Bells, Stars, Candles and Baubles feature as December Decorations in the Botanic Gardens.

Events

Christmas in the Gardens…

Saturday, December 17, 2011 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm
Tropical Sun Garden Lawn (near Café)

Come along and bring all the family to this very popular Christmas event on Saturday, December 17 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

Featuring Hullabaloo, Karen Bonham and Mackay City Band as the entertainers for the evening.

The ‘Friends of the Gardens’ will have their ever-popular raffles, giveaways, glow candles and Christmas songbooks for sale.

The Lagoons Cafe will be open until late. Contact Botanic Gardens on 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au for more information.

NO Sunday in the Park in DECEMBER, but back in January

Sunday in the Park will resume January next year at:

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Tropical Sun Lawn, adjacent to the main entrance, 9 Lagoon Street,
Third Sunday of every month from 2pm to 4pm.

Exhibitions

Creative Shots Annual Exhibition “Reflections” 2011

Lagoons Gallery and Cafe
December 7, 2011 to January 15, 2012

Mackay's enthusiastic and fun photography club annual exhibition focuses this year on the topic ‘Reflections’. Come along and see the varying interpretations of what our creative members are photographing.

Sharing lots of laughs and with an attitude of mutual respect, the Creative Shots Photos Club Inc. encourages all members to take the next step and advance their photographic skills. The club welcomes all levels of photographers from beginners to advanced, with any type of camera - from compact to professional.

Along with their monthly location outings, members enjoy sharing tips and techniques on taking photographs, using equipment and image software. Further information can be found at www.creativeshots.com.au

Featured photograph is ‘Sands of Gold’ by David Phillips.

The Lagoons Gallery and Cafe is open Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 3pm and on Weekends from 9am to 4pm.
Cost: Free

Contact Cheryl Eagers at cheryl@diamondpcs.com.au or the Botanic Gardens on 4952 7300 or botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au for more information.

***Please Note: The Lagoons Gallery and Café will be closed on certain days over the Christmas/New Year period.
Open December 23, 2011
(closed December 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2011)
Open December 28, 29, 30, 31, 2011
(closed January 1, 2 and 3, 2012)
Open again January 4, 2012
Cost: Free

What’s Flowering and Fruiting Now… Nature’s Christmas Decorations

	I am the fruit of the Water Apple (Watery Rose-apple) *Syzygium aqueum* My distinctive red fruits resemble tiny bells. My fruit is very glossy red and the flesh is very juicy or watery hence my common name... Water Apple. I grow on a shrub and I grow best in areas with a long dry season, though I am not drought resistant. Shrubs like this one can easily be cultivated in home gardens so why not add some Christmas cheer to your place?
	We are the flowers of the Cinnamon Myrtle Backhousia myrtifolia Our distinctive white flowers look like stars. I am a small rainforest tree species and I grow in subtropical rainforests of Eastern Australia up to 30m. My leaves are ovate or elliptic in shape with a cinnamon-like odour. My flowers are star-shaped and my small papery fruit are bell-shaped. The name 'Cinnamon Myrtle' was originally coined in the late 1980s to describe my use as a flavouring spice. Have you heard of Lemon Myrtle and Aniseed Myrtle too? We all belong to the Myrtaceae family.
	I am the buds and flowers of the Milkwood/Dog Bane Cerbera manghas My distinctive white buds resemble candles. Cerbera is a genus of 10 to 15 species of evergreen small trees or shrubs. Three trees of this genus are mangroves, Cerbera floribunda, Cerbera manghas and Cerbera odollam. Cerbera manghas is a small evergreen coastal tree growing up to 12m tall. It occupies coastal habitats and is often associated with mangrove forests.
	I am the flower of the Leichhardt Tree Nauclea orientalis My distinctive yellow flowers resemble a spiky round bauble. Flowering now in November and December, I will soon change to an edible fruit, which will look similar to a dirty golf ball. The fruit can be eaten raw, has a slightly bitter taste and not too dissimilar to mushy banana. The flesh and the small black seeds are eaten, the skin being discarded.
	I am the flower of the Flame tree Brachychiton acerifolius My distinctive red flowers resemble tiny bells. I am commonly known as the Flame Tree, famous for the bright red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the whole tree when it is leafless and makes the tree look like it's on fire. My spectacular flowering occurs in late spring and new foliage is ready for the summer rains. I’m a large tree of the family Sterculiaceae, native to subtropical regions on the east coast of Australia.
	I am the fruit of the Cedar Bay Cherry Eugenia reinwardtiana My distinctive fruits resemble small red baubles. Cedar Bay Cherry is also known as Beach Cherry. This is a 4m shrub with a typical Lilly Pilly appearance. Here this shrub has been hedged. The leaves are thick textured. The small white flowers are followed by bright red fruit. The flesh is white and the fruit has 1, 2 or sometimes 4 seeds. The fruit is sweet tasting and can be eaten fresh. This is one of Australia's best fresh fruits.

Christmas presents at the Gardens too...

A BIG Ask from Santa?

Plants of Capricornia, Rhonda Melzer and Joel Plumb (2011 reprinted with updates).

The Capricornia region of central Queensland has a remarkable diverse mix of habitats. Not only does it contain a range of both tropical and subtropical plant communities, but also occurring in close proximity are coastal dune and wetland, semi-arid brigalow, eucalypt and vine thicket communities.

These habitats contain a rich flora which has been poorly studied and there has long been a need for a definite guide in this rapidly developing region. Rhonda Melzer and Joel Plumb, both long-time residents of Capricornia, took up the challenge and produced an informative, accurate and very attractive book. First published in 2007, it proved so popular that it has been reprinted in 2011 with updates.

Many of the plant species listed in this book are found in the Mackay region and it is one of the best reference books currently available.

Now available for sale at ‘The Garden’s Shop’ Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens for $140.00

Lots of other gift items are available too. Come in and see.

School Holiday activities...

Get the kids out of the house and discover some fun holiday activities from art and crafts to discovery walks in the Gardens!

Back by Popular Demand: “Leaves, Sticks and Sparkly Bits”… Christmas Decorations and Cards

December 2011
Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15, Friday 16
Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21, Thursday 22, Friday 23
1 session per day from 10am to 12 noon
Groups of 10 school-aged children
Cost $5 each

During the two hour session, children will create a decorative Christmas mobile from leaves, twigs, skeleton leaves and sparkly bits and pieces. Opportunities to make Christmas cards with decorated leaf prints, skeleton leaves or leaf rubbings will also be available.

Limited numbers. Bookings are essential. Payment due by December 9.
Contact Maya Harrison on 4952 7300 or botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au for more information.

Christmas Closures

***Please Note: The Garden’s Shop and Botanic Gardens Administration will be closed over the Christmas/New Year period from Friday, December 23, 2011 at 12 noon, re-opening Tuesday, January 3, 2012 from 9am.

***Please Note: The Lagoons Gallery and Café will be closed on certain days over the Christmas/New Year period.
Open on Friday, December 23, 2011
(closed December 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2011)
Open December 28, 29, 30, 31, 2011
(closed January 1, 2 and 3, 2012)

School Holiday Activities continue in January too… Book now.

“Drawing in Nature”

January 4, 5 and 6, 2012
From 10am to 12 noon
Meeting Room, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.

For the child who likes to draw and paint…
During the two hour session, children will walk through the Gardens and be inspired by the different plants therein, the delicate fern leaves, brilliant bromeliads, leaf shapes and flowers. Using selected plants and leaves, children will then try their hand at drawing / painting with water-colours, paying close attention to the fine details of the different specimens, just like the Botanic Art Interest Group artists do. Artworks will then be included in an Exhibition at the Gardens.

Each group is limited to 10 children, children must be aged over five.
Bookings are essential. Payment due by December 23.
Cost: $5 each

Contact Botanic Gardens on 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au or visit mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au for more information.

“Dinosaurs Rule”

January 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2012
From 10am to 12 noon
Meeting Room, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.

Is this Terra nova? Children will be introduced to the Coal Garden, see dinosaur footprints, join in a dinosaur quiz, explore fossils, rocks and minerals and the plants that dinosaurs used to eat and make their own plant fossil during the two hour session.

Each group is limited to 10 children, children must be aged over five.
Bookings are essential. Payment due by January 6, 2012.
Cost: $5 each

Contact Botanic Gardens on 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au or visit mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au for more information.

“Winged Wonders”

January 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2012
From 10am to 12 noon
Meeting Room, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.

Who is that fluttering? Children will be introduced to the butterflies, moths, dragonflies, damselflies and other insects with wings during a walk through the Gardens. Do they all begin their lives with wings? What are the largest winged insects? Making a creative winged creature to fly home will be part of the two hour session.

Each group is limited to 10 children, children must be aged over five.
Bookings are essential. Payment due by January 13, 2012.
Cost: $5 each

Contact Botanic Gardens on 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au or visit mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au for more information.

Don't forget...

Who is your Australia Day hero?

Australia Day is a chance to celebrate what’s great about our region – It’s also when we recognise those who volunteer their time to help make this area a great place to live.

Why not nominate someone today – there are a number of different categories, including Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year

Click here to nominate...

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