From Loss to Beauty: A Garden Dedicated to Hope Opens This Spring
Visitors are invited to experience a vibrant celebration of gardens, art, and remembrance, at a special Open Garden and Art Trail event taking place with FREE entry every weekend throughout September 2026.
This stunning private garden is proudly entered in the annual The Chronicle Garden Competition and offers guests a colourful and inspiring experience featuring an extraordinary variety of flowering plants, vegetables, fruit trees, themed garden spaces, and artistic displays.
A heartfelt feature of the garden is its dedication to a cherished friend lost to domestic violence, creating a space of reflection, awareness, and hope. Visitors will also discover the moving “Lest We Forget” garden area, dedicated to the service and sacrifice of Australia’s Armed Forces.
Adding to the experience, respected professional artist Vivienne Heckels will be displaying, demonstrating, and selling her artwork as part of the wider Toowoomba Art Trail which coincides with the event. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artist, watch live demonstrations, and purchase unique original works.
The event promises fun and activities for all ages, including:
- Daily Teddy Bears’ Picnic
- “Adopt a Bear” fundraising activity supporting Back to the Bush Koalas
- Gifts and specialty items for sale, with proceeds supporting Protea Place – Women’s Support Centre.
- Unique Plants will be available for purchase
- Coffee and snacks are also available for sale
- Gardening Hints and Tips available during Q & A
- Beautiful photographic opportunities throughout the gardens
Organiser Heather Smith says the event is about more than gardening.
“This garden has been created with love, remembrance, creativity, and community connection at its heart. We want people to leave inspired, uplifted, and knowing they have contributed to important local causes.”
The Open Garden and Art Trail event is expected to attract garden enthusiasts, art lovers, photographers, families, and visitors from across the Darling Downs and beyond.
Event Details
Location: 114 Nelson Street, Middle Ridge, Toowoomba
Dates: Every weekend in September 2026, including 18th–27th September
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm daily
Entry Cost: FREE
Bus Parking is Available and the front garden is wheelchair accessible.
Visitors are encouraged to bring cameras, friends, and their love of gardens, art, and community spirit for a memorable Toowoomba spring experience.
The event aims to support important community organisations while celebrating creativity, resilience, and the joy that gardens can bring.
Plenty of Parking, Bus Parking and wheelchair accessible, and plenty of room to sit and talk to the trees!
Open 9am – 5pm Every Weekend in September as well as the week of 22nd to 26th to include the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers!
Bus Tours won’t want to miss this place…
114 Nelson St, Middle Ridge, Toowoomba!
Step by Step training is opening it’s competition garden during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers this year. The garden promises to offer something for everyone. Great photographs, great memories, and some great things to take home!
There will be a Remembrance Garden for Australian Veteran’s and great photo opportunities. Other areas will be vegetables, flowers and fruit trees. Teddy Bear Tours will be visiting daily for a Teddy Bears Picnic, and you can adopt a bear which will help raise funds for Back to the Bush Koalas.
Coffee, snacks, gifts and Plants for sale for worthy causes!
As well as a beautiful garden there will be coffee, snacks and gifts and plants will be available for sale.
Proceeds from sale of selected gifts will go to Protea Place and Back to the Bush Koala Rehab.
Artist Vivienne Heckels has been invited to be part of this year’s Art Trail, and she will have her beautiful and whimsical acrylic works on display and available for purchase.
Something for Everyone! A Garden Not To Miss!
If you’re in Toowoomba this September, don’t miss this great spot at Step by Step Training – 114 Nelson St, Middle Ridge!
You can pop in for a coffee, see Teddy Bear Tours enjoy their daily picnic, and watch Vivienne create her artworks!
Plenty to see, and definitely worth adding to your program if you are a bus tour!
Don’t Miss out! No Need to Book, Just turn up!
If you would like to organise a group tour, or morning tea, please contact Heather Smith via phone 0488171500 or email her here.
