Madison Eastmond, Murray Pioneer
Riverlanders, rosarians, and visitors can now ‘stop and smell the roses’ for the month of October, with celebrations for the 30th Rose and Garden Festival beginning this week.
With the region now in bloom, the 2024 program will kick off on Friday with a number of popular returning components to be held until 27 October, including the Renmark Institute floral display, the Festival Fair, Gala Dinner, and the Waikerie and Districts Community Flower Show.
The upcoming week of festivities will also include 35 open gardens, with 12 opening for the first time for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Returning to Loxton in 2017, Nola Schulz said she was once the only private open garden for the town in the program. However, after a few years of calling and visiting potential gardeners and event businesses, Loxton now represents almost a third of the gardens open for 2024.
“Loxton used to be known as the ‘garden city of the Riverland’ but water restrictions and other factors swallowed this title up,” she said.
“I am overwhelmed with all the gardeners and event co-ordinators from all over the Riverland who have joined the 2024 Riverland Rose and Garden Festival. I am delighted to say that Loxton and now Moorook 2024 Open Gardens and Events has grown to this year having nine open gardens, including Loxton Primary School and four events including Loxton High School.
“This is not so much about having a perfect garden, but really about how ideas from passionate gardeners can help new gardeners — especially once realising how the sun and seasons bring the right spot for plants, sun and shade.
“Let the gardens be a joy for all, for those travelling from interstate, SA, and our Riverland.”
For their first year, Templeton on Murray will also be partaking in the festival, opening their grounds to the Riverland.
“We’re thrilled to participate in this year’s festival,” Templeton on Murray owner Phillip Dix said.
“It’s our first time opening our garden to the public, and we’re eager to showcase the beauty of Templeton.
“After many years of change and development, we can’t wait to share our property with everyone.”
Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said the 30th anniversary of the Rose and Garden Festival was an “impressive milestone” and a “testament to the dedication of the event organisers and wonderful programming which continually inspires visitors to ‘stop and smell the roses’ in this beautiful part of the world”.
“The festival is a true celebration of South Australia’s Riverland reg-ion which boasts incredible nature and wildlife, and breathtaking experiences around Australia’s longest river,” she said.
“Events like the Riverland Rose and Garden Festival help motivate people to commit to a trip, so I encourage everyone to explore a little more of the Riverland while in the region — from getting out onto the mighty Murray River, enjoying the many wineries and distilleries, as well as taking in the stunning sceneries along the way.”
For more information on the Riverland Rose Festival, visit the website (www.riverlandrosesandgardens. com.au), or pick up a full program at any Riverland visitor information centre.
This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 16 October 2024.
