An exquisite display of dahlias are in full bloom until April

As the weather cools and the leaves start to change, a road trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains is a must-see. The patchwork of colour along the Bells Line of Road is a breathtaking reminder that winter is around the corner. 

Leave the stress of the city behind you and weave through the Blue Mountains to discover quaint country towns and a mix of experiences that the whole family can enjoy. Autumn in particular is a great time of year to get cozy in the Blue Mountains and see stunning displays of nature. 

Blooming beauties

It's not all about the trees and falling leaves, Dahlias are considered one of the most spectacular garden flowers and they are in full bloom at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah until the end of April.  

These wide variety of blooms and bold colours are truly a sight to see. This well established display has been a local favourite with many visitors coming far and wide to sit amongst the flowers in the peaceful Formal Garden.
 

Ready for a close up

This display attracts nature photographers as well as green thumbs looking for inspiration. The Curator Manager at the Garden, Greg Bourke, just so happened to be a well known photographer too.

Below is selection of visitor favourites that have been taken by Greg. Continue reading for a few growing tips so that you too can have Dahlias in your garden. 

A few growing tips from Greg Bourke

Common in gardens across Australia in the early to mid 1900’s, the Dahlia brought colour and joy to homes at a time that was challenging for many households. Anyone could grow them but for some reason, all but the dedicated lost interest. 

Here are a few gardening tips:

• They can be grown in pots or in the ground depending on type of cultivar. This will determine the size of pot, remember, some get pretty big

• Soil is best slightly acidic and free draining

• Water well through the growing period (generally October to April) and keep dry when dormant

• Some gardeners lift their tubers during the dormant period but in Australia the soil rarely gets so cold that this is required

• If you get a lot of rain in winter, you may wish to cover them or lift them and store them in a cool dark space in slightly damp conditions

• ​Dahlias love sun, the more the better! Choose a bright spot for them.  

​Learn more about the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah here.