Things to do in Tasmania in spring are numerous – you really are spoilt for choice. Spring is almost in the air around North West Tasmania and this is particularly evident by the luscious rolling hills, blooming gardens and tulip coated fields. It is now that our weather starts to warm up, and our natural surroundings are green and in full bloom. As one of the most pristine parts of Tasmania, it’s safe to say springtime is one of the most magical times to experience our part of the state.
At Glencoe, we are getting ready for spring and everything it brings. Our big focus at Glencoe B&B at the moment is getting the gardens all tidied up. There is a lot of work involved in this and we have a good reason to make sure our gardens are looking lovely by November. The Kentish Garden Club holds Garden Fest on the last weekend in November. This is an open garden weekend where private gardens are open to the public to look around and our garden is no exception. We are also going to have a little café running so people can get a cuppa, something sweet or have a bite to eat for lunch.
We are doing a lot of work in the vegetable garden getting it read to plant…and have tamed the wild raspberry patch and showed the blueberry patch some love, too. The strawberries had gone a little wild and had taken over the asparagus. In a few months, we hope to be pretty self-sufficient with vegetables. We have planted 20 rhododendrons down the driveway. In addition, we have a new garden planned for the corner near the front paddocks, but the biggest job is keeping the chickens under control. A few managed to get into the vegetable garden today and dug up the seedlings I had just planted.
For the gardeners amongst you, there are a lot of events happening around the local area and beyond. For others, there are almost too many activities to mention for visitors.
Travelling up the coast to Burnie, the Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens will provide you with a spectacular colour display in spring. From a blackberry-covered hillside to a world-recognised woodland garden, this magnificent place showcases and protects the Rhododendron Genus tree. A passionate not-for-profit group also maintains these gardens and works tirelessly to keep the property looking beautiful for visitors. Peak flowering periods to see them are September to November.
A little further up is the Wynard Tulip Festival. It is a spectacular day of festivities held on Saturday 8th October – a one-day feast for all the senses smell, sight, hearing and taste. Set on the banks of the Inglis River, Gutteridge Gardens comes to life with live music all day, the best local produce, and talented makers from around Tasmania with displays from community groups ending the fabulous day with fireworks at 9pm. The festival celebrates the breathtaking tulips in full bloom at the Table Cape Tulip Farm, where you can walk in the hectares of tulips that flower for one month every spring. Best viewing is normally the first two weeks of October. The farm has impressive indoor displays featuring floral arrangements and has bulbs for sale.
More locally, the Latrobe Garden Club has a garden trail in the first weekend of December. Their garden trail offers 6 unique gardens to stimulate the senses, from cottage to rambling woodland, and from rose to stunning water views – all in the historic township of Latrobe and outskirts. You will be tempted to enjoy Devonshire teas, special events for children, artwork and plant sales. A wonderful raffle that will support the work of the RSPCA is also run.
The Tasmanian Arboretum at Eugenia is a 66ha park with approx. 5,300 living trees and around 1,500 individual species – all from unique places across Asia, the Himalayas, Europe, North America and South America. The plantings are arranged geographically and have been carefully recorded to ensure an informative experience for visitors. It is also a great place to see platypus in their natural environment.
Finally, the Kentish Garden Club also has their FlowerFest in February 2023. Since the early 1900s, a local show has been staged in Sheffield. Those first shows were typical of a country fair showcasing local produce, animals, arts and crafts and a great deal more – then ending in a dance on the main street in Sheffield. Today FlowerFest focuses on floral displays and is held in the Sheffield Town Hall. As well as flowers, there are plant displays, plant and produce stalls, a gardening bookstall and a mega raffle. Specific flower and plant exhibits include flower and foliage; Hydrangea displays; Rose displays; Dahlia displays; containers, potted plant and bonsai displays; flower and novelty arrangements, as well as a fruit and vegetable competition.
There really are so many wonderful things to do in Tasmania in spring, why not come and stay while you explore the area. Just have a look at some of the pictures from around the state in spring time.
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