Episode: #2 09/09/2006
Presenter: Kim Syrus

The Wittunga Botanic Gardens in Blackwood is a 14 hectare plant paradise. Filled with a huge range of species from both Australia and South Africa, now is a perfect time to visit and enjoy this spectacular plant oasis

Grab a free map from the front entrance and meander along the many pathways, check out the diverse birdlife and enjoy the fantastic views. All centred around a wonderful duck filled lake.

Special collections featuring plants from the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and South Western Australia, are dotted around the garden providing visitors with a taste of each region's unique flora.

If you love colour then begin with a wander through the Erica's. In peak bloom, spend some time walking through the group of amazing South African ornamentals.

Full marks for colour has to go to the Erica sparsa. The beauty is completely smothered in small trumpet shaped mauve flowers. There is not a leaf in sight!

With backyards shrinking, finding space for majestic trees like our very own South Australian Blue Gum, is getting really difficult. Thank goodness we can still enjoy the wonderful icons, if not in our own home, then up in Wittunga.

While May Gibbs gave us the big bad banksias men, this area of the garden is dedicated to the nicer branch of the family. I'm sure all will be forgiven when you take a walk through the stunning displays of Banksia's both short and tall.

The show stopping Heath Banksia, filled with golden bronze blooms, looking more like candles than flowers, is an absolute standout. Well worth considering for your own garden.

Banksia blechnafolia is a remarkable ground covering banksias, low growing and spreading. Watch it blanket the ground with a thicket of serrated leaves and carefully hidden blooms

Masses of bright golden acacia blooms shine like beacons through the bush. The ever popular Cootamundra Wattle and the large Black Wattle just brim full of flower, creating a magnet not only for people, but the local birds & bees as well.

There is so much to see in Wittunga so relax in one of Adelaide's best kept bush corners.

WittungaBotanic Garden
Shepherd's Hill Road
Blackwood SA 5051
Australia

Phone: (61 8) 8370 8370
Fax: (61 8) 8339 6851

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/botanicgardens/wittunga.html