GREEN THUMBS: Jacob Careri, 3, and Bree Best, three-and-a-half, help Marg and Mick Careri get their garden ready for this year’s Festival of Gardens by scurbbing up guinea pig, Laura. Picture: Anthony Stipo
GREEN THUMBS: Jacob Careri, 3, and Bree Best, 3 and a half, help Marg and Mick Careri get their garden ready for this year's Festival of Gardens by scurbbing up guinea pig Laura. Picture: Anthony Stipo.
THE lawns have been groomed and the flowers have bloomed just in time for the hugely popular Griffith Festival of Gardens.
Ten of Griffith's best gardens will go on display for the 22nd annual festival, with thousands of visitors expected to pour into the city across the coming days.
Long-time participant Marg Careri said it was an exciting weekend for local gardeners and hoped the community as well as visitors would support the event.
"This is probably my tenth year in the festival," she said.
"We usually get around 1000 people coming through the garden, but I think it might be a bit quieter this year because there aren't as many buses coming through.
"But I hope the area comes out and supports us."
Prominent gardener and ABC Gardening Australia presenter Sophie Thomson will open the festival tonight at 6pm at St Alban's Cathedral.
Visitors can then tour the 10 private gardens, plus the Murrumbidgee Irrigation native garden, across the weekend, with entry fees going to local charities.
Griffith City Council tourism and economic development manager Greg Lawrence said he was excited to see the festival for the first time.
“This is my first time attending the Festival of Gardens and I am blown away by the owners and their gardens,” Mr Lawrence said.
“These breathtaking gardens are a testimony to the enthusiasm and perseverance of the owners.”
A three-course dinner will also be held tomorrow night at the Griffith Ex-Servicemen’s Club from 6.30pm and guests will have the chance to meet and greet Ms Thomson at the event.
For more information call the Griffith Visitors’ Information Centre on 1800 681 141 or visit www.visitgriffith.com.au.
WHAT'S ON:
Today
- Festival of the Gardens opening, 6pm at St Alban’s Cathedral
Tomorrow
- Griffith Community Multicultural Festival, 10am at Memorial Park
- Dinner, meet and greet celebrity guest Sophie Thomson, 6.30pm at Griffith Ex-Servicemen’s Club
Sunday
- Rotary Markets from 7am
- Twilight Jazz in the Park, 5pm at Pioneer Park
All weekend
- Ten private gardens to tour
- Knitted garden at Griffith Retirement Estate
- Flower Power exhibition at Griffith Regional Art Gallery
- Murrumbidgee Irrigation native garden
n Citrus sculpture display on Banna Avenue
