Stethoscopes, Sketchbooks and Shade houses: Doctors, Artists and the Ongoing Conservation of South Australia’s Flora

Join Jerry Smith as he traces South Australia’s orchids through a century of interwoven efforts—from Rosa Fiveash’s stunning 19th-century sketches to the urgent mission of saving endangered species like the Bayonet Spider-orchid, Caladenia gladiolata. This talk reveals how artists, doctors, and scientists, each in their own way, have contributed to a shared journey of conservation. See how a flower once drawn on paper is now being saved through seed banking and post-fire recovery at the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre. It’s a story of persistence, teamwork, and hope for SA’s native flora, brought to life with vivid pictures. Discover how past efforts guide the present and learn how to help write the next chapter in this ongoing tale of protecting the state’s botanical treasures.

About the Speaker

Jerry Smith is a Senior Scientific Officer with the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre. He has spent 25 years getting his hands dirty in flora conservation across South Australia, especially in the Mount Lofty Ranges. He’s part of a small, passionate team working to secure the future of our native plants—like the endangered Caladenia gladiolata you’ll hear about today—through seed banking, propagation, and post-fire recovery. Before joining the Centre, Jerry managed “Back from the Brink,” a major project to boost the survival of some of SA’s most threatened species, which is where his love for orchids and teamwork really took root. He’s here to share the story of how artists, scientists, and conservationists—past and present—are keeping SA’s flora alive, one seed at a time.

Ticket includes one beverage on arrival. No entry to Nature Revealed: Rosa Fiveash & Ellis Rowan or Fermoy House.

Limited parking available on-site.

Wheelchair accessible.

Banner image: Whiet-beauty spider-orchid (Caladenia argocalla) at Sevenhill, South Australia. Image supplied.