by Carla Caruso

Your Adelaide Park Lands have been in show-off mode this autumn.

With the country experiencing warmer, drier days than usual this season, the autumnal colours have been shining ever brighter.  

Andy Hart, the senior horticultural curator at the Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11), says the continued warmth has even confused some plants.

“We have a Pyrus nivalis [ornamental pear tree] that has been flowering in the rose garden over the last couple of weeks. This would normally be a spring blossom tree.

“The rose garden is late for its autumn flush and is going to look great in the next week or so.

“There are a few deciduous plants, where the leaves are holding on longer than an ‘average’ year [too].”

Some of the autumn colour in the Eremophila Garden section of the Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11).

In honour of the season, we asked a few park-goers what they enjoy most about this time of year in Your Park Lands. Read on below…

Helen Hutton, APA Park Ambassador for Tarntanya Wama (Park 26)

Helen says: “Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons to visit the Adelaide Park Lands.

“The soft sunlight and crisp autumn days give a different life to this treasured feature of our beautiful city.

“There are many special places in the Park Lands. Two of my favourites are Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli (Park 27) and Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1).  

“Both parks are large – you can spend time exploring both and always discover something new.

“I also like to start in one park and walk along the river to the other. You can start at the Torrens Lake weir, near the Par 3 golf course in Possum Park, which comes alive with autumn colours at this time of the year.

“Then walk along Karrawirra Parri / River Torrens, past olive trees and under the railway bridge, which brings you out at Bonython Park.

“The colours of deciduous trees contrast so well with the native trees – and reflect in the river in this popular place.

“Nature lovers will definitely enjoy both these parks; and coffee lovers. There is a cafe at each of these parks, which add to the enjoyment of being in the Park Lands in autumn.”

Peter Sansom, APA Park Ambassador for Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21)

“My favourite spot is the park I am ambassador for [Park 21], and more specifically, Veale Gardens. The wide variety of trees means different colours are to be seen.

“The roses are still blooming, and the park is full of wonderful smells and colours.

“For me, it is also being able to see the change in seasons expressed within my favourite park. It is the same place but different all through the year.

“Being an apartment-dweller, this gives me a connection to the natural world and the cycles of the seasons – beyond the weather report.”

Tully Haines, keen photographer and data officer

“I enjoy autumn most in Lefevre Park (Nantu Wama / Park 6), the ‘Horse Park’.

“I know most people would go looking for autumn leaves.

“But I like how, in Lefevre Park, it’s dry after summer.

“It gives me the feeling — with its gum trees, horse paddocks, old unkept ovals, and even the tennis courts — that I’m walking through the outskirts of a country town.

“Like you’ve left the city and suburbs entirely.”

Main photo (top) thanks to the Adelaide Botanic Garden.