Wittunga Botanic Garden facts for kids

The Wittunga Botanic Garden is a special place in Adelaide, South Australia. It's one of three big gardens managed by the Botanic Gardens of South Australia. The other two are the Adelaide Botanic Garden and the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. You can find Wittunga Garden in Blackwood, on the side of the Adelaide Hills.

A Garden's Journey

The Wittunga Garden started in 1901. It was first a formal English garden at the home of Edwin Ashby. Over the years, Edwin's son, Arthur Keith Ashby, helped change it. They added plants from South Africa and native Australian plants.

In 1965, Keith Ashby gave the garden to the State. It opened to the public in 1975. Today, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia still manages it.

Amazing Plants to See

Wittunga Garden has amazing displays of plants. They look especially beautiful in spring. You can see many plants from South Africa, like Erica, Leucadendron, and Protea. These plants come from the Cape Province in South Africa. This area has a climate similar to Adelaide's. The garden also shows off colorful annual flowers and unusual bulbs.

The Australian part of the garden features plants from the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. It also has plants from southern Western Australia. You can find a great collection of eucalypt trees here.

You can walk along winding paths through the Terrace and Sandplain Gardens. This lets you see all these unique and colorful plants up close.

Wildlife in the Garden

Many different birds love to visit Wittunga Garden. They come for the sweet nectar found in the flowers. You might spot Pacific black ducks and Australian wood ducks. Look out for Australasian grebes and Eurasian coots too.

The garden has two ponds connected by a spillway. These ponds are home to many native water birds and amphibians. If you visit in warmer months, you might see Murray River turtles. They often bask in the sun on the muddy banks or float on the water.

What to Do at Wittunga

The garden has several small rotunda where you can sit and relax. There are also grassy lawns perfect for picnics. You can follow a trail with signs that explain more about the plants. It's a great place to learn and enjoy nature.

Fun Events

Every March, the Lions Club of Blackwood Inc. hosts an outdoor concert. This event is called "Wittunga Under the Stars." It started in 2003. You can enjoy live music, jazz, and dance performances. Past performers include the Bearded Gypsy Band and the St. John's Grammar School Band.

See also

In Spanish: Jardín botánico Wittunga para niños