Pink everlastings fill Geraldton residents and their Midwest WA town with the joy of spring
A group of Geraldton residents want to fill the town with pink and white everlastings annually. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Joanna Prendergast)
When Sommer Wells pulls into her driveway, the stress and worries of the long day dissolve as vibrant colours of pink and white flood her vision.
Ms Wells, who has been planting everlasting flowers in her front garden for years, said she felt a sense of calmness wash over her whenever she saw them.
"With the Geraldton breeze [the flowers] really do dance around," she said.
Geraldton, about four hours north of Perth in the Midwest region of WA, is well known for its wildflower season, with people visiting the region to see its colourful flora.
Geraldton residents made seed packets ready to be handed out for planting. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Piper Duffy)
After years of harvesting and replanting everlasting flowers in her garden, Ms Wells had the idea to spread the colour further than her driveway.
"Eventually I had a green wheelie bin full of flowers, far too much for my little garden," she said.
"So I thought it would be really wonderful to share the love around the neighbourhood."
Ms Wells reached out to Beachlands Community committee leader Jo Bunker and soon the Pinking Up the Hood project was born.
Jo Bunker is a committee member of Beachlands Community. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Piper Duffy)
Bringing colour to neighbourhoods
For years Ms Bunker had volunteered her time with other Beachlands residents to make the neighbourhood a "more vibrant and happy place".
She said she put a call out on Facebook to see if anyone would be interested in seed planting to fill areas with everlasting flowers.
"I was shocked at the response. We had about 50 people say they were interested, which was great," she said.
Since then Ms Bunker and Ms Wells have held multiple busy bee workshops where people gather to make seed packets ready to be planted in gardens.
"We had one session where we filled a wheelie bin of seed heads," Ms Bunker said.
"And today we've made little origami packets to put the seed heads in, and some seed bombs to hand out."
Jo Bunker said they've had more than 50 people requesting a package of everlastings seeds. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Piper Duffy)
Aware not everyone had a green thumb, Ms Wells said that was what made everlastings great for the job.
"You can just throw them down on the ground, rake the dirt with your fingers, and that's it," she said.
"They will germinate with the first rain, so come April they should grow pretty quickly.
"It is super rewarding for kids if they want to plant them because the results are quite instant."
Residents sorted through sticks to find good products for the seed packs. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Piper Duffy )
The Beachlands Community committee aims to make planting everlasting flowers a yearly thing.
In addition to brightening up the town, Ms Bunker said the small workshops were also a great stepping stone to community connection.
"It's a small project but hopefully it's got a bigger impact," she said.
"It's a nice way to be able to get together and find out what's happening in each other's lives."
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