A royal spring walk in a cool climate garden

In a stunning spot next to the Derwent River in Hobart, the second oldest botanical garden in Australia can be found. Or in these pandemic times, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens can be found here on your screen..

While not as good as the real thing, exposure to nature via a screen can still have comparable benefits to our well being, studies are finding. So while many of us can’t visit the gardens, here’s some beautiful imagery of early spring at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens taken by Camille Heagney, contributor to The Flower Press.

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens span across 16 hectares (34.6 acres) and they are home to the largest collection of mature conifers in the Southern Hemisphere, the only sub-antarctic plant house in the world and an impressive variety of horticultural displays.

Established in 1818, (two years after Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens opened), the land was originally occupied by the Muwinina people. Archaeological excavations have uncovered extensive shell middens and stone artifacts dating back more than 5000 years.

The gardens also contain some of Tasmania’s most significant built heritage including the Arthur Wall – a hollow brick wall – once common in Britain – that can be heated to encourage the growth of fruit trees planted beside it.