Botanic Gardens

Hi CHUMs

Does anyone fancy a day out to The Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah as the following events are on together until the 12^th August.

First of all there is:

Mel Jones final exhibition:- “Tomah in Pochoir” – Entry Free

The last 12 months of Mel Jones artist in residency at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens culminates with this Pochoir exhibition.  View Mel’s unique vibrant landscapes, characterised by crisp lines and brilliant colours using the old world technique of hand cut stencilling.

Further information: follow Mel's her blog atwww.journeymoonart.com/meljonesartblogmttomah.html

Next we have:

Daffodil Day from 9:00am to 5pm – Entry Free

Here we support the Cancer Council on Daffodil Day.  With optimum growing conditions, the gardens are transformed by a sea of golden hues as additional plantings of daffodils erupt in bloom. 

Then to top it all:

The World Heritage Exhibition Centre has opened.  Entry Fee Unknown at this time

And I quote, “ The awe inspiring vista from the Centre creates a transcendental aura transporting the visitor into another realm where the area’s history, flora, rare plants, geography and animals rule”.

On display at the Centre

• An Aussie icon - the outstanding diversity of the eucalypts
• History in the markings - markings on eucalypts tell us about life in the past
• Home sweet hollow - eucalypts provide hollows for wildlife
• Sugar glider - the 'short headed ropedancer'
• Fire - friend or foe? - bushfires in the World Heritage Area
• The plant hunter - George Caley's botanical discoveries
• 'Got by Dan' - George Caley's Aboriginal guide
• Rare plants - the Area protects a significant amount of Australia’s plant biodiversity
• Animal habitats - the Area provides habitats for a wide variety of animals
• Forest protectors - an area worth protecting
• People power - saving the Blue Gum forest
• The Wollemi Pine - a living dinosaur
• Ensuring the Pine's survival - managing threats to the wild population
• Experience a slot canyon - these abound in the Area
• Mt Yengo's story - from the mountain top
• Rock legend - basalt capped mountain tops
• Mt Tomah - remnant of an ancient lava sheet
• Jenolan Caves - striking example of a 'karst' landscape
• Cage age? - a question that is difficult to answer
• Nature's art in sandstone - Gardens of Stone National Park
• Aging slowly - Thirlmere Lakes National Park
• Valley of shining waterfalls - the Jamison valley

We could make a day out of it with a picnic etc and I was going to suggest we car share as I believe that the gardens is a fair bit away from the nearest railway station.  I will be more than happy to pinch Adam’s car for the day – which means I can take four passengers (at a push), three would be more comfortable. 

It will mean an early start but I think it would make a great day out.  Suggested dates:  I would prefer going during the week, as I believe that it would be quieter (less school children).  So would like to put the following dates forward for your consideration:

Thursday 26^th July (maybe a bit too soon?)

Tuesday 31^st July

Thursday 2^nd Aug

Tuesday 7^th Aug to Friday 10^th Aug

And finally we have Sunday 12^th August.

If we want to go after the 12^th we can still see the daffodils and the heritage centre.