Vic

Dec 20-Jan 26 Melbourne gardens
Summer school holiday program of events, walks and family fun at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and the Australian Garden; visit www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Jan 10 Gardens market
The Gardens Market is on again at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, with a selection of botanic-themed products, including plants, seasonal produce, food, garden sculptures, craft, music and much more; phone (03) 9899 5979 or visit www.marketsinthegarden.com.au

Jan 23 Nature Play – parents’ workshop
Find out how to make the most of gardens and stimulate your child’s imagination, creativity, learning and enjoyment of the natural world. It’s at Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, 10.30am-12.30pm; adults $8; bookings required; phone (03) 5990 2245.

Jan 26 Cranbourne Walk
Celebrate Australia Day by taking a leisurely stroll with an expert guide around Cranbourne Botanic Gardens and discover the amazing plants and wildlife that are the natural wealth of Australia. Finish the walk with a traditional Devonshire tea. 10am-12noon, 1.30-3.30pm; bookings required, $12 adults and $10 concession; phone (03) 5990 2245.
 

NSW

Jan 3-18 Australiana School Holiday Fun
Celebrate Australia with Hunter Valley Gardens’ ‘Australiana’ theme school holiday activities designed to educate children and celebrate the heritage of Australia. There will be Aboriginal painting and crafts, a face painter roaming the gardens, Aboriginal dance and didgeridoo performance and dreamtime stories. Entry to the Gardens is $19.90 per adult, $12 for children between six and 12 years of age with children five years and under admitted free. For further information call 02 4998 4000 or visit www.hvg.com.au

Jan 11 National Tomato Day
This annual event is an institution for backyard growers, who compete for the glory of such titles as biggest, reddest, tastiest and oddest-shaped tomato. Also prizes for all those delicious condiments made from the tomato: best tomato jam; relish; pickles and sauce! Other contests on the day include whipcracking, home-brewed beer and ginger beer. Locally grown olive products, lavender, needlework and woodwork will be on display and there will be a talent quest and live music. To be held at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club, phone (02) 6742 0400. Gunnedah is on the Oxley Highway, 490km north-west of Sydney and 650km south-west of Brisbane.

Jan Saturdays  Organic Gardening Workshops
The National Trust is running a series of Saturday gardening workshops at the Norman Lindsay Gallery, Faulconbridge. Learn about weed control without chemicals, mulching, composting, native bush regeneration, building a veggie patch, and organic pest control. Participants will also be taken on a guided tour through the Norman Lindsay Gallery, the landscaped garden estate (adorned with Norman Lindsay sculptures) and surrounding bushland. The workshops will be held 10am-5pm on Saturdays from late November through to March. Bookings essential; phone (02) 4751 1067 or visit http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/properties/nlg/

Jan 6-31 Wind in the Willows
A delightful promenade production that has become a traditional summer event in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Join Rat, Mole, Badger, Otter, Portly and of course Mr Toad, as they bring to life Kenneth Grahame’s immortal story of life on the riverbank. It’s on from Tuesday-Saturday at 11 am and 6pm. Cost for all tickets is $25 or groups of four, $85. For bookings:
Ticketek: outlets www.ticketek.com.au or call 1300 795 012
Online: via www.australianshakespearecompany.com.au or call 1300 122 344
On site: at the on-site box office located near the harbour side of the main pond, which will be open one hour prior to show (all box office sales are cash only).

Jan 12-16, 19-23 Aboriginal culture for kids
At Woggan-ma-gule Weaving Kids’ Holiday Activity, children aged six to 12 years can experience Aboriginal culture. It includes grass weaving, music and storytelling with Aboriginal educators. Mondays to Fridays, 10.30am-12noon and 1-2.30pm; cost is $15 per child per session; bookings essential; phone (02) 9231 8134.

Tas

Jan 31-Feb 1 Dahlia, Gladioli & Lilium Show
In St Ailbes Hall, Margaret Street, Launceston, see specialist plant grower stalls, floral art, children’s exhibits, cut flowers, fruit and vegetables. Open on Saturday January 31, 2pm-5pm and Sunday February 1, 9am-4pm. Admission $2; phone (03) 6327 1126.

Qld

Jan 22-25 Ginger Flower Festival
This festival will celebrate subtropical gardening, spectacular ginger flowers, exquisite food and a superb line-up of celebrity presenters and entertainers. Join our ‘In Your Climate’ subtropical expert Annette McFarlane for talks: Thursday 11am and Friday 12 noon – New Look Vegetables, and Thursday 1.30pm and Friday 2.30pm – Sensational Citrus. This year there will be a series of cooking classes featuring some of the region’s hottest chefs. The Ginger Factory is at 50 Pioneer Rd, Yandina on the Sunshine Coast. Bookings essential for the classes; phone (07) 5447 8465.
 

WA
 

Jan 2-5 Nannup Lavender Farm
Lavender Harvest Celebration featuring artist Bill Yeates. There will be demonstrations of lavender harvesting, stripping, drying and sieving for all those wanting to know more about the use of this herb. How to create your own potpourri with Dr Bob Longmore and bath bomb making for kids’ ‘high tea’ will be served 3-7pm. Open 10-7 for the celebration; phone (07) 9756 0243 for further information or visit www.nannuplavenderfarm.com

Jan 2-18 Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
Prompt Corner presents the delightful Australian story of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie written by May Gibbs. Mr Lizard tells the story while it is enacted in dance and drama. Meet the charming Gum Blossoms and their friend Ragged Blossom, but be careful of Mrs Snake and The Banksia Men. It’s on 5-6pm daily, no shows on Mondays, at Saw Avenue Amphitheatre, Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Adults and Children $14.75 (children under three, free). Tickets can be purchased from BOCS on (08) 9484 1133 or visit www.bocsticketing.com.au

Open Gardens
 

For details of other garden openings, consult Australia’s Open Garden Scheme Guide or visit www.opengarden.org.au

NSW
 

Jan 17-18 Crookwell
Crystal Brook Lavender Farm, Tyrl Tyrl Rd, via Crookwell; 10am-4.30pm, adult entry $5. This commercial lavender farm features a huge variety of lavender species and cultivars, and there will be talks on lavender distillation and production.

Jan 24-25 Near Orange
The Old Clifton Grove Homestead, 2 Coolabah Dve, Clifton Grove (near Orange), 10am-4.30pm, adult entry $5. An historic farmhouse is surrounded by a cottage garden brimming with plantings. Its Biocycle system utilises treated greywater to sustain fruit trees, berries and a thriving vegetable patch.
 

Vic

Jan 25 Lunch near Mildura
At Food with Elina and Stefano, in the cantina between the vines and vegetable garden on her table grape growing property, Elina Gareffa will demonstrate preparation of traditional rustic Italian food including bread baked in the wood-fired oven, and dishes using her own produce. Stefano de Pieri will join in and then sit down with guests for lunch. Tickets $110 includes demonstration, morning coffee, and lunch with wine, from 9am–2pm. Numbers strictly limited so bookings essential. Book online at www.opengarden.org.au or ring (03) 9537 3890.

Jan 24-25 Three gardens near Mildura
Productive gardens, 10am-4.30pm, adult entry $5 for each garden.
At Ampelon, a huge kitchen garden approached via ornamental plantings, sweeping lawns and a willow-shaded lake. It’s at Pitman Ave, Gol Gol.
At Anita’s Herbs & Cottage Plants, a small well-structured garden generating an array of produce for a kitchen that never stops baking, bottling and preserving. It’s at Koorlong Ave, Irymple.
At the Fowler Bower, produce blends with hardy flowering plants and succulents in an informal garden where poultry range freely. It’s at 8 Regina Ave, Cabarita.

Jan 10-11 Two gardens at Sorrento
Karkalla & Offshore, via 10 Keating Ave, Sorrento. 10am-4.30pm, adult entry $10 joint fee for both gardens. Karkalla is an exceptional modern garden designed by Fiona Brockhoff in coastal bushland, while Offshore is a superb naturalistic landscape of local indigenous and other native plants sheltering behind sand dunes.
 

SA
 

Jan 24-25 Mylor
Tupelo Grove, Bradbury Rd, Mylor, 10am-4.30pm, adult entry $5. A plant-lover’s paradise with ideas for drought-tolerant planting schemes, water recycling and aquatic plants.
 

Tas
 

Jan 24-25 Branxholm
Mara Ponds, 1366 Warrentinna Rd, Branxholm.
10am-4.30pm, adult entry $5.
A stand of towering eucalypts and a lake spilling into well-planted ponds provides a tranquil environment for this summer garden.
 

WA
 

Jan 17-18 Casuarina
Picturesque Gardens, 1060 Thomas Rd, Casuarina, 10am-4.30pm, adult entry $5. Archways and trellis walks are features of this park-like garden abounding with the scent and colour of honeysuckle and roses including ‘Pierre de Ronsard’ and hybrid teas.

Whats On

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