@ Open Gardens Festival …
In its 35th year, Day 1 of the annual two-day Springtime on the Mountain Festival of Open Gardens, was regretably cancelled on short notice due to an overnight drenching of some 200mm falling on the mountain.
Day 2 of the festival saw much improved weather with a pleasant sunny day. The crowds came, much to the relief of organisers, the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club. Events such as these, are important to a region, not only for residents to showcase their gardens, but the potential benefits to local businesses like nurseries and hospitality.
FUN FACT:
Under the My Open Garden banner, Queensland ranks third behind New South Wales/ACT and Victoria for the number of gardens/events held in 2022.
Disappointed that the bus trip to go to the festival didn’t go ahead as planned on the Friday, several members of the Beaudesert U3A Gardeners (BUGs), determined not to miss out, made their own way up the mountain on the Saturday.
Gardeners, in general, love to look at other people’s gardens and observe what other gardeners do. They get ideas and swap stories, something which resonates with members of BUGs, when they host their regular member garden visits. Lovingly getting their hands dirty, it has been said that some hard work in the garden is worth it when you can sit back and look at beautiful flowers or literally eat the fruits of your labours.
All the displayed gardens were superbly presented and maintained, while being an absolute credit to the green thumbs of the mountain, not surprising though, in a region renowned for its rich, red volcanic soil, seasonally producing a variety of fruit and vegetables like avocados, kiwi fruit, and rhubarb.
With five very unique gardens on show, there was something for everyone, from the novice to the experienced gardener and no shortage of inspiration to be had.
The Gardens:
- Maison de Fleurs – a pretty cottage garden, just eighteen months in the creation.
- Tamborine Mountain Flower Farm – five acres of established lawns featuring heritage flower varieties.
- Arawee – complete with a vege patch and a propagation centre for plants to support populations of the Richmond Birdwing butterfly.
- Hall-Roland Garden – a relaxed and informal garden overlooking a spectacular coastal view.
- Tregartha – a secluded and family orientated garden near Gallery Walk.
Other Nearby Gardening Points Of Interest:
1. The Tamborine Mountain Botanical Gardens, located in Forsythia Drive was worthy of the day with visitors being able to enjoy a leisurely stroll along tropical rainforest trails and a bit of quiet time in the Japanese Garden. If you’re ever there on a Monday morning, check out the Tai-Chi exponents who practice in the gardens overlooking the beautiful lake.
2. The Tamborine Mountain Landcare site had information available on projects that the group are involved in for those who were interested, as well as a sizeable collection of native plants, indigenous to the area.
BUGs operate a varied program in two formats: “Home” and “Away” and no we’re not talking about the television program. Home meetings, on the 3rd Friday of each month, typically include a guest presenter, for example, upcoming Beaudesert Landcare lecture to be held at The Club Beaudesert.
Away visits include to members gardens, events like the recent Springtime on the Mountain at Tamborine Mountain and July’s Queensland Garden Expo held in the Sunshine Coast’s hinterland town of Nambour, where a certain BUGs member got to meet and talk gardening with Costa, host of the popular ABC television program Gardening Australia. What an experience!
In the immortal words of Peter Cundall, former long-time host of Gardening Australia, “That’s your bloomin lot!”.
For further information on the group please go to Facebook Group, Beaudesert U3A Gardeners (BUGs). For general info, go to: www.beaudesertu3a.com or U3A Beaudesert Facebook.
by Diane Rewko (U3A Publicity Officer)