More than 40,000 gardening enthusiasts are set to converge on an expanded milestone edition of the Queensland Garden Expo.
The event will be held over four days, instead of the usual three, in its 40th year, at the Nambour Showgrounds from July 4-7.
A seven-hectare immersive gardening experience, the expo will showcase more than 360 exhibitors and a range of gardening-related products.
It will feature Australia’s largest gardening speaker program, including the likes of Costa Georgiadis, Jerry Coleby-Williams, Claire Bickle, Millie Ross and Phil Dudman.
Australian gardening icon and TV personality Sophie Thomson, who has been a regular speaker at the Queensland Garden Expo since 2016, will also return.
She said she always finds time for the expo in her busy schedule as a presenter on the ABC’s Gardening Australia and more recently the recipient of an Inspiring South Australian Women’s Award.
“The Queensland Garden Expo gives you both inspiration and information for whatever size garden you have, wherever you live, and whatever your budget,” she said.
“It’s designed by gardeners for gardeners. I love the incredible array of plants and garden art, and the program of over 150 garden talks is incredible.
“When I get the program, I go through the talks with a highlighter to mark all the ones I would like to listen to.
“I also love that you can talk to experts whether it’s specialist plant growers, beekeepers, floral artists or members of the Horticultural Media Association.
“I always love the Kitchen Garden displays created by Tohm and members of the Perennial Poppies, but to be honest the entire event is wonderful as the exhibitors, the garden clubs, the nurseries and the speakers are all part of one big family.”
Ms Thomson said the 40th anniversary of the event had her reminiscing on how far gardening has come since the first edition in 1985, and her own journey into gardening.
“I was a punk teenager who had bright orange hair with hair extensions and lots of crazy makeup and clothes,” she said.
“It’s great to see an increased interest in growing edibles and indoors, but also greater recognition for the value of gardens and gardening to support our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, and that of our communities.”
Event manager Marion Beazley said the event had stayed true to its roots, retained authenticity, and garnered a devoted following of attendees from Australia and beyond.
“The Queensland Garden Expo was conceived by a group of Sunshine Coast people from the nursery and gardening industry who wanted to share their love of gardening and their knowledge with local gardeners, and has grown year-on-year into the gardener’s paradise our visitors travel far-and-wide for today,” she said.
“More than 65 per cent of people who attend the expo have travelled from outside the region with many stating the great access to the who’s who of gardening, the more than 150 free lectures and demonstrations across six live speaker stages and the direct access to nurseries and growers to ask questions relevant to their own gardens, as the main reasons they love this event.
“That’s the beauty of the expo, you definitely don’t need to be a pro-gardener as we have something for everyone, from absolute amateurs to fanatical green thumbs and everyone in between.
“With a jam-packed schedule celebrating our 40 years – featuring the popular Poultry Spectacular, expert-led advice on home produce cultivation and cooking demonstrations – there’s never been a better time to immerse yourself in the world of Queensland Garden Expo.”
Entry is free for children aged 15 and underm with a giant kids’ playground to keep them entertained.
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