Ode to spring and carnival

UNLIKE many parts of Australia, we enjoy distinct seasons in Toowoomba.

In autumn many trees lose their leaves to become stark, skeletal silhouettes against cool night skies silvered by moonlight.

Winter can be miserable, with frosts and chill, biting winds - long, drab months for those who hate the cold.

But a keenly felt winter means we appreciate spring all the more.

As the days length, as that empty smell of winter becomes the perfume of honey and heat, as boughs droop with blossom, there is a true sense of rebirth, a lift in spirits. All the more pronounced because of the short, chilly days before.

It is a bright season of bloom and colour, of sweet fragrances and hope.

So fitting that we in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs celebrate the coming of this bright season with an iconic festival the envy of many other regions.

Is there anything more joyous than the Carnival of Flowers? It is indeed a symbol of spring.

Much of our edition today is a celebration of all-things carnival, from the Grand Central Floral Parade to the Ergon Energy Food and Wine festival, to the amazing Chronicle Garden Competition.

It’s spring. It’s carnival. It’s time to bid farewell to winter and let our mood reflect the season.