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The Spring Walk at Sydney’s Royal Botanic GardensVisitors to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens will be treated to an early spring with beautiful tulips, ornamental peaches, cherries, rhododendrons, wisteria, jacarandas and native plants in flower. Botanic Gardens Trust, Executive Director Dr Tim Entwisle said we tend to associate spring with a three month period from September to December - but Australia’s seasons differ to European. “Perhaps for traditional flowering favourites, we’d be better to think of spring as being from August to November. This is when the native bushland and our our home gardens ‘spring’ into flower,” Dr Entwisle said. “Every year we think spring has come earlier, but really spring in Sydney actually starts in late July and August for many natives and garden plants. “This seasonal anomaly is a result of Sydney’s mild winters - although lately you probably wouldn’t think that! The cool temperate gardens and regions still have a strong influence in our cultural and horticultural traditions and influence our expectations on when plants should be flowering,” he said. Dr Entwisle said this year’s Spring Walk at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens includes many flowers and plants selected for durability and suitability to Sydney - and they can be grown in home gardens. “Some of the most durable flowers we’ve planted at the Gardens include pansies, primulas, jonquils and snowflakes and shrubs such as Spiraea, Rondeletia, Brunfelsia, heliotrope and Loropetalum,” he said. “Some other plants require more care, such as tulips. For example, here at the Gardens we keep tulip bulbs in the crisper of the fridge for between four-to-six weeks after they arrive to us from Tasmania. This both initiates flowering in the bulbs and improves size and quality of blooms. “After planting the tulips they’re relatively easy to care for with few pest problems and low water requirements if they’re planted in rich improved soil. “Wisteria perform well - sometimes too well in Sydney and are vigorous climbers that need training and pruning. However, in the right spot, they’re tough and rewarding and provide a two week window of seasonal bliss with their joyous colour,” Dr Entwisle said. |
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