A celebration of our natural environment, gardening and sustainability.
Join us at Rippon Lea Estate for a day of botanical fun with an open-air market in partnership with The Rose Street Market, informative garden tours and walks, displays and activities, plus so much more.
This year’s highlights
Plant Sale: This year will be our biggest plant sale yet! Our gardening team have been very busy propagating and potting up ready for this year’s festival.
Open Air Market: Shop from local makers and growers.
Birdsong tour: Naturalist, Gio Fitzpatrick, takes you on an interpretive audio tour of the birds of the Rippon Lea Estate. You can listen to the recording on your own device during the festival – access the audio tour here.
Bonsai Exhibition: The Bonsai Society of Victoria will be showcasing some of the very finest examples from their collection. Held in the opulent interior of the Rippon Lea ballroom, visitors will see the technique of traditional Japanese styles and contemporary relationships applied to the bonsai craft.
Bugs on the Estate: explore a photographic exhibition of the micro world of bugs that can be found at the Estate.
Buttercup the Cow: our beloved Botanica mascot will return again with milking and butter making demonstrations.
Gardening Book Sale: shop pre-loved gardening books, all under $5 each.
Garden Tours: join the Rippon Lea gardeners and volunteers on a tour, including the social history of this magnificent Victorian era pleasure garden , a discovery of significant trees, and a gardening Q&A.
Entertainment: Catch roving performances throughout the day.
Food Vans: Bring a picnic blanket to enjoy lunch on the lawns.
Entry is by gold coin per person. Help us track our capacity by registering your attendance.
Supported by The City Of Glen Eira