THE BLOCK STARS at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
- Written by: Kath Rose
He’s Australia’s favourite landscaper and his works are regularly showcased on Channel Nine’s The Block, Australia’s Best Backyards, Open Homes Australia and Selling Houses Australia. And this year, David Franklin, a devoted landscape architect with more than 25 years’ experience will showcase his top landscaping tips and tricks at the Heritage Bank Festival of Food & Wine on Saturday 22 September at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. Director of Franklin Landscape & Design based in Melbourne, Dave has skilfully produced hundreds of custom-designed environments ranging from classical to the most contemporary scapes, and everything in between. Making his Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers debut, David Franklin will present Landscape 101, covering the hottest landscape trends, backyard tips and tricks and he’ll even demonstrate how to create a layout for an outdoor space.
Channel Nine will also host something for the kids – a pot planting and painting station – in the Cubby House at the Heritage Bank Festival of Food & Wine.
AND, in breaking news… knockabout tradie Norm Hogan and his radio personality fiancé Jess Eva, representing Queensland on the current series of The Block will make an appearance among the petals on Saturday 22 September at the Heritage Bank Festival of Food & Wine!!!
Held from September 21 to 30, the 2018 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will feature a program of more than 60 unique events and experiences, including beautiful garden tours, internationally acclaimed music acts, some of the region’s best food and wine, and a multitude of cultural and natural adventures. The real stars of the event are the 176,030 seedlings and bulbs that will bloom in the city’s parks and public spaces to create the world-famous colour that is ‘Carnival.
Watch The Block, 7pm Sunday and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on Nine, or anytime on 9Now!
Landscape 101 with David Franklin at the 2018 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
Green House, Heritage Bank Festival of Food and Wine
Saturday 22 September at 12:30pm and 2:30pm
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers: September 21 to 30, 2018
Over 10 breathtaking days of flowers, flavours and sounds, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers features more than 66 unique events and experiences showcasing the region’s best food and wine, music, tours and adventures, across 1,100 hectares of beautiful public and private gardens. It is truly Australia’s most beautiful event. And this year there’s exactly 176,030 reasons why – that’s how many seedlings and bulbs will bloom between September 21 and 30, creating the spectacular canvas that is just part of this incredible event, one that has owned the title of Best Major Festival or Event for two years at the Australian Tourism Awards. For those looking to stay a night or a few days, there’s accommodation for all tastes – up to 4.5-star, bed and breakfasts, van parks, farm stays and holiday homes, with the region at its beautiful best. And for visitors from Brisbane, it’s an easy 90-minute drive.
Program, tour information and accommodation detail at www.tcof.com.au or on www.facebook.com.au/CarnivalFlowers
A History
Since its inception in 1949, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has flourished and is now an iconic Queensland event. The brainchild of Essex Tait and the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Carnival was introduced as a way for the city to use their “Garden City” reputation to promote increased economic activity following the hardships of war. On October 21, 1950 the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers commenced with a street procession that stretched three miles in length. Led by a bullock team and watched by a crowd estimated to be 50,000 strong, it was a resounding success. The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is the current title holder of Gold Award for Major Festival and Event at the annual Australian Tourism Awards. Last year attendances across the 10-day event skyrocketed, with overall figures up by 29 per cent with 255,639 attendees recorded.
Daily Bulletin
