Big spring calendar

Your guide to garden shows and events around the country this month

NATIONAL

2ND–8TH Landcare Week

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Landcare is a movement of more than 6000 groups and thousands of volunteers across Australia working to protect our environment.

Grab your gardening gloves and find a group near you at landcareaustralia.org.au

9TH–15TH National Organic Week

Costa Georgiadis is the ambassador of this initiative that encourages us to “taste the difference, feel the difference, make a difference”. Help increase awareness of the health and environmental benefits of organic products by joining an event or organising your own at organicweek.net.au

VICTORIA

23RD Aug–27TH Sept Hancock’s Daffodils

11am–4pm. Cnr Belgrave–Gembrook and Grantulla Rds, Menzies Creek. (03) 9754 3328. Free. Colourful, extensive garden display at this beautiful daffodil farm in the Dandenong Ranges. daffodilbulbs.com.au

5TH–15TH Kyneton Daffodil & Arts Festival

10am–4pm. Various locations, Kyneton. (03) 5422 2282. Prices vary; some events free. Daffodil displays. Local gardens open to visitors. Art and photography competitions and exhibitions. Grand Parade. Scarecrow-making workshop. kynetondaffodilarts.org.au

10TH & 25TH Forest Therapy

11am–1pm. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens, Birdwood Ave, South Yarra. (03) 9252 2429.

$30. Guided shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) practice to boost health and wellbeing – part of the botanic gardens’ Branch Out program of experiences for over-60s. rbg.vic.gov.au

14TH–15TH Australian Plants Expo

10am-4pm. Eltham Community & Reception Centre,

801 Main Rd, Eltham. 0430 513 433. $5. Five native plant stalls. Books, talks and displays. apsyarrayarra.org.au

14TH–15TH Yallaroo Open Garden

10am–4.30pm. 7 Hillsmeade Dr, Narre Warren South. 0472 997 880. $8. Garden featuring Australian plants (all labelled), including grevilleas, lechenaultias and eremophilas, and a large orchard. opengardensvictoria.org.au

14TH Sept–13TH Oct Tesselaar Tulip Festival

10am–5pm. Tesselaar Flower Farm, 357 Monbulk Rd, Silvan. (03) 9737 7722. $29. Colourful fields of tulips. More than a million flowering bulbs on show. Live entertainment, children’s activities, food and market stalls. tulipfestival.com.au

21ST Melbourne Clivia Group Expo

10am–4pm. Mount Waverley Community Centre, 47 Miller Cres, Mount Waverley. 0477 134 863. $5. Clivia displays, demonstrations and sales. melbournecliviagroup.org.au

21ST–22ND David’s Open Garden

10am–4.30pm. 16 Central Ave, Footscray. 0472 997 880. $8. Compact inner-city garden with more than 50 fruiting trees, shrubs and vines, plus unusual edible plants. Fernery housing exotic orchids, bromeliads, ferns and succulents. Ceramic planters for sale. opengardensvictoria.org.au

21ST–22ND North East Melbourne Orchid Society

Spring Show

Sat 9am–4pm, Sun 10am–4pm. Bulleen Heights School,

221 Manningham Rd, Lower Templestowe. 0418 110 345. $4. Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum, Cattleya and Sarcochilus species on display, plus rare and unusual orchids. Plants and accessories for sale. Questions answered by orchid experts. Refreshments and light meals available.

21ST–22ND Yea Garden Expo

9am–3pm. Yea Saleyards, Flat Lead Rd, Yea. 0438 119 429. $7. Speakers program. Plants, garden accessories, equipment and art for sale. Refreshments available. yeagardenexpo.com.au

28TH–29TH Maroondah Orchid Society Annual Spring Show Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 9am–4pm. St Timothy’s Catholic Primary School, 21 Stevens Rd, Vermont. (03) 9801 1628. $5. Plants for sale. Potting demonstrations. Refreshments available.

ACT

21ST–22ND Orchid Society of Canberra Annual Spring Orchid Show

Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 10am–4pm. Ainslie Football Club, 52 Wakefield Ave, Ainslie. (02) 6251 7660. $2. Great diversity of native and exotic orchids on display and for purchase. Potting demonstrations. Refreshments available. canberraorchids.org

NEW SOUTH WALES

7TH Central Coast Bonsai Club Annual Exhibition

9am–5pm. Mingara Recreation Club, 12–14 Mingara Dr, Tumbi Umbi. 0417 017 447. $3. Display of more than 150 bonsai trees. Demonstrations by leading Australian bonsai artists. Vendors selling handmade pots, bonsai trees and starters, tools, wire and potting mix. centralcoastbonsai.org.au

7TH Central Coast Cactus & Succulent Club Spring Sales Day 9am–1pm. Charmhaven Community Hall, 4 Narara Ave, Charmhaven. 0415 500 777. Free. Plants for sale, ranging from common species to the weird and wonderful. Expert growing advice. Cash only. Bring your own bags, baskets and boxes.

7TH The Secret Garden & Nursery Spring Fair

9am–4pm. Western Sydney University, Clydesdale Lne, Richmond. Entrance via Vines Dr, off Londonderry Rd. (02) 9686 4155. $2. Annual fair of horticultural therapy centre run by non-profit North West Disability Services. Stalls, plants for sale. Train rides, fire truck display. Music, barbecue, Devonshire teas, woodfired pizzas.

7TH–8TH & 14TH–15TH Daffodils at Rydal

10am–4pm. Various locations in Rydal. (02) 6359 3237. $15. See parks and gardens planted with beautiful daffodils (free hop-on, hop-off bus available). Music, exhibitions and all-day barbecue. Entry tickets from Rydal railway station and Rydal Showground kiosk. rydal.com.au

8TH Stony Range ‘Back to the Bush’ Spring Festival

9am–3pm. Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden, 810 Pittwater Rd, Dee Why. (02) 9451 1883. Free. Native plant sales and advice. Displays of native bees and native animals. Sculptures and photography on show. Walks and fun children’s activities. Music, barbecue and coffee shop.

21ST Manly West Public School Carnival

10am–4pm. Manly West Public School, cnr Griffith and Hill Sts, Balgowlah. 0402 909 927. Free. Plant and white elephant stalls, carnival rides, old-style favourites (tombola, chocolate wheel) kitchen garden, gourmet food and refreshments available.

21ST–22ND Maitland Garden Ramble

10am–4pm. Various locations around Maitland. (02) 4931 2800. $5 per garden, $35 all gardens. Visit eight beautiful gardens. Gift stalls and talks at some locations. Food and refreshments available. Tickets from Maitland Visitor Information Centre,

High St, Maitland, and at gardens. Proceeds to Vision Australia.

28TH–29TH Living Smart Festival

Sat 8am–2pm, Sun 11am–4pm. Speers Point Park, Park Rd, Speers Point, Lake Macquarie. (02) 4921 0333. Free. One of Australia’s largest sustainability-based events. On Saturday, headlining guest Costa Georgiadis will speak to visitors and present workshops. Eco-living displays, rewilding workshops, cooking demonstrations, organic farmers’ market, food trucks, refreshments. lakemac.com.au/living-smart-festival

28TH–29TH Rivendell Flower & Garden Show

10am–3pm. Rivendell, Thomas Walker Estate, Hospital Rd, Concord. (02) 9767 6038. $15. Spectacular floral exhibits and garden designs. Expert workshops. High tea in the fountain courtyards. Kids’ space. Market and food stalls. Gala dinner. rivendellflowershow.com.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

21ST SA Spring Garden Festival

8am–3pm. Mount Pleasant Showgrounds, Melrose St, Mount Pleasant. 0418 301 121. $5. Plants, garden furniture, decor and garden-care products for sale. Special guests include native plant expert Neville B Bonney, Gardening Australia presenter Sophie Thomson, and Faye McGoldrick, who will demonstrate how to make an insect hotel. saspringgardenfestival.com.au

TASMANIA

7TH–8TH Claremont

Daffodil, Camellia

& Spring Flower Show

Sat 1pm–5pm, Sun 10am–3.45pm. Claremont Memorial Hall, cnr Main Rd and Bilton St, Claremont. 0429 811 968. $2. Floral art, plant stall, raffle. Opening and trophy presentation by Jennifer Stackhouse on Sat (2pm).

7TH–8TH Wynyard Garden Club Daffodil & Flower Show

Sat 10.30am–4pm, Sun 10.30am–2.30pm. Uniting Church Hall, Dodgin St, Wynyard. 0408 381 273. $3. Displays of daffodils, flowering plants and bonsais. Plant and bulb stalls, raffles, refreshments available.

15TH ‘Plan a Native Garden’ Workshop

1.30pm–4pm. Inverawe Native Gardens, 1565 Channel Hwy, Margate. (03) 6267 2020. $30, including afternoon tea. Bookings essential. Learn how to get your native garden started. Includes walking around Inverawe with the head gardener, discussing landscaping tips, pruning and plant selection. inverawe.com.au

QUEENSLAND

31ST Aug–6TH Sept Brisbane Arcade Spring Flower Show Mon–Thu and Sat 9am–5pm, Fri 9am–8pm, Sun 10am–4pm. Brisbane Arcade, 160 Queen St, Brisbane. (07) 3231 9777. Free. Celebrating the shopping arcade’s 95th year with floral crowns and bejewelled flower installations. brisbanearcade.com.au

7TH–8TH Wildflower Spectacle and Plants Market

Sat 9am–4pm, Sun 9am–3pm. Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong. 0417 538 383. $3. Native Plants Queensland’s annual show. Expert advice. Plants for sale. Interest groups (birds, butterflies, bees, frogs). npq.org.au

20TH–21ST Gold Coast District Orchid Society Spring Show

Fri 8am–4.30pm, Sat 8am–3pm. Albert Waterways Community Centre, cnr Hooker and Sunshine Blvds, Mermaid Waters. 0417 504 838. $4. Orchids on display. Plant sales, raffles, refreshments.

20TH–25TH Toowoomba Clivia Society Annual Show 9am–5pm. TAFE Horticultural Pavilion, Campbell St, Toowoomba. 0437 533 982. Gold coin donation. Clivia displays. Advice and demonstrations. Flowering plants, seedlings and seeds to buy. Proceeds to Diabetes Australia. toowoombacliviasociety.com.au

20TH–29TH Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

Various times, locations and prices. (07) 4688 6661. Floral displays of annuals and bulbs in Queens Park and Laurel Bank Park. Grand Central Floral Parade. Garden tours. Gala dinner. Includes three-day food and wine festival. tcof.com.au

27TH–28TH Glasshouse Country Orchid Society

Spring Spectacular

Fri 8.30am–4.30pm, Sat 8.30am–2.30pm. Beerwah & District Community Hall, 25 Peachester Rd, Beerwah. 0418 621 563. $3. Displays by local orchid societies. Potting demonstrations and cultural advice. Plants, accessories and floral arrangements for sale. Food and refreshments. glasshouseorchids.com.au

28TH–29TH Wondai Spring Garden Expo

Sat 8am–4.30pm, Sun 8am–1pm. Wondai Sportsground and Lions Pavilion, Bunya Hwy, Wondai. (07) 4168 9297. $5 per day, $8 for both days. Horticultural and photography show. Quality stalls selling plants and garden products. Craft, decorators’ and collectors’ items. Guest speaker Kate Wall. Live country music.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

1ST–30TH Kings Park Festival

9am–5pm. Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Fraser Ave,

Kings Park, Perth. (08) 9480 3600. Free. Tens of thousands of Western Australian wildflowers in bloom. Guided walks, science talks and outdoor exhibitions. Musicians and roving performers. Food and refreshments available. kingsparkfestival.com.au

29TH Sept–4TH Oct Blooming Biodiversity Conference 9am–5pm. Albany Entertainment Centre, 2 Toll Pl, Albany. 0409 113 125. From $120 for single-day registration. Program featuring expert speakers, designed around the theme ‘Know, grow, conserve and enjoy our Western Australian wildflowers’. Excursions to national parks. Optional tours of the South West and Great Southern regions. bloomingbiodiversity.com.au