Flower shows: daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and other bulbs star

Spring garden shows are bursting with colour and fragrance from daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and other bulbs.

Tulips on show at Floriade, Canberra.

Spring shows, bursting with colour and fragrance courtesy of daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and other bulbs, will be across Australia from this weekend.

ACT

Floriade is the nation’s biggest celebration of spring, held in Canberra. This year’s theme, Reflection, presents flowerbed designs honouring Gallipoli’s 100th anniversary, using more than a million flowers. Nightfest is a ticketed evening event with light shows, live music, comedy and DJs from September 23 to 27. Until October 11 in Commonwealth Park. Free entry. For details and Nightfest bookings: floriadeaustralia.com.

The ACT Horticultural Society’s Spring Bulb and Camellia Show is at Lancaster Hall, Wesley Centre, National Circuit, Forrest. Saturday noon-5pm, Sunday 11.30am-3.45pm. Free entry.

VICTORIA

The Tesselaar Tulip Festival at Silvan in the Dandenong Ranges outside Melbourne is in its 62nd year. This commercial tulip farm boasts a half-million tulips of 120 varieties across 10ha. This weekend’s theme is colourful Turkish culture. Subsequent themes are Dutch (September 18 to 20), food, wine and jazz (September 25 to 27) and Irish (October 2 to 4). Live music, market stalls, food, sculpture, Dutch windmills and the world’s largest clog round out the attractions. Until Oct­ober 6. Details and tickets at tulipfestival.com.au.

Red Hill Spring Garden Festival, on the Mornington Peninsula, is presented for gardeners by gardeners. Tim Entwisle, head of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, and other experts are offering talks and Q&A sessions. Specialist plant stalls, gardening for kids and a flower show are part of the fun. Saturday only, 9am-3pm. Admission: $5, children free. Details at rhgs.com.au.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

At Araluen Botanic Park in the Darling Range just southeast of Perth, the Springtime Festival features more than 120,000 tulips planted throughout the picturesque grounds. This year’s theme is A Village Square and incorporates a historic display, music, sculptures, cafe and food vendors. Until September 20. Details at araluenbotanicpark.com.au.

NSW

Bowral Tulip Time in the NSW southern highlands is in its 55th year. Centred on Corbett Gardens in Bowral, the events across two weeks include a street parade on September 19, music and dance performances, children’s activities, a street market on September 26 and 27, sunset cinema and open gardens. September 15 to 27. Details and tickets at tuliptime.net.au.

Daffodils at Rydal offers masses of daffodils in and around the pretty village, west of Lithgow, and several country gardens. Homemade cakes, sandwiches and barbecue are at Greg Featherstone Park, next to the historic railway station. This weekend and next, 10am to 4pm. Entry: $10, includes gardens. rydal.com.au.