The Garden City of Toowoomba, in Queensland, Australia wasn't going to let COVID-19 cancel the 71st Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers event which has been held each year in September since 1949. Held over a period of 10 days, this floral event is an iconic Queensland event.
Crowds flocking to the gardens for Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, 2020.
And the 2020 event did not disappoint. It was just as amazing as any other photos I have seen of previous years! I am so glad I was able to visit a range of public gardens and parks in real life with my camera in hand (obviously!).
I have vivid memories from the 2004 event, I was just a little child back then. These memories only come because of photos which I have been able to look back on thanks to my dear mother who could see the importance of capturing family photos and memories back then.
My aunty has often shared her photos with me too who visits some of the gardens each year. I was just patiently waiting until I had an opportunity to experience it for myself.
"It was a photographer's paradise." - Rebekah Rosenzweig.
Laurel Bank Park , Toowoomba, QLD
View from the platform in Laurel Bank Park. It was only after the official carnival week that the platform was open again.
The Toowoomba Region always delights flower and gardens lovers and 2020 was no different. With a theme of Family Time, flowers were planted to create designs of a family tree, a homestead, Slip, Slop, Slap (day at the beach), a cat and dog, cricket, movie night, a kite, snakes and ladders, piano man, art and craft, a bicycle lane and the international symbol for family. This is the main floral display at Laurel Bank Park, along with a wisteria arch, Thomas the Tank engine and walking paths around other flower beds scatted throughout the park.
Signage in the park showing an aerial view of the main floral display.
Council gardeners plant thousands of seedlings and bulbs for the spring floral display each year for this event. The ideas they come up with, and then of course the designing and creation to put on these floral displays are outstanding. To get the timing just right, to have all the flowers out at the same time, must sure take some planning and consideration!
Display of poppies in Laurel Bank Park.
"A favourite park. Stunning in September and October. Always has to class flowers for the festival. Loved the family theme worth cyclists and swimmers in the flowers. Thomas the tank engine and topiary ducks plus stays always look wonderful. The arch of flowers is gorgeous. Tall trees for shade. Just terrific." - Claire Anderson (Google Review, October 2020)
I really liked this Dutch windmill surrounded by tulips and a selection of other floral beauty, it was so picturesque.
"We love coming up to Toowoomba every year and seeing this beautiful city come alive. Keep up the amazing work everyone and if you live in Australia or just visiting from overseas in September we highly recommend a visit to the Carnival of Flowers." ❤ - Jo Donaldson (Google Review, October 2020)
The TV crew covering the Carnival of Flowers event.
I even got myself on WIN News Toowoomba on the first night of the carnival of flowers event, though it was only a back view of myself, doing what I love best, capturing the beauty of all the flowers! It was just as fun, watching the TV crew going around interviewing people. I wish I had seen some newspaper photographers at the gardens too, but I still appeared in the local newspaper too! Oh, and not to forget, I was also talked about on ABC Radio Queensland with my gardening question relating to how the gardens always so good each September.
Laurel Bank Park was stunning, I would have to say it would have to be one of my favourites, because of the creative floral pictures.
Family Time floral displays.
Queens Park Botanic Gardens, Toowoomba, QLD
Ferris wheel in Queens Park Botanic Gardens.
Spread across 25 acres, another of Toowoomba's public gardens, Queens Park Botanic Gardens is not to be missed.
Colours of a huge variety of flowers are spread over the park in many different flower beds. The ferris wheel allowed a birds eye view over the gardens which was awesome, as the usual platform was not in the garden this year due to that dreaded word, COVID-19.
Fantastic array of Floxgloves.
"Botanic Gardens offers a splash of colour. Botanic Gardens in the beautiful Queens Park brings visitors of all cultures to experience this amazing garden at Carnival of Flowers. The colours explode as do the variety - great work from the Toowoomba Region gardeners who give our city a tradition and excellence as the Garden City." - (Trip Advisor, September 2020)
The view of Queens Park Botanic Gardens from the ferris wheel.
Spring Bluff Railway Station, Murphy's Creek, Toowoomba, QLD
Diesel-hauled train arriving at Spring Bluff Railway Station.
Another garden on the Carnival of Flowers calendar is the Spring Bluff Railway Station. It is known as South East Queensland’s prettiest Railway Station, “Prettiest” - that it sure is!
Visitors and locals can choose to catch the train from the city of Toowoomba and enjoy a 30 minute ride out to Spring Bluff.
However this is not what I chose to do. The decision was made that the arrival of the diesel hauled train would be exciting to capture, so my visit had to be timed correctly so that it was not to be missed!
It is amazing that this beautiful area was flooded out and badly damaged back on 10, January 2011, but it looks just as amazing as the photos show from back in 2004. The area was closed to the public for a period of over seven months, the longest continuous closure in Spring Bluff’s 145 year history.
Spring Bluff is a beautiful place to visit.
"Mind blowing. At Carnival of Flowers time (it is) an absolute beauty and sensory explosion. What an incredible job of making this a wonderland." - (Trip Advisior, September 2020)
Tulips make a great feature, standing out above the other lower lying flowers.
"Lovely gardens. Worth a short stop to walk around and enjoy the gardens. Pretty setting and only a short drive from Toowoomba." - (Trip Advisor, October 2020)
The Railway Station platform.
"Another photographer's paradise, such a beautiful location! The display and colours of the flowers were spectacular." - Rebekah Rosenzweig
Grand Central Floral Parade
Mini versions of floats designed and decorated by Toowoomba Businesses and Community Groups were on display in glass cabinets in a special assigned area in the shopping centre.
A parade is usually held each year through the streets of Toowoomba, but this year the pandemic caused the organisers to come up with another way. The parade was re-imagined with a static display of mini floats as well as several larger scaled ones which were displayed in Grand Central Shopping Centre in Toowoomba in place of the usual parade.
Priscilla the Pig by Heritage Bank.
I really liked this pig with its flowery COVID mask; Priscilla the Pig by Heritage Bank, it looked so pretty!
Collectables Boutique Op Shop.
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I hope you enjoyed reading this latest blog about my photography journeys from September.
Watch out for Part 2 featuring Picnic Point Parklands and the Japanese Garden Ju Raku En.
Rebekah Rosenzweig
Video courtesy of WIN News Toowoomba.