Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers Flourishes Despite Drought

By: Joel Blackbourne


There is no better time to enjoy and celebrate gardens, flowers, good wine and music than during Toowoomba's famous spring Carnival of Flowers (Toowoomba is in Australia, so spring is in September). Despite suffering the worst drought since 1911, Toowoomba has come out tops and shown other drought-stricken Australian cities like Perth, how a city can be water-wise and still have fabulous gardens. Where garden beds were left fallow, new public art were created.

For the private competitive gardeners, the weather presented unique challenges. The weather was unusually cool and windy. Add on the level 5 water restriction around all of Toowoomba, tending gardens became even more difficult.

Fifteen unique public art pieces have been created, all by artists and featured around Toowoomba city, in place of fully planted gardens. The Arts Council of Toowoomba, headed by Beverly Bloxham described how these art pieces turned the negativeness of a drought into a positive affirmation of how applied creativity can turn a bad situation around.

Thankfully, the drought has not affected the yearly parade, and 2007 will see the winner of the Australian Idol, Kate DeAraugo lead the parade from the Toowoomba Grand Central shopping center. Other sponsors include home loan providers in Toowoomba, as well as marketing and advertising services in Toowoomba.

Toowoomba boasts of many fine motels and other accommodation options. Given that the Carnival of Flowers attract tens of thousands of visitors each year, please book ahead.

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Tourists from out of town should reserve their Toowoomba Hotel and Motel bookings as early as three weeks before Carnival begins.