Highlights from the Brisbane International Garden Show

Across four gorgeous blue-sky days in October, thousands of visitors walked the green, grassy grounds of Pine Rivers Park in Strathpine to attend the Brisbane International Garden Show.

The event was run by Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland – who run the very successful and long-running Queensland Garden Expo each year on the Sunshine Coast – and here were some of the highlights:

 

Thousands of Plant and Garden Ideas

With hundreds of stalls showcasing their wares, there were easily thousands of plant and garden ideas for your home or office. Plus lots of stalls demonstrating garden tools, garden gadgets and lawn mowers, various nurseries and garden clubs, baby farm animals, several landscape consultants, food stalls, kitchen appliance stalls, and a hat stall (doing a roaring trade, given the heat over those four days!), to name just a sample.

 

Landscape Design Winners

The meticulous, landscaped gardens of the Brisbane Garden Show Winners were on display for all to enjoy. The gold medal and “best in show” award went to A&R Evergreen Brisbane Landscaping Services, based at 123 Boundary Rd, Rocklea.

 

Lawn Mower Displays

It wouldn’t be a garden show without some Brisbane lawn mowing companies showcasing their latest and greatest lawn mowers, right? Here was just one of the lawn mower displays at the event…

 

Gardening Lectures & Demonstrations

Whether you needed specific gardening advice or you just wanted to learn more about gardening in general, there was a fantastic program of free gardening lectures and demonstrations at the Brisbane International Garden Show.

Guest speakers and their sessions included:

• PHIL DUDMAN – Beat the bugs, organic strategies for garden pest and disease management
• PETER HEATON – Ferns and indoor plants, everything you need to know for success
• SUE FINGLETON – Floral Design made easy
• NOEL BURDETTE – The romantic garden, showcasing beautiful plants to create beautiful inspiring gardens
• BOB LUTTRELL – Native bees
• MORAG GAMBLE – Abundance gardening, creating an incredible edible garden
• ANITA CHRISTIAN – Easy composting
• JIM FOGARTY – Exhibiting at world famous garden shows
• CLAIRE BICKLE – Urban edibles, growing your own food in the smallest of spaces and containers
• DALE VINE – Landscaping on a budget
• ROMAN SPUR – How to start gardening
• MEEGAN ALLEN – Environmental adventures in the South East Queensland region
• DOMINIQUE LIV KAMAL – Spring detoxing using herbs and plants
• AINSLIE WYER / WARRICK HILL – Wildlife friendly native plants in the South East Queensland region
• JERRY COLEBY-WILLIAMS – Cottage gardening
• ANGIE THOMAS – Grow your own salad bowl
• ANNE GIBSON – Micro gardening, how to intensively ‘farm’ in containers
• PETER YOUNG – Productive fruit trees for every garden
• RICK WARWICK – Clumping bamboo for hedging

 

Wacky Animals

Is it just me, or does the idea of a gigantic koala or goanna in your garden sound like something out of a horror movie, rather than a piece of garden art? But some people must love these wacky animals, because to its credit, Natureworks – a Brisbane business based in Highvale in the Moreton Bay Region – has been building replica fibreglass animal sculptures for more than 35 years and is still going strong!

 

Growin Pods

One of the nicest exhibitors at the event was this lovely man at the Growin Pods stall. Such a simple but clever vertical gardening idea that is perfect for offices or confined spaces.

 

Herb Patches

I loved this concept! These grass-looking patches were made of herbs and smelt divine. You can plant them in your garden or… some customers have used them as placemats and/or decorations on your wedding tables!

 

Wrap-Up Video

This official wrap-up video brilliantly encapsulates the colour and splendour of the Brisbane International Garden Show 2015. Congrats to the event organisers and to the videographer Mish on such a beautiful video. Enjoy!