The Field Collection

The Field Collection. . , A young boy's hobby, This is a wonderful story of how a young boy's hobby, first nurtured in these Gardens, grew over two lifetimes into an extraordinary cactus collection of international significance., In 1908, Ralph Field was just 12 years old when he grafted his first cactus after reading an article in a Boy's Own Annual. Spurred on by his success, his interest quickly grew. Later that year, on Christmas Day, Ralph's father brought him here to meet with the cacti specialist. They returned home with a wagonload of cuttings of cacti and other succulents., Years later, while farming his Tennyson property in northern Victoria, Ralph found time to expand his cactus collection through propagation, international plant swapping and, in 1936, an investment in a South American plant collection expedition- the Blossfeld Expedition., From father to son, Ralph's son Robert shared his father's passion for cacti and in the 1980s, Ralph passed on both the farm and his cactus collection to Robert. Cacti happily ruled Robert's life for 60 years, a period which saw him extend his collection by exchanging seed packets with other enthusiasts from around the world. Robert and his wife Donnette also welcomed a steady stream of visitors to their impressive garden - Whiora Cactus Farm - which contained more than 2000 species of cacti and other succulents., Over the decades, both Ralph and Robert also kept in contact with the curators here at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne., Completing the circle, On Robert's retirement from farming, it became time to find a new home for his cactus collection. It seemed only natural to invite the Gardens to take stewardship of his collection, and he was delighted when they readily accepted. For Robert, handing over his lifetime's work was an emotional (and complicated!) task., In 2020, the Field Collection cacti found their new home here, in garden beds especially designed to showcase their extraordinary shape and form., The Gardens is proud to now manage this magnificent collection - the beginnings of which departed this site more than a century ago on the back of a horse drawn wagon in the care of a delighted 12-year-old boy.