An ordinary street transformed

I couldn't believe my eyes as I drove past this short street in The Gap this morning. The Golden Pendas (Xanthostemon chrysanthus) were in flower like I have never seen before. Rainbow Lorrikeets were flying in and out of the trees to get the nectar from the flowers and the flowering of the trees has completely transformed the street into a wonderland.

One windy night......

Is this what one expects to wake up to on Australia Day?

Along with supplying Japanese Tools we also have a nursery growing plugs (a small plant in an individual cell) in trays. But on the morning of Monday 28th of January 2013 things didn't look quite right in the nursery. The roof blew off then the rain accumultaed in the plastic sheeting that was still partially covering the roof. When the weight of the water got too great for the plastic to hold it any longer, it gave way with hundreds of kilos of water landing on the benches below.

 

A hot day at Melbourne Zoo.

 

We decided to visit the Zoo in Melbourne on a day when the mercury rose to 41.1deg C. We were among the few that visited on that day. Needless to say we didn't see any Snow Leopards or other cold climate animals - they were inside like we should have been. The Japanese garden within the Zoo grounds had to bear the heat the best it could. 

 

Ju Raku En Japanese Garden in Toowoomba

 

Toowoomba the Garden City boasts one of the best Japanese Gardens in Australia - the Ju Raku En. This week is Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers - Saturday being one of the best days to visit because there is the parade down the main street with floral floats, street performers, stilt walkers and bands. Starts at 12.00pm on Saturday, 22nd September. Lots of open gardens to visit and of course the Ju Raku En.

900 metres above sea level makes a big difference.

Springbrook which though still in south east Queensland is so different to Brisbane it could well be in another country. Sitting 900 metres above sea level the climate is cool, fresh and moist. Up here it is quiet and serene yet not that far away we left behind an eight lane highway with thousands of cars travelling from Brisbane to the Gold Coast and vice versa. The altitude seems to provide the ideal climate for Camellia japonicas, Azaleas and Hydrangeas. The Camellia japonica shrubs were robust, healthy and had flowers covering them with trunks up to 30cm thick.

Looking east towards the Gold Coast from Springbrook National Park. Deep valleys covered in lush subtropical rainforest gradually rise to steep granite escarpments.

A rock pool on the edge of the escarpment looking down the valley towards Surfers Paradise

Ancient Antarctic beech trees (Nothofagus mooreii) in a small remaining grove, believed to be over two thousand years old.

A lush group of tree ferns (Cyathea leichardtiana) next to a creek at Springbrook

Ekka!! - what's Ekka

It's easier than saying the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland. It's when the country comes to the city and it's Queensland's largest event of the year.

One of the entrances into the Ekka - a ten day event held every August in Brisbane.

An agricultural produce display put on by one of the local high schools.

A horticultural display organised by the Bromeliad Society of Queensland.

A blacksmithing competition in full swing.

The woodchop - where men from the bush come wielding very sharp, shiny and expensive axes.

Queensland Garden Expo - July 2011

Even customers like these need something sharp to cut their Gladioli with! An imitation of Australia's grand old dame - Edna Everidge - and her sidekick came in to see what we boys had on offer. Unfortinately for us there was a "no sale" when these two roving entertainers left our stand last year at the Queensland Garden Expo in Nambour. On another day we were entertained by Gardening Australia's new host Costa Georgiadis as he ran along the aisles with a trolley, used for moving large pot plants, borrowed from the neighboring stand. Someone was heard to call out "Run Forrest, Run"

Glorious sunshine for three days along with plenty to see and eat - how could anyone call this winter.

We'll be there again on July 6th, 7th and 8th this year so here's hoping the weather stays fine. If you're looking for a great range of hand forged Japanese tools for the garden along with high quality machine made woodsaws, pruning saws and secateurs then get out of the garden for a few hours and come to Nambour. We look forward to seeing you there.