Laidley’s legendary green thumb

Queensland’s master gardener, Kevin Niethe, brought Laidley’s award-winning gardens to life, creating a sea of colour featuring poppies, snap dragons, petunias, perennials, cottage gardens and memorial rose garden.

His ability to create stunning horticultural masterpieces was revealed when he began work as the gardener at Tabeel Lutheran Home in 1989.

The fruits of his labour were two second and three first prize awards in the Lockyer Valley Garden Competition presented by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council from 1996 to1998.

Mr Niethe’s (pictured) talents were also recognised when he secured the position of president of the Lockyer Valley Orchid society from 2003 to 2006.

“I planted the garden to tune into residents’ wishes to give them pleasure and based my gardening on their interests,” he said.

“One lady loved sweet peas so I planted a bed of them at the service. I planted the name ‘Tabeel’ in flowers which could be spotted from the train as people came into town.”

Mr Niethe even gave geranium cuttings to passers-by in exchange for a gold coin donation.

“One day I raised $96 during the annual Spring Festival. I also built a rose garden and the residents from the hostel all brought a rose and a plaque with the rose name and owners name inscribed, and thereafter they could pick the flowers which grew for them.”

The retiree was a self-taught gardener and learnt about plants from books. “It’s all about getting your hands dirty, it’s relaxing and it brings people together and revitalises their memories,” he said.

Mr Niethe’s passion for flowers blossomed through his wife, and his years spent growing up on a farm provided a natural progression to his role at Tabeel.    

Lockyer Valley Regional Council mayor, Steve Jones, said Tabeel’s gardens were beautiful and an oasis in the middle of the township.

“The courtyard in particular is very special for those older people and it’s really something for them to enjoy and get out in the garden and get away from it all,” he said.

Mr Niethe loves his retirement unit at Tabeel. “It is a historical place and the village is an asset providing a sense of belonging,” he said.