Guilfoyle's Volcano
Combining infrastructure, folly and a climate sensitive landscape, Guilfoyle's Volcano is a truly unique and interesting space within the Gardens.
Situated at the highest point in Melbourne Gardens, the view across the Collection of drought tolerant plants, the Gardens as a whole and the Melbourne CBD presents cannot be matched.
The Collection is important as it:
- Emphasises arid and succulent plants and highlights their current and future climate suitability and drought tolerance
- Demonstrates how the use of plant form can communicate movement and flow
- Contributes to improvements of lake system water quality as part of the Working Wetland project.
- Highlights the historical and current significance of the reservoir site
Key Plants
Echinocactus grusonii
Golden Barrel Cactus
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Ceiba insignis
White Silk Floss Tree
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Bismarckia nobilis
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Brahea armata
Blue Hesper Palm
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Carpobrotus quadrifidus
Pig Face
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Echeveria 'Zorro'
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<em>Echinocactus grusonii</em>
Golden Barrel Cactus
This plant forms pleasing spheres which feature regular ribs, the ridges of which are adorned with dense yellow spines. This plant is endangered in the wild due to habitat loss and poaching by collectors, but its popularity in cultivation safeguards it from extinction.
Notes from the Curator
The planting design of Guilfoyle's Vocano is split into two distinct styles with the intent of visually communicating lava flows from an erupting volcano.
Sections representing lava flow use red rock mulch combined with plantings of Echeverria 'Zorro' and Carpobrotus quadrifidus to simulate bubbling and flowing lava through both colour and form. This is contrasted with plants that exhibit stronger and more dramatic form (Echinocactus grusonii, Agave parrii etc) in other areas.
The climb up the cone of Guilfoyle's Volcano gives the guest the unique opportunity to experience and appreciate the plant material from vastly varying vantages.