A small country town in Western Australia has come in to full bloom with thousands of tulips helping to attract tourists and keep struggling local businesses afloat.
Every August, the south west WA town of Nannup becomes a sea of colour with 17,000 tulips planted throughout the main street for a four-day flower and garden festival.
But organising committee chair Maggie Longmore said coronavirus gathering restrictions had almost forced the event to be cancelled this year.
"We'd already bought the tulip bulbs because you have to buy them a long time in advance," she said.
"But because of the COVID restrictions, we weren't even sure if we're going to be able to go ahead.
"We thought if the least we can do is invite people to see the tulips as they drive through the town and that was our starting point."
In WA, coronavirus gathering restrictions eased in late June but Ms Longmore said the committee made an early call to extend out the festival from four days to five weeks to spread out any visitors.
The restrictions also forced some gardening sessions to move online, and allowed a trial of a large floral mandala built in the town centre by botanical stylist Lara Rose.
"This year because it's outside, because we could do it under the COVID restrictions, it was a fantastic opportunity to do it," Ms Longmore said.
"People are just so amazed at it and just enjoying it.
"They didn't expect to come to Nannup, our little country town and find something as creative and as extraordinary."
Bringing the economy 'back to life'
The extended festival run time has also provided a steady stream of customers for local businesses.
"It's been incredibly busy, we have just been run off our feet," said local café owner Bethany Prichodko.
The majority of the festival this year is free of charge which makes visitor numbers in the town difficult to estimate, but Ms Prichodko said it has been enough to keep their staff in work.
"I would say it's five times as busy as a weekend during the coronavirus pandemic, which is just fantastic for a local business and great for the staff."
She said small towns like Nannup need these festivals to survive.
"If we didn't have these festivals most businesses probably wouldn't make it through winter let alone COVID.
"This really brings us back to life."
