Gentle handling for Olive the python by Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding and Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne during their visit to the Rosewood Native Plant Sale and Enviro Day at the Rosewood Cultural Centre on Saturday. Photos: LYLE RADFORD
Heather Knowles one of the event organisers gives advice on how to grow the native plants purchased by eager customers.
Maddy Mertcer from the Wildcall Wildlife Show talks to the crowd about the olive python in her hands.
Rosewood Community Gardens group Abbey Townsend and her koala buddy (Ella Caldwell) welcomed visitors to the plant sale.
Another happy customer, Stephanie Johnston, loaded up with her purchases.
THOUSANDS of potted plants were sold at the ever popular annual Rosewood Native Plant Sale and Enviro Day on Saturday as gardeners sought natives that would thrive in their gardens.
Buying natives gives gardeners a better chance of success because they are genetically wired to bloom and not bust in the local soils and climate.
“This year the event was held in a different location in the showgrounds,” the event’s organiser Heather Knowles said.
“This was our 12th sale and the first time we haven’t been in the chook shed.”
The Rosewood Native Plant Sale and Enviro Day is hosted by the Ipswich Branch of Native Plants Queensland and while the main drawcards had leaves, the event offered so much more to visitors.
There was a wide array of entertainment, interactive displays and demonstrations designed to capture the interest of more than just the ‘green thumbs’ wandering by.
“We sold 3,475 plants equating to over $33,000,” Heater reported.
“Around 500 people attended and while we didn’t count heads, over 400 people purchased plants.”
