LABOUR OF LOVE FOR CHAMPS
THIS year has been another year of challenges for reigning City Grand Champion gardeners Gordon and Maria Reynolds.
The biggest challenges this year have been the dry weather and the continued cold which has included some severe frosts.
The time and dedication they’ve put into the garden for The Chronicle Garden Competition has been more than just a labour of love; this year it’s been tough work.
But as Mr and Mrs Reynolds will tell you, they love to challenge themselves each year to make new changes to their garden.
“We like to change the garden around and make it different for the people,” Mr Reynolds said.
New brick garden beds have been built and wooden walk ways extended, along with beautiful new isopogons, gorgeous purple keraudrenias and a new type of grevillea named calliandra which are new to the Reynolds’ garden this year.
“We like to shop around when it comes to picking plants,” Mrs Reynolds said. “We’re always on the lookout for ones that are different and unique, we love to go on nursery crawls together,” she laughed.
When asked why they continued to enter The Chronicle Garden Competition, the couple said they enjoyed the following of visitors and it kept them fit.
However it’s clear to anyone who has the pleasure of visiting their beautiful Australian native paradise, a-hum with bees and alive with birds and wildlife that the Reynolds have a deep passion for gardening and great skills.
The Chronicle Garden Competition would like to thank major sponsors, Heritage Bank, Toowoomba Regional Council and University of Southern Queensland. Judging begins on Friday, September 7. Gardens are open during the Carnival of Flowers, Friday, September 21 to Sunday, September 30.