Past Events

Visit to Ferntree Lodge Gardens, Ferntree Drive, Wakari

Ferntree Lodge was the home of the Thomson family for 60 years. The house was bought in 1898 by Alexander Thomson (1846–1904) a well known Dunedin soft drink manufacturer, and it was during the Thomson's ownership that many of the existing trees were planted. Over 6,600 square metres of lawns, gardens and trees were planted. Most were natives, particularly North Island varieties rarely seen in the lower South Island. Two of Alexander Thomson's sons, William Alexander (Bill — the eldest) and John Scott (Jack — the fourth) became distinguished amateur botanists. William Thomson lived at Ferntree Lodge until his death in 1950. The Lodge and garden have had a chequered history since then with the property being subdivided and the gardens neglected. The property is now owned by Tim Vanderhaegen and his wife Sofie who wish to restore it. They have issued an invitation to the BSO to view the garden which in its time was one of the more notable gardens in the Dunedin area and still contains many of the trees planted by the Thomsons. Rain date 12^th May Sunday. Meet 9:00 a.m. at Botany Department Car Park, 464 Great King Street.

Tunnel Beach

Half-day visit to the dramatic coastal sandstone cliffs, caves, tunnels and arches just south of Dunedin. It's a short 20 min walk down to the mouth of the tunnel, where a stunning natural arch is still covered in a close mat of coastal turf plants, despite continued grazing and trampling. Look out for; tiny selliera (Selliera radicans), sea primrose (Samolus repens) and tiny button daisy (Leptinella dioica) and their low-growing companions. A hand lens and kneeling pad would be handy. Dress for the weather and wear shoes or boots with a good grip—the drop-offs are sheer! Meet at the Botany Car Park for car pooling, or at the Tunnel Beach car park 20 min later.

BSO AGM and 2013 Photo Competition

Come and see all the fabulous photos of fascinating plants on the big screen, and vote for the print you like the best — it could end up in next year's calendar. There are always lots of tips on how to take even more stunning botanical photos. Always a fun and informative evening. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Botany Postgraduate Presentations

Two talks: (i) Digging for diazotrophs: uncovering the diversity and role of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in New Zealand grasslands, by Jocelyn Chua PhD Candidate, and (ii) Alfalfa mosaic virus invades New Zealand: where, how many times? by Aiko Lignon, MSc Candidate. Botany Department Seminar, Union St Lecture Theatre, Cnr Union St West & Great King St.

High Arctic Hijinks; Flora, Fauna and Darkness

A talk by Lorna Little. Lorna has visited the archipelago of Svalbard (72°N to 81°N) as part of her PhD studies. Her presentation will describe some her PhD work looking into flower colour, and will share some of the interesting botanical aspects of her fieldwork, as well as what life can be like in this Arctic region. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Are GM Plants Really a Threat to a Clean Green Image?

A talk by Associate Professor John Knight, Department of Marketing University of Otago. Botany Department Seminar, Union St Lecture Theatre, Cnr Union St West & Great King St.

A morning 'Photo Walk' at the Dunedin Botanic Garden

This will be an informal joint activity with the Dunedin Camera Club with the aim of providing a mutually beneficial experience for both club members to share photo tips and botanical information. Meet at 9:30 a.m. outside The Croque-O-Dile Café and return there for coffee when weary or desperate. Foul weather back up date is 24^th March at 9:30 a.m.

Photo competitions coming up:

• The Botanic Garden celebrates its 150^th anniversary this year and is hosting a photography competition (with prizes!) for the public to enter
• The annual BSO photo competition for BSO members closes on 20^th March
• The Dunedin Camera Club members have open and nature category competitions throughout the year
• The Otago Museum's wildlife photo competition entries close on 21^st April

Details for all competitions can be found on their respective websites

Snowfields, Plant Functional Traits, and GLORIA

A talk by Associate Professor Martha Apple. Department of Biological Sciences, Montana Tech, University of Montana, Butte, Montana. Botany Department Seminar, Union St Lecture Theatre, Cnr Union St West & Great King St.

Tales from the Southern Ocean

A talk by John Barkla. John recently visited the NZ Subantarctic Islands and Australian Macquarie Island during an ocean voyage to and from the Antarctic Continent. His presentation will celebrate the lush and colourful subantarctic vegetation and the monochromatic world of Antarctica and its wildlife. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Aramoana Salt Marsh—World Wetlands Day

The trip to the Aramoana salt marsh is in celebration of World Wetlands Day. Meet at the Botany car park at 9 am or at the Aramoana Hall 30 mins later. We will then walk out to the board walk and onto the salt marsh proper. The development of a weed plan will be explained by the trip leader, Bradley Curnow. There are also a few local plants of note that are now largely absent from Otago Harbour. People need to bring gumboots. Finish would be no later than 3 pm. Sunday 3rd Feb is the wet weather day.

Trips around Arthurs Pass

Wellington Botanical Society invites BSO members to join them at its annual "camp" at the Arthurs Pass Outdoor Education Centre from the afternoon of Saturday 29 December 2012 to the morning of Monday 7 January 2013. Information about the Centre and its location are on www.apoec.org.nz. Accommodation is in bunk rooms, at $20 per night. The centre can sleep 45 people. Catering arrangements have yet to be settled. If you would like to register an expression of interest then let Rodney Lewington know on rodneyjl@clear.net.nz. You will then be kept up to date as arrangements are finalised. Firm registrations, with a deposit of $200, will be called for in early October. A further payment will be required in the third week of December so as to cover most of the anticipated cost.

Weekend Field Trip to the St Marys Range, North Otago

The St Marys Range runs along the south side of the Waitaki Valley inland from Kurow, North Otago. Geologically it is graywacke rather then schist and consequently there are extensive screes on the steeper slopes. The highest point is Kohurau (2015 m). The range catches enough moisture from fogs from the east coast which enables it to support a specialised alpine flora that includes some unique elements. On the high scree plateaus above 1600 m extensive colonies of the spectacular speargrass Aciphylla dobsonii are found. Other plants occurring in this harsh environment are Raoulia youngii, Lobelia roughii, Leptinella atrata, Hebe epacridea and Haastia sinclairii. There is an undescribed cushion Myosotis, an undescribed scree chickweed similar to Stelleria roughii and a distinctive Celmisia related to Celmisia angustifolia. The trip is timed to coincide with the flowering of the recently described scree buttercup Ranunculus acraeus a species restricted to North Otago and South Canterbury.

We will stay at the Awakino Skifield Lodge which will be open for us. The cost is $25.00 per person per night. Depart from Dunedin on the morning of Saturday 8th (at a time convenient for participating drivers and passengers—i.e., dont turn up at Botany Department and expect a ride; travel arrangements will need to be sorted out beforehand); return afternoon of Sunday 9th. Participants need to supply own food and overnight gear. Anyone who wishes to participate in this trip please contact David Lyttle

End-of-year dinner at Golden Harvest Restaurant

Always a fun and popular event! This year we return to the Golden Harvest Chinese Restaurant, Harvest Court Mall, 218 George St, Dunedin. Make sure you let Bill Wilson know if you'd like to come.

Interesting Local Lichens

Our speaker Lars Ludwig, will talk about his PhD research, focusing on the reproductive ecology of the rare but eye-catching subalpine lichen Icmadophila splachnirima. He will also present some interesting lichenological discoveries from the Dunedin area. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Field Trip to Catlins

Mohua Park is a 14 hectare private forest reserve owned by Fergus and Mary Sutherland. Eight hectares are varied native forest—mature podocarp, mature silver beech and secondary growth podocarp. Some of the special features of the native forest include the many matai, lowland ribbonwoods, kaikomako and small-leafed milkwoods. The native forest area is protected by a QE II open space covenant and is especially rich in bird life as a result of continuously maintained predator control. There are also three hectares of planted forest—the bulk of which is radiata pine, as well as a recently established deciduous woodland. The native forest on the property was preserved as a steading around the hill-top homestead of Tawanui's sawmill owner and manager: J. R. Wilson. The old homestead was built in the 1920's, and has a well established garden and lawn. Fergus and Mary have built four tourist accommodation eco cottages on the property and they also use it as a base for their Catlins eco tours. More information about Mohua Park, including a video, can be seen on their website: www.catlinsmohuapark.co.nz Location: 744 Catlins Valley Road, Tawanui—sign-posted off the Southern Scenic Routes 10 km south of Owaka. Meet 8.30 am at the Botany Dept Car Park, 464 Great King St. Distance 127 km. For a plant list, map of tracks and more information see the BSO website.(coming soon)