Wild/Flower Women

Lots of lovely Vanilla Lily (Sowerbeae juncea) is gracing the edges of our paths as well as tiny Slender Wire Lily (Laxmannia gracilis). Still lots of gorgeous things including some intense bloomings of Boronia (rosmarinafolia) doing the reconnaissance walk for tomorrow! It’s going to be warm out but worth it. Couple of spots left for this walk and more for next Sat ‘Walk & Draw’ at Currimundi 🙏🏽🩷🌸

See Wild/flower Women Projects on Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/wildflower-women-projects-32939647711

Hosted with The Wildflowering Collective

What a sweet & unusual flower our Wallum bloodroot (haemodorum tenuifolium) has! It’s popping out at present in damp areas, especially those that have seen fire in recent years. You may be more familiar with the triangular seed pods it holds post flowering. With other species of haemodorum in northern Australia, the root has been used by First Nations women for dying pandanus. Can’t find any info on possible applications in SEQ. Would love to hear if anyone knows more about the uses of this plant & its dying qualities. In the meantime, loving the dangly elegant beauty of these little blooms 🧡

This is the beautiful little Tin Can Bay Grevillea (Grevillea reptans), and it was a delight to find them and over 50 other species of native plants in the ‘Wallum Block’ at Tin Can Bay yesterday. Great to meet with other artists and locals keeping an eye out for the block. Close to our hearts the spirit of Maree Edmiston Prior who dedicated much of her work & art towards raising awareness about these precious habitats & trying to have them protected/regenerated in the midst of increasing urban development. Artmaking & creativity were central to her life & work, even screen printing her own election posters when running for council. She also had an exhibition featuring work based on this location back in 2004. Sadly Maree passed away in 2019 but her name and memory was very present yesterday as we walked & talked - hoping her dreams of permanent protected designation for this block could be realised!

Cooloola Coast Art Group Citizen Science • Stewardship • Great Sandy National Park Gympie Regional Council Gympie Regional Gallery

The pretty peas were still out in force & the rain held off for our Park Edge walk today - nature’s garden was really turning it all on! Wonderful to share it with a delightful group of fellow wild/flower lovers 🙏🏽🌸💛🤍

The Wildflowering Collective

Back home & back to our wonderful wildflower walks & experiences - including one tomorrow (Aug 25). That one is the circuit in Noosa National Park behind Sunshine Beach & there’s another this Saturday (Aug 29) at one of the best flowering spots this season. That one is just outside Beerwah! I’ve been off on another Wildlowering & walking tangent so haven’t had much chance to promote these - so spots still available for both. Check out Wild/flower Women Projects on Eventbrite 🙏🏽💜

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/wildflower-women-projects-32939647711

This year’s walks are presented in partnership with the The Wildflowering Collective for (& beyond)

From showers and rain to rainbows & sunshine - a little bit of everything as I shared the Wallum love with Fraser Coast art students today! An added bonus was the presence of ‘Wildflowering by Design’ artist (and school artist in residence) emma thorp and her keen eye spotting the tiny bladderworts & sundews! I hope they felt a little of the magic 🙏🏽💛.

It was great to have a group of the artists/designers attend the launch of our ‘Design Wilds’ exhibition in the unique outdoor gallery space of Galley Lane at Coolum. Thanks so much to the wonderful team from Coolum Art Project, the businesses that support this endeavour & those who came along to see & support the opening. The collection of new designs will be on show until mid-September. (In the laneway near Yum Gelato) 🙏🏽💜

Pic 1, Back - Dimitie Smith, Anna Hanssen, Cecile Bell, Front - Leighanne McHugh, Lisa Chandler, Marni Stuart, Sue Davis, Aunty Hope O’Chin, Sarah Jane Smith.

Pic 2 - attendees at the ‘Design Wilds’ opening including artists & curators, Coolum Art Project (CAP) members, Maria Suarez, Division 9 Sunshine Coast Council & other friends & supporters

Pic 3 - exhibition curators & CAP members

Photos by Sarah Jane Smith Sarah Jane Smith

Acknowledgement:

This project was made possible by funding from the Grants Program Sunshine Coast Council. It is an initiative of The Wildflowering Collective Inc and also supported by UniSC.

The Wildflowering Collective Coolum Art Project