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Banksia Seminar At Kings Park, World Environment Day 5 June

Kings Park and Botanic Garden are hosting a seminar to celebrate the
launch of their Banksia Garden on World Environment Day, 5 June.

The cost of the seminar is $50 including breakfast and lunch!  For
registration contact Karen or Justine on 480 3600 - for enquiries
contact Nathan McQuoid or Steve Forbes on 480 3600.

PROGRAM

Venue: ROYAL KINGS PARK TENNIS CLUB

7.30 Welcome Stephen Forbes, Assistant Director, Kings Park and Botanic
Garden =

7.45 Taxonomy and history of Banksia Alex George =

8.15 Ecology and conservation of Banksia Prof Byron Lamont, Curtin
University =

8.45 Plant disease threats to Banksia: Phytophthora pathology Dr Giles
Hardy, Murdoch University =

9.00 Plant disease threats to Banksia: Implications for management Dr
Ray Wills, Kings Park and Botanic Garden =

9.15 MORNING TEA =

9.45 Banksia art in Kings Park Philippa O'Brien =

10.15 Banksias in botanical art Philippa Nikulinsky =

10.45 Cultivation of Banksia Kevin Collins, The Banksia Farm =

11.30 - 12.45 BANKSIA GARDEN LAUNCH, MRS CHERYL EDWARDES, HON MINISTER
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT =

13.00 LUNCH =

13.30 Banksia in art Prof George Seddon =

14.00 Pollination ecology and the future Dr Steve Hopper, Director,
Kings Park and Botanic Garden


 PRESS RELEASE FOR BANKSIA GARDEN LAUNCH

Banksia Garden launch at Kings Park and Botanic Garden

World Environment Day, 5 June, will be marked by the official launch of
the new Banksia Garden at Kings Park and Botanic Garden by Mrs Cheryl
Edwardes, Hon Minister for the Environment.  The Banksia Garden is the
first stage of an upgrade of the Botanic Garden within Kings Park.

Banksias

Western Australia has one of the richest floras on Earth.  Over 12,000
species occur in the State, with over 80% found nowhere else in the
world. Banksias follow this pattern, and of the 76 species in Australia,
59 species occur in Western Australia.  Banksia's show an extraordinary
diversity of form in growth from prostrate shrubs to 30 metre trees. The
Banksia Garden

Whilst many Australians will instantly recognise a Banksia, May Gibb's
Banksia men and Sir Joseph Banks association with Captain Cook may be
the limit of many Australian's familiarity.  The Banksia Garden will
provide an opportunity to see the beauty and diversity of Western
Australia's Banksias. At any season there are Banksias in flower to
provide food and shelter for animals including honeyeaters and honey
possums.  With different species flowering year round in a range of
colours, the display will provide an outstanding experience for local
and overseas visitors.  As the Garden develops, visitors will be able to
watch honey-eaters feeding on the rich nectar.

Whilst the Banksia Garden was only planted 1 year ago, some of the Showy
Banksia [Banksia speciosa] plants are nearly two metres tall, whilst the
Southern Plains Banksia [Banksia media] and  Banksia [Banksia epica] are
already flowering.  The Banksia Garden will provide an outstanding
opportunity for gardeners to select the right species for their own home
garden.  Banksia Artwork

An outstanding feature of the new Banksia Garden is the integration of
artworks and interpretive signage to enhance appreciation and
understanding of the beauty and divsersity of Banksias.  Artist Phillipa
O'Brien has designed mosaics depicting Banksias, and seats utilising
Banksia motifs and Banksia wood.  There are five species of Banksia
occuring in Kings Park bushland, and these are depicted in the mosaic
overlooking the Pioneer Women's Memorial Fountain. Conservation of
Banksias

The Banksia Garden will allow Kings Park and Botanic Garden to gain a
better understanding of the requirements for propagation and cultivation
of Banksia's to assist conservation programs.  Banksias which are
endangered in the wild which may be seen in the Banksia Garden include
Matchstick Banksia [Banksia cuneata ] which is threatened by changes to
it's habitat, and the beautiful Feather-leaved Banksia [Banksia brownii]
which is threatened by dieback

Contact for enquiries:

Stephen Forbes, Assistant Director, Living Collections and Natural
Heritage (08) 9480 3600/ 0417 936 771 =


<mailto:stephenf@kpbg.wa.gov.au>

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 Dr R. T. Wills                   <rayw@kpbg.wa.gov.au>
 Plant Science Division
 Kings Park & Botanic Garden      Ph (61 8) 9480 3623
 West Perth  WA  6005             Fx (61 8) 9480 3641
 Australia                        Mobile   041 993 6504

      <http://www.kpbg.wa.gov.au/plantsci/psStaff/raywkpbg.html>

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the =

universe is that it has never tried to contact us."
                                  - Calvin and Hobbes (Bill Watterson)