New Zealand

MARCH 6-10 ELLERSLIE FLOWER SHOW Ellerslie Flower Show, Hagley Park, Christchurch, New Zealand. Book your tickets early to make great savings on full-priced tickets; www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz

NSW

MARCH 2-10 PLANTS WITH BITE! Learn how intriguing carnivorous plants have adapted to nutrient deficient environments by feeding on meat. The Visitor Centre at Mount Tomah Botanic Garden will house a spectacular carnivorous plant display with information and documentary film sessions and plants available for purchase. It’s on from 9am-5.30 pm daily (9.30am weekends and public holidays), free entry; www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

MARCH 7-MAY 30 ART EXHIBITION BOTANICAL SONGFORMS The Birds and the Bees: A harmony of life and art by 2012 Artist Residence, Phillipa Carnemolla will feature ‘The Breathing Conifer’, a large kinetic sculpture that will hang in the Fernery, and other works of jewellery and ceramicware. At the Fernery and Garden Shop, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney – enter via Woolloomooloo Gate, Mrs Macquaries Rd; phone (02) 9231 8004 or visit www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

MARCH 10 AUTUMN VIBES This is the launch event that kicks off Autumn in Your Gardens. Autumn Vibes is a free multicultural day of music, dance, opera, storytelling, art, talks, walks and children’s activities (small charge) all linking plants in the Royal Botanic Garden to their countries of origin. There will also be a diverse array of multicultural food for sale. www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

MARCH 16-17 BIRCHGROVE OPEN GARDEN Wyoming, 25 Wharf Rd, Birchgrove. The large garden of a restored grand Italianate Victorian villa is terraced down to the harbour. Mature American oak, large frangipanis, hibiscus, bamboo and blue ginger sheltering crinums, clivias and succulents feature, along with a pond with water lilies, lotus and papyrus, a cactus garden and restored orchid house. Talks by James Broadbent at 2.30pm each day. Open 10am-4.30pm, entry $8. For more details visit www.opengarden.org.au

MARCH 21-APRIL 3 SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW See, hear, touch, taste and smell over 21,000 stimulating sensory experiences at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Australia’s largest annual event. For the best value visit to the Show, buy tickets online and plan ahead of time to get great discounts; visit www.eastershow.com.au to get your ShowLink tickets (public transport included), carnival ride coupons, preview the latest showbags and select a daily itinerary. Tickets on sale now.

MARCH 24 AUTUMN SKETCHING SAFARI Sketch your way around the Australian Botanic Garden at Mt Annan with experienced sketching artist Ellen Fielder. Create your own masterpiece inspired by the Garden and meet new friends along the way. Materials are supplied, so just come into the Garden and enjoy! It’s on from 11am-1pm, cost is Members $20, non-members $22, Child (10-16) $22. Bookings essential: phone (02) 4634 7935 or visit www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

MARCH 31 ROSE CHAMPIONSHIP The NSW Centenary Rose Championships commence at 9:30am as part of the 2013 Sydney Royal Easter Show. More Rose Show information is at (02) 4735 1730 or www.nsw.rose.org.au

APRIL 13-14 COLLECTORS’ PLANT FAIR NEW VENUE The eighth Collectors’ Plant Fair will be held at a new venue: Hawkesbury Race Club, 1 Racecourse Road, Clarendon, NSW. This beautifully maintained venue is close to Clarendon Railway Station on the City to Richmond rail line and has excellent parking. The Collectors' Plant Fair showcases growers of special plants – selling plants that are not easy to come by in regular retail outlets; 50 specialist plant growers will have stalls open 8am-4pm Saturday, 9am-4pm Sunday. Speakers program at $33 per person per session. Space is limited so prebooking is essential; www.collectorsplantfair.com

Vic

MARCH 9-10 COLLECTORS’ SHOW & GARDEN EXPO The Plant Collectors Show and Garden Expo is at Ferny Creek Horticultural Society Hall and Gardens, 100 Hilton Rd, Sassafras 10am-4.30pm, entry $5 adults. This plant collectors’ sale features rare plants by specialist growers, garden tools, machinery, a gem stone display and floral artist and wood turning. Ample free parking; details at (03) 9755 1882.

MARCH 9-11 BALLARAT BEGONIAS The Ballarat Begonia Festival 2013 March, at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree foreshore, 10am-5pm daily. The 2013 program is set to delight with a huge range of garden talks, demonstrations, tours and markets, free entertainment, kids activities and the beautiful blooming Begonia Display; visit www.ballaratbegoniafestival.com

MARCH 16-17 GLEN IRIS OPEN GARDEN Su’s garden, 123 Finch St, Glen Iris. This is an inspiring garden of two contrasting but complementary styles: a traditional front with mature trees, shrubs and deep perennial borders, and the back area transformed into a rose-edged potager where vegetables and flowers jostle for space. Fruit trees, berries, trompe l’oeil, statuary, ceramics and artworks. Guided tours of garden at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Open 10am-4.30pm, entry $7. For more details visit www.opengarden.org.au

March 17 CRUDEN FARM. 10am -3pm The magnificent gardens of the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s Cruden Farm will be open to the public to raise funds for Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute

Cruden Farm is possibly Australia’s most famous private garden and Baker IDI’s Open Garden Day allows visitors to explore the Edna Walling designed gardens, enjoy entertainment and refreshments, listen to gardening experts and learn more about healthy living from Baker IDI’s heart and diabetes staff. 

 Cruden Farm, 

Cranhaven Rd, Langwarrin Victoria. Melway Ref: 103 G6      

Enquiries: 

  Sarah Gardner, Edelman, 03 9944 7637, 0425 354 629, sarah.gardner@edelman.com

Tickets vailable at the gate - adults $25, children under 18 free (groups of 10 or more - $20 per person)  

MARCH 20-24 MIFGS MELBOURNE The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) presented by Jenny Craig returns for its 18th year with a burst of blooms from at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. The largest horticultural event in the country showcasing stunning floral displays, inspirational landscaping ideas and DIY for around the garden; www.melbflowershow.com.au 

MARCH 31 - APRIL 1 -  CRANBOURNE, EUCALYPT FESTIVAL. Take the opportunity this Easter to celebrate Australia's most iconic plant the Eucalypt - at the Australian Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. With over 800 species spread across Australia, the Eucalypt is a rich part of the nation's culture. It's on 10am - 4pm. Most activities are free. (03) 5990 2200 or visit www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Qld

MARCH 9-10 IPSWICH PLANT EXPO This event will feature guest speakers, tropical plants and subtropical plants, edible and organic gardening, native plants, collectable plants, gardening tools and equipment. It’s at Ipswich Turf Club, 219 Brisbane Rd, Bundamba, enter via TL Cooney Avenue; details at www.plantexpo.com.au

MARCH 9-10  BLENHEIM OPEN GARDEN Wayval Views, 77 Blenheim Rd, Blenheim (near Laidley). A terraced garden showcasing a vast range of trees and shrubs in a balance of natives and exotics. Murraya, lilly pilly, box, duranta and privet used as hedges and topiary. Grafted weeping grevilleas. Rock-walled fernery, old slab hut, pond, bird aviary. Panoramic views. Open 10am–dusk, entry $7. For more details visit www.opengarden.org.au

WA

MARCH 9-10 CHILLI FESTIVAL Around 80 stallholders will be participating in a celebration of everything chilli, including fresh foods, plants, pickles, chutneys, olives, cheese, chocolate, wine, beers and much more at Araluen’s Fremantle Chilli Festival on the Fremantle Esplanade. Entry fee is adults $15 (children 0-16 free when accompanied by an adult).

MARCH 9-10 BOW BRIDGE OPEN GARDEN Tree Elle, 4993 South Coast Hwy, Bow Bridge. Impressive well-manicured formal gardens overlooking Irwin Inlet. Silver birch, alders, jacarandas and mop top robinias provide lovely structure against a background of bushland. Fruit trees, box-hedged potager. Child-friendly garden featuring small animals. Local artists’ pottery, paintings and sculptures. Local produce and preserves. Open 10am-4.30pm, entry $7. For more details visit www.opengarden.org.au

MARCH 23 BEGONIAS The WA Begonia Society Show incorporates the State Championship for Begonias. It’s at the South Perth Community Centre, South Perth; phone (08) 9398 1396.

MARCH 23-24 SUSTAINABLE GARDEN Sustainability expert Chris Ferreira has made over his 1950s block into an inspiring garden suited to today's climate and lifestyle, featuring sustainable food production, greywater systems and waterwise species. Chris will talk about his garden at 11am and 2pm each day and there will be plenty of activities for children. It’s at 11 Mortlock St, Hamilton Hill, 10am-4.30pm,entry: $8. For more details visit www.opengarden.org.au

MARCH 24 NATIVE PLANT SALE Visitors can choose from a huge range of native plants on sale, cultivated and grown by volunteers from the Friends of Kings Park, including rare species not often found in commercial nurseries.  8:30am-12noon at the Exhibition Grounds, Kings Park, West Perth; friendsofkingspark.com

Tas

MARCH 2-3 NEW NORFOLK OPEN GARDEN Rosedown, 134 Hamilton Rd (Lyell Hwy), New Norfolk. A rose garden, romantic in design and relaxed in style, surrounds an 1840s riverside cottage set against towering eucalypts. Hundreds of stunning roses including heritage, David Austin and Alister Clark cultivars. Hedged grass paths weave among fine specimen trees and vine-covered arbours. It’s open 10am-4.30pm, entry $7; for more details visit www.opengarden.org.au

MARCH 8-9 DAHLIA, GLADIOLUS & FLORAL ART SHOW Presented by the Hobart Horticultural Society Inc. See all the beauty and colour of autumn featured in dahlias, gladioli, floral art, bonsai and ikebana. Devonshire teas available. Free Entry. Friday 1pm-6pm; Saturday 10am-4.30pm at Hobart Town, 50 Macquarie St, Hobart; www.bloomingtasmania.com

SA

MARCH 9 DAHLIAS The Dahlia Society of South Australia State Dahlia Championships at Tanunda Showgrounds, in conjunction with Tanunda Horticultural Show; phone (08) 8524 3343.

MARCH 15-18 WOODCRAFT ‘Under the Bark' Fine Woodcraft Exhibition by leading SA wood turners featuring a diverse range of woodcraft using Australian timbers. At North Lodge, Plane Tree Dve, Adelaide Botanic Gardens; www.fbga.asn.au

MARCH 24 KINGSWOOD OPEN GARDEN The White House, 27 Cross Rd, Kingswood. Embracing a lovely old sandstone villa is an attractive family garden designed for entertaining and featuring a range of thriving Mediterranean plants requiring little water. Geraniums, grasses, succulents, salvias, roses and hibiscus. Alfresco dining area under canopy of beautiful golden elms. Vegetables, herbs. Mediterranean plants for sale. Open 10am-4.30pm, entry $7. For more details visit www.opengarden.org.au

Copyright CTC Productions 2012