Community & Business
27 September, 2023
Native Wonderland
Kingsthorpe’s Annette and Gerard Kingsford say their oasis of native plants is something for the community to enjoy beyond the end of the Carnival of Flowers.
The Oakey district’s only entrant garden was awarded third place in the Regional category.
Gerard and Annette say the natives are pretty self-sufficient and the main task is keeping the weeds pruned and the gardens watered.
The couple has a strong focus on natives only.
“I’m not going to bother with the annuals,” Gerard said.
“They are there five weeks and then they’re gone.”
Annette says that the garden, at 34 Gowrie Street will remain open after September for locals to enjoy.
“It’s officially open for the rest of the month,” she said.
“But our garden is open for anyone, anytime.
“There’s a lot of people in Kingsthorpe that don’t know about it, and have never been past.”
The garden is family-friendly with several features designed for kids to enjoy.
“There’s a Seven Dwarves and Snow White in there,” Gerard said.
“We’ve got a tea set in there, which the granddaughter played with all day.”
This year has been more of a slog than usual, with Gerard suffering a heart attack, and being out of action.
“One of Annette’s friends has been helping while I’ve been in hospital,” Gerard said.
“We’ve got good friends.
Gardening is a shared passion for the pair who enjoy spending time on weekends listening to the warbles of birds that visit.
“I’ve been here 29 years, but got into it around 2012, started entering the competition in 2014,” Annette said.
The garden is also open as a venue for weddings, engagements, christenings, blessings, formal or family photographs.
At present, best access to the venue is a detour via Talisker and East Streets, due to Council works on Gowrie Street.
The venue is listed as Lyonesse Country Gardens, named after the 1930s gable-style home which was transported from Moorooka to Kingsthorpe in 1994.
It has three gardens - Secret, Native and Adventure Rose as well as a Crepe Myrtle Lawn,
Contact Annette and Gerard via greenleadlighter@hotmail.com for more information.
