2.1.5 Horticultural theme
Background
The way in which a botanic garden displays its plants is often
considered an indication of the horticultural and design expertise as
well as the professionalism within the organisation. For this reason
aesthetically designed horticultural displays of plants using
annuals, cultivars and mixed plantings are important features. Such
plantings also demonstrate the potential use of Australian plants and
encourage people to use and value them.
In various areas of the Gardens, such as around buildings and in
service and amenity areas, the need to provide an attractive
landscape setting takes a high priority. Mixed plantings have been
created for such purposes. A number of areas have been designed and
planted according to accepted landscape principles, to enhance the
built environment or to provide areas for visitor enjoyment and
demonstrate the possible use of such plants for home gardens.
The Australian Cultivar Registration Authority is based at the
Gardens in Canberra and specific sections have been planted to
provide a display of cultivars of Australian species. At the Jervis
Bay site a number of registered cultivars are displayed, in
particular a range of Grevillea cultivars. These displays are
important in encouraging garden use of Australian plants.
Management prescriptions
Objective
The objectives are to develop and maintain aesthetically pleasing
displays of plants that create pleasant, attractive surroundings, to
give visitors an increased appreciation of Australian plants and
their use in landscaped settings, and to incorporate a range of
cultivars to promote their use in horticulture.
Implementation
In high-visitation areas the maintenance of aesthetically pleasing
landscape settings will continue to be a priority. Special displays
will continue to be used both in Canberra and at Jervis Bay to add
colour and provide seasonal diversity.
Cultivars of Australian plants will continue to be added to the
collection and displayed to promote their use in horticulture. At
Jervis Bay the future emphasis will be on cultivars best suited to
coastal frost-free gardens.