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The National Arboretum in Canberra, ACT (100 forests each with 100 trees) which opened in 2013 now has one of Canberra’s best kept secrets among its mosaic of fledgling forests – a new regional botanic garden called STEP, short for the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park. This area has been designed to represent the native plants and trees typical to the Southern Highlands. These areas have forests, woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands.
Path through the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
View to the new Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
Unlike all the other forests in the Arboretum, this forest has an understory of shrubs, herbs, grasses and ferns. As we walked down the path from the highest area to the wetlands I’ve concentrated on the flowering understory for photos, but just occasionally there is a lovely spring flowering Eucalypt..
Spring flowering Eucalyptus dalrympleana in the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
…. this one is called Eucalyptus dalrympleana (Mountain Gum)
Wee Jasper grevillea in the new Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
and a flowering Wee Jasper Grevillea ..
….. further down the path the open woodland area is being developed, the clumps of grass are called Poa sieberiana
Poa sieberiana grasses – Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
Early the following morning I went back to take more photos, and I was reminded of my childhood in Africa ….. walking along paths lined by soft green grasses, and watching birds skimming through them…but in this botanical garden there are street lights in the distance to remind me that we are very near a carpark, and the expressway to the city is not too far away.
View through the new Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
The only bird happy to have his photo taken is this cockatoo, who was very busy eating the tips of the grasses.
Cockatoo eating grass tips – Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
Here are some of the colourful spring flowering native plants and shrubs
and my all time favourite is this tiny Dianella revoluta flower, perfect in every way!
Dianella revoluta
The frosty hollow area has species that need frost and cold air ..a favourite tree of mine is the snow gum (Eucalypt)
Snow gum in the frost hollow in the new Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
There is a small wetland for the plants suitable for this type of habitat.
Small wetland area in the new Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
This attractive rock amphitheatre has been constructed to use as an educational space. Over time the plan is to have regular groups of students to learn about the plants native to this area.
Rock amphitheatre – Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
The Arboretum provides water tanks for STEP, and these are used to irrigate the fledging trees and shrubs.
Arboretum water tanks used by STEP
Here is one of the dedicated volunteers watering the plants, the netting over his hat is a most efficient way of keeping the annoying flies away from his face (a sure sign summer is on the way).
Volunteer in the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
The volunteers working on the STEP program are an inspiration. They are full of enthusiasm and very knowledgeable about all the plants that they see growing and developing every week.
Volunteers at the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park in the National Arboretum, Canberra ACT
When we arrived they were just packing up after a shared morning tea under the gum trees. What better way to spend a lovely warm spring day, being productive and useful and sharing that with like-minded people.
STEP is having an open afternoon with volunteers to show visitors around STEP and answer any questions about growing native plants in Canberra on Sunday 29 November 2015 between 12.30 – 3.00. Contact STEP
A great concept and worth a visit when next in Canberra. Thanks for the article and pictures.
Thanks Jeff, the whole Arboretum is worth a visit, and STEP in particular.
Thanks Gerrie a good read and look!