Open gardens: spring shows bloom around the nation

Spring is here, heralding a range of great garden shows and events.

Waldorf Leura Gardens Retreat, part of the Leura Gardens Festival in the NSW Blue Mountains.

We are spoiled for choice with garden events in spring. Each weekend, there’s barely space to list the many open gardens, shows and festivals held across Australia.

The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, are lovely in spring, and the Leura Gardens Festival offers the chance to visit some breathtaking gardens. Held across nine days from October 3 to 11, it promises magnificent displays of azaleas, rhododendrons, bulbs, blossom trees, wisteria and other spring treasures. The 10 open gardens range from the intimate and personal to the grandeur and historical significance of Everglades. Musical performances at 1pm each day in the grounds of the Waldorf Leura Gardens Resort are included. Across the road, the Society of Mountain Artists has an art show, with free entry, and the festival plant sales centre will donate profits to charity. A shuttle service runs between all gardens from Leura station every 30 minutes and costs $5 for an all-day ticket.

Leura Gardens Festival

Blue Mountains, NSW

October 3-11, 9.30am-4.30pm

Entry: tickets $25; single gardens $5; schoolchildren free, except Everglades

leuragardensfestival.com.au

Garden shows hold broad appeal, and this spring there are two new shows — in Brisbane and Melbourne, both starting this coming week. Embarrassingly, Sydney seems unable to achieve garden show success, despite some fine efforts.

The organisers of the popular Queensland Garden Expo, held in Nambour each July, are behind the Brisbane International Garden Show, held across four days at Pine Rivers Park, Strathpine.

From October 8 to 11 visitors can wander through the small and large garden displays in the landscape garden competition. Lead judge is renowned designer Jim Fogarty, winner of more than 30 international design awards, including a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Other highlights include the organic kitchen garden with permaculture and organic gardening experts such as Phil Dudman, Claire Bickle and Jerry Coleby-Williams, and talks by local experts Noel Burdette, Arno King and fruit tree guru Peter Young. Graham Ross and Dale Vine are also presenting. There are more than 100 talks and demonstrations across four stages. More than 40 nurseries are selling plants and offering advice.

Brisbane International Garden Show

October 8-11, 9am-5pm

Free shuttle bus from Strathpine station

Entry: tickets $20, under 15s free

brisbanegardenshow.com.au.

Next week: The inaugural Horticultural and Gardening Festival, Melbourne Showgrounds, October 9-11.