For more than 60 years Les Stephson and his wife Fae worked side by side every day in their beloved garden.
The garden’s ebb and flow, seedlings to flowers, was part of their lives. It was their joy and cemented their partnership.
Mr Stephson is now 95 and on a sunny spring day, nestled amongst a sea of flowers, he can be found tending his garden.
But his beloved Fae is not with him. She sadly died in October last year, aged 91.
Les Stephson’s garden has won many awards over the past three decades. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
Between picking up weeds and watering the endless beds of colour, Mr Stephson stops and speaks to passers-by on the street, curious about the faces he has not seen before.
Thousands of people are expected to visit his home over the coming weeks as part of Toowoomba’s 75th Carnival of Flowers.
Mr Stephson has been opening his “pride and joy” up to the public for more than three decades.
It is one of the self-described “Mayor of Perth Street’s” favourite times of year.
But this year it is tinged with sadness as Fae will not be there to greet visitors with her trademark smile.
Fae Stephson died in October 2023 after suffering injuries from a fall at her home. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
“Every day we worked in the garden,” Mr Stephson said.
“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.”
Les Stephson has been adding to his garden for about 30 years. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
The couple, who married in 1959, spent their life in their garden, planting new flowers, installing new trinkets and ornaments.
Fae, who worked from her home as a florist, died after a fall at the home where the couple had lived for 66 years.
“It was breakfast time,” he said.
“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.”
Les Stephson says he’ll continue to look after the garden for as long as he is able to. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
He managed to get back inside where she died in his arms while waiting for emergency services.
Paramedics were able to revive Fae, but at the local hospital doctors told Les she was brain dead so the decision was made to turn off life support.
“It was the toughest thing you could ever possibly do,” Mr Stephson said.
Thousands of people are expected to visit Les Stephson’s garden over the coming month. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
‘Doing it for Fae’
Over the years, the couple had entered their garden into numerous competitions, including the garden competition associated with the Carnival of Flowers.
They were grand champions on multiple occasions.
Mr Stephson, who spent his professional life as a mechanical engineer, said there was no question about opening the garden up without Fae by his side this year as it would have been what she wanted.
Les Stephson has been busy removing weeds from the garden and getting it ready for the public. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
“This year I did it on her behalf. I dedicated it to Fae. That sounds stupid 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.”
There are many nooks and crannies in Les Stephson’s garden. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
Almost half a million people are expected to visit Toowoomba, dubbed the “garden city”, for this year’s Carnival of Flowers — now in its 75th year.
Queensland Country Tourism chief executive Peter Homan said there was a “real buzz” around this year’s anniversary event.
“Bookings are at a maximum. They’re at a real premium,” he said.
“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.”
The Botanic Gardens in Toowoomba is one of the centrepiece attractions for the Carnival of Flowers. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
Carnival showcased in Singapore
Alongside beautifully curated public parks and exquisite home gardens like Mr Stephson’s dozens of special events are being held across the city to celebrate the carnival.
These include food and wine festivals, the Weetwood Horse Race, a Queensland Symphony Orchestra performance, 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 said.
“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.”
Les Stephson says he misses Fae every day. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
While this year is his first Carnival of Flowers without his beloved wife, Les Stephson said he would continue to keep the garden up for as long as he physically could.
“I’m already thinking of next year,” he said.
“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.”
The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers runs until October 7.
