Spring events cancelled at Cowra Japanese Garden

Unfortunately they have also had to be cancelled due to the ongoing uncertainties around the pandemic.

Garden Manager Shane Budge said it was "very disappointing" to have to cancel the activities but the current circumstances gave them little option.

"It was sad to have to cancel the bookings at motels for Sakura Matsuri and it would have been a real shame to book people in and then have to cancel again last minute," he said.

"The fact is a lot of our entertainers and facilitators are based in Melbourne or Sydney and with all the uncertainty it's hard to plan ahead.

"If we have to cancel last minute it's a whole lot of cost and disruption to not only us but them as well.

"Especially with the borders being closed, who knows if or when they will reopen between the end of September."

However Mr Budge said the Garden would still be a perfect destination for the family throughout Spring.

"Come September we'll be open from 9am to 5pm and extended once daylight savings kicks in in October," he said.

"The blossoms will be arriving around mid September we expect, depending on the season and weather, they should be there through to early November.

"At that time of year the garden is at its most vibrant, there's a whole lot to see in terms of blossoms and plant varieties.

"The wildlife is active, fish feeding will be available again and it will be a great time of year to bring a picnic or pop into the cafe."

He said there was still plenty for visitors to take in within the Cultural Centre as well.

"We still have the Cultural Centre display and the exhibition room will still be running," he said.

"We've got Michelle Coombes in there at the moment with her pottery and some artworks from the students at St Raphael's until the end of August and after that will be the Stuart Vorias.

"So each month the exhibition room will still have a different artist in it."

Mr Budge said there was still a good chance of the Garden bringing visitors to town despite these cancellations.

"Between the GoFundMe and the Facebook fundraiser we've reached almost $40,000 in online donations," he said.

"We've been very fortunate to have some private donors support us and support packages from the state and federal governments that helped us maintain the garden when we were closed.

"Also assistance of Cowra Council, Cowra tourism and the locals have kept us going.

"So we still have a lot of inquires about the blossoms and people coming to visit in September/October so hopefully that will assist with filling motels and some tourism spending in the town."