Few could claim to have a workplace as beautiful as Liz Lualdi’s.
The ‘office’, as she likes to call it, is a picturesque eight-hectare tea tree lake at Tyagarah, filled with hundreds of blue lotus flowers.
Each Thursday afternoon, Liz sets out across the lake on her paddle board, harvesting the sweetly-perfumed flowers for her stall at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market the following morning.
The blue lotus are the focal point of Liz’s stall, and their blue petals, golden yellow centre and sweet, fruity scent make them a popular choice for those looking for something out of the ordinary.
The flowers had special significance to the Ancient Egyptians, according to Liz, and were considered a symbol of life and fertility. The dried flowers can also be used to make tea: “It’s amazing for tea, with the most beautiful aroma. It’s like you’re drinking perfume, it’s really beautiful.”
Liz says the tea also has a calming effect, and can take the edge off anxiety.
As well as the blue Lotus, Liz’s stall is home to other exotic, unusual and wild flowers like gingers, Birds of Paradise, Papyrus, orchids and other potted plants.
She says her orchids are locally grown and well adapted to local conditions, and their flowers last much longer than most.
“Most commercial orchids are shipped in, they’re artificially boosted with fertiliser, they look good in the shop, but they have no substance. When you get them home, you’re lucky if the flowers last a month,” she said.
“Mine are grown properly. They’re all quite a few years old and they’re grown locally so they’re accustomed to the climate. They’ve had proper fertiliser, and they’re actually extremely hardy and very robust. I’ve have reports back from customers that they’ve all re flowered and the flowers all lasted an exceptionally long time. “
Find Liz Lualdi at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market every Friday.
