Where to see begonias

Ballarat Begonia Festival The regional city of Ballarat in Victoria has turned its tuberous begonia collection into a tourist attraction. The annual Ballarat Begonia

Festival (ballaratbegoniafestival.com), which has run since 1953, is on March 9–11 this year in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens with gobsmacking displays of begonias and other plants, along with food, drink and lots of entertainment. It culminates with a parade through town on Monday March 11.

Begonias feature in the Robert Clark Conservatory at the Gardens until about mid-April, if the weather isn’t too hot. If you would like to see the begonias, call the Gardens on (03) 5320 5135 to check if they’re still on display.

Private gardens Owen and

Julie Bedford accept group visits to their garden in Burnie, Tasmania. For bookings, call (03) 6431 7770.

Conservatories, parks and gardens In late summer and autumn across southern Australia, there are many places to look for good displays of tuberous begonias. Try some of the following: • Machattie Park, William and

Bathurst Sts, Bathurst, NSW • Cook Park, Summer St,

Orange, NSW

• City Park, Tamar St,

Launceston, Tas

• Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Lower Domain Rd, Hobart, Tas