Backyard Tourist: Plant nurseries on the Gold Coast for keen gardeners
I’ve only been a green thumb for six months, but my house is already a jungle. Here are the Gold Coast nurseries that should be on every plant-lover’s must-visit list.
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NOW, I’ve only been a green thumb for all of six months, but I’ve already amassed a good collection of plants.
Hardy, indoor plants for the most part, because I live in a townhouse.
But ever since I put my vertical wall up, I’ve been obsessed with picking out the most beautiful — and easy-to-care for — plants I can find on the Coast.
Yes, Bunnings has been a reliable destination and I’ve found a few interesting plants there, including a Marbled Queen Pothos, a curly ribbon plant and a very hardy Syngonium Mango.
However, for something a little different, I’ve gone to Gold Coast nurseries for this column.
This week I was at the Ross Evans Garden Centre at Coombabah.
It’s a little like heaven, you know, if you like plants.
They had a huge range of everything, from indoor to outdoor plants and pots small enough for a tiny succulent, to pots you could fit six adults in.
I saw many plants I wanted to take home, but I restrained myself and just bought a gorgeous Heart Leaf Philodedron — a climbing plant with large, love-heart shaped leaves.
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Weeks earlier, I visited the Carrara Markets and bought one of my favourite plants, a Pothos Goldilocks, as well as a bromeliad and climbing fig plant.
At the Labrador nursery, Instant Jungle Palms, I found a beautiful Monstera plant. It had a young leaf on it, which opened, and now it has yet another one.
Towards the back of their land, I spotted a huge, healthy Devil’s Ivy — but I already had one and reluctantly left it there at my partner’s insistence.
I keep telling myself that I have enough plants now, but let’s be honest, it’s hard to just window shop.
DISCOVER
CLOSE to the Ross Evans Garden Centre is the beautiful Coombabah Lakelands.
Perfect for an afternoon or morning stroll, the wetlands are teeming with native wildlife, birds and plants.
In fact, there’s 274 species of animal for you to spot. Seven of the species are listed as vulernable or near threatened, so the area is important for them.
Think koalas, kangaroos and grey-headed flying foxes.
Two dozen internationally protected migratory bird species also use the protected area.
The gates open at 6am and close at 6pm each day.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE … DO
IF you have time, head to Shearwater Esplanade in Runaway Bay for time in the sun.
This little esplanade is the perfect place to chill out, with large grassed areas leading on to the white sand by the Broadwater.
For the more adventurous, try kite surfing. The area is well known as a safe place to kite surf with the right breeze.
There are plenty of places available for lessons in the area. Happy surfing.
EAT AND DRINK
SUBSTANCE Espresso at Runaway Bay is great for a bite to eat, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or just some morning tea.
Expect well presented and delicious meals with a healthy kick.
For example, they have granola with vanilla pannacotta, smashed avocado with a poached egg, Danish feta and cherry tomatoes, as well as a crispy wonton and grilled chicken salad.
They also make a mean smoothie and have mouth-watering vegan options available, such as the kale trail, which features sauteed greens, a beetroot rosti and amazing green pea pesto.
Of course, there’s a range of coffees available for caffeine addicts.
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