Fit for Fifteen

Friday, 2nd January from 11.0  am - 1.0 pm
Weather permitting, we are inviting Friends and their families to celebrate the New Year with a run, walk, or stroll round the Garden followed by drinks and nibbles in the glasshouse. 

The red squirrels are seen regularly feeding in the Garden at the moment - but they don't stay still long enough to get a decent photo. Any contributions welcome!
This photo courtesy of Jean who works at the Garden.

Walk in the Dark

On a walk in the dark through the Garden children encountered this 

strange beast who followed them back to the Education Centre

December's plant of the month

Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Pine)

Family: Araucariaceae    Origin: Australia  Accession: 2007

Find it in the Garden of Evolution

Season’s Greetings – from The Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust

On behalf of Lady Dalhousie and the Trustees of the Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust I would like to take this opportunity to thank the committee and all the Friends of the Dundee Botanic Garden for their support during 2014.

Since joining the Endowment Trust in March of this year much has happened. We are delighted to have Lady Dalhousie as our Patron a truly wonderful Ambassador. We now have a corporate identity with our new logo and leaflet available, and a striking pull up banner.

In September I attended the Dundee Food and Flower Festival courtesy of the ‘Friends’ who allowed me to share their stand, this gesture was greatly appreciated and allowed me to meet many of the members over the three days and gave me the vehicle to begin the promotion of the Trust.

I wrote a letter to every Member of the Friends explaining about the Trust and introducing myself, this coincided with an editorial in the Friends’ Newsletter.

This was followed by our Open Day on Saturday 18^th October, a very successful day with almost 700 people attending. Our Main Marquee hosted a very popular Celebrity Gardeners Question Time hosted by Jim McColl, followed by four amazing talks, with the Finale being provided by the University of Dundee Concert Band.

Everything was themed on the Garden and conservation, with the external activities including demonstrations of Woodturning, Willow Weaving, Bees and Honey, Apple Pressing to name a few. The Birds of Prey and the Face Painting were busy from the moment we opened and for those who were working too hard Yu Spa from the Apex were there to promote the benefits of a nice massage.

However the day’s success was also due to the support from many areas and grateful thanks to the staff of the Botanic Garden for all their efforts during the day and with the build-up and breakdown.

Special thanks to the Friends for their support with the pre publicity and all the activities that you supported during the day and appreciation to Frances Tait for co-ordinating all of this.

I am delighted that together we raised the profile of the Endowment Trust and the Botanic Garden. Due to a few very generous and an anonymous donations our Open Day raised in excess of £160,000.00.

If you would like more information on the Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust and how you can support us please do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to working with you during 2015 but I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful time over the Festive Period.

Best wishes

Gordon

Gordon Ramsay

Trust Development Officer

The Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust is a registered Scottish Charity No. SC044040

Afternoon lecture

Dr Connolly's thought provoking lecture was well attended and provoked a great deal of discussion. In particular we were made aware of the role we, as gardeners, must play in protecting the future of pollinating insects.

October's minutes

The minutes of the October committee meeting are now published.

Walk in the Dark

Saturday, 6th December, beginning 4.0 pm in the Education Centre.
The guided walk will be from the Education Centre to the site of the proposed Airport & Estuary Viewing Hide and back and is expected to take about half an hour. It's rare opportunity for children to see the woods in moonlight - and maybe -encounter  some unexpected fauna. Places are limited so please book early- see the "Events" page for details. 

Reminder

Sunday 23 November. At 2pm in the Education Centre at the Garden, Dr Chris Connolly of the Division of Neuroscience at the Medical Research Institute at Ninewells will talk about the potential effects of pesticides on bee learning and health. Friends free; visitors £2.

November's Plant of the month

Arbutus unedo (Killarney Strawberry Tree)

Family: Ericaceae Origin: Mediterranean, SW Ireland   

Accession: 1981

find it among the Mediterranean plants

August Minutes

The last set of Minutes of the retiring committee are now available. The show is on the road again as new committee held its first meeting last Wednesday. 

Retiring from the Committee

The long and invaluable service to the committee by Frances ans Sylvia was recognised by past and present members after, typically,  Frances had led a walk round the Garden and Sylvia had managed the Friends' stall. 

Mark presenting Sussex trugs to Sylvia and Frances.

Endowment Trust

Saturday was a glorious day and the Garden looked splendid for the visitors. All the events were popular and well-attended.

Wind up 

Gardeners' Question Time

Face Painting

Birds of prey

Pipe Band

University Lecture

Wednesday 15 October 

in the D’Arcy Thomson lecture theatre in the University Tower Building 

at 2.15pm

 admission is £2

This year Dr Andy Taylor of the James Hutton Institute will talk on ‘Exploring Scotland’s Forgotten Kingdom’. He will highlight new and exciting research on the fungi in Scotland, including how they respond strongly to climate changes. 

Launch of the Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust

FREE open day at the Garden on 18 October from 11am to 3pm

Gardeners Question Time, music, talks, face painting, guided tours and much more
Come and meet members of the Friends at our stall in the Marquee
(see the Events page for more details)

Workshop

Led by Claire, Sunday's prorogation workshop was 

a great opportunity for a coal-face experience!

AGM

On a lovely evening, around 30 Friends enjoyed a walk,
 led by the Curator, round the Garden's water sources prior to the AGM. 
(Note: the Chairman's Report and the Endowment Trustee's Report are also posted)

Reminder

that the AGM will be held this Wednesday, 24th September! 
 Alasdair's walk begins at 5.30 PM

It's not too late to book for Claire's Propagation Workshop on the 28th September. Look at the Events page for more details. 

Dundee Flower and Food Festival

The Friends' Stand
This year the Friends' shared their stand with the newly formed Endowment Trust.
The display was awarded a silver medal. 

September's Plant of the Month

Clerodendrum bungei 
(Rose Glory Bower)

Family: Lamiaceae   Origin: China  Accession: 1975

find it among  the Australasian plants