Open Garden - Kuranda Palms

Thanks to Mike Moore over at Cairnsblog MB & MDR were able to visit a gorgeous open garden in the Kuranda rain-forest today.  The owners of this 100 acre property, David & Graham, have carved out a 3 acre garden filled with spectacular palms, cycads, heliconias, gingers and bromeliads surrounded by rainforest with not only a creek but a waterfall as well.   
It was wonderful of David & Graham to share their little paradise with the great unwashed.

Tastes of the Tablelands

MB was excited to learn of the Tastes of the Tablelands fair held in Atherton last Sunday.  This is the second time it's been held and looks to be an event that is growing in popularity.  

MDR & MB arrived just after opening time to find quite a queue at the entrance.  MB made a beeline for the Farmers Market tent to try and snap up some fresh tablelands produce and wasn't able to even get inside, it was jam packed.  Hopefully next year the Farmers Market will be extended as it was far too crowded to be in one tent.

The fair has something for everyone.

Some very cute goats at the Goat's Milk Soap stand.  

MDR sampled a Buffalo Pie which was very good, nice & meaty, just how a pie should be.  

The Marroo grapes which are grown locally were fantastic and the OzChoice dried rambutans were amazing, the fruit is dried with the seed which then tastes like a nut.  Normally one tosses the seed away when rambutans are eaten fresh.

There was even a collection of vintage cars & motorbikes for the more mechanically minded enthusiasts.

The fair is held in the grounds of the old Chinese Temple and is a delightful area, lovely and green and right next to the platypus park where an old locomotive is also located, so it's a great spot to take the kids to.

The Atherton Tablelands has the potential to be a real foodie paradise and this event is a very promising sign that things are moving in the right direction.

Spotted at Google News