AFTER a wonderful two days the annual Springtime on the Mountain Garden Trail is over for another year.
Tamborine Mountain Garden Club President, Alex Hood, said the Garden Club is very grateful for another successful Springtime festival.
The weather forecast was terrible, but it turned out to be a good result.
Alex expressed his thanks to the very generous, hard working garden owners, Springtime committee and the local community for their support.
Club Treasurer, Richard Wistow, was also pleased with the result.
He estimated 1,750 people visited the gardens over the two days.
While this was down on previous years’ attendance, Richard attributes the drop in numbers to forecasts of heavy rain and high winds.
Prepared with umbrellas, Tamborine Mountain locals and those from the nearby areas – Canungra, Tamborine Village, Beechmont – were eagerly waiting at the garden gates, even before they opened.
Many visitors defied the forecasts and drove from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Nothern New South Wales, many commenting on the torrential rain they had left behind.
Visitors were delighted by the range of different gardens, all stunningly beautiful in their own way.
One young mum commented that one of the gardens reminded her of strolling through the gardens at Versailles.
Children delighted in seeing the swan on the lake, tiptoeing through the fairy garden and crossing the rill.
Plant enthusiasts wandered along well worn paths and stopped to admire, then later purchase, plants from the plant stalls.
Joan and Leon Hughes (pictured, front page) of Harmony Gardens were delighted with the response visitors gave to their lovingly tended garden.
Petit Bijou garden owner, Pam Glucina said the people who came were the best.
“They told their stories and said the most wonderful things,” she said.
“It was a real pleasure to meet so many like minded people.”
Pam was particularly impressed by younger couples who visited and said there were so many feel good moments that she and Peter enjoyed.
You can follow Pam on Instagram @flowerpatch-cottage.
Other first time garden owners made similar comments.
Jen and John Hand from Mandalay said the visitors were respectful and openly appreciative of the opportunity to visit Mandalay.
Dingle Dell’s owner Rolf Rekort found it an exhilarating sharing his garden and pointing out its special features.
St George’s Anglican Church, beautifully bedecked with flowers, exceeded all expectations.
The Church was transformed into a gallery space filled with floral arrangements and artworks which expressed various themes of daily life, special occasions, the environment, children’s interests, quiet reflection.
Families also loved watching the line dancing and listening to choirs performing while lunching at the Showgrounds.
Springtime on the Mountain is a celebration of the Mountain and the beautiful place we as a community have created for all, both young and old to enjoy.
