the collectors enthusiasm is evident in all that they do. Seed is all stored at the Herbarium seed bank in Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens with Megan in charge. We were then shown the trial beds of the alpine plants grown from collected seed in the Mountains of Victoria, showing us that a lot of Alpine plants will survive quite well out of their native habitat. We then moved on to the newly planted Victorian Alpine display garden, the plants had all settled in well despite rats eating and destroying the roots of some plants. the Alpine garden area will be named next year and I'm sure it will be well visited. 

Barry the bandicoot made an appearance, they are quite tame in the gardens and often appear at functions and regularly are seen feeding in the gardens.

 Megan speaking to our group about how the Alpines are surviving and growing off the Alps, in the trial beds. This bed had Brachyscome todgellii and Stylidium growing very well, the large leafy plant in the next bed is Podolepis laciniata much loved by cattle, deer and wild horses so is on the decline in its native habitat. 

It is growing strongly in the gardens too.

Deep in conversation Alan, Luca and Russell with his back to us.

Brachyscome todgellii all slightly different from each other with a cut leaf on some plants and straight strappy leaves on others. showing the variation you get from seed raised plants. They have pure white daisy flowers.

Celmisia's on display Left is Celmisia latifolia and the narrow leaf Celmisia on the right is Celmisia tomentella all from seed collected in the Victorian Alps.

The very pretty Veronica nivea only growing to about 20-30cm in height. Growing quite happily in the display garden.

The beautiful Alpine flowers of the Victorian Alps.