7.1 SETTINGS FOR THE LIVING COLLECTIONS
Background
The plantings in the developed sections of the Gardens are displayed
in garden beds separated by paths. Beds that have been developed
more recently display ecological themes and attempt to portray the
landscape of the area from which the plants were collected. This is
particularly so in the Tasmanian Garden in Canberra, where attention
has been paid to the aesthetics of the landscaping as well as the
construction of growing niches that mirror as far as possible the
natural environment, and in the rainforest gully at Jervis Bay where
plantings have been sited to integrate with the remnant rainforest in
the area.
Plants that will not grow in the open in Canberra or Jervis Bay are
currently held in the Nursery, under modified growing conditions. If
these are to be viewed by the public artificial environments will
need to be constructed in the public areas of the Gardens.
Management prescriptions
Objective
The objective is to develop for the living collections landscape
settings and growing conditions that reflect their natural
environment and so enable the plants to thrive.
Implementation
In Canberra priority will be given to completing the development of
the Tasmanian and the Sydney Basin displays, rejuvenating the Rock
Garden, and further developing the rainforest, mallee and coastal
heath displays. Planning and design of an orchid conservatory and a
facility to display alpine plants will be carried out and
construction of these facilities may proceed if resources permit.
New displays of the flora of the Australian Capital Territory region
and of woodland and grassland flora will be planned and developed,
and planning may also begin for a tropical conservatory, to be sited
at the head of the Rainforest Gully.
At Jervis Bay a detailed strategy for developing displays of regional
flora, including littoral rainforest and heath, will be prepared and
implemented.