The Queensland Garden Expo, Queensland’s premier gardening event, will open its gates on Friday, July 7, offering gardening enthusiasts the chance to gather inspiration for their own gardens, learn about new plants and gardening techniques, and get advice from 360 exhibitors.
With more than seven hectares of inspiration, an incredible 50,000 plants on sale each day and Australia’s largest gardening speaker program, the Nambour Showgrounds has been transformed into a gardener’s paradise.
Event manager Marion Beazley said among the highlights for this year’s event was the new-in 2023 Poultry Spectacular, Giant Kitchen Garden and an expert-studded speaker line-up of Australian gardeners.
“This Friday, garden lovers from near and far will join us for a weekend filled with spectacular garden displays, insightful speakers, and a vibrant community of like-minded gardeners,” Ms Beazley said.
“The Queensland Garden Expo brings together Australian gardening enthusiasts, professionals, and suppliers as they connect from across the Expo’s drawcards including the Australian Floral Art Association’s National Convention, which the Expo is also playing host to this year, and our first-ever Poultry Spectacular.
“The Poultry Spectacular is a competition for poultry breeders across the country to come together and benchmark their birds.
“Along with birds on display for our visitors to view, several respected judges will be speaking during the event, sharing their knowledge of all things poultry.”
Rob Leck, Chief Steward of this year’s Poultry Spectacular, said he was looking forward to sharing his passion for chickens with Expo-goers.
“More Australians are keeping chickens as it allows them the benefits of having fresh eggs while enjoying chooks’ relaxing company in their own backyards,” Mr Leck said.
“Chickens can also be especially beneficial for gardeners – they help control pests by eating insects, weeds, and garden scraps and their droppings enrich backyard soil.
“When it comes to keeping chickens, there’s a lot to cover – from choosing the right breed either for egg-laying or showing, as well as other considerations like coop design, and what to feed them to keep them happy and healthy.
“A big ‘thank you’ to Queensland Garden Expo for the platform to showcase our hobby in the best light – it’s very exciting to be able to connect people with pure bred poultry.”
Finishing touches are also being added to the Giant Kitchen Garden, which is put together each year by local volunteers from gardening and permaculture clubs across the Sunshine Coast.
“This year’s Kitchen Garden is thriving thanks to the local groups and volunteers who work together to cultivate a wide variety of fresh produce,” Ms Beazley said.
“Visitors can get ideas for their own at-home veggie gardens, learn about different produce varieties, and they’ll experience firsthand how a well-designed and maintained kitchen garden can be both beautiful and productive.
“Of course, running alongside these attractions is our expert speaker line up across 100 free lectures and demonstrations on eight live speaker stages.”
“On Saturday and Sunday, we also welcome Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis who brings his own special brand of enthusiasm as he shares his love of community, collaboration and the power of plants!”
Other returning speakers include Sophie Thomson, Jerry Coleby-Williams and Millie Ross from ABC Gardening Australia as well as Phil Dudman, Claire Bickle, Kate Wall and the Sunshine Coast’s own celebrity chef, Matt Golinksi.
“Now in its 39th year, the event has come a long way from its roots as a modest car boot sale in 1984, now attracting close to 40,000 visitors over the three-day event,” said Ms Beazley.
Tickets for the Queensland Garden Expo are priced at $20 for adults, with free entry for children aged 15 and under. To learn more about the event and purchase tickets online, visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.
