October is birthday month at the Australian National Botanic Gardens and they’re inviting the community to share in celebrating their achievements.

They’ll be hosting a retrospective photography exhibition and horticultural talks in the cafe – with the highlight of the celebrations being a Community Day on Sunday 18 October where visitors can find out more about our behind-the-scenes work and soak up the surroundings of the gardens with friends and family.

Gardens’ Executive Director Dr Judy West said the anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the creation of the Gardens’ extensive living collection.

“Over the past 45 years the Australian National Botanic Gardens has become the world’s most comprehensive display of Australian plants – housing over 6,000 species, about one third of known Australian plants,” Judy said.

“The Community Day will display information on how our plants and seeds are collected, grown and stored – such as in the Australian National Herbarium, specialist nursery and National Seed Bank.

“Kids attending the Community Day will be fascinated with the range of activities including spying for birds, dipping for bugs and collecting insects with our field scientists. Visitors are also invited to pot-up a daisy or make a bee hotel to take home, participate in the family scavenger hunt or take the ‘Ride up-Walk Down’ tours to some of the Gardens newer developments such as the Red Centre and Australian Daisy Gardens.

“Commencing on Friday 16th October and continuing through to the end of November, an outdoor photographic display will showcase the evolution of three of our popular gardens – the Cafe Lawn pond area, the Rock Garden and our much-loved Rainforest Gully. Plus, we’re inviting past visitors to get sentimental and share their photographic memories of the Gardens as part of our online Reflections Photography Exhibition by posting their photos on Facebook or Instagram with #anbg45. The growing online album of photo contributions will be revealed via the Gardens Instagram page from Tuesday 20 October.

“Get some tips on growing Australian plants at home direct from our horticulturalists that will be at the cafe from 10:00-10:30 on Thursday 15 and 22 October for the free Cafe Horticulture Talks.

“Come with your questions and discover how they care for the Gardens and learn how to create flourishing displays in your own garden – over coffee or brunch on the Floresco in the Gardens cafe deck.

“We’ll also be looking to our 50th anniversary, and the exciting future we have mapped out for the Gardens. Earlier this year we launched a 20 year Master Plan for the Gardens which includes a new seed bank, conservatory and Visitor Centre,” said Dr West.

Originally known as the Canberra Botanic Gardens, the Australian National Botanic Gardens was officially opened by Prime Minister John Gorton on 20 October 1970.