Girraween, meaning place of flowers, has been a labour of love for Isis South resident Doreen Cole.
On most days you will find her in the garden “head down, bum up” while her husband tinkers in the shed.
Her passion for gardening has been highlighted as part of Bundaberg Regional Council's Our People Our Stories project which highlights local residents and celebrates community.
Doreen proudly states that each one of her plants at Girraween Gardens started off as in a six-inch pot or a small cutting.
Her overflowing garden is nearly 63 years in the making, which she said made it easy to feel overwhelmed by so many beautiful and sweet-scented plants.
Originally developed as a plant nursery, Doreen has hosted weddings, catered for bus trips and morning teas and been a part of the Australian Wide Open Garden Scheme at Girraween Gardens.
Over the years her property has been devastated by hailstorms and wild weather, but Doreen has always rebuilt what was lost to nature.
“It has been a labour of love for decades,” she said.
Doreen's passion for plants is the reason she has a beautiful, thriving garden – a true hidden treasure of the Bundaberg Region.
Just like her passion for gardening, Doreen also shares a love for history and keeps the stories of early Buxton alive through the book ‘Buxton by the Burrum’.
The memoir is lovingly written by Doreen and features 50 years of memories as told by her grandmother and mother.
“People sometimes undervalue the things old people know,” she said.
“Never be afraid to ask an older person something.
“I believe if the younger generation could have seen the 40s and 50s, after the war years, they would appreciate life more”.
Doreen's Girraween Gardens is located at 438 Butchers Road, South Isis.
Doreen certainly has green fingers . Her garden is a credit to her. Keep up the good work Doreen. cheers