About Us

In keeping with most botanic gardens around the world, Darwin's Gardens has "friends". We are people with a passion for plants and a love of gardening. Many of us have special interests in specific plant groups. We like to share our knowledge and enthusiasm so that others develop an appreciation not only for the Gardens, but the plant world in general.
	The Late George Brown takes Friends on a tour of the Gardens in 2001

Aims

We aim to:

• increase community awareness of the scientific, educational, horticultural, therapeutic and recreational functions of the Gardens
• promote the objectives of the Gardens
• promote the continued development of the Gardens
• serve as a link between the Gardens and the community
• encourage the use and enjoyment of the Gardens by the community, and
• raise money to support the activities listed above
  

Activities

Our activities have included:

• major projects such as the Shade Garden, the main entrance and the upcoming cycad garden
• Gardens maintenance, including removal of self-sown palm seedlings
• planting and potting up cuttings of many different varieties of plants
• funding new facilities such as seats and drinking fountains
• publishing information about the Gardens. More
• fundraising plant stalls at local events
• field trips with a botanical flavour

Meetings

We meet on the Second Saturday of each month at 9am at the Amenities Room (opposite the Geranium St carpark) in the Gardens. Visitors are welcome.

We normally spend one and a half hours doing some sort of activity, such as potting up plants, followed by morning tea, a bit of a chat and a committee meeting. Sometimes we have a guest speaker or take a tour around the Gardens.