Garden Gathering Vol. 1

Overview

This year, Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens clocks up a huge 175 years. And to mark this milestone birthday, it's inviting punters along for an in-depth glimpse at some of its most iconic landscapes. A new series of free Garden Gathering events kicks off on Saturday, February 20, each one focused on celebrating a different aspect of the historic 38-hectare precinct.

First up, is a deep-dive into the newly completed arid garden, and surrounding elements like the eucalypt lawn and Guilfoyle's Volcano. This little pocket of the gardens features a whopping 3000 arid plants, including a vibrant array of striking cacti and succulents that'll have you plotting your next plant shop visit, stat.

Bring along a picnic lunch, and settle in for an afternoon of nature appreciation and knowledge. Running from 10am–3pm, each Garden Gathering event will deliver a fresh program of guided tours, curator talks and self-guided activities, along with a series of creative workshops designed to inspire some green thumb action of your own.