The last orchid to leave the garden

Smashing results at the three day mega sale. Every single orchid sold and there were approximately 2,000 plants on the Cooroy Gardens six acre property in the Noosa hinterland. 

Publicist and popular Noosa personality Helen Flannagan scored the last orchid and garden manager Seyen Surjan was there to see the sale went smoothly. Most everyone left happy and there is enough running-away-from-home money to tide us over to the next big event. Time for a little R&R methinks. Part of the jade collection went to family friends in Ipswich and the cinnabar lacquer lions will soon return to Sydney and the couple who first introduced me to Apple Mac – I am forever in their debt.  Stay tuned.

Jesus Bird Kakadu Australia

Usually these bird visuals are studies of life on and around our property and surrounding Cooroy Creek.This new illustration is developed from a quick diary thumbnail made decades ago while tripping the Northern Territory. A photographic assignment for one or other of the glossy magazines but, as was often the case, my quick diary sketches sometimes caught the immediacy of a situation faster than the Canon camera. For two decades the Jesus Bird and Giant Lotus quickie rested in the back of a travel notebook and came to light yesterday. Then followed this all night session drawing on the Mac to create a new bird-n-bush study for electronic media.

2010 Chinese New Year valentine

It may sound queer sending a Chinese Valentine in the form of Australian parrots and red-flowering rainforest trees but at Cooroy Gardens you learn to go with what you've got. King parrots and flaming red Firewheel it is. From our garden to your garden, great good luck and a huge-hearted Saint Valentine. Make this the year things happen.

December/January rains and we're back in business. This is the time to visit. Grand sweeps of green and picnic places galore. Cooroy is nothing if not pretty little shops and happy smiling people. Holiday in the heart of Noosa's Hinterland. Check out progress on the new Library building. Try Eggs Benedict at Peter's Cafe or spectacular coffee and a thing-y at Twig and Grace. Visit Cooroy Gardens, a very special place, Jan 7-18. Call 5442 5188.

Firewheel: No need to trim this tree

A scarlet Poincianna starts our summer cycle and the Illawarra Flame tree follows suit – then our native Firewheel lights up the landscape in mid/late December. Three in a row. The Firewheel (Stenocarpus sinuatus) is Queensland's robust rainforest tree. Magical. It manages to bloom right on cue for Christmas and flames in New Year. At least, that's the cycle here, Down Under. A member of the Protea family it's our way of sending Season's Greetings from Cooroy Gardens. Happy holidays, and may all your Christmases grow green.