Garden Festival in Leura turns 51 – still has ‘spring in its step’

Get ready– see and photograph the flowers, get set– smell the fragrances, go! … and breathe in the fresh air and atmosphere.

Set in Leura , high in the Blue Mountains the Leura Spring Garden Festival has kicked off once again in 2015 in the first and second weekend in October- with the actual dates of the festival from Oct 4-15.

Time to really smell the roses, the azaleas, the rhododendrons(mountain specific blooms) and all the sensations that meet the eye in a total of 10 fabulous and unique gardens open to the public.

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Leura, situated only minutes from the breathtaking escarpment and stunning views of the Jamieson Valley home to the icons known as the 3 sisters, is not only revered for the sheer beauty of the well loved and executed private gardens to be found there but it is the host to the cultural festival held on the weekend of October 10 and 11 in the cherry-tree lined main streets. Stalls of hand made crafted items and musical buskers and performers add to the wonderful village atmosphere that is Leura all year round.

Leura turns on this magic show ushered in by the gorgeous Spring weather and sustained by the hard work of gardeners and a robust volunteers society in gardens as well known as the National Trust’s The Everglades through to Waldorf Leura Resort Gardens and many private gardens – labours of love.

Many of the Blue Mountains’ exotics were introduced by early migrants who missed European spring displays.

In the 1930s, Belgian-born Henri Van de Velde persuaded Danish-born landscape designer Paul Sorenson to create what’s now one of Australia’s most significant heritage gardens.

The gardens at Everglades Historic House feature spring blossoms such as crab apple, lilac and magnolia, and a terrace lined with weeping cherries in cascades of pink. Spring never fails to bring joy to Leura’s gardens.