Winners Circle Marigolds
As the winning horses come back into the enclosure over the Stradbroke Season, keep your eyes on our gardens for the beautiful marigolds our Grounds and Gardens team have skillfully planted to be in peak condition for in time for what was supposed to be the kick off the start of the Brisbane Racing Carnival.
A process that started back in January and long before the pandemic saw us racing without patrons, our skilled Grounds and Gardens team have been planning our garden bed displays all year to ensure the venues look their best for the pinnacle of Queensland Racing starting this weekend.
Our Head of Grounds and Gardens, Steve Kernohan, has shared the details of how he works from planning through to the beautiful finished product:
January
Research and planning – consideration is given not only to preferred colours, but also how long the display will need to last, how long from planting until bloom and when they need to be planted to ensure they are at the correct size and stage to look best at the desired time
February
Final decision made – this year, it was for a bright display of mass colour in the form of African Mixed Marigolds (oranges and yellows)
Old flower beds pulled out and garden beds prayed with weed killer
Till out all garden beds, fertilise and top up with compost those garden beds that are in need
March
Order seedlings
Plant gardens (8 weeks ahead of peak display)
March/April
Liquid fertilise, scratch up, pesticide application as needed and general maintenance
These photos show the progress from just after planting in March, to one week ago, and the result now.