ARID LANDS BOTANIC GARDEN: at Port Augusta in the Outback region of South Australia

Several years ago Postcards paid a visit to the then newly opened Arid Lands Botanic Garden outside Port Augusta. Back in late 1996 the dream of such a park was just taking shape as the native plants took root. But more than five years on and nature has worked her wonders.

"In this area that you can see now, they're all Erimophilas... and the word erimophila means desert loving ... they grow in areas under twelve inches of rainfall . . . and some grow in very, very dry areas where they may not get rain for two years and still survive."

Now is the perfect time to see these desert plants and the explosion of colour in late winter and early spring make the nearby Flinders Ranges a must for lovers of native plants.

"With the sweep of the Flinders ranges behind us . . . this is classic erimophila country?"

"Oh it's classic and this is the largest collection of Erimophilas anywhere in Australia in one place . . . and we have about a hundred and fifty varieties."

"And obviously the birds love it. You can hear them?"

"The birds . . . the birds help . . . Mainly the honey eaters help to pollinate them and also the wild bees. "

The Arid Lands Botanic Garden was the brainchild of John Zwar a man who saw arid land gardens overseas and thought much the same was long overdue here.

"He came back with an idea in his head that Port Augusta being on the very edge of the very arid area of Australia would be an ideal place to try and save the desert plants because a lot of them are becoming extinct."

The garden with its array of subtle colours from erimophillas to wattles offers a taste of what lies further north. Nearly two hundred years ago . . . other plant lovers from Matthew Flinders' expedition climbed nearby Mount Brown, the stunning backdrop to the Arid lands garden. It was named after Robert Brown, the naturalist on board The Investigator, who collected native plants which were later recorded in stunning sketches and water colours by the artist Ferdinand Bauer.

Bauer's fascination with what he saw is obvious. But over the years Australians have often dismissed the beauty of these desert plants an attitude which Faye Poole says is rapidly changing.

"People in Port Augusta come out here. They come out for a cup of coffee and they look through he Erimophila Garden and think I'm going to plant that and so they go to our nursery instead of planting roses."

People are becoming appreciative of the Arid Land plants because we have many.

"We have many Arid plants here . . . some that people have never seen and they are very beautiful when they flower."

Sampling the colour of our arid lands is one thing but before you leave the garden you should also try the Bluebush Café's smorgasbord of local dishes, like their qaundong sauces accompanying their range of pies and cakes.

It's just part of going native at the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens on the Pimba Road north of Port Augusta. It's free and is open daily.

If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Go to Postcard's previous visit to the Arid Land Botanic Gardens