Day 150 Karrinyup, (Araluen Botanic Park), Perth, WA

***BE WARNED. SERIOUS TULIP SPAM**. Hahahahah.....

The Tulip Festival at Araluen Botanic Park was everything and more.  My love of flowers runs deep and in particular, Tulips. So to see so many colours, shapes and sizes of this beautiful flower, well it really was a dream come true.

We were on the road by 9am and although Araluen Botanic Park is 54km from us, with Perths brilliant freeways we arrived at the Botanic Park in less than an hour.  The drive takes us high into the mountains where the soil is a rich loam and the cooler temperature allows for a myriad of plants to be grown. It reminds me a little of Julatten albeit much cooler.

There is a long line up of cars waiting to enter the park when we arrive, but once inside the gate it is easy to find a park at one of the three car parks.  We park the car and it is a short walk to the first of the Tulip beds at Centenary Lawn.  The brochure we are handed as we entered the park tell us that there are 120,000 Tulips planted throughout the park as well as a variety of spring blooms.  

Camellias, Azaleas and Grand Magnolia trees are also in full bloom and against the backdrop of the native bushland setting there are just stunning.  There is also a dedicated area for Roses of every imaginable colour and even at this time of the year it is quite amazing to see so many blooms.

The Tulips are dotted everywhere around the Botanic Park and it is wonderful to turn a corner and be met with so much colour.....such a happy colour!  Philip loves the Orange Tulips the best and I have to agree.  They are really quite spectacular.

We continue our walk towards the Grove of the Unforgotten with its terraced gardens and tumbling water feature and then we pass the ruins of the old Log Cabin.  Margaret Simons Pergola with its stone pillars is the next  place we pass and I would love to see it when it is in full bloom with its trailing wisteria.

The furtherest point from where the car is parked is the Ampitheatre and the Concourse where people have spread out their picnic blankets on the green grass and are laying back to soak up the beautiful sunshine and the colourful gardens.

There is a an online recommendation to enjoy lunch at Chalet Healy Cafe but the line up for a table is long and as it is only just after midday we make the decision to hold off on lunch until we arrive home.  We meander our way back to the carpark and see things that we didn't see on our first pass.  It is that kind of place really with so many little hidden nooks and crannies just waiting to be explored.  My heart is full as we drive away from the Araluen Botanic Park and I am so grateful that we happened to be in the right spot at the right time to enjoy this beautiful place.