Royal Botanic Gardens Walk & Talk with Cathy Trinca

Cathy Trinca, a former President of The Friends of The Johnston Collection, plus both a guide and a friend of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, is going to take The Friends on another exclusive garden walk to explore more of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

This tour will start from the new City Gate, funded by Lady Primrose Potter. This gate creates a mesmerising scene of the interplay of nature: two majestic trees, falling leaves, and Superb Fairywren birds looking out for the worms below and playing among the branches. We will walk through a 150m plant-lined walkway and the grey garden, then around the lakeside southern Chinese Garden, to finish at the Terrace Café for refreshments.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne has been a treasured part of Melbourne’s cultural life for more than 176 years. In 1846, Lieutenant Governor, Charles La Trobe, set aside the land around a natural amphitheatre to establish the gardens, with many interesting man-made structures and buildings, as well as magnificent plantings. From Baron von Mueller’s aviaries and the formal structures and gardens to Guilfoyle’s Victorian follies, rockeries, and gazebos, many of these historic and treasured structures survive. With over 38 hectares and a collection of more than 8,500 species of plants from around the world, the Garden is also a natural sanctuary for native wildlife.

Join Cathy and The Friends for a leisurely stroll through this beautiful part of the garden, learning more about the history of the gardens, before enjoying some light afternoon tea refreshments.

Image: Courtesy of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.