Yes, you read right: the Royal Botanic Gardens is turning 175.
To celebrate 175 years on this earth, Victoria’s Royal Botanic Gardens (which spans its Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens) will be hosting a range of events and activities at both its locations this summer.
One of the program standouts will be Garden Gathering Vol. 1. Held in Melbourne Gardens’ Arid and Drylands precinct, this one-day event going down on Saturday February 20 will feature special curator talks, creative workshops, guided tours and self-guided activities.
Also taking place in the new Arid Garden is Sonica Botanica: Sounds and Stories of the Gardens – a series of tailored listening experiences that will weave diverse stories, atmospheric music and the mesmeric sounds of the natural environment into one. A self-guided experience created by Melbourne sound artist Patrick Cronin, this will be available online from Saturday February 20 and can be experienced by punters whenever they wish to explore the Gardens.
The Royal Botanic Gardens will then be teaming up with the inaugural PHOTO 2021 – International Festival of Photography to present its own in-garden photo gallery. Visitors perusing the Gardens will be taken down an immersive rabbit hole as they follow a trail of curated, outdoor photographic installations from six different artists. This installation will be on display from Thursday February 18 to Sunday March 7.
What’s more, the Gardens’ will be running additional wellbeing sessions giving Melburnians the best opportunity to unwind and destress after a tough 2020. Two of these include Forest Therapy (Sundays in January and February) and Harp Meditations (Wednesday January 20 and Wednesday February 17) – both of which take place at sundown.
For those who call Cranbourne Gardens home, there’s a load of events catering for plant enthusiasts both young and old, including the Great Southern Land Walk and the younger-inclined Seek and Find Nature Cards event.
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Be part of the Royal Botanic Gardens’ 175th birthday celebration. Find out more here.
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