The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

The Royal Botanic Gardens holds a special place in the life of Melbourne - and has done since it became one of the first public gardens established in Australia, in 1846. This lavishly illustrated life and times of the Gardens paints a picture of the land before white settlement, then tells the stories of its plants, its buildings and the characters throughout its history whose genius - and foibles - have shaped the way the Gardens look today. Deborah Morris's story focuses on the people - the gardeners, the Directors, the people who have lived in the Gardens, and the scientists engaged in a range of fascinating tasks, from propagating endangered species to identifying rare plants. Greg Elms contributes a stunning photo essay, taken over the past year, of people interacting with the Gardens over the four seasons - Sunday afternoons, performances, special events, and all the secret nooks and crannies each of us remembers.