The arboretum in full colour. Images of Canberra

Hare’s a plan!

I think the arboretum will be a great thing for Canberra and a lot better use of that site than for plantation pines. Glad we’ll have another destination & cultural institution that will draw tourism to the twon, as well as it being an outdoors and active experience, rather than another gallery or museum. I don’t really understand the negativity I see on this site.

Kind of quaint and Victorian to arrange a bunch of trees into sterile, single-species groups isn’t it? I’m sure it also adds considerably to the cost of maintaining it all.

Was assured fire presents no risk to the site, but I’m not convinced, not when the natural local flora uses fire as such an effective weapon.

GardeningGirl said :

Great photo. And I think the arboretum is going to be a great asset to Canberra in the future, one day people will appreciate that a previous generation thought to start such a thing.

Hear, hear. There’s a saying, which I forget, about planting a tree which you’ll never see grow to maturity.

Great photo. And I think the arboretum is going to be a great asset to Canberra in the future, one day people will appreciate that a previous generation thought to start such a thing.

dungfungus said :

Institute said :

When a cafe, theatre and hotel are added it no longer remains an arboretum. Where was the community input into this project which has been underwritten by the ACT ratepayers for the aggrandisement of only two people?

Hotel, motel, who gives a s***. They might even end up making some money back out of it in that case.

dungfungus said :

Bramina said :

I cant wait for the sequoias to reach 100m

Don’t hold your breath waiting.
The sequoias at Pialligo were planted almost 100 years ago and the ones that have survived so far have reached about 30 metres. There are few sequoias in North America that have exceeded 100m. The prevailing climate in Canberra is too dry for sequoias. They are also attract destructive Carpenter Ants which are well established in Canberra.

Errr I meant 100 feet.

But seriously I was joking.

Institute said :

Fungus – I am no expert. My understanding is that arboretum means “a plantation of trees”, so to me, that’s exactly what it is.

My comment wasn’t aiming to address the value, or correctness of the government’s decision. Was just saying, that I now think it is a good use of the land and in coming years will be a great outdoor space. Available for enjoyment by all.

Do we have hare’s in Australia? I thought we only had rabbits?

When a cafe, theatre and hotel are added it no longer remains an arboretum. Where was the community input into this project which has been underwritten by the ACT ratepayers for the aggrandisement of only two people?

yellowsnow said :

dungfungus said :

shauno said :

The biggest trees are the mountain ash in Vic and possibly some in Tas. They are bigger than California redwood but take several hundred years to grow.

Some Mountain Ash in Victoria have been documented as being 350 metres tall. They are hardwoods and grow a lot faster than the North American redwoods which are softwoods. There is a good Mountain Ash specimen in Tasmania called The Big Tree; it’s near Burnie and you can drive up to 100 metres from it.

Talk about lies, damn lies and statistics! Tallest Australian tree was 350 feet tall, not metres Dungfungus!! A tree as tall as centrepoint tower would sure be a sight to behold.

Anyway tallest oz tree now is approx 93m compared w 110m for redwoods and douglas firs not far behind. N Americans were far more successful in protecting their bigget trees than australians

Yes, you’re right – I’ve just gone and measured it again with the correct tape measure. It’s 350 feet, not metres. (Shoud have gone to SpecSavers)

M0les said :

.. Oh and thanks for the awesome photo, Maureen!

Thanks for noticing.

I can’t wait, in twenty years time I’ll be wandering about there saying in a loud voice; “Eeh, I can remember when all of this weren’t trees!”

dungfungus said :

shauno said :

The biggest trees are the mountain ash in Vic and possibly some in Tas. They are bigger than California redwood but take several hundred years to grow.

Some Mountain Ash in Victoria have been documented as being 350 metres tall. They are hardwoods and grow a lot faster than the North American redwoods which are softwoods. There is a good Mountain Ash specimen in Tasmania called The Big Tree; it’s near Burnie and you can drive up to 100 metres from it.

Talk about lies, damn lies and statistics! Tallest Australian tree was 350 feet tall, not metres Dungfungus!! A tree as tall as centrepoint tower would sure be a sight to behold.

Anyway tallest oz tree now is approx 93m compared w 110m for redwoods and douglas firs not far behind. N Americans were far more successful in protecting their bigget trees than australians

Great, I’ll be visiting section 16 for a Christmas tree every year!

dungfungus said :

john87_no1 said :

The Stage 5 plans look like a hotel will be built out there when the trees get a bit bigger. Would be a nice place to stay once its all built up.

Why would anyone build a hotel out there? I hope the ACT Government isn’t planning to fund this venture – they have appalling commercial judgement. This being an election year I suggest that full details be tabled now.

I think its a good plan. New ideas dont need to be scary Fungus! Have a look at the site plan below:

http://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/plantings

Ben_Dover said :

Hare’s what?

Hare’s to you!

dungfungus said :

shauno said :

dungfungus said :

johnboy said :

Canberra has a rapidly growing hair population

Good one JB – I think everyone else missed it – they are too busy rabbiting on about definitions of aboretums.

Or people felt it wasn’t necessary to gloat about it.

Yeah, there are plenty of these on this blog.

But JB is right i have seen alot more Hares around.