BE GREETED by the sweet smell of double jonquils as you step into Libby and Ray Brimelow’s garden, Carousel, at this year’s Springtime on the Mountain.
Just like going round and round on a carousel, as you walk around their half acre garden, regardless of the season, you will be charmed and wide eyed by the displays of colour.
Their four children grew up here.
Over 32 years, this garden has seen many changes. Once there was a cricket pitch, mini football field, guinea pig hutch and chicken coop.
Now their grandchildren run along crunchy gravel pathways amid garden beds where they deadhead pansy blooms, ensuring a dazzling display for when you visit.
A wealth of practical gardening tips have been acquired. These include:
- Compost mown lawn clippings.
- Add bags of manure purchased from roadside stalls.
- Be prepared to move plants if they’re not doing well.
- Plant annuals like delphiniums, larkspurs, primulas, poppies, linaria this year as they self-seed and will return next year.
- Orchids are easy, they just need good drainage.
- Frequent local nurseries.
- Don’t be too obsessive about weeds.
- Visit gardens, parks, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and of course Springtime on the Mountain for new ideas.
A garden like Libby and Ray’s is achievable.
You too can duplicate their ideas; from the choice of plants and garden edges, to better utilizing your tank area – you can make their ideas your own.
Libby and Ray enjoy welcoming visitors to their garden and find it gratifying to see the appreciation of others.
Be curious. Come, explore, be delighted and leave inspired at this year’s Springtime on the Mountain- Friday September 26 to Sunday 28.
Go to tamborinemountaingardenclub.org.au for more information. Purchase your early bird ticket up to July 31 online- $20 for all six gardens. Dependent children free. $25 from August 1.
We’ll see you at Carousel.
