“The crowd was queued from the front door right out to the carpark when we opened the doors to the Green Shed,” said Native Plants Sale and Enviro Day organiser, Heather Knowles, when asked if the event was a success.
Gardeners keen to entice birds, butterflies and other native wildlife into their backyard were drawn to the annual event in the Rosewood Showgrounds on the election day.
The native plant growers are all members of the Ipswich Branch of Native Plants Queensland and by all reports thousands of plants in pots were purchased by visitors who came throughout the day.
“The carpark was full, the grassed area was full and there were cars parked out on the road,” Ms Knowles reported.
And the crowd pleasing drawcard of native plants had flow on benefits to organisations such as the Rosewood Community Centre.
“The centre ‘s volunteers catered – their food was very good and they did very well out of the event,” Ms Knowles said.
She was also delighted that Mayor Teresa Harding visited and welcomed the crowd.
“The Mayor had her photo taken with a python and so did Cr Jim Madden who had a mobile office there all day.”
The python came from the Wildcall Wildlife Show which Ms Knowles said was a big attraction. “We plan to book them again next year.”
Another popular stand was the info table which was manned by two members from Native Plants Queensland all day.
“They had a list of all the plants on sale and were there to answer questions about the plants.
“They were kept busy!”
When asked how many plants were sold, she said numbers had yet to be finalised but the figures would be in the vicinity of many thousands.”
The static displays ranging from those set up by the Queensland Bush Food Association, Birdlife Queensland and Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland also drew their own queues’.
“Bat Conservation had two bats on display, Birdlife Queensland had colouring in on offer for the children and the Queensland Wildlife Artists had artwork for sale,” she said.
“Members of Wildlife Queensland, the Wilderness Society of Queensland, Ipswich City Council’s conservation and waste management officers were also there.”
“It really was an excellent day.”
