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Garden Talent in Full Bloom in Latrobe City

Gardening skills of Latrobe City residents recognised at the Latrobe City Garden Competition awards night.

By Portal Admin - 8th December 2019 - Back to News

Gardening skills of Latrobe City residents have been recognised at the Latrobe City Garden Competition awards night which celebrated the outstanding work of the regions green thumbs.

A fixture on the gardening calendar since 2016, the awards are a celebration of some of the most beautiful gardens showcased throughout Latrobe City.

Amazed by the diversity and quality of the entries, Latrobe City Council Mayor, Cr Dan Clancey paid tribute to local residents labour of love in creating vibrant, productive outdoor spaces.

"Gardens come in all sizes large and small, with many purposes from decorative to the edible. Our gardens are an extension of our home, they are a visual representation of pride for individuals and how we present our gardens allows us to express our individual creativity," he said.

Presenting the acclaimed Mayor's Best Garden and Encouragement awards, Mayor Cr Dan Clancey said he had drawn inspiration from the entrants and the way that they had implemented innovative ways to incorporate plants to make interesting and appealing open-air living areas along with producing food for themselves and others.

"I was very impressed with the quality and beauty of the garden competition entries, proving our community is inclusive and connected, with entries from individuals as well as families, this intergenerational activity is available to all.

"I applaud each and every person who dedicates their time to beautifying where we live. It has inspired me to try to get out into the garden more often myself."

The categories and winners for 2019 are:

• Mayor's Award for Best Garden
• David Froud and Ann Bomer
• Mayor's Encouragement Award
• Newborough East Primary School

• 1st Kelly Abbott and Family - A garden maintained by all members of the family, including the compost management team comprising of four and six year old boys who love feeding the worms. An assortment of edibles including flowers, a bee hotel alongside the vegie patch, hand painted garden gnomes, a dinosaur garden and the most exciting part, the mud puddle.
• 2nd Kathryn Edgar and Family
• 3rd Suzy Young and Family

• 1st Lyn Piergrosse and Robert Hartwig - The garden journey started four years ago with a very wet block. The back yard was levelled with new drainage installed to help the garden develop. While the yabbies are still yet to find a new home, the garden has flourished. Most plants in the garden are self-seed, some with a little relocation help, the plants attract bees and a few of the fragile plants enjoy the hothouse over the winter.
• 2nd Morwell Neighbourhood House
• 3rd Donna Callanan

• 1st David Froud and Ann Bomer - A garden established 15 years ago started with natives around the perimeter to link with the local trees in the landscape and progressed in to a four level tier garden. A large, central lawn that has hosted a wedding is surrounded by yearlong native flowering plants, seasonal ornamental plants and flowers, shady areas for the summertime, vegetable garden and water features all supported by a sustainable drip irrigation system and water storage tanks.
• 2nd Diana Billingsley

Best Large Garden: Rural

• 1st Minke Bennett - A rustic garden complimented by ornamental features such as the post and rail fence, old push bike, vintage tools and garden art. A beautiful rose garden complimented with a box hedge, a fruitful mulberry tree and near the pergola, a big wisteria tree that has to be seen in full bloom.
• 2nd Bill and Helen Cawcutt
• 3rd Joanne Koolen

• 1st Chris Bowlen - Moving to the area 18 months ago presented the opportunity to build a sustainable vegie garden from scratch. A garden established using newspaper, compost, animal manure, straw and locally sourced fertilisers from farms and home-made worm juice. All natural sprays are used to keep pests at bay and ensure the 20 different varieties of vegetables thrive.
• 2nd Celeste Gibbons

• 1st Newborough Primary School - The students are actively involved in the Kitchen Garden Program where they grow food and herbs before using the ingredients to cook meals to be shared at school. The garden allows the students to learn about propagating techniques where plants are then potted and sold at local small businesses. New garden beds will soon be available, with cuttings prepared for propagating.
• 2nd Grey Street Primary School
• 3rd Newborough East Primary School

• 1st Helinda Hellman - A wonderfully fragrant garden with crape myrtles, Japanese maples and an abundance of roses. The garden is a peaceful and relaxing haven curated by a passionate green thumb.
• 2nd Joseph Lafferty
• 3rd Michele Thorn

• 1st Geoff Darcy - A heartfelt dedication to Geoff's wife, Carol, who has lovingly tended the garden for 45 years creating their own little piece of paradise. The bright colours of the pig faces lift the garden to another dimension and the birds enjoy frolicking among the trees and shrubs.
• 2nd Faye Foley

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com