Seeds of spectacular spring

JUDGING has been completed for this year’s Easter’s Landscape Supplies Spring Garden Spectacular.

Former director of zones for Garden Clubs Australia and a member of Tamworth Cottage Garden Club, Marcia Ajani, did the judging yesterday.

Nineteen entrants across 11 categories comprised this year’s spring garden spectacular, Ms Ajani said.

“It’s going very well,” she said when The Leader contacted her yesterday.

But while there was plenty to be enthused about, she admitted she would have liked more entries and more top-end gardens.

“I’m disappointed by the lower number of entries and some of them (are) small gardens ... but, overall, I would say the standard is not up to usual, but the gardens have been very nice.

Mrs Ajani said she hoped this year’s crop would boost interest next year.

The garden competition, run by The Tamworth Times and now in its 23rd year, had brought back one of its categories, The Tamworth Times advertising manager Jo Maiden said.

“It’s a section we’ve had in the past and we’ve decided to include it again this year,” Ms Maiden said.

The category is called Favourite Spot in my Garden.

“It is a good one to have because you don’t have to have a large garden to have a special spot to relax in and enjoy the outdoors – it can be as 

simple as a small spot in the corner,” Ms Maiden said.

Two other “very important” sections had also been included, she said. “We included Commercial Premises because we thought it was important to recognise their effort , for example, hotels and business premises, including those in the Taminda industrial area, to beautify our city,” Ms Maiden said.

“Also, with the view to encourage people to save water whilst at the same time beautifying their gardens we’ve included two other sections – Native Garden Bed and Sustainable Garden.

“The Sustainable Garden section is for those people using drought-resistant plants; I think it’s important to recognise them.

“Because Australia is such a dry continent, it’s important to encourage gardeners in Tamworth and district to grow drought-resistant plants.”

The Sustainable Garden section also looked at gardens using mulch, grey water and waste water, she said.

“It’s a section to encourage that and I think it’s really important,” Ms Maiden said.

She is looking forward to the presentation at Tamworth Regional Botanic Garden at 11am on Tuesday, October 30 and she also praised the gardening community.

“It really is a credit to all the gardeners who enter the competition to continue the high standard of our spring garden spectacular,” she said.

A light luncheon will be provided after the presentation ceremony.

The Grand Champion Garden winner will win a return trip to Brisbane for two people offered by Brindabella Airlines.