In this issue :

1. Sprouting a new look: Web site improvements
2. Participate in Updating the Biodiversity Action Plan for Botanical Gardens in Canada
3. Professional Development: A variety of approaches
4. Adopt-a-Plant Alberta: A new conservation initiative for Alberta's rare plants and lichens
5. CMN Native Plant Crossroads: Preserving Canada's natural heritage
6. Rocky Mountain Botanical Garden “Buzzing” after Insectaria
7. A Tale of Two Roses - Adventures with Invasive Plants
8. Call for papers – The Nature of Success: Succes for Nature

1. Sprouting a new look: Web site improvements

Check out our newly designed website: www.bgci.org/canada

In response to your feedback and assistance, we've separated the French and English pages and added substantial new content:

• over 25 new educational activities:
• new photo galleries :
• updated garden profiles for education programmes:
• updated garden profiles for conservation projects:

Thank you to all gardens and individuals who contributed photos and content! We welcome any additional material and/or feedback.

2. Participate in Updating the Biodiversity Action Plan for Botanical Gardens in Canada, Dr. David Galbraith, Canadian Botanical Conservation Network

We invite you to participate in updating the 2001 Biodiversity Action Plan for Botanical Gardens and Arboreta in Canada, published by Environment Canada, Royal Botanical Gardens and the Canadian Botanical Conservation Network. This update is being prepared through Investing in Nature: Partnership for Plants in Canada project with support from BGCI.

The updated Biodiversity Action Plan will act as a guide for botanic gardens networks until 2010 and will link the gardens of Canada with developments of the past five years and with important international conservation and biodiversity goals.

You are invited to contribute to the update by providing input on some or all of the following:

• Your concerns about specific issues in the public gardens community of Canada that should be addressed between now and 2010,
• Recommendations for specific projects that are needed to help make botanic gardens more effective communicators for conservation and biodiversity issues,
• Descriptions of present or past projects that should be promoted and celebrated, including success stories about education, endangered species, or in-situ or ex-situ conservation.

Please contact david.galbraith@bgci.org before October 17th if you would like to participate.

3. Professional Development: A variety of approaches

While we don't yet have a uniquely Canadian plant conservation training programme, young professionals from Canadian botanical gardens are making and/or taking advantage of a variety of opportunities. Here are some examples:

• Training in Plant Conservation, Melanie Priesnitz, Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens

For two weeks in June more than 30 plant conservationists and workers from botanical gardens around the world came together in Denver, Colorado for an intensive course in applied plant conservation. The program was a collaborative effort between the United States Botanic Garden in Washington D.C., The Denver Botanic Gardens and the Center for Plant Conservation.

The course covered a plethora of very relevant and useful topics for anyone working at a botanical garden anywhere in the world. The seminars during this intensive program covered topics such as; conservation genetics, volunteer program management, database management, education and interpretation, conservation horticulture, seed banking, herbarium and library management, development of conservation programs and grant writing. In general, the program did an excellent job of encouraging the development of conservation partnerships and programs within the botanical garden community.

For those of us working at small, often remote botanical gardens across the world, one of the strongest lessons learned during the course was that we are not alone. The course was all about sharing ideas and strategies on how botanical gardens can successful work together to fulfil the very important roles of plant conservation and education.

• Botanical Exchange in Asia, Julie DeGuire, Montreal Botanical Garden

After five seasons working as a gardener at Montreal Botanical Gardens, I was keen to take advantage of my time off last winter to go travelling in Asia. I thought that finding a horticultural internship or volunteer position would be a great way to meet people and learn more about the local culture. An internet search revealed several interesting organisations; there is a multitude of possibilities for organising this type of experience. In my case, I was able to contact several gardens in Asia through liasing with BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International) and their "Partnership for Plants in Canada" project based at Montreal Botanical Garden.

One thing led to another and I received an invitation from Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Northern Thailand. They were exceptional hosts and I spend a month working on a native orchid conservation project in this magnificent garden near Doï Pui-Sutep National Park. I learned a lot from this experience, both professionally and culturally.

I would recommend this type of exchange to anyone who is open and interested in learning from cultural differences. I would like to thank Laurel McIvor, Suyanee Vessabut and the extraordinary team at Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden.

• An Internship in Tofino, Steve McFarlane, Niagara Parks Botanical Garden & School of Horticulture

For my third year internship opportunity at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture (www.schoolofhorticulture.com) I was initially hoping to find work in Costa Rica. Since my first tropical venture, I longed to learn more about rainforest plants. Tom Laviolette, Superintendent of Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory suggested that I talk with George Patterson from the Tofino Botanical Garden. George had once lived in Costa Rica and may have helpful contacts. In contacting George, he dropped the question ‘Why don’t you come to Tofino; we have a rainforest here?’ I was intrigued and accepted the invitation.

Through George and the garden, I was exposed to so many new species of plants. I learned how rare temperate rainforests are, only covering about 0.2 % of the Earth’s surface, and my passion to learn intensified. Studying the coastal British Columbian flora, and the plants of coastal Chile in a lesson of comparative botany was definitely one of the highlights in my experience.

An incredible, diverse ecosystem surrounds this magical place, the garden caters to anyone interested in nature, and the friendship George and his family provide are only a few of the reasons that make this such a remarkable place: I would recommend an internship at Tofino Botanical Gardens to anyone.