Botanic garden dream takes shape

FroGGs are on the move! Friends of Geraldton Gardens Inc are a group of garden lovers who have a vision for a world-class botanic garden of our unique local flora, planned to be built, hopefully, in Maitland Park.

By creating this botanic garden in the city centre, it will enhance the beauty of our City and it will be another site to encourage tourists from around the world to visit.

The concept plan that has been created cleverly includes open space for events that already take place in Maitland Park.

What a great idea! A showcase of our amazing and rare plants that have developed over many thousands of years.

They are capable of bursting into bloom with an astonishing variety of colour and scents every spring, but will still remain an interesting place to visit throughout the year.

Imagine a garden filled with areas that can depict local parts of the Mid West like Mullewa’s floral bloom, Mingenew’s coal seams coloured carpet of paper daisies, pom poms and everlastings, right here in the middle of the City?

A spokesperson for FroGGs Inc said that indigenous bush tucker will also feature along with Aboriginal bush medicine.

Remember walking through a jam tree thicket as a kid? With a mass of flowers spread over the red dirt of the bush?

And the York gums, acacias and the melaleucas’ dense greenery, the tall spotted gums and the saltbush that spread around the dry lakes of the Mid West back in the early days?

The amazing river gums, the flowering Illyarries and Eucalyptus crispata.

The quandongs, the sandalwood, all hidden from view of the city dweller today.

Can you still hear the chatter of the twenty-eights among the gum trees? Remember many years ago, when just kids we tried to snare one or two.

And the dense thickets of tea trees that were cut for bush shelters to keep out the heat? These are just a memory now for lots of people.

FroGGs said that they had engaged Realm studios to create a concept plan. This was funded by the City of Greater Geraldton through grant money.

Stakeholders and people with a direct interest in the park had been consulted and two public forums were held over a year and a half.

The project submission, concept plan and supporting documents have now been presented to the City of Greater Geraldton’s councillors for their approval for FroGGs Inc to enter the park.

The people of the region will be asked for their input before a final decision is made.

A funding application has been lodged with the Mid West Development Commission for a grant to implement the proposed garden that is to be built in stages, with stage one along Cathedral Avenue, the first one planned.

All other groups in the Mid West with similar interests and regions will benefit directly and indirectly from this project by the influx of tourists to the area and the development of bus tours, bush walks, et cetera.

You are welcome to seek more information and to become a member of FroGGs Inc.

They have a great team and would welcome you onboard. FroGGs imagine a lot of the work in the park will be done by local volunteers, and what would be a more noble cause than to part of a community that built this dream?

Visit Friends of Geraldton Gardens on Facebook or contact FroGGs via email at froggsgeraldton@gmail.com.

You can contribute financially to this project by direct deposit to Friends of Geraldton Gardens Inc.

The account is at the Bendigo Bank, Forrest Street, Geraldton.