Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens

🌿 Introducing Our New Chair: Carl McCamish 🌿 We are delighted to announce that Carl McCamish has been appointed as the new Chair of Foundation & Friends of the Botanic Gardens. Carl brings a wealth of leadership experience, having held senior executive roles in Australia and internationally. As Executive General Manager at Origin Energy, he oversaw people & culture, IT, risk, internal audit, corporate affairs, brand, corporate transformation, and the philanthropic foundation. Carl’s expertise in energy and climate change was honed during his time as an adviser to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and through six years at international consulting firm McKinsey, working across the UK and Southeast Asia. A Rhodes Scholar, Carl holds a 1st class Masters in Law and a Master in Human Resources Management from Oxford University, as well as a 1st class law degree from the University of Melbourne. Passionate about the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Carl also nurtures an extensive personal garden that includes many plants from our Growing Friends nursery. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ian Breedon for his exceptional leadership and dedication as Chair over the past six years. Please join us in welcoming Carl to his new role and thanking Ian for his outstanding contribution!

Hundreds of people queued at Sydney’s Botanic Gardens hoping for a glimpse - and a sniff - of a rare event.    Meet Putricia, a corpse flower with a smell that’s been described as a “combination of hot, sweaty teenage socks, mixed with old cat food and a dead possum.” 😳 Read more ➡️ https://ab.co/4hv1Zrp #abc730 #SydneyCorpseFlower #BotanicSydney #Putricia

🌿Putricia is Flowering Now! 🌿 Sydney’s Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is in full bloom at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney! This rare and spectacular event is happening right now in the Palm House—and trust us, you don’t want to miss it. To give everyone a chance to experience this incredible bloom, the Palm House will be open until midnight tonight and will reopen at 8am tomorrow (closing time TBC). We’ll remain open throughout the bloom period, but be sure to check our website for the latest opening times to avoid disappointment. Come witness one of nature’s most extraordinary flowers—before it’s gone! 🌸 🔗 More info here: https://lnkd.in/gSg7GHYK #CorpseFlower #AmorphophallusTitanum #RoyalBotanicGardenSydney #Putricia #BotanicGardens #SydneyEvents Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Join this magical workshop with Anna Voytsekhovich—a professional scientist, botanical artist, and wildlife illustrator ! 🦋🎨 You'll explore the fascinating world of butterflies — their anatomy, ecology and morphology. Anna will guide you step-by-step, sharing pro techniques to bring their and dazzling iridescence to paper with different colours and textures. From initial drawing, to capturing intricate details in watercolor or ink, you'll create your very own scientifically accurate masterpiece. 📆 Weds 12 - Fri 14 February ⌚ 9.30 - 4pm 📍 Maiden Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden Sydny This will be an inspiring blend of art and science — perfect for nature lovers and creatives alike! ✨ #foundationandfriends #botanicgardenssydney #royalbotanicgardensydney #whatsonsydney #sydneyartclass #sydneyworkshop #botanicalartclass

A touch of Victorian drama and a Lynchian twist inspired Sophie Daniel, Manager of Interpretation & Placemaking, in adorning Putricia's throne. From your walk down the red carpet to admiring the velvet curtains, how many references from film and history can you find when you visit our blooming Bunga Bangkai? #sydneycorpseflower #wwtf #wdrnp

Putricia was clocking in at 19°C this afternoon... Chief Scientist Professor Brett Summerell is predicting that this could mean we reach full bloom late on Saturday or even Sunday. We'll be back open at 8am tomorrow morning regardless and will stay open until late - weather permitting of course. When exactly do YOU think Putricia will open? Get your guesses in now, and tune in to the livestream to look for clues: https://lnkd.in/g4vpyUGe #SydneyCorpseFlower

The Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will soon be on public display as it starts to bloom. This could happen any time in the next few days. Watch live from Palm House, the oldest glasshouse in New South Wales. This 24/7 livestream will be running throughout the blooming period. Botanic Gardens of Sydney #Sydney #Amorphophallus #Amorphophallustitanum #botanicGarden #Flowers #CorpseFlower https://lnkd.in/g35ypHxh

Applications for Artisans in the Gardens 2025 are open! Artisans in the Gardens is a showcase of Australia’s best established and emerging artists and craftspeople in the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Exhibition dates are 25 October – 2 November 2025. Click below to find out more and apply. https://lnkd.in/ge72nvZ6

To our amazing community of supporters. Thank you for your incredible generosity towards our 2024 end of year appeal to rescue, restore, and renew our Australian native species. Thanks to you, we’re able to continue funding the vital work of our scientists and horticulturalists through projects like the Living Collections initiative. Using cutting-edge technology, this project drives innovation in ecosystem resilience and helps restore natural habitats both within and beyond the Gardens. 🌱 Your commitment to conservation, research, and education is truly inspiring. Together, we’re creating a brighter future for Australia’s native species. ☀ Thank you for being such an important part of this journey. #foundationandfriends #botanicgardenssydney #rewriteourbotanicalfuture

A Rare Bloom: Sydney's Corpse Flower Set to Bloom This Week Sydney’s Corpse Flower (Titan Arum) is on the verge of blooming at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney — the first flowering in Sydney for 15 years! This rare and endangered rainforest plant, renowned for its colossal size and infamous stench of rotting flesh, only blooms for 24 hours every few years, making this a must-see event. The bloom is predicted to happen between January 15 and 20, with daily monitoring underway. Once the bloom begins, the plant will be moved to a public viewing location in the Garden. Entry will be by donation, and to ensure everyone has a chance to experience this botanical wonder, the Garden will remain open from 8am to midnight during the flowering period. Keep an eye on social media by following Foundation & Friends and The Botanic Gardens of Sydney for the latest updates on timing and location. Don’t miss your chance to witness (and smell!) one of nature’s rarest and most fascinating phenomena. #CorpseFlower #TitanArum #BotanicalWonder #SydneyBotanicGarden #NaturePhenomena #EndangeredPlants #BloomWatch #FloralEvent #PlantLoversUnite #24HourBloom #RainforestGiant #SydneyEvents