As spring rolls around, Moama Botanic Gardens are bursting to life with the green thumbs behind its upkeep inviting visitors and locals alike to take a stroll and get lost in an “oasis of nature”.
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Located at the heart of Moama Recreational Reserve, the gardens designed by landscape artist Chris Dance feature a lake, dry billabong, settlers’ garden, and much more showcasing the beauty of Australia’s natural offerings.
Starting as a community project to enhance the recreation reserve, the gardens are now supported by Murray River Council and a dedicated team of volunteers that meet weekly to get their hands dirty.
Officially opened in 2011, they’re enjoyed regularly by schools, community groups, and locals from both sides of the border who come to wander the paths, relax on the benches, and take in the wide variety of wildlife that passes through the gardens.
Populated almost exclusively with native and Indigenous plants, the space offers different bursts of colour throughout the year, with volunteer Nancye Smith saying warmer months were a great time to visit.
“Spring is beautiful because you get all the new leaves,” Ms Smith said.
“The variety of different foliage is just gorgeous.”
From flowering wattles to paths carpeted with gum blossoms and thriving Indigenous grasses, every corner is picturesque and a demonstration of how to create thriving green space in local conditions.
Sally Cuttriss, a volunteer at the gardens, said visitors should properly take the time to explore the space and see if inspiration strikes them.
“People don’t need to rush through the gardens,” Sally said.
“Take it all in, drink it in.”
Volunteer Ron Hicks said lots of the techniques on show at the Botanic Gardens could be easily replicated at home.
“We’re on a flood plain here,” Ron said.
“It’s clay soils, and you’ll get a better garden if you mound up.
“We’ve bought dirt in and then used a little bit of light mulching to keep the weeds down a bit.”
He’s inviting visitors to come and see how some of the garden’s native displays draw attention, even when flowers aren’t blooming.
“When you’re planting a native garden, you’re looking at planting a whole lot of different forms of leaves,” Ron said.
“You get a lot of different things that range from really bright greens through to greys (because) when you’ve got no flowers, it’s the leaves that provide interest and the colour and form provide that.
“If you do it in your home garden, low plants at the front, higher plants at the back.”
The gardens longest serving volunteer Nancye Smith has one big tip she wants visitors to take from seeing the gardens.
It’s the same thing she tells every prospective volunteer, and, as is the case with all the best advice, it’s something she’s learnt from her mother.
“Never walk past a weed,” Nancye said.
“Come and enjoy the plants as they go through their cycle of flowering and growth.
“Sit (on one of the benches) and watch the world go by, you’ll be surprised with what you see.
“There’s so many birds and it’s just so peaceful.
“It’s becoming such a beautiful area now with everything growing.”
The Moama Botanic Gardens are always open and entry is free.
The gardens are located at 52 Perricoota Rd, Moama, near the playground.
To volunteer, show up to one of the group’s sessions, which run every Monday morning from 9am.