What’s love got to do with botanic gardens?
Thanks to the modern phenomenon known as social media, heaps.
It’s no surprise that the three botanic gardens in the greater Sydney metropolitan area as well as Centennial Parklands have embraced social media via an initiative for Valentine’s Day called Grassy Hearts.
They want you to share your love of green space by visiting a garden, find one of four giant grassy hearts in one of the four gardens and then take a creative selfie.
One of the four is of course Macarthur’s own Australian Botanic Garden at Mt Annan.
It will join the other three and play host to the grand act of love which is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the sites.
Expanses of lawn at the Australian Botanic Garden , the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Centennial Park, and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden will flaunt turf art hearts finished in coloured paint detail.
Garden and park guests will also be invited to “follow their hearts’’ with winding trails of heart stencil art decorating pathways and walking routes.
Mr Kim Ellis, the executive director of Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands, said the #GrassyHeart idea was about finding a way to showcase the beautiful grassy lawns of these vibrant green hubs with a modern context.
“We want Sydney to show us the love in our green spaces,’’ Mr Ellis said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“We hope this exercise – which activates our harbour-side to mountain-top network of nearly 1,100 hectares – will do Cupid proud this Valentine’s Day,” Mr Ellis said.[/social_quote]
“We’re embracing new traditions with the rise in social media, and giving people the digital opportunity to snap and share #GrassyHeart.”
The most creative photo will win a great prize. Winners will be announced on Monday, February 15.
♥ So this is what you do if you want to take part:
♥ Take a creative photo with a Grassy Heart anytime between Friday, February 12 and Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14 at the Australian Botanic Garden at Mt Annan or any of the other sites.
♥ Hashtag #GrassyHeart and #AustralianBG and send it to your loved ones on social media.
That’s as easy as buying a bunch of flowers for your loved on for Valentine’s Day, so good luck, lovebirds.
