Costa part of jam-packed Expo program

June 25, 2012

Both avid gardening enthusiasts and those simply eager to learn more are counting down the days to this year’s Queensland Garden Expo from 6-8 July at the Nambour Showgrounds.

This year’s speakers program will include the ‘who’s who’ of gardening experts and visitors to the Expo can choose from eight stages and over 130 presentations throughout the three-day event.

Marion Beazley, Queensland Garden Expo Event Manager says the free lectures and demonstrations are one of the key attractions at the Expo with visitors having access to expertise across a range of subjects including easy fruit to grow at home, crops to grow when space is limited, composting and worm farms, attracting native wildlife, organic gardening and much more.

“Every year we strive to improve and expand our speakers program and this year I’m confident the Expo can answer every gardening question to help visitors create their perfect outdoor space, grow their own fruit and vegetables and select the ideal plants for their specific environment,” said Marion.

“As usual the Expo is a great family day out so some presentations suit our younger visitors where they can learn about insects, spiders and scorpions from around the world, meet the local wildlife, explore toolkits to encourage kids to get involved in gardening and learn more about keeping chickens at home.”

Organisers believe they have the most impressive line-up of speakers to date including the ever-popular Costa Georgiadis of ABC Gardening Australia’s fame. Costa will be on stage on Saturday sharing his expertise on ‘Why Food Matters: Productive Gardening: What are you waiting for….We’re on The Verge of something here! and on Sunday the equally entertaining ‘On The Verge Of Change; On your marks, Get Set , Get Growing !!!’ as well as making a number of appearances in the Giant Kitchen Garden each day.

Other speakers include renowned gardening expert Colin Campbell; ABC Radio Host Annette McFarlane; Garden Guru Phil Dudman, Brisbane Botanical Gardens Curator, Ross McKinnon and local experts such as fern guru, Peter Heaton and Nick Hansa from Fairhill Nursery who will share ‘The Ten Commandments for a Successful and Sustainable Native Garden’.

The Queensland Garden Expo is a three-day celebration of all things gardening, featuring the largest range of plants in one place, including 55 nurseries with over 40,000 plants on sale every day as well as a huge range of gardening products. Kids aged 15 and under get free entry and have access to a number of activities including a free playground.

For more information on what’s on at this year’s Queensland Garden Expo, please visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.

Ends.

More details

Where: Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
When: Friday, 6 July – Sunday, 8 July, 2012

Opening Times:
Gates Open: 8:00am Daily
Gates Close: 5:00pm Friday and Saturday, 4:00pm Sunday

Disability Access:
The showground offers excellent facilities for wheelchair visitors with on-site disabled parking, easy access and ground level exhibits along with disabled toilet facilities. Guide dogs are welcome.

Tickets
Adults – $16
Aged concession card holders – $14
Groups (10 or more) – $14
Children (15 and under with accompanying adult) – Free
2-day Pass (Saturday & Sunday) – $28
3-day Gold Entry Pass – $35

Other high resolution images available on request.

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