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Australian National Botanic Gardens Growing, studying and promoting Australian plants |
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| GPO Box 1777 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA |
Telephone (02) 6250 9546 Facsimile (02) 62509599 Media enquiries: Paul Ziesing (M) 0418 955 661 |
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MEDIA RELEASE
16 November 2007
The bonsai exhibition opening at the Australian National Botanic Gardens today is only the fifth to display all native species.
The exhibition includes banksias, eucalypts, wattles, tea-trees, she-oaks, and native figs and pines from the collections of many exhibitors. Fascinating insights into the backgrounds of the plants are contained in the exhibition catalogue.
Bonsai Advisor to the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG) , Grant Bowie, will speak about bonsai at the CIAG at a lunchtime lecture today.
On the weekend bonsai demonstrations will be given by a number of experts. These include Will Fletcher, who moved from NSW to Tasmania over 30 years ago, looking for respite from Australia's summer heat. Delighted and engrossed by Tasmania's wonderful and diverse flora, he established Plants of Tasmania Nursery in 1990 to propagate and sell local species.
On a visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens about five years later he saw a journal on bonsai in Australia and was inspired to experiment with Tasmanian flora. Next year he will open a bonsai nursery near Hobart, dedicated to crafting bonsai and miniature gardens, and using only Tasmanian species.
The ancient horticultural art form of bonsai combines horticultural and artistic skills to produce living sculptures, and originated in China 2000 years ago, before extending to Japan. In the last 100 years it has spread throughout much of the world, including Australia where native plant species have been grown as bonsai since the early 20 th century
The exhibition opens at 12.30pm today in the Crosbie Morrison Building, and is open from 9.30am until 4.30 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information contact the Visitor Centre on 02 6250 9540.
Fri 16 Nov, 12.30pm Theatrette |
Bonsai and the Canberra International Arboretum & Gardens Grant Bowie (Bonsai Advisor to CIAG) |
Sat 17 Nov, 11am & 2pm Crosbie Morrison Building |
Bonsai demonstrations |
Sun 18 Nov, 11am & 2pm Crosbie Morrison Building |
Bonsai demonstrations |
Media contact:
Paul Ziesing
Communications Officer
(02) 6250 9405 or 0418 955 661
paul.ziesing@environment.gov.au