S&R Orchard: Prolonged cool spell proves to be a blessing for Perth Hill’s annual Bloom Festival

While Perth residents have endured unseasonably chilly weather — it has proved to be a blessing for flower lovers. The cooler temperatures are expected to extend the blooming period of fruit trees in the Perth Hills, which has been welcomed by S&R Orchard owner Santino Costanzo who runs the annual Blossom Festival. Every spring the event draws thousands to Walliston — 30 minutes drive from Perth‘s CBD — to his small family orchard for his agritourism venture. There is a bright pink car full of flowers, the perfect prop for photos, as well as an animal farm, tractor rides, food vans, a Ferris wheel, bouncy castle and other family-friendly activities. An unseasonably warmer August last year prompted an earlier season, but Mr Costanzo said he expected a longer-lasting display this year. “The season is looking good — much better than last year,” Mr Costanzo said. “It was early last year. It blossomed quick and it didn’t last. This year, with the later cooler weather, it’s blossoming slowly. “I think we’ve picked the right week to open. But if we have a string of 20C days it might not last. So, we’re hoping for some nice spring days.” Mr Costanzo expects 5000 people to attend the ticketed springtime wonderland from September 9 to 29. He encouraged people to bring their family and picnic basket to enjoy a day out in the orchard. “There will be a lot more props out this year and we’ve changed the theme a little bit too, there will be a lot more pink,” he said. Since starting as a small-scale event, he now boasts more than 40 staff and is one of the most well-known agritourism ventures in the Perth hills. “In the first year, we didn’t have car parking and we caused chaos. We’re organised now,” he said. Mr Costanzo said families, social media influencers, and tourists were among those who flock to the event each year for the sea of pink. “We had a bit of a lull through COVID because the tourists weren’t able to come but we’re expecting pre-COVID levels now,” he said. One concern for Mr Costanzo is the polyphagous shot-hole borer, a destructive pest that could pose a threat to the orchard’s trees that has infected thousands across Perth. However, he believed the risk of the pest being introduced by visitors was low. “It could kill our trees if it was to get into our orchard. We know that it’s up in the hills but we’re not sure where or how close it is,” he said. “We do really worry but no one would be bringing wood chipping or wood in for the festival.”