Winners are happy gardeners
Congratulations to the following winners of the raffle.
1st Prize – R Munro of Mt Crosby
2nd Prize – D Mackay of Ipswich
3rd Prize – K Hennelly of Eastern Heights Ipswich
The raffle raised over $900 for the Ipswich Hospice Centre. Thank you to all the exhibitors that donated items for the prize table.
WOW… Ipswich City Council has a great offer for event attendees.
The first 250 people through the gates on Saturday and Sunday, will each receive a free seedling from the Ipswich City Council.
Be early to get your freebie!
Exclusive New Releases at the Ipswich Plant Expo
Announcing the launch of ‘Garden Escapees become Environmental Weeds‘
Time: 9:30am – 10:00am
Venue: ‘How To’ Stage
Presenter: Bruce Tinworth (for Ipswich SGAP)
The aims and objectives of this publication are to:
Normal RRP price $15.
Exclusive launch price at the Ipswich Plant Expo is only $10 and includes a free poster.
Book launch: Garden Escapees become Environmental Weeds by Bruce Tinworth
Exclusive New Releases at the Ipswich Plant Expo
These 2013 releases are:
Aloe ‘Ivory Dawn’
Aloe ‘First Gold’
Get your hands on these plant FIRST at stand #C28
The Ipswich Plant Expo is pleased to secure the following speakers for the event on 9-10th March 2013.
These well known garden personalities span print media, radio, television and online. We have collated most of the best known horticulturists to provide informative and relevant gardening advice and practical tips to ensure you create a successful garden in South East Queensland, focusing on the what works well in the local subtropical climate.
2013 guest speakers are:
Great news everyone!
Guest speakers for 2013 confirmed are Paul Plant, Brian Sams, Clare Levander, Arno King and Claire Bickle.
The dates are set for 9-10th March 2013 and with two full days planned, there is much to look forward to. In addition to guest speakers above, we are looking at introducing a second Back to Basics series of talks for all the beginners and kids who want to start but need a little help. We will be there to give you give you all some great skills!
Event Key Features
Keep this date open in your diary as it will be the best event in Queensland for gardeners in the first six months of 2013.
Summary of Event 2012
Congratulations to all exhibitors for putting on a good subtropical garden expo, over 2000 people attended. There was a great range of plants and related products.
Special thanks is extended to Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale for officially opening and launching the event. He also announced that the local council will support it in 2013. Good news everyone, it will be a two day event next year.
Thank you to sponsors Ipswich City Council and Searles, and to event supportors The Gift Tree, subTropical Gardening and River 94.9FM.
Additionally, we wish to thank our guest speakers Colin Campbell, Paul Plant, Claire Bickle, Noel Burdette and Arno King… and the efferescent MC for the day, Marcia Byriel.
If you went to the event and have some suggestions for the 2013 event, please send us an email to info@ plantexpo.com.au (remove spaces).
Event is almost here and people are working out how to get to the event.
CAR
From Brisbane: head west along Ipswich Road and follow signs to Ipswich City. The event will be on the left side of the road immediately after the Bundamba Primary State School. Enter carpark via TL Cooney Avenue, Bundamba.
From North Brisbane or Sunshine Coast: head to the event via the Centenary Highway then follow instructions above. Alternatively, go via the Gateway Toll Road which links onto the Logan Motorway and flows towards Ipswich. As for the Moggill Ferry, avoid it as it is expected to be not in operation on Saturday 3rd March. Colleges Crossing is expected to be closed. Note: Mt Crosby Weir is open for private vehicles only.
From Gold Coast: head up the Pacific Highway, take the Logan Motorway and follow signs to Ipswich (as above).
From Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba or Roma: drive along Warrego Highway and follow signs into Ipswich. Then drive along Brisbane Road towards Bundamba. The event will on the right side of the road.
From Sydney or other regions: it is suggested you fly into Brisbane then drive out 
TRAIN
Bundamba Train Station is approximately 10-15 minute walk to the event. When you get off the train, walk up Mining Street, turn right along Brisbane Road. Cross the road at the Primary School then walk (direction right) up to the Ipswich Turf Club (Racecourse). Entry to event is off TL Cooney Ave.
For details regarding train time tables, please refer to www.translink.com.au
EVENT
UBD reference: 214 F15
South East Queensland is generally described as a subtropical climate. Summers are humid with rainfall, winters cool and dry. There is not much of a spring or autumn resulting in the natural flora and garden plants best showing off their inate beauty during late summer for the tropical plants, and in September-October for a short spring bloom.
The Ipswich Plant Expo celebrates the subtropical climate for Queensland… covering the regions of Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Gold Coast and north to Gympie. Districts such as the Northern Rivers of New South Wales and down to Sydney are also embraced for this garden fair.
Subtropical and tropical plants, as well as warm temperate plants (sometimes marginal in the average subtropical garden) are all present at this event.
The secret to a successful garden and landscape us to choose plants suited to your ckimate
Gardeners want to have options and diversity when it comes to buying plants and related products. They want to find something unique, something rare… something that will make their friends envious!
Seriously though, gardeners are keen to buy plants that perform well in their gardens even if it is a common plant. Its not only about the right climate and soil, it also takes into consideration the aesthetics, the rarity of the specimen, does it do the task it needs to do (create shade or fruit, etc). There are many criteria that makes a good plant selection.
We hear that people everywhere are turning to the internet to buy clothes, gadgets, gifts, flowers, houses and find romance. It is not surprising then that gardeners search the net to find plants and to seek out information. Magazines such as subtropical Gardening, are valuable resources to inspire people to search and seek out interesting plants – be that old fashioned specimens or rarities.
There is a thirst for the unusual. A drink of tap water will just not do. Likewise, a common plant that everyone grows may not ‘cut the mustard’. Growers need to find out what gardeners want to buy and plan ahead with their cultural practices.
The best way for production nurseries to find out is by engaging the public:
- attending events like the Ipswich Plant Expo
- reading gardening magazines and weekly articles in local newspapers
- listening to gardening radio programs
- visiting open gardens and botanic gardens to see what is growing well in the region and when they flower.
The best way for gardeners to tell the nursery industry what they want is to ask your local nursery to source the plants you want… or go elsewhere to spend your money. This is where events such as this help gardeners find those desirable specimens.
The Ipswich Plant Expo aims to bring the buying collectors in contact with the growers of collectible plants. Come along to the Expo – you may just find what you are after and also find those things you never new you needed!