# 2021 Photo testimonials Upload your own photo [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepYzcOZ90TUUhyAE4l_dWpX3fGDsSp2Z1lTfvwwX9LJfge5A/viewform?usp=sf_link). ![These were gathered as i walked the grounds preparing myself for this year's first class. - John Stone](/files/-MWfiFbogLaUUeTLjekT) ![In the bustling village that is the university community the Systems Garden was always an oasis for me. Cool and shady with beautifully lush plantings and clever landscaping it was a soothing and inspiring place. I also appreciated the history, and its use as a teaching space beginning in the 19th century. It’s a standout space in Melbourne and should be celebrated. - Cyndi Dawes](/files/-MU0uyNFjAwgJQd4R8po) ![Choosing just one photo is incredibly difficult as I have gained such incomparable joy from the university grounds over my 7 years on campus. This small garden with Surt’s Desert Pea and Boab tree was on the walk between my office and the tram, and absolutely thrilled me every day! These flowers are my absolute favourite Australian emblem but I had never before seen them in person. Every day they brought me so much joy - Luara Karlson-Carp](/files/-MU0uyNLoD4TSBRLDnxs) ![Luara Karlson-Carp](/files/-MU0uyNKe0CxWD449wsp) ![The beloved System Garden - like a secret garden when first discovered - what a sanctuary for people plants and other biodiversity. - Judy Bush](/files/-MU0uyNJc6fPCrTgUWX1) ![The quadrangle represents the deep history of the University. - Ed Williams](/files/-MU0uyNOkriqSndUm_Eu) ![I have better quality photos, particularly of single specimens but this one sums up what I love about the University grounds. Welcome shade and protection against the bustle of the city. - Jennifer Eddy](/files/-MU0uyNGN7ir8D48IcSR) ![This little spot of green has calmed me down through panic attacks, made me feel like I wasn't in the center of the city, and is one of the few green spaces on campus that has minimal foot traffic. - Sydney Abel](/files/-MU0uyNDvjm10tvXPad0) ![I took this picture during my internship with the Living Pavilion Festival team in 2018. We were setting up temporary garden beds for the festival and the grounds team helped us to source, transport, arrange, plant and care for over 10,000 native Australian seedlings. Without their dedication and support, the festival would not have been what it was - a truly wonderful event. - Amelia Leavesley](/files/-MU0uyNPJeDN7XlXDk-Q) ![I’m afraid I don’t have many photos right now. If I could, I’d share pics of the System Garden, of the scarlet wattle (Acacia leprosa), and the garden beds at the front doors of Old Botany (biosciences 1). But this photo is one I took at around 11pm after a long day working on my Masters thesis. These are the trees outside my building. They’re Liriodendron tulipfera (my favourite non-native tree species). I loved walking outside to the crisp night air and looking up at the stars peeking through the branches of these trees. It was so peaceful and relaxing after a long, exhausting, intense day. I use this photo as my phone background to remind me of that moment. - Amelia-Grace Boxshall ](/files/-MU0uyN2OcLHJmo4RWoc) ![Having been a student at Burnley, I have so many favourite spots, but the native grassland has always been a favourite. This is where my appreciation for one of our most fragile ecosystems has come from. - Meg Geary](/files/-MU0uyNIIKqDSjrbLLSR) ![Not everyone gets to the top - Richard Philips](/files/-MU0uyN7gCL1x6fxwAaB) ![How lucky are we to work surrounded by these stunning plants - save our gardens. - Kerry Beachen ](/files/-MUR1xx_vT_8KVCkW7Wl) ![Without the diversity of flora we would never have this special fauna. - Kerry Beachen](/files/-MUR1xxmXUCxKKrhT0PM) ![This tree is Maclura pomifera (Osage Orange), and is on the National Trust register of significant trees of Victoria. It uptakes 73 kg of carbon per year, and offsets the carbon release by respiration of 1 person. This photo depicts the shadiness of many areas within the University grounds where people can escape their offices and labs and relax in a tranquil natural setting, all a stone's throw from the CBD. - Rose Barrett](/files/-MUR1xxbOMl4MBIS5stm) ![The effort taken to ensure the landscape/ planting works in symphony with architecture not obstructing either which is only possible when the team is aware about the heritage and legacy of the place. - Swetha Agarwal](/files/-MUR1xxjWGpiKVEzJzbC) ![The image is a popular one for many who photograph the grounds. The entrance to the university from Grattan Street leading to the Old Quad. The plane trees shade the path and the grass below, while the junipers add a soft touch near the benches and the stone walls. The plants are always meticulously pruned and trimmed making for a very inviting walk. - Patrick Shilling](/files/-MUR1xxcUz7KcXHB5-zY) ![One of Australia's scientific cultural treasures. The outsourcing of the maintenance and care of the University grounds and gardens is a extremely shortsighted decision. You are reducing the worth of this scientific and cultural heritage to a few thousand dollars being saved. Is it really a saving? Our gardens are being called for by a highly experienced, knowledgable and dedicated team. I have often consulted Horticulturalcurators like Tim Uebergang and horticulturist Virginia McNally on aspects of the plants on the University. They have always spoken with a passion and competence of the gardens. You lose the team and so you are dumbing down the ability to care for for the grounds. Is like hiring Jim's lawnmowing to care for our cultural heritage. I'm disgusted. I chose a photo of the systems garden, one of the only ones left in the world, which has been brilliantly called for by Tim Ubergang. - Dr Augustine Doronila PhD, Botanist/Environmental Chemist](/files/-MUR1xxdXOQAHKMV4JUt) ![Julie Fedor](/files/-MUR1xxn17yKYKZO5mMh) ![Old meets new on Professors Walk. - Georgina Binns](/files/-MUR1xxk-4VfAWB-INFf) ![Although the system garden is one of my favourite garden escapes at the the UoM, it is this photo that has provided inspiration for my own shady garden at home. Just look at what has been achieved in this small space! The building even blends in with the garden, almost providing an extension of the garden. I spent many long hours in the Brownless Medical Library; it is surrounded by buildings and paving, but these little well planted gardens around the library provide welcome relief. - Lesley Hawes](/files/-MUR1xxl6CDMtIhpZhkh) ![Beautiful cactus flower in the arid garden Melb Uni grounds, System Garden. - Barbara Fischer](/files/-MUR1xxaZ0pFyUvFBvUJ) ![This is one of the older trees on campus and I believe heritage listed in Cussonia Court and when it flowers in spring it is absolutely breathtaking! - Alona Elijah](/files/-MUR1xxizFX05B5S9jlk) ![Out for a lunchtime Parkville walk, I was struck by the thoughts that this tree and the beautifully kept grounds, could have placed me in England, but I was strolling in UoM. - Kerry Sullivan](/files/-MUR1xxhkhMotOrHSFDj) ![Wonderful memories as a student in 1964. - Peter Oppenheim](/files/-MUR1xxgRARLKQyNEitf) ![Just one of many photos of our beautiful grounds. - Wendy Siryj](/files/-MUR1xxeS9d58Vo_Fhde) ![It’s one of many favourites. This is just such a beautiful, shady part of the University. - Effie Karageorgos](/files/-MUR1xxZToSGTcH9G1_4) ![One of many fragrant beauties that welcome us to work everyday, the seasonal changing scents are a highlight of working on campus. This is a Gardenia thunbergii, (Africa) - Tim Uebergang identified it for me - located at entrance to Wilson Hall, smells divine and the pods are elephant food. - Amanda Morris](/files/-MUR1pzbpOWOy_zXyIb3) ![Lots of people have highlighted the System Gardens, including the remarkable rainforest corner. This photo isn't the prettiest, but illustrates the long-term thinking and creativity of the grounds staff: a tiny strangler fig planted to grow up and around this tree. Imagine it in 50 years! - Kathryn Williams](/files/-MUR1kdL9nr5LyUcHhVT) ![Margaret Perrott](/files/-MU0uyNCh_ECyB0-dN9f) ![North corner of Old Arts off of Professor’s Walk has beautiful flowers. More like a flower bush that always seems to bloom. I sent this photo to a fellow UoM colleague who was home sick to brighten their day. We know beauty like this comes from work centred in care and love. That means union gardeners - a sentiment my colleague shared as well. - Annette Herrera](/files/-MU0uyNMvMb_zkp3cVrV) ![Kathy Vohs](/files/-MU0uyNBgupbbiZugJTQ) ![Natalie Miles](/files/-MU0uyNNEgbqBoqo-SXY) ![This image is of a section of the Candelabra tree beginning to flower. It is located in the small Euphorbia garden. - Gaye Demanuele](/files/-MU0uyNEFDxL7RTo-3Iq) ![Lan Anh Hoang](/files/-MU0uyNHO8sK1QCVQz0C) !["Flora \*and\* fauna at unimelb - Katie Wood](/files/-MTeTUtVnaJYOVr8vLV7) ![A photo of my daughters in the ground celebrating the 100th birthday. They were in awe of the gardens and it's wonderful secret rooms and magic - Katrina Harrison](/files/-MTs9enffP8EyvHgDHqV) ![I took this photo on my way to the library, but I felt compelled to stop. The way the environment gives you a moment to breathe, see the mixed environments of pathways and buildings and carefully curated foliage is how I knew I was at home. - Tesla](/files/-MTs9jyt4VgmzWt9iwbK) ![Cussonia Tree grown from a cutting of the original planated by Prof McCoy, being moved into Cussonia court by dedicated grounds staff - Sophie Garrett](/files/-MTs9wwsOJxCPjt9Dzmb) ![The marketing of UoM features many shots that focus on verdant lawns (South Lawn, etc), and sports fields etc. All of this is done to present the concept that our campus is spacious, refined and elegant, in order to convey an impression that we’re like some cosy copy of Cambridge. How long will it take for snr management to overcome their cultural cringe? We are a great university, and do ourselves a disservice by trying to market ourselves as something we can never be - Oxbridge is unattainable. But to destroy our grounds staff is a completely stupid and self-defeating step. These people are the very ones responsible for the pictures the University uses for their marketing - and they also feed into the university’s research - it seems to me that an institution that claims to be a world-leader should not be cutting these sorts of corners to cost-save. Save the money where it’s truly wasted - brand marketing. We spend millions to market to people who already know we exist, and are a desirable University - why?? - Christopher Mason](/files/-MTs9p4kktim7tRExmBF) ![There were so many gorgeous flowers, but the beauty of this one - the details - I only saw after I'd taken the photo. I was blown away - Liz Ross](/files/-MTs9sfbOjYSdEXvtXyH) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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