News and Events

The annual appearance of cherry blossoms in Shoyoen is always eagerly awaited.

In Japan, picnicking under a blossoming cherry tree (sakura) is an ancient tradition called “hanami”. The custom is said to have begun during the Nara Period (710-794). Hanami was originally limited to the elite of the Imperial Court, but soon spread to samurai society and, by the Edo period, to the common people as well.

Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684 –1751), one of Japan’s greatest rulers ordered the planting of cherry trees to encourage people to follow the custom. To this day, Japanese people enjoy cheerful feasts under blossoming sakura trees.

The custom is so important to the Japanese that every year the Japanese Meteorological Agency track the sakura zensen (cherry blossom front) as it moves northward up the archipelago with the approach of warmer weather. Japanese pay close attention to these forecasts and turn out in large numbers at parks, shrines, and temples with family and friends to hold flower-viewing parties. Hanami festivals celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossom.

Most Japanese schools and public buildings have cherry blossom trees outside of them and the first day of school in Japan often coincides with the cherry blossom season. According to the Buddhist tradition, the breathtaking but brief beauty of the blossoms symbolizes the transient nature of life.

The annual hanami, the many cultural symbolic interpretations of the cherry blossoms, and the extensive use of the blossoms in art have ensured the blossoming trees’ position in the cultural identity of Japan.

The cherry trees in Shoyoen are cultivars of Prunus serrulata which is native to Japan, Korea and China. They are ornamental trees and do not produce fruit. Edible cherries generally come from cultivars of the related species Prunus avium and Prunus cerasus.
                                                                                                                            By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan

Colour is rampant in the Sensory Garden.

Looking particularly stunning at the moment is the Golden Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia chrysotricha) which belongs to the family Bignoniaceae. This family is most noted for its ornamentals which are grown for their conspicuous tubular flowers.

The Golden Trumpet Tree is considered the national tree of Brazil and has all of the exotic and joyful overtones normally associated with Brazil’s national dance, the samba. It’s abundant, showy yellow flowers have earned it a place amongst the world’s most attractive flowering trees.

The Golden Trumpet Tree grows to a height of 7.5m – 10.5m and its canopy may be as wide as the tree is high. The flowers are rich in nectar, making it a useful honey plant.

Also looking spectacular at the moment is the dwarf Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus var compacta) .  After keeping visitors in suspense for months it has also burst into flower.

After admiring these wonderful trees take a moment to seek out the beautiful turtle sculptures prepared by local school children during the educational programs at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden. They are by the white arbour next to the pond.

Amongst the plants that the children have planted in the turtles is Carpobrotus glaucescens also known as Pigface, a ground-creeping plant with succulent leaves and large daisy-like flowers. Carpobrotus refers to the edible fruits. It comes from the Greek karpos ("fruit") and brota ("edible"). Glaucescens refers to the blue green bloom, which lightly covers the leaves.

There is so much to see at the Sensory Garden that visitors will be enthralled.

                                                                                                                               By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan

Beautiful salmon-pink, pompom-like flowers have begun to appear on the Albizia julibrissin (Pink Silk Tree) next to the waterfall in Shoyoen, Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden. The flowers which have been likened to the crest of a peacock are not the only unusual thing about this tree. At night and during rain, the leaves slowly close and the leaflets bow downwards earning the tree the Japanese name “nemunoki” – sleeping tree.

When the present Empress of Japan, Empress Michiko was a young girl she was so enthralled by the tree that she wrote a poem about it. This poem was later set to music, a lullaby, to celebrate the birth of the Empress’s second child, Prince Akishinomiya.

Albizia julibrissin is a small deciduous tree which belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is native to south-western and eastern Asia and grows to 5–12 m tall. It has a broad crown of level or arching branches. The bark is dark greenish grey in colour and striped vertically as it gets older. The flower-heads are composed of many small flowers and the clusters of 2-3cm long stamens look like silky threads. The leaves are feathery and from a distance the flowers appear to be floating along the top of the branches. The fruit is a flat brown pod 10–20 cm long and contains several seeds inside.

In traditional Chinese medicine Albizzia jublibrissin (He Huan Hua) is used to nourish the heart and calm the spirit.

Perhaps partly because of its royal connections and certainly because of its distinctive beauty, the tree is highly valued within Shoyoen. Head Gardener Ron Watson still recalls the enormous care taken by the Japanese gardeners from Dubbo’s Sister City Minokamo and Dubbo City Council’s Director Parks & Landcare Services Murray Wood, to plant the tree in exactly the right place and at exactly the right angle.

                                                                                                                                                By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan                         

An exciting new dimension has been added to the educational programs of the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden. Raised garden beds recently installed in the Oasis Valley, support the mission of the botanic garden to reconnect children with nature.

The garden beds comprise eight large, handsome, rectangle containers decorated with mosaics by local artist Brigid Palin. They are the focus of new programs to encourage healthy eating and a sustainable lifestyle.
Under the guidance of volunteers and parents, children have already planted herbs, tomatoes, companion plants (Marigolds) and a wide selection of vegetables including: celery, two types of beans, zucchini, and snow peas.

The children responsible for establishing the garden are watching over it carefully and keeping it well watered. They were delighted to observe flowers appearing on the tomato plants and the leaves of seedling radishes emerging through the mulch.

While tending the gardens children will learn agriculture concepts and skills that integrate with several subjects, such as math, science, literacy, art and health, as well as personal and social responsibility.
The new gardens have also inspired significant community interest and have already become a place where new friendships are made.

Educational activities focussing on the new vegetable gardens will be available to schools and children’s groups from next term.  Schools may also use the gardens as a source of information and inspiration for their own kitchen gardens.

By Ian McAlister and Karen Hagan

Spring has come to Shoyoen at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden. The paths are lined with an abundance of attractive flowering shrubs and blossoming trees.

Particularly striking at the moment are the Japanese Flowering Crabapples (Malus floribunda) which may be found below the Tea House on the west side of the garden. The trees are a mass of sweetly scented, light pink blossoms and crimson buds.

Malus is a genus comprising 30–55 species of small deciduous trees or shrubs in the family Rosaceae, and includes the domesticated orchard apple (M. domestica).

The Japanese Flowering Crabapple originates from Japan and East Asia and may be a wild species or a hybrid of M. sieboldii x M. baccata. They are small deciduous trees with narrow leaves on arching branches.

The fruits are red and yellow and about 1cm in diameter. They are tart and woody, and rarely eaten raw for this reason. In some Asian cultures they are valued as a sour condiment, sometimes eaten with salt and chilli pepper, or shrimp paste.

Crabapples are an excellent source of pectin, and their juice can be made into a ruby-coloured preserve with a full, spicy flavour. They are also sometimes used in cider making.

As Old English Wergulu, the crabapple is one of the nine plants invoked in the pagan Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, recorded in the 10th century. Crabapple has also been listed as one of the 38 plants that are used to prepare Bach flower remedies.

Japanese Flowering Crabapples also lend themselves to bonsai.

Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan    

The Biodiversity Garden is looking particularly beautiful at the moment. Not only are some of the wattles heavy with brilliant yellow, fragrant blossoms but the garden has benefited from the care and attention of a special group of children.

Ever since May this year the UnitingCare Burnside Aboriginal Support Network has based one of their weekly afterschool programs at the Biodiversity Garden.  The children come to the garden to learn about Australian plants, do some gardening and enjoy the benefits of being immersed in nature.

I recently dropped in on one of the gardening sessions and was greeted by enthusiastic young gardeners who were keen to show me what they had accomplished. The children proudly guided me around the garden showing me “their” plants. I was very impressed by the quality of their work.

Under the supervision of Head Gardener Ron Watson, the children have planted close to one hundred young trees and shrubs. All of the plants are native to the local region and many are bush tucker plants. Aunty Diane McNaboe has shared some of the Wiradjuri names of the plants to help the children understand the importance of the plants from a local Aboriginal perspective.

A real and relevant hands-on task of this nature helps these children achieve learning outcomes that they might find difficult to achieve in the classroom. Furthermore the children are creating a beautiful and lasting legacy that they will be able to show their own children in the future.

Science Café will start at 10am and run until 1pm today at the Oasis Valley in the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden. I recommend you combine a visit to this lively, family friendly event with a stroll in the Biodiversity Garden.

For more information about Science Café visit: drbg.com.au/ScienceCafe

                                                                                                                                by Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan

The Sensory Gardens are ablaze with winter colour.

Lighting the way and capturing everybody’s attention are the Kniphofia - Winter Cheer. These are also known as Red Hot Pokers or Torch Lilies due to the shape and colour (red and orange) of their inflorescences.

There are many different varieties. The leaves are reminiscent of a lily, and the flower heads can reach up to 1.52 m in height. The flowers produce copious nectar which attracts bees and birds.

Providing a wonderful backdrop for the Knipholia is the silver grey foliage of the Wormwood (Artemisia arborescens). 

Artemisia is a large, diverse genus of plants and belongs to the daisy family Asteraceae. Common names for various species in the genus include mugwort, wormwood, and sagebrush.

Wormwoods have been used for medicinal, brewing, culinary and other purposes for thousands of years. 
Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon) is widely used as a culinary herb.

Artemisia absinthium was used to repel fleas and moths, and as an ingredient in beer brewing. The aperitif vermouth was originally flavoured with wormwood. The highly potent spirit absinthe also contains wormwood.

Artemisia arborescens is indigenous to the Middle East and used to make tea; its leaves are usually mixed with mint.

Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood) a herb used in Chinese traditional medicine, is now cultivated globally as the only source of a potent anti-malarial drug, artemisinin. Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative are now standard treatment for malaria. An estimated 300 million people succumb to infection by the malaria parasite every year. Artemisinin is also a topic of research in cancer treatment.

The bitter taste of Wormwood has earned it many cultural and literary references. It is mentioned in the Jewish Bible (also known as Tanakh or Written Torah), the New Testament and in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

The Red Hot Pokers put on a stunning display but Wormwoods are the quiet achievers.

Ian McAlister and Karen Hagan

The Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden will host Dubbo’s first Science Café from 10am to 1pm on Saturday 10th August in celebration of 2013 National Science Week.

Enjoy a quality cup of coffee prepared by Midnite Café whilst being inspired by the work of local scientists, engineers and artists during a series of live interviews. Dubbo City Council and local community organisations including the Dubbo Field Naturalists and Conservation Society and the Dubbo Community Garden will be on hand to give advice on how to save money, create less waste and live healthier lives in harmony with the natural environment.

Children’s activities include a puppet show performed by Macquarie Regional Library, an Indigenous art activity prepared by Aunty Diane McNaboe and the Western Plains Cultural Centre, and a venomous snake display. There will also be scientific demonstrations, prizes and give a ways.

Promoting an appreciation of science and its relevance to everyday life is one of the objectives of the Botanic Garden and is at the heart of many of the school activities run there.

The Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden is a living classroom where students can see biology, physics and chemistry in action. Scientific laws, processes and scientific theories become more real and relevant to students when they can see them in their proper context.

The importance of supporting science education was recently highlighted when a survey sponsored by the Australian Academy of Science revealed black holes in the public’s basic science knowledge.

To maintain the quality of life we have become accustomed to, it is essential that we learn to use the Earth’s resources in a sustainable manner. An understanding of scientific concepts and the scientific process is essential to achieving this. At the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden we are committed to delivering high quality science education opportunities.

This Inspiring Australia initiative is supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week.

Ian McAlister and Karen Hagan

Eucalyptus is one of seven closely related genera. Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Angophora, Stockwellia, Allosyncarpia, Eucalyptopsis and Arillastrum all belong to the Eucalypt group in the Myrtaceae family.
 
There are more than 700 Eucalyptus species and most of them are native to Australia. They may take the form of a low shrub or a very large tree. The Australian mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) is the tallest of all flowering plants (angiosperms). The tallest measured living specimen is almost 100m high.  Only the Giant Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is taller, and that is a conifer (gymnosperm). There are two Giant Redwoods in Victoria Park.
 
The flowers do not have petals but do have numerous fluffy stamens which may be white, cream, yellow, pink or red. The flowers are enclosed in the cup-like base (gum nut) and covered by a cap called an operculum. As the stamens expand, the operculum is forced off. This is one of the features that unite the genus. The name Eucalyptus, from the Greek words eu-, well, and kaluptos, cover, meaning "well-covered", refers to the flowers.
 
The flowers produce a great abundance of nectar, providing food for many animals.
 
The leaves usually change as the plant ages and are covered with oil glands.  The essential oil extracted from the leaves has medicinal, perfumery and industrial uses. Global production of eucalyptus oil is dominated by the Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus).
 
The Flooded gum (Eucalyptus grandis) is one of the main plantation species grown in tropical and sub-tropical plantations worldwide. It has the potential to achieve some of the highest growth rates of any plantation forestry species and the timber has many end-uses.
 
The Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden has many examples of Eucalyptus species particularly in the Biodiversity Garden but a Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus var. compacta) may be located near the gecko sculpture in the Sensory Gardens.

By Ian McAlister and Karen Hagan

Camellias are remarkable. Their flowers have been associated with the ultimate in style and femininity. The seeds of Camellia oleifera, Camellia sinensis and Camellia japonica yield an oil which has been used in Asia for centuries as an ingredient for beauty products and as cooking oil. The leaves of Camellia sinensis have been credited with changing the course of history.

Camellias belong to the family Theaceae and are evergreen shrubs or small trees up to 20m tall. Their leaves are usually glossy and their flowers are usually large and conspicuous. There are many different species and tens of thousands of cultivars.

Camellias had been cultivated for centuries in Asia before being introduced to Europe in the eighteenth century where they became highly sought after for their attractive flowers. Camellia flowers later became the iconic symbol for the Chanel fashion house's haute couture.

The oil pressed from the seeds is used in skin and hair care products. Sumo wrestlers use the fragrant oil to slick back their hair into a traditional topknot style. The oil is also the main cooking oil in some parts of southern China.

The leaves and leaf buds of Camellia sinensis are used to produce tea. White tea, green tea, oolong, pu-erh tea and black tea are all harvested from this species, but are processed differently.

The eighteenth century tea trade had an almost global impact. The demand in Europe outstripped supply and this led to many dastardly deeds, political upheaval and widespread misery in Asia.

The Japan-based Urasenke Foundation now uses Chado, the Way of Tea to promote peace, harmony, respect, purity, tranquility and unconditional loving-kindness. 

The beautiful flowers of Camellia sasanqua may presently be observed near the tea house of Shoyoen, at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden.

By Ian McAlister and Karen Hagan