September is Spring Down Under. It is a most beautiful season in Western Australia, famed for  spectacular wildflowers . Right here in Perth, we need venture no further than Kings Park to have a foretaste of what’s in store, especially for those too time poor or unable to venture further afield. I was there on the first day to view the displays and was not disappointed.

Kings Park in Spring sketch by Bee K C Tan

There are flower festivals in many other places and a favourite is the Yates Springtime Tulip Festival at Araluen Botanic Park in the Perth hills. This year the plantings are really spectacular and I was in tulip heaven.

Araluen Botanic Garden- watercolour sketch     by Bee K C Tan

For the first time, I also experienced picnicking under the spring blossoms at S & R Orchards also in the Perth hills where visitors flocked by the thousands to their Spring Blossom Festival especially on weekends. It reminded me of the Cherry Blossom festival in Japan. I had a great time sketching there.

S&R Orchard Picnic under the blossoms sketch by Bee K C Tan

S&R Orchard blossoms festival sketch                by Bee K C Tan

Apart from flower festivals, there are also the many Spring Markets which pop up. I went to the Roleystone Spring Markets and had a really good time, sampling local produce and bringing home some souvenirs for family and friends.

Roleystone Spring Market sketch                        by Bee K C Tan

What I Bought At the Markets in Roleystone    by Bee K C Tan

Roleystone Spring Markets Sketch                      by Bee K C Tan

There are so many things to do and see in Spring! Last but not least, we have our own precious field of wildflowers at our studios at Settlers Cottage too, right in our own backyard!

Sketching Spring at Settlers Cottage by Bee K C Tan