Melton Botanic Garden’s bounty unearthed

garden 5-5-17 John Betley inspects native plants in preperation for open day

Finding out about indigenous plants, caring for a mini-eucalyptus tree or tapping into your inner botanist – there’s much to discover at one of Melton’s hidden gems.

The Melton Botanic Garden will be part of this year’s national botanic garden open day later this month, with the community getting a chance to go on free guided tours of the garden, have their faces painted or “simply appreciate the plants”.

Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden president John Bentley said that with dwindling residential garden sizes, the open day would include tips on plants that people could grow in small spaces.

“Plants are essential to life,” Mr Bentley said. “Without plants we wouldn’t exist because our whole food chain is based on them.

“With small garden spaces and big concreted areas, people are losing their connection to plants … but places like the Melton Botanic Garden are essential to find out about what you can grow in the space you have.”

The gates of the garden, at 21 William Street, will be open from 10am-3pm on Sunday, May 28. The guided tours will run every 30 minutes.

Details: 9743 3819