Trees for Life
The 2011 Kings Park Festival was once again a huge success with an enormous range of events and activities held during September, attracting thousands of visitors from all walks of life. This year’s festival was themed 'Trees for Life', in celebration of the UN’s International Year of Forests.
Kings Park’s spectacular wildflower displays took centre stage and several hundred thousand visitors marveled at their beauty in the State’s Botanic Garden. This season’s display of wildflowers were 12 months in the making and Kings Park’s horticultural staff nurtured about 3000 different plant species drawn from the South-west, Goldfields, Gascoyne, Murchison and Kimberley regions.
SANTOS Live Sundays
The Botanic Garden was abuzz with talented local and interstate musicians who featured on the main stage as part of the Santos Live Sundays music program. Visitors enjoyed picnics while lazing in the Botanic Garden tuning in to the relaxing springtime music. The Santos Live Sundays program culminated with the popular Everlasting Jazz Picnic where thousands of visitors chilled out to the tunes of some of the Perth Jazz Society’s most talented groups including Rolling Pin, Watercolours of Brazil and the Dale Boaden Trio. Thank you to Santos for supporting this wonderful program across four big Sundays.
The Adorable Florables were also back for another year, dancing their way through the Botanic Garden. Children and adults alike were drawn to these colourful and animated characters as they put the boom-cha-cha-boom into pollination and vied for the title of Kings Park’s Best Wildflower. Thank you to Santos for supporting these larger than life characters.
Connect with Kings Park Workshops
The 2011 Connect with Kings Park Workshop series was as popular as ever in 2011. Many of the Art, Gardening and Walk and Talk Workshops offered were booked out well in advance.
Some of Western Australia’s most celebrated artists hosted this year’s workshops including Fiona Gavino, Trudi Pollard and Lori Spencer-Neuzerling. Kings Park’s horticulture and nursery specialists conducted informative and helpful workshops in the areas of Propagation, Grafting and Tree Pruning. Gardening Extraordinaire Sabrina Hahn, from 720 ABC Perth, also hosted two popular gardening workshops, and as always, the Kings Park Master Gardeners’ Dig it With Coffee Information Sessions were as popular as ever.
Kings Park’s Special Trees Presented by The West Australian
Captured by leading West Australian photographer Richard Smyth, this collection of 50 stunning images was a hit during the 2011 Kings Park Festival. Celebrating Kings Park’s most special and significant trees, this outdoor photography exhibition profiled the botanical, cultural and historical significance of some of Kings Park’s trees, including the tree the Queen planted back in 1954. You can still collect a Kings Park Special Trees Booklet from Aspects of Kings Park Gallery Shop and locate the special trees in Kings Park’s gardens.
Friends of Kings Park Plant Sale
The Friends of Kings Park had another hugely successful plant sale, selling more than 18,000 native plants over the festival’s final three day weekend. The plants sold were lovingly cultivated and grown by the group’s volunteers over a 12 month period. All funds from the sale go directly towards supporting research and special projects in Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Be sure to attend the next Native Plant Sale.
Boodja Gnarning Family Fun Day
This special family day celebrated traditional Nyoongar culture with a range of fun Indigenous activities. Visitors immersed themselves as they watched traditional didgeridoo and dance performances, took part in art and craft activities and listened to some of Australia’s most talented Indigenous musicians.
Visitors also had the opportunity to stroll along the newly opened Boodja Gnarning Self Guided Walk – exploring the Nyoongar ways of living off the land. Visitors learnt the traditional use of trees and plants for food, tools, medicine and their cultural significance. You can still visit the Western Australian Botanic Garden daily between 9.30 am and 4.00 pm and take part in this self guided walk. Thank you to the Friends of Kings Park and Lotterywest for supporting this wonderful event.
Quiz on Legs
The 2011 Quiz on Legs event was bigger than ever with more than 1500 school children converging on the Western Australian Botanic Garden for a fun and informative day out. Kids from all areas of Perth enjoyed the presentations of 20 leading eco-education organizations as well watching theatre shows, listening to traditional Nyoongar storytelling and hanging out with Kings Park’s Adorable Florables. Visit Kings Park Education for more information on school events held at Kings Park throughout the year. The Life is Better with Trees School Poster exhibition also received a great response with nearly 100 posters submitted from 24 schools across Western Australia. Of these submissions, a display of 50 colourful posters created by some of WA’s talented budding artists was on show for the public over the month of September.
Wild Fairyland Festival
Thousands of little fairies, pixies, elves and wizards packed the Lotterywest Family Area for the 2011 Wild Fairyland Festival and enjoyed a jam-packed day of fun activities including bush crafts, theater shows and maypole dancing. It was a perfect spring day and families made the most of the beautiful weather by enjoying picnics in the park. Kids also had the opportunity to get their wishes granted by Queen Fairy Sandie, as well as ride ponies, have their faces painted and enjoy delicious fairy foods including a sausage sizzle, fairy floss and cupcakes. The talented boys from Bizircus now have a following of young fans thanks to their energetic and fun-filled performances on the main stage. Thank you to SANTOS for supporting this wonderful event.
Meet the Artist at Aspects
We were lucky enough to have two extremely talented artists attend the 2011 Kings Park Festival. Jewellery designer and Botanical Artist Philippa Nikulinsky spent several days meeting and chatting to visitors at Aspects of Kings Park Gallery Shop. Mylene is one of Western Australia’s most creative artists and has transformed the humble button into unique, colourful wearable art. Her designs were extremely popular with visitors. Philippa showcased several incredible limited edition prints and artworks during her time at Aspects including many works featuring Kings Park.
Major Partner:
 |
Media Sponsor:
 |
Media Supporters:
 |
Supporters:
 |
 |
|
The 2011 Kings Park Festival was proudly presented by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority.
