At the Garden

Next Working Bee - coming soon!

Plants in Bloom (in the blog).

History of St Kilda Botanical Gardens Walks
TBA

Each walk takes approximately 90 minutes.  They start from the Historical Glasshouses on Blessington Street side of the gardens. Cost is $10 per person. Bookings are essential tel 9534 5287.

Explore the Garden
A guide to our plant collections and speciality beds (coming soon).

History documents (can be downloaded)
Baron von Mueller
Brief history of the gardens (page 3)

Photographic exhibition
We're looking for photos of the gardens, preferably historical, or photos that tell a story about you and your family and friends and the gardens. We're also seeking stories - about your experiences in the gardens - family get togethers, weddings, parties, things you've seen.

The photographic exhibition is scheduled for 2009.

If you have images you'd like to share with us please forward a digital image to foskbg@hotmail.com. DON'T SEND ORIGINALS.

Membership Form - join

Blog - check out what we've been up to

Birdlife

Download the new St Kilda Botanical Gardens Brochure here

Stop Press - Winners of the Paint These Gardens Art Competition

Friends of St Kilda Botanical Gardens held an art competition - Paint These Gardens - on the June long weekend (6-8 June 2009). The competition celebrates the richness of the St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

	First Prize - Winner Manwell Cassar, No 17 Judge's comments In this picture the composition is astutely organized within the frame.   The sense of distance, of the foreground and background, gives the scope of the gardens. The shape of the trees is well observed with a vibrant palette.   The park is also pictured as a place for social activity.   Serpentine curves lead into the composition so one is drawn back into looking and to experiencing the space of the picture as if one were within the gardens.   There is a great energy in the painting and passion in the colour.
	Second Prize - Winner Nicole Parkins, No 19 Judges' comments The artist has communicated the variety and character of a specific corner of the gardens. The path goes through the picture and takes you into other areas yet to be discovered. The painting has a nice undulating rhythm echoed in the central tree.   The artist has chosen a dense and complex area of the gardens to depict and has organized the visual information very successfully.
	Children's Prize - Winner Coco Dwyer,   Number 54 Judges' comments The judges chose this painting because it captures the atmosphere of the gardens at a time of changing weather conditions, here and now.   Wildlife is included with ducks and tortoises above and below the water in a lively frieze. Through this the umbrella man stands firm.   There is a very nice use of varied materials which is not formulaic- paint has been brushed on and scrubbed off, drawn marks are added to give variety and interest to the picture.
	Peoples' Choice winner - Linda Gibbs

Want to see the rest? Click on here for more great images.

The Friends thank the following sponsors for their support of this event:

Quill Stationery
St Kilda Art Supplies
Centrifuge Design Picture Framing
San Churro
Seasol

Judges of the Paint These Gardens art competition are:
Caroline Durre, Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, Monash University
Janenne Eaton, Head of Painting, VCA Art, Victoria College of the Arts
Jan Duffy, Program Director, Linden Centre for Contemporary Artists

Judging guidelines.

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