Gemma Baker and Larry Williamson show Mayor Ian Carpenter a wildflower inspired piece of jewellery.

The City of Greater Geraldton is calling on local businesses to get behind Wildflower Week 2015. Running from August 17 to 27 – it is hoped that Wildflower Week will encourage tourists to begin their wildflower adventure in Geraldton and travel to Mullewa to see the annual Wildflower Show.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Ian Carpenter said the City was currently running a promotional campaign in the Perth market to attract people who have never experienced wildflower country to the Midwest region.

“We know that each year over 400 000 people come to WA to see the wildflowers,” he explained.

“Our aim is to bring visitors here and keep them here longer and if our City demonstrates that it fully gets behind wildflower season we might be able to achieve that.”

The City is urging local businesses to embrace the wildflower theme in the lead up to Wildflower Week.

“We are hoping local businesses will be inspired by the wildflower theme, whether it is with a beautiful window display, wildflower products, competitions or perhaps a new wildflower dish on the menu,” Mayor Carpenter said.

“The City has been running an extensive wildflower campaign that has so far included a five week television and Internet promotion, with 30 second adverts played on the seven network and popup adverts displayed on prominent websites such as thewest.com.au, the creation of a wildflower video and extensive coverage on the City of Greater Geraldton and Visit Geraldton webpages, as well as on social media.

“Wildflower Week will be the pinnacle of the campaign, which will culminate with the annual Mullewa Wildflower Show.”

The City will promote and support businesses that pick up on the wildflower theme through the Visit Geraldton website, in print advertising and through other various wildflower promotions.

One local business, Baker Williamson Studio, is already embracing wildflower season with an exhibition, showcasing artwork from various local artists and jewellery with a wildflower theme.

“I have been an admirer and lover of our native flora all my life, I grew up within the jewellery industry and am a Jeweller and Jewellery Designer, so my two passions I have brought together developing my popular Everlasting Wildflower Jewellery Collection. To support the jewellery we have inspired Artists Australia wide to produce their artistic representation of the Everlasting in the form of paintings, drawings, gift cards, prints, basketry and polymer clay products ,” Gemma Baker explained.

“In addition to the on-going exhibition, we initiated the ‘Baker Williamson Art Prize’ for the first time this year, we put up $1000 prize money to the best art work that best depicted: ‘The transformation of our baron landscapes into picturesque carpets and fields of flowers’ This event inspired many wonderful works of art that will be available for viewing until the end of July, this year’s winner was Aboriginal Artist Margaret Danischewski.”

Another local business supporting the wildflower campaign is jeweller Chimere Pearls who have launched a design competition for a signature pendant with a Geraldton, and in particular wildflower flavour.

With designs coming in from across Australia, entries will be displayed in the Chimere Pearls gallery before a panel of judges selects a winner.

Businesses wanting to take part in the wildflower promotion are asked to register their interest with the Geraldton Visitor Centre.