Calendar

What’s on in October

NATIONAL

7TH 13TH National Gardening Week This week-long event organised by Garden Clubs of Australia encourages clubs, businesses, individuals and councils to ‘Dig in & Celebrate’. WESTERN AUSTRALIA

21ST Pinjarra Garden Day 10am–4pm. Edenvale Homestead, Pinjarra. 0409 686 015. Free. Deryn Thorpe as guest speaker, stalls with garden-related products, children’s activities and entertainment.

27TH 28TH Open Garden in Perth 10am–4.30pm. Amanda’s Garden, cnr Margaret & Matison Sts, Southern River. (08) 9398 7275. $5. Opening to coincide with annual fete. Garden has natural setting of paperbarks and mass display of ‘Amanda’ roses.

VICTORIA

5TH–7TH Gippsland Orchid Spring Show Fri 8am–9pm, Sat 8am–5pm, Sun 9.30am –4pm. Mid Valley Shopping Centre, cnr Princes Dr and Centre Valley Rd, Morwell. 0422 676 001. Free. Huge display of orchids to view and plants for sale.

6TH–7TH Charity Open Garden at Birchwood Near Benalla

10am–5pm. Birchwood Near Benalla,

653 ODea Rd, Molyullah. (03) 5766 6275. $6. Garden with spring bulbs and salvia. Botanic art, sculpture, crafts, plants and mosaics for sale. Proceeds to Wangaratta and Benalla Hospitals and Cancer Council Vic. Visit birchwoodnearbenalla.com.au

6TH–7TH Garden Lovers’ Fair 10am–4pm. Bolobek, 370 Mt Macedon Rd, Mt Macedon. 0418 126 086. $12 per day, $20 for both days. Access to the Bolobek gardens, guest speakers, including Penny Woodward, Stephen Ryan and Attilla Kapitany, and gardening stalls.

6TH–7TH Pomonal Native Flower Show Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 9am–4pm. Pomonal Hall, Ararat/Halls Gap Rd, Pomonal. 0407 700 843. $5. Hundreds of specimens on display, plants for sale and open gardens.

12TH–13TH Wandin Silvan Field Day

Fri 8.30am–5pm, Sat 8.30am–4pm.

0429 428 537. $15. Stalls for gardeners, primary producers and hobby farmers. Fundraising groups selling food and drink.

13TH–14TH Bonsai Society of Victoria 54th Annual Show

9am–4pm. Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill. 0490 233 706. $5. Premier bonsai displays, wiring and trimming demonstrations, sales of bonsai plants and accessories.

13TH–14TH Gippsland Garden and Home Expo

9am–4pm. Lardner Park, via Warragul. (03) 5625 4589. $10. Demonstrations by experts, 150 displays and sales stands, and 40 specialist and generalist nurseries.

14TH Charlton Open Gardens 11am–4.30pm. Registration at 1 High St, Charlton. 0407 140 336. $15, includes six open gardens and afternoon tea.

14TH 11am–4pm. Grannes 207 Open Pomonal Garden Rd, Stawell. 0409 afternoon 423 tea. 827. Native $15 incl. gardens morning located or in a challenging environment, guided tours and a raptor demonstration.

20TH–21ST Bacchus Marsh Flower & Garden Show

Sat noon–5pm, Sun 9am–4pm. Bacchus Marsh Public Hall, Main St, Bacchus Marsh. 0402 024 055. $5. Enter competitions for flowers and produce, photography and decorated cakes. Plants for sale and light refreshments. bmflowershow.org

20TH–21ST Horsham Spring

Garden Festival

9am–5pm. Horsham Botanical Gardens, Firebrace St, Horsham. 0425 761 410. $6. Local guest speakers, plant stalls and children’s activities.

21ST Wedderburn Community House Annual Garden Expo

9.30am–3.30pm. Register and pick up maps at Wedderburn Community Centre, 24 Wilson St, Wedderburn.

(03) 5494 3489. $15. Nine gardens that have not been shown before. Museum entry and Devonshire tea included.

21ST Ivanhoe Garden Club Festa & Bellfield Community Garden Open Day Noon–4pm. Bellfield Community Centre, cnr Banksia St & Oriel Rd, Ivanhoe.

0401 161 461. Free. Stalls with plants, organic honey, homemade jams and preserves; workshops including hot composting and bonsai; tool sharpening; and Devonshire tea and sausage sizzle.

26TH–27TH Annual Flower Show Fri 11am–4pm, Sat 9.30am–3pm. St Andrews Uniting Church, Browning St, Orbost. Opened by former ABC Radio announcer Deb Bye. Plant stall both days, cake stall on Friday. Food, tea and coffee.

27TH Annual Flower Show 9.30am–3pm. St Thomas Anglican Church, 16 A’Beckett Rd, Bunyip. 0419 156 844. $5. Floral displays, plants, craft stalls, photo competition, Devonshire tea and sausage sizzle.

27TH–28TH Alexandra & District

Open Gardens Weekend

10am–4pm. Tickets at Alexandra

Visitor Information Centre, 36 Grant St, Alexandra, or at gardens. 0467 162 857. $5 each, $35 for all gardens. Ten open gardens, sculpture exhibition, handmade tools, plants and paintings for sale. alexandraopengardens.com.au ACT 22ND SEPT–10TH FEB Beauty Rich and Rare

10am–5pm. National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra. (02) 6262 1111. Free. Immersive sound and light experience illuminating the natural beauty of Australia through the eyes of Sir Joseph Banks.

20TH–21ST Open Gardens Canberra 10am–4pm. 3 Ramage Pl, Flynn and 17 Gilmore Cresc, Garran. 0411 055 938. $8 each. Two gardens to explore through Open Gardens Canberra. For details, visit opengardenscanberra.org.au SOUTH AUSTRALIA

6TH–7TH Australian Plants Society’s Native Flower Display & Plant Sale

Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 10am–4pm. Adelaide Showgrounds, Wayville. (08) 8296 1849. $3. Display of native flowers, with more than 800 species of Australian native plants for sale. Free soil pH testing, advice from horticulturists, workshops, bush food tasting, ikebana and children’s activities.

19TH–28TH Renmark Rose Festival Various times and locations. 1300 661 704. Fees for some events. Rose Festival Fair, open gardens, art trail, floral display, gala dinner, garden lunches, live music, markets, ‘Chefs in the Garden’ event.

20TH–21ST Burra Districts Spring Expo & Open Gardens

Expo: Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 9am–4pm. Town Hall, Market St, Burra. 0429 845 703. $5. Open Gardens: 10am–4pm.

$10 for all gardens. Gardening Australia presenter Sophie Thomson will talk at the Expo. Workshops, children’s activities, market stalls, bus tour, plants for sale.

NEW SOUTH WALES

5TH–7TH Southern Orchid Spectacular Fri & Sat 9am–4pm, Sun 9am–2pm. Caringbah High School, 85 Willarong

Rd, Caringbah. 0417 406 374. $5. Displays of exotic orchids, vendor orchid sales, free growing advice and light refreshments.

6TH–7TH 58th Bilpin Flower Show & Spring Fair

Sat 11am–4pm, Sun 10am–3pm. Bilpin Hall, 2596 Bells Line of Rd, Bilpin.

(02) 4567 0642. $5. Display of local flowers and vegies, expert advice, stalls, open gardens and entertainment.

6TH–7TH Rivendell Flower Show 10am–3pm. Thomas Walker Estate Rivendell, Hospital Rd, Concord.

(02) 9767 8488. $15. Guest speaker Helen Young, floral and garden exhibits, and interactive workshops.

7TH Huge Plant Sale

10am–3pm. 45 Parklands Ave, Lane Cove North. (02) 9427 3550. Free. Great variety of plants, open garden and advice. Proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

7TH–20TH Griffith Spring Fest

Various times, locations and prices. (02) 6962 8100. Open gardens, workshops, a multicultural festival, and more than 70 large sculptures built from oranges lining the main street. griffithspringfest.com.au

13TH Orchid Potting Demonstration Day 11am & 1.30pm. Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, 2100 Pacific Hwy, Heatherbane. (02) 4987 1655. $2 (garden entry). Expert advice, demonstrations, orchid house tour, prizes, cafe onsite. huntergardens.org.au

13TH–14TH Robertson Open Gardens & Spring Plant Fair

10am–4pm. Tickets available at Community Technology Centre, 58 Hoddle St, Robertson. 0477 213 141. $5 each, $20 for all gardens. Seven Southern Highlands gardens open to the public.

13TH–14TH Dig Gloucester Garden Expo Sat 9am–4pm, Sun 9am–3pm. Billabong Park, Denison St. (02) 6558 4107. Open gardens $2 each. Six rural open gardens and an organic community garden, Expo with workshops, exhibitors, speakers, art and craft exhibitions. diggloucester.com.

13TH–14TH Mudgee Garden Spectacular 10am–3pm. Tickets at mudgeegarden spectacular.org.au or cash payment at each garden. 0411 205 633. $5 each, $20 for all gardens. Inaugural event with six gardens open, catering by local CWA.

19TH–21ST Galston Open Gardens 9.30am–4.30pm. Tickets at Galston Club, 21 Arcadia Rd or at gardens. (02) 9653 2394. $5 each, $20 for all gardens. Nine open gardens in the semi-rural suburbs of Galston, Arcadia, Glenorie and Dural.

20TH Wentworthville Community Garden Open Day

9.30am–2pm. Fullagar Rd (behind the tennis courts), Wentworthville. 0413 021 577. Free. Open garden, vegetables and plants for sale, morning tea and barbecue lunch available.

20TH–21ST Open Garden Weekend 10am–4pm. 2 Pildra Ave, St Ives.

0419 688 583. $10. Visit the garden of the 2011 Gardener of Year winner for NSW. Plants, gifts, cakes, refreshments. Proceeds to The Hunger Project.

27TH–28TH Bundanoon Garden Ramble 9.30am–4.30pm. Tickets at Bundanoon Memorial Hall, Railway Ave, Bundanoon. 0414 617 974. $20 for all gardens. Eight gardens open in the Southern Highlands, with garden stalls and gifts.

27TH–28TH Lake Macquarie Garden

Club Open Gardens & Art Trail 10am–4pm. Tickets at Lee Rowan’s Gardenworld, 381 Hillsborough Rd, Warners Bay and Poppy’s Home & Garden Centre, 83 Oakdale Rd, Gateshead. 0418 832 522. $5 each, $35 for all gardens. Ten open gardens, art, entertainment. Proceeds to the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

27TH 28TH Bathurst Annual Spring Spectacular 9.30am–5pm. Tickets and map at Bathurst Information Centre, Kendall Ave, Bathurst (entry Great Western Hwy) and at gardens. 0427 470 135. $5 each, $20 for all gardens. Ten gardens to explore plus Miss Traill’s House garden in the Bathurst area.

27TH 28TH Illawarra Regional Rose Society

2018 Spring Rose Show

Sat Noon–5pm, Sun 9am–3pm. Jamberoo Municipal Hall, Allowrie St, Jamberoo. 0411 863 464. $5. Rose displays, stalls, food including homemade scones, light refreshments.

28TH Narrandera Town & Country Open Garden Day 9am–5.30pm (tickets available until 2.30). Tickets at Narrandera Information Centre, Newell Hwy. 0428 597 655. $15 incl. Devonshire tea. Six open gardens and a plant stall. Proceeds to local Can Assist. QUEENSLAND

13TH 14TH Queensland Orchid Society Spring Show Sat 8.30am–3.30pm, Sun 8.30am–3pm. International Shooting Complex, 1485 Old Cleveland Rd, Belmont.

(07) 3824 5931. $4. Orchids on display, sales of orchids, floral art, orchid accessories, potting demonstrations and light refreshments.

20TH 21ST Brisbane Tomato Festival

Sat 8am–5pm, Sun 8am–4pm. Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong. Free. Talks from Phil Dudman, Clive Blazey, Linda Brennan, Arno King and Kevin Redd. Tomato tastings, cooking demonstrations, plant and produce sales, food and refreshments available.

20TH 21ST Orchid Species Show

Sat 8.30am–4pm, Sun 9am–3.30pm. Auditorium, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong. 0403 957 225. $4. Display of orchid species, some rare and near extinction, orchids for sale and experts on hand for advice.

27TH 28TH North Moreton Qld Orchid Council Inc Summer Orchid Show

Sat 8.30am–3.30pm, Sun 8.30am–3pm. Auditorium, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong. (07) 3865 5615. $4. Wide range of orchids and foliage for sale, re-potting demonstrations, information from experts and light refreshments.