A photographer friend is visiting us, she is interested in taking flower photographs. Where are the best places around Melbourne to see cherry/plum blossoms, roses, etc. this time of the year? Thanks for any suggestions and advice.
Where Do The Flowers Bloom at This Time of Year?
BendBridge on 21/08/2025 - 08:59
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Clanker
to see cherry/plum blossoms, roses, etc
Why don't you take them to see native blossoms? Far more attractive in my opinion and your friend is unlikely to see elsewhere.
Take them on a bush walk in a national park.
The mountains bloom in September.
Around Sydney we go to the Blue Mountains
Thats when they have the flower festivals
As suggested above, national parks for Australian native blossoms.
However, the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden (formerly the National Rhododendron Garden) will has a very wide range of flowering trees.
Amazing place…
At this time of year most flowers are still budding.
For roses specifically you might get lucky at the https://www.vicstaterosegarden.com.au/ , although they've just finished a major prune in prep for Nox/Dec flowering season so probably not.
The Dandenong Ranges have a large number of gardens. Start at Cloudehill Nursery https://cloudehill.com.au/ which has something at all times of year. Also Karwarra Australian Native Botanic Garden / Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda for natives, and several parks vic gardens such as George Tindale.
In the south east the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens is always worth a visit.
On the road to Geelong check out https://roraimanursery.com.au/ for lots of interesting cactus.
Bit of a drive, but worth it if your fried loves flowers…The biggest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere is Floriade, held annually in Canberra, Australia. It is Australia's biggest celebration of spring and features over one million blooms in Commonwealth Park. The 2025 event will run from September 13 to October 1
We went a couple of years ago, and found it pretty ordinary. A lot of flowers but not especially well-arranged. Some flower beds were not in bloom, while others looked tired.
Maybe things have improved since?
Botanical Gardens. Old people's gardens.
What are the young people’s gardens?
There's got to be loads of public gardens in Melbourne. ChatGPT says there are six major formal public gardens.
Which one did they recommend?
Top Picks for August Blooms:
• Fitzroy Gardens – Best for iconic, colorful spring flowers like tulips.
• Royal Botanic Gardens (Melbourne) – Most reliable for a wide variety of flowering blooms and immersive garden experiences.Royal Botanic Gardens: Excellent – camellias, perennials, wattle
Fitzroy Gardens: Fantastic – tulips & primulas in bloom
Carlton Gardens: Good – spring color and event gardens
Flagstaff Gardens: Modest – mainly greenery
Maranoa Gardens: Limited – peak bloom later in season
Cranbourne Gardens: Limited – native blooms follow laterDoes it recommend which chairs to sit on?
@Stealtho: Could you clarify what you mean by “chairs”?
Are you talking about specific seating areas or benches in one of Melbourne’s gardens, or are you asking about what kind of portable chairs to bring with you?
I was at the Melbourne Town Hall last week and there were lots of flowers of all colours at the front. I stopped to take photos and 2 or 3 others did as well while I was there.
if she's still around mid-Sept the tulips should be in bloom at the Tesselaar Festival - it's bout a 60 mins drive from Melb (you can also take the train + bus). i went last year and it was pretty nice - feels a bit commercialized but still lovely for photos.
If you want wildflowers, try mullewa or mingenew or brand highway or maybe east of geraldton in WA
Maybe even yalgoo road area?
Ask chat get.
Don't know but asked chatgpt for you;
At the end of August/early September you’re still in late winter to early spring in Victoria, so cherry/plum blossoms and roses aren’t typically at their peak yet. You may see a few individual trees flowering if the season is warm, but it isn’t a guaranteed or major display.
What you’re likely to see around that time
Early spring bulbs and shrubs: daffodils/jonquils, magnolias, camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons in some spots.
Some ornamental trees may have a few blossoms if the year is warm, but it’s sporadic (cherry/plum trees aren’t a big, reliable display in Victoria).
Roses: usually later in spring; Melbourne’s main rose season tends to start in October and run through November and December. You might see a few early blooms in sheltered spots, but it’s not the norm.
Where to go if you want reliable early blooms (late Aug/Sep)
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria campuses (Melbourne and Cranbourne) for early spring plant displays.
Dandenong Ranges towns (Olinda, Sassafras) for early shrubs and spring flowering species.
Tulip Festival timeframes (late Aug–Oct) in Silvan, if the year’s weather cooperates.
Grampians and coastal/western Gippsland spots for early wildflower and shrub displays when weather is mild.