Joy and Bruno Plos have been iconic staples of the Griffith Garden Festival ever since they founded it in 1990, but for the first time in 28 years they'll be taking a backseat.
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This is the first year they won't be entering the festival, and instead the two retirees will be sitting back and enjoying the other gardens Griffith has to offer.
"It's been great to see the garden festival get bigger and bigger every year," she said.
Joy says there are no shortage of green thumbs around town, and she's always impressed to see the lush gardens popping up all over the place.
Since she founded the event with her husband it's become one of the most iconic events on the Griffith calendar, attracting visitors from far and wide.
To this day Joy is always encouraging more people to get involved in the festival and gardening in general.
"I tell you what, if more people did gardening it'd be a healthier place," Joy said.
"When you're out gardening there's peace and quiet and tranquility - it's life."
This year there will be seven gardens open to the public to marvel at, with free coaches leaving from the Visitor Information Centre on October 18, 19, and 20.
The gardens range in size from small to large to positively gargantuan, and visitors will be able to pick up some tips and tricks from the gardeners if they ask nicely.
Some of the gardens are so large that the gardeners will be taking visitors on grand tours to explain the ins-and-outs of their set-ups.
They'll be offering advice on the best way to grow exotic plants in Griffith's challenging climate as well as tips and tricks to making homemade crafts for the garden.
In addition to the garden tours there'll be talks provided by experts on topics ranging from worm farming to DIY bird baths.
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Griffith City Council event coordinator Georgina Horton said the garden festival was a good chance to throw a spotlight on the horticultural talent bubbling away in Griffith.
"This year we really want to showcase the local talent we have here," Ms Horton said.
"The gardeners are full of knowledge and some will be offering their own tours and handmade products such as bird houses and potted succulents."
The gardeners featured this year will be Mick and Marj Careri's Rosewood Park on Stokes, Trish and Lou Sartor, Lawrence Salvestrin and Tori Horder's Davit Farm, Peter and Ines Taprell, Emeri De Bortoli's, Il Campo, Patricia and Sally Jones, Yambiana, and Sam and Roslyn Catanzariti.
The gardeners will be donating all the money raised to a charity of their choosing.
More information about the different garden tours can be found online at griffithspringfest.com.au or by calling the Griffith Visitor Information Centre front desk on 1800 681 141.
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Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
