Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Queensland Garden Expo

Even though we don't have a garden yet, we can dream. The Queensland Plant Expo was on at Nambour recently. On our previous visit a couple of years back, we stayed in Caloundra overnight as it was a two and a half hour drive to get there, but this time it was just a tootle down the road.
The expo fills the Nambour showgrounds and includes everything a gardener in this part of the world would wish to see. There is such a wide variety of plants that can be grown in our climate and by the look of the plant stalls, most were on display.
This is just a small sample.

Some display gardens from landscapers showing off their wares.

I would love to create something like this in my backyard... if only we had room or the earthmoving equipment or the money it would cost ...

 
Maybe this is more realistic
 
Someone with a bromeliad addiction could have gone mad here. There were thousands on offer. I just looked. None came home with me.
 
 
Succulent fans would have found it hard to resist the temptation as well.

 
 and orchid enthusiasts would have been like a child in a candy shop.

 
So many plants and all on sale.

 
I will admit a couple of cordylines almost came home with me, but I resisted.
 
 
Then there was the garden art

 
and roaming entertainers
 
 At any given time there were about a dozen different gardening talks to choose from, on a wide array of topics. Local garden experts, nursery owners and celebrity gardeners shared their know-how. I went to one on Vireya Rhododendrons. I've killed a few and wanted to find out why. (Now I know)
They like frequent watering but MUST be well drained.

and of course Costas is always entertaining
 
 
They weren't kidding. This was a GIANT kitchen garden.
 
 
I thought this was a great idea for growing peas when you don't have much room - a pot, a post and a bicycle rim plus some twine to make the trellis.

This was cute - a nice way to display tea herbs
Don't think I'd use the good china though.
 
 
Surrounding the vegie gardens were stalls selling all manner of gardening tools and seeds and fertiliser, etc - even chickens.
 
 
We were very restrained with our purchases. For the first time we went away with no plants but lots of inspiration, details of local nurseries and garden product suppliers.
 
Then with one last look at my favourite display garden, I said - like Arnie -"I'll be back" .
 
 
 

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Welcome to my new blog

It's taken me a while, but I've finally started a new blog to replace Missy's Garden. Those who know us would already know - we recently moved from an established garden on one acre to a new home on a small plot of land with no garden at all. I'm not just starting a new blog, or even just a new garden. I'm starting a new life. This blog will be the story of how that new life unfolds.


GARDEN
It seems a bit weird to start a gardening blog when we have no garden - but we will have one soon. Follow along and step-by-step you'll (hopefully) see it develop. To a true gardener, "garden" is what we do as much as the end result - and I love to garden.

EXPLORE
We chose to live on Bribie Island for the beauty and lifestyle. I'd like to share that with you as well. Much of the island is National Park. There are miles / kilometres of beaches and waterways. The Sunshine Coast and it's Hinterland are a short drive away. We intend exploring our new environment and sharing our discoveries.

CREATE
Although it's not properly set up yet, I have my own art/craft studio now. I love painting and I'm determined to find time for creative pursuits, especially with so much inspiration at my doorstep. There's a community art centre on the island with regular classes and groups so I expect to meet some wonderful creative people as well.

EVOLVE
This part was going to be called retirement, but that's not really what I'll be doing. As you know John retired from his job a few years ago and my goal is to do the same at some stage - sooner rather than later. I'm still in the early stages of this transition, deciding what will suit me best, researching options and planning for the future - so I thought evolving was more accurate than retiring.

Who knows what the next phase will look like
Not me.
Not yet.
 
I'll let you know when I do