Autumn gardens and nurseries to visit around Thornleigh
Autumn is here, so what better time of year to get out and about in the northern districts and beyond?
April and May are perfect for enjoying cooler weather and beautiful autumn colours. Here is a roundup of some of the gardens and nurseries that are close to our home turf of Thornleigh, West Pennant Hills, Normanhurst and Westleigh.
Local gardens to catch some colour
Our region is home to some of the best gardens in Sydney.
Lisgar Gardens, Hornsby
- Set into a hillside in the heart of Hornsby, Lisgar Gardens is best known for its camellias, which bloom in late autumn. With more than three hundred specimens in the garden, some are sure to be in flower when you visit.
Fagan Park, Galston
- A great day out for adults and kids, Fagan Park is stunning in the autumn months thanks to its extensive array of deciduous trees. Kids will have a ball with lots of open grass, two modern playgrounds, and bicycle parks around the gardens. At the same time, parents will enjoy the lake and its bridge, the 11 themed gardens, including Japanese, Dutch, Chinese and Mediterranean, the undercover BBQ facilities, and so much more.
Lilian Fraser Garden, Pennant Hills
- Dr Lilian Fraser was the third woman to become a biologist in Australia, and, in her old age, with no family of her own, she left her stunning gardens to the Hornsby Shire Council for the public to enjoy. Lilian Fraser Garden is a perfect place for an autumn picnic and stroll where you can enjoy the changing colour of the leaves and honour the memory of this remarkable woman.
Nurseries to visit
The northern districts are also home to some fabulous nurseries, which are great places to pick up plants for your own home or simply to visit for a day out.
- Plants Plus is in Cumberland Forest, Australia’s only metropolitan state forest. This means a visit to this nursery can also be a visit to a beautiful and significant piece of Aussie bushland. Enjoy the state forest and then pick up some native plants to add to your own garden.
- Located in Dural, Spring Colours Nursery may have spring in its name, but it is open all year round and stocks plants to suit any season. Its claim to fame is that it is Sydney's number-one plant delivery provider so you can visit to browse, then order home delivered plants for your garden – or shop online.
- Native plant giveaways: If you are looking for native plants for your garden, you can’t go past Hornsby Shire Council’s native plant giveaway. The council holds these events every autumn and spring. If you miss the autumn event this year, check their website around mid-winter to see when the spring event will occur.
What to plant this autumn
Want a colourful backyard or balcony this autumn? Here are some popular plant varieties:
- Banksia: Banksia is a perennial favourite in Australian gardens, and with good reason. Coming in a wide variety of sizes and with as many different flowers, banksias are hardy and long-living. They add a pop of colour to any midseason garden.
- Crowea: A small shrub well suited for cottage gardens, crowea has pretty little waxy flowers of pink to purple that bloom well in the autumn months.
- Correa: With its distinctive hanging flowers, correa is another plant that does well in Sydney gardens and flowers in autumn. Make sure to plant your correa in full sun to part shade.
- Camellia: Camellias, as mentioned above, flower in late autumn and through the winter months. They work beautifully as an evergreen hedge or a feature shrub and come in an array of different colours, including pink, white, red and bicolours.
Of course, if you’re planning to sell your home, creating an appealing garden can be a good strategy to help buyers fall in love. We can talk to you about garden upgrades before you put your place on the market.
Ready for an autumn home sale? Reach out to Page&Co today.
