Widower's garden blooms with love and memory at Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
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For three decades, the vibrant and meticulously cared-for garden of Les Stephson and his late wife, Fae, has been a cornerstone of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
This year, the event holds a poignant significance as 95-year-old Les opens his garden gates to the public for the first time without his beloved partner by his side.
Les and Fae Stephson's love story is one deeply rooted in their shared passion for gardening.
For over 60 years, the couple cultivated their garden together, their lives intertwined with the cycles of planting and blooming.
Their garden was more than just a hobby; it was a symbol of their partnership and a source of immense joy.
Nestled in a sea of flowers, Les can still be found tending to his garden on sunny spring days, a testament to his enduring dedication.
However, the absence of Fae, who passed away last October at the age of 91, is deeply felt.
The garden, once a shared sanctuary, now serves as a living memory of the love and life they nurtured together.
Les's connection to his garden and to Fae is palpable. As he weeds and waters, he engages with passers-by, sharing stories of the garden and the woman who was its co-creator.
This year, as thousands are expected to visit his home during the 75th Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Les's ‘pride and joy’ will be a tribute to Fae's memory.
It’s one of the self-proclaimed ‘Mayor of Perth Street’s’ favourite times of the year.
However, this year carries a touch of sadness as Fae won’t be there to welcome visitors with her signature smile.
‘Every day we worked in the garden,’ Mr Stephson shared.
‘It was her life, too. She followed me all the time. She'd tell me what to do, and away we go.’
‘I miss her terribly, every day,’ he added.
The couple, who wed in 1959, devoted their lives to their garden, constantly adding new flowers, trinkets, and ornaments.
Fae, a florist who worked from home, passed away after a fall at the house where they had lived for 66 years.
‘It was breakfast time,’ Mr Stephson narrated.
‘I was round [the back] painting. And I heard that awful sound, the wallop…the deadening solid sound.’
‘I yelled out through the window, and she didn't answer,’ he continued.
He managed to get back inside and held her in his arms while waiting for emergency services.
Although paramedics managed to revive Fae, doctors at the local hospital later informed Les that she was brain dead, leading to the decision to turn off life support.
‘It was the toughest thing you could ever possibly do,’ Mr Stephson lamented.
Throughout the years, the couple had submitted their garden to various competitions, including the one linked to the Carnival of Flowers, and had been grand champions multiple times.
Mr Stephson, a retired mechanical engineer, felt there was no doubt about opening the garden this year without Fae, as he believed it was what she would have wanted.
‘This year, I did it on her behalf. I dedicated it to Fae. That sounds s***** to say, but it's her garden, too,’ he said.
‘I talk to her out there. I say, “I'm going to plant this,” she tells me, “don't plant that.” If somebody was going past they'd say I was going off my rocker. But I talk to her all the time.’
‘She was a wonderful person,’ Mr Stephson continued.
Nearly half a million visitors are anticipated to flock to Toowoomba, known as the ‘garden city’, for this year's 75th-anniversary Carnival of Flowers.
Peter Homan, Chief Executive of Queensland Country Tourism, noted there was a ‘real buzz’ surrounding this milestone event.
‘Bookings are at a maximum. They're at a real premium,’ he reported.
‘It's bucking the trend because events right across Queensland have had a really tough year. Most events have had bookings well south of where they normally are.’
‘The flowers just keep attracting people. It just seems to get bigger and better every year,’ Mr Homan added.
In addition to the meticulously designed public parks and stunning home gardens like Mr Stephson's, the city is hosting numerous special events to mark the carnival.
These events include food and wine festivals, the Weetwood Horse Race, a performance by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and more.
‘There's nothing quite like the parade where you see all those beautiful floats coming down Ruthven St and then around past Queens Park,’ Mr Homan remarked.
‘This year, we're also taking the carnival to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.’
‘For eight weeks starting from September 23 there is an 850-square-metre display of flowers from this region in the Flower Dome,’ he added.
You can watch Les's story here:
Source" YouTube / ABC News (Australia)
Though this is his first Carnival of Flowers without his cherished wife, Les Stephson vowed to maintain the garden for as long as he was physically able.
‘I'm already thinking of next year,’ he shared.
‘I know every foot of that ground out there. And the house. I still like it.’
‘I'll keep going 'til as long as I can,’ he added.
The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, running until October 7, is not just a celebration of horticulture but also a tribute to enduring love and the resilience of the human spirit.
Les Stephson's garden, a living memorial to his wife, Fae, invites visitors to witness the beauty that can grow from a lifetime of shared devotion.
Have you ever had the chance to see the couple’s garden? What are your thoughts on Les and Fae’s relationship? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
This year, the event holds a poignant significance as 95-year-old Les opens his garden gates to the public for the first time without his beloved partner by his side.
Les and Fae Stephson's love story is one deeply rooted in their shared passion for gardening.
For over 60 years, the couple cultivated their garden together, their lives intertwined with the cycles of planting and blooming.
Their garden was more than just a hobby; it was a symbol of their partnership and a source of immense joy.
Les Stephson, 95, has been sharing his garden with the public for 30 years, continuing the tradition he and his late wife Fae cherished. Credit: Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
Nestled in a sea of flowers, Les can still be found tending to his garden on sunny spring days, a testament to his enduring dedication.
However, the absence of Fae, who passed away last October at the age of 91, is deeply felt.
The garden, once a shared sanctuary, now serves as a living memory of the love and life they nurtured together.
Les's connection to his garden and to Fae is palpable. As he weeds and waters, he engages with passers-by, sharing stories of the garden and the woman who was its co-creator.
This year, as thousands are expected to visit his home during the 75th Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Les's ‘pride and joy’ will be a tribute to Fae's memory.
It’s one of the self-proclaimed ‘Mayor of Perth Street’s’ favourite times of the year.
However, this year carries a touch of sadness as Fae won’t be there to welcome visitors with her signature smile.
‘Every day we worked in the garden,’ Mr Stephson shared.
‘It was her life, too. She followed me all the time. She'd tell me what to do, and away we go.’
‘I miss her terribly, every day,’ he added.
The couple, who wed in 1959, devoted their lives to their garden, constantly adding new flowers, trinkets, and ornaments.
Fae, a florist who worked from home, passed away after a fall at the house where they had lived for 66 years.
‘It was breakfast time,’ Mr Stephson narrated.
‘I was round [the back] painting. And I heard that awful sound, the wallop…the deadening solid sound.’
‘I yelled out through the window, and she didn't answer,’ he continued.
He managed to get back inside and held her in his arms while waiting for emergency services.
Although paramedics managed to revive Fae, doctors at the local hospital later informed Les that she was brain dead, leading to the decision to turn off life support.
‘It was the toughest thing you could ever possibly do,’ Mr Stephson lamented.
Throughout the years, the couple had submitted their garden to various competitions, including the one linked to the Carnival of Flowers, and had been grand champions multiple times.
Mr Stephson, a retired mechanical engineer, felt there was no doubt about opening the garden this year without Fae, as he believed it was what she would have wanted.
‘This year, I did it on her behalf. I dedicated it to Fae. That sounds s***** to say, but it's her garden, too,’ he said.
‘I talk to her out there. I say, “I'm going to plant this,” she tells me, “don't plant that.” If somebody was going past they'd say I was going off my rocker. But I talk to her all the time.’
‘She was a wonderful person,’ Mr Stephson continued.
Nearly half a million visitors are anticipated to flock to Toowoomba, known as the ‘garden city’, for this year's 75th-anniversary Carnival of Flowers.
Peter Homan, Chief Executive of Queensland Country Tourism, noted there was a ‘real buzz’ surrounding this milestone event.
‘Bookings are at a maximum. They're at a real premium,’ he reported.
‘It's bucking the trend because events right across Queensland have had a really tough year. Most events have had bookings well south of where they normally are.’
‘The flowers just keep attracting people. It just seems to get bigger and better every year,’ Mr Homan added.
In addition to the meticulously designed public parks and stunning home gardens like Mr Stephson's, the city is hosting numerous special events to mark the carnival.
These events include food and wine festivals, the Weetwood Horse Race, a performance by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and more.
‘There's nothing quite like the parade where you see all those beautiful floats coming down Ruthven St and then around past Queens Park,’ Mr Homan remarked.
‘This year, we're also taking the carnival to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.’
‘For eight weeks starting from September 23 there is an 850-square-metre display of flowers from this region in the Flower Dome,’ he added.
You can watch Les's story here:
Source" YouTube / ABC News (Australia)
Though this is his first Carnival of Flowers without his cherished wife, Les Stephson vowed to maintain the garden for as long as he was physically able.
‘I'm already thinking of next year,’ he shared.
‘I know every foot of that ground out there. And the house. I still like it.’
‘I'll keep going 'til as long as I can,’ he added.
The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, running until October 7, is not just a celebration of horticulture but also a tribute to enduring love and the resilience of the human spirit.
Les Stephson's garden, a living memorial to his wife, Fae, invites visitors to witness the beauty that can grow from a lifetime of shared devotion.
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