What a wonderful way to spend a weekend in spring at any of these garden festivals. 12-13 October - CANBERRA BONSAI SHOW - Canberra High School, Bindubi Street, Macquarie. Open 9am - 4pm. Features high quality Australian native and exotic bonsai including individual trees and groups, demonstrations and guided tours. ​17-20 October - BERRY GARDENS FESTIVAL - In and around Berry. 8 private gardens for $20. 26-27 October - BUNDANOON GARDEN RAMBLE - A wonderful opportunity to visit and enjoy eight delightful village gardens and browse around the plant and gift stalls at the garden market in the Hall. $20 for all 8 gardens. 26-27 October - BATHURST SPRING SPECTACULAR - Gardens, music, food and art. $25/$20 for 10 gardens.

At the National Arboretum Canberra the new Friends sponsored garden in the Central Valley is planted with salt bushes (Rhagodia spinescens). Amalie Shawcross, operations manager at the Arboretum, says the plants were purchased from Yarralumla Nursery which propagates the majority of the saltbush it supplies as it is highly successful and is grown to Canberra conditions.

The first three Zigzag Gardens in the Central Valley of the Arboretum were launched on 28 March, having been planted last December. They are a stunning example of how wonderful this Valley will look when all the Zigzag Gardens are complete.

Thanks to all our committed donors, we have passed the $10,000 mark. Join us on our journey towards $50,000 and demonstrate your passion for our wonderful Arboretum!

Currently committed: $12,134 (@13 May 2019). Friends' Council wants to turn the group’s sights towards sponsorship of a Zigzag Garden in the Central Valley. Friends have chosen to sponsor Garden #19, the Saltbush Garden, along the Zigzag walkway of the Central Valley. It will make a stunning foreground vista looking towards the Village Centre and from it. Our aim is to raise $50,000 – the cost of this Garden. Launched at the 13 November Friends’ General Meeting, this major fund-raiser needs your help to make it a reality!

The National Arboretum Canberra has set aside twenty-four individual garden beds and is offering the opportunity to contribute to those gardens. We will recognise your generosity in giving the gift of a garden with a commemorative plaque set on a stone plinth, so that each and every person who views it will appreciate your gesture to invest in the future.

Arboretum being included as one of the top 13 Parks Changing Australia in an upcoming exhibition at the National Museum Australia.