Past Events

Toxic cyanobacteria in New Zealand: from toxin regulation to national regulation

A talk by Dr Susie Wood, Cawthron Institute, Nelson. A Department of Botany Seminar. Note special time and venue At the Union Street Lecture Theatre (upstairs, corner of Union and Great King Streets).

Lichen talk, workshop and Field trip

A combined BSO—Orokonui Ecosanctuary event. Allison Knight will share her enthusiasm for lichens and introduce some local species that will feature in her illustrated introductory field guide to lichens. Bring handlens, camera, lunch and suitable outdoor gear and any lichens you'd like to find out more about. The workshop is free to BSO members but bring $15 for entry into the Ecosanctuary and maybe a bit extra for hot food and drinks at the café there. Meet 9 am at the Botany Dept car park to car pool or 10 am at the Ecosanctuary information centre. Places limited. Bookings essential. To book phone Orokonui Ecosanctuary (03) 482 1755. BSO contact is Allison Knight, (03) 487 8265, alli_knight@hotmail.com

Botanical "Show and tell" evening

Members are invited to bring along botanical items (for example, photographs and slides, plants, books, seeds—anything botanical that you'd like to show others!) for a show and tell 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.

Fabulous Ferns: Orokonui Ecosanctuary fundraiser

Cost $39. All proceeds to biodiversity protection in the Ecosanctuary. An illustrated talk and field excursion looking at fabulous ferns with John Steel from the University of Otago Botany Department.

Saturday field trip to Watsons Beach

Watsons Beach in south Otago has some of the most extensive coastal turfs in Otago that include populations of the uncommon herbs Lepidium tenuicaule, Myosotis pygmaea and Ranunculus recens. There's also relict coastal shrubland, sedgeland and lichen encrusted rocks. We'll wander north towards Quoin Point so dress for exposed coastal conditions. Leave from the Botany Department carpark at 10 am.

The Romance of Botany

A talk by Mike Thorsen. A misty-eyed voyage through some of the special places and plants on the island of the glowing skies. 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.

Magical Mosses and Liverworts: Orokonui Ecosanctuary fundraiser

Cost $39. All proceeds to biodiversity protection in the Ecosanctuary. An illustrated talk and field excursion looking at magical mosses and liverworts with Maia Mistral from the University of Otago Botany Department.

Fungal foray and identification workshop, Orokonui Ecosanctury

Fungal Foray and Workshop, in conjunction with Orokonui EcoSanctuary.

Foray 9 am–1 pm (for BSO members only): Led by David Orlovich. Meet 9 am Botany Dept Car Park to car pool to Orokonui. Bring waxed paper, collecting bag, hand lens, camera, lunch and $15 for entry into the EcoSanctuary, and maybe a bit extra for hot food and drinks at the café there. Bring warm and waterproof clothing. Contact: David Orlovich 021 122 7230

Workshop 1–3 pm with David Orlovich, who teaches and researches mycology, plant diversity and evolution at the Botany Department. Free to BSO members, $20 to public. Limit 20 people. Bookings essential—phone (03) 482 1755 or email info@orokonui.org.nz

Field trip to Colinswood Bush, Macandrew Bay and the Pyramids

In the morning we will visit Colinswood Bush, a private covenant located in Macandrew Bay. This bush remnant was fenced to exclude stock 20 years ago. Considerable progress has been made in restoring the bush and enhancing it biological health since the inception of the project. We will continue on to the Pyramids where we will have lunch and look at the different plant communities that are found there. You will be able to practise the plant identification skills that you learnt at Wednesday's workshop. Meet at 9:30 am at the junction of Howard St and Barling St, Macandrew Bay. If coming from Dunedin, meet at 9:00 am at the Botany Dept car park. Bring your lunch.
Download a PDF of the information for this event.

Workshop on Biodiversity and Identification of Plants Native to the Otago Peninsula

At Macandrew Bay Hall. Note the change from our usual meeting time and venue. This is a joint meeting with The Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group. The original native vegetation of the Otago Peninsula has mostly been cleared for pastoral farming. However scattered fragments of the original vegetation remain. The purpose of this workshop is to explore the biodiversity values associated these remnants and assist people to identify the native plants that are still found on the Peninsula.
Speakers

• John Barkla, Department of Conservation "Plant Biodiversity on the Otago Peninsula."
• Nigel McPherson, Colinswood Bush Committee "The Restoration of Colinswood Bush: A 20 Year Story."
• Moira Parker, Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group "Weed-busting."
• Mike Thorsen, Department of Conservation "Practical Identification of Native Plants."

At the end of the formal talks a cup of tea will be served. Specimens of various plants will be laid out on tables around the hall for participants to examine. Questions on plant identification and discussion on the topics covered are welcome.

Download a PDF of the information for this event.

Weekend Field Trip to Silverpeaks

This closest range to Dunedin has a variety of vegetation including beech forest, extensive regenerating shrublands and tussock grasslands/herbfields, and an interesting suite of forest, sub-alpine and alpine lichens. We'll start at Mountain Road and walk into the new Jubilee Hut for the night, probably returning the same way. Participants need to be able to carry a weekend pack over steep terrain for at least five hours each day. Please contact John Barkla ph. 476 3686 or Allison Knight ph. 487 8265.

Annual General Meeting and Photographic Competition

Judging of the 4th BSO photographic competition and a brief AGM. Entries will be on display, photographic tips given and prizes presented. 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.

The Fernery

This is the home of Associate Professor Brian Cox and the house is one of the original properties in Pine Hill, over 100 years old. There are extensive ornamental and edible gardens, featuring all white Hydrangea that are sold to the cut flower market. In the beginning of last century it was a fern nursery, thus the name. There are extensive sections of regenerating native bush and several large rimu trees. Meet at the Botany Department car park at 8:50 a.m.

The Orokonui Ecosanctuary

The well known Dunedin conservationist and author Neville Peat will update us on progress at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and the future plans for it. With the completion and opening of the impressive new visitors centre and introduction of various species to the Ecosanctuary progress has been rapid. Neville is an excellent speaker so dont miss this meeting. 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.

Free BSO BBQ!

BBQ to welcome new botany/ecology students and new BSO members. At the front lawn, Botany House Annex, Great King Street (across the road from the main Botany building). Sausage sandwiches and drinks provided free by the Botanical Society of Otago. All BSO members welcome!