Planning a major event in the current climate of stringent restrictions and snap lockdowns due to COVID-19 is no doubt a risky venture.
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Planning to attend such an event is equally as precarious.
As luck would have it, the Queensland Garden Expo, Queensland's premier gardening/horticultural event, held over three days from July 9-11 at the Nambour Showgrounds, was able to proceed with minimal disruption.
Masks were mandatory throughout, social distancing was observed and a few of the high-profile guest speakers such as Costa, Sophie Thomson and Millie Ross were unable to participate due to lockdowns and border closures.
The event traditionally attracts about 40,000 visitors but due to COVID-19 restrictions, numbers were expected to be well down this year.
Organisers were very pleased to announce that about 30,000 visitors attended - very healthy given the circumstances.
And I was one of the lucky ones who made it through the gates - driving up just after the Sunshine Coast's snap three-day lockdown and returning the day before the borders were forecast to be closed to NSW.
Despite the heavy rain on Friday morning, gardeners turned up in their thousands, eager to see what fabulous plants and exhibits were on offer.
More than 55 nursery stalls were set up, selling all manner of plants from orchids, bromeliads, succulents and cacti to hedging plants, shrubs, trees and potted colour.
Hundreds of stalls filled the showgrounds selling all manner of garden related products and dozens of guest speakers spoke on a range of topics and included some well-known names such as Jerry Coleby-Williams, Claire Bickle and Phil Dudman.
A highlight of the expo was the glorious floral art display which included amazing head dresses and a wonderful display of bountiful cornucopias.
Apart from indulging in heaps of retail therapy, catching up with old friends and enjoying a coffee or two, I also spent the three days promoting National Gardening Week, which will be celebrated in 2021 from October 10-16.
I also assisted in the Garden Clinic Q&A tent run by the Horticultural Media Association Australia.
I arrived home a little foot sore and bone weary, but oh so happy to have been able to attend such a fabulous event and pondering the age-old gardener's quandary - where on earth am I going to put the carload of plants I bought!
George Hoad AM
George Hoad of Killabakh was appointed an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours List for significant service to the residential horticulture industry, and to the community.