Grand Champions’ secrets to success
EXCITED, elated, shocked and floored.
That was how Toowoomba gardener Bob Ford described his emotions when he heard he and his wife Val were named the Grand Champions at The Chronicle Garden Competition Presentation Night last year.
It’s an award the Fords, who are both 74 and have been competing in the competition for 27 years, have won twice.
“We’ve won about 10 or 11 Front Garden awards in a row but to get Grand Champion, it absolutely floored us,” Mr Ford said.
“When it was announced, we were very shocked.”
Mr Ford attributed their success to hard work.
Mr Ford said he had been a keen gardener most of his life, something he inherited from his mother.
But it wasn’t until fellow gardeners and competition entrants Rod and Maureen Hultgren suggested entering that they gave it a go.
“We use to get buses pull up out the front and look at the garden even though we hadn’t entered,” he said.
Mr Ford described his garden as a colourful one, taking inspiration from the colourful event that is the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
“We’ve got one of the best lawns according to the judges, they want to know my secret but they’re not going to get it.”
The Chronicle marketing manager Stacey Hixon said she couldn’t wait to see all of the region’s beautiful gardens and thanked competition sponsors Toowoomba Regional Council and Heritage for their support.
Entries close for The Chronicle Garden Competition on Monday, July 31 at 4pm and entry forms will appear in the paper once a week until then. For more details phone 4690 9434.