It is the gardener's prerogative to think about the future.
That, after all, is where the growth happens.
The Hunter Region Botanic Gardens were planted for the future. Its founders envisioned a "living laboratory" and microcosm of the region's native species that could unearth insights for generations.
All it would take was time.
Now, 40 years on the fruit of that experiment is maturing steadily.
"It would take at least a century to establish the gardens fully," Emeritus Professor Tim Roberts said on the eve of the Hunter institution's 40th anniversary on Friday, at which the volunteer-driven project will unveil its vision for the future.
"Way back then, these guys had the vision," Dr Roberts said.
The decorated Hunter conservationist, researcher, and early patron of the gardens, still counts himself as "one of the newbies" who followed the originators. The shade from the oldest growth casts 40 years in perspective - the garden is just growing.
"They were concerned about the environment, but could see what was needed for the future."
Professor Roberts describes the work going on at the Botanic Gardens in the scale of decades.
The project was envisioned to promote the conservation of native and endangered plants and species from all corners of the Hunter, but also as a bellwether and staging ground for studies that could prepare the region to adapt to climate change.
It was meaningful, if hard-fought for those who led the charge, that when one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the Hunter - extending the Pacific Motorway to bypass Hexham - encroached on the doorstep in 2023, plans were changed, if only slightly, to go around the 125-hectare garden.
As he counted down the other milestone of the M1 extension's eventual completion, Professor Roberts reflected on the garden's place in the region.
"The machinations of where the M1 would go could probably fill three or four books in terms of all the talking that went on," he said. "We lost some of our land with M1 encroaching on our car park and that, of course, is not a good thing. But it was clearly a significant input of money to create an underpass for us to have access to the Pacific Highway. We're grateful for that."
"We're looking forward to the future."
The garden's anniversary was expected to draw the organisation's pioneers, its army of volunteers, as well as local leaders, scientists and supporters to commemorate four decades since a neglected, weed-infested landscape at Heatherbrae was transformed.
Leading Australian botanist Professor Tim Entwisle has been tapped for a keynote address, Professor Roberts said.
"There have some amazing people in the world and the rest of us get to stand on their shoulders," Dr Roberts said.
"Over 40 years, the community has created something remarkable. Our next challenge is to build on that legacy."
"It's a regional botanic garden; a garden for the whole of the Hunter Valley."
