134 YEARS OF COMPETITION EXPERIENCE

LONG TERM ENTRANTS DAZZLE IN 2021

AS THE days count down to the announcement of prize winners in The Chronicle Garden Competition for 2021, it’s worth considering the time and effort the entrants dedicate each year in order to have their gardens in top condition for judging and the subsequent flood of eager visitors from near and far.

Many seasoned gardeners will understand that these gardens are not simply cobbled together at the last minute, and that in order to have them at their peak in September requires a 12-month commitment to soil preparation, pruning, planting, weeding, fertilising, pest and disease control, seed growing, mulching, deadheading and irrigation, as well as worrying about frosts, wind, hail storms, dull, overcast weather and the inevitable hot, dry days.

Phew! Who’d be a competition gardener? Well, as it turns out most years, between 70 and 110 gardeners choose to subject themselves to all the above stressors to present their best patches to judges and the admiring public.

This year saw many new entrants to the competition, some returning after entering for a few years previously, and a few who have dedicated many, many years to the competition.

During this week I visited a few of those long-term, dedicated gardeners who need to be applauded for their efforts over many years of entering The Chronicle Garden Competition, including this year, the 72nd anniversary of this iconic event.

1.

My first visit was to the wonderfully diverse garden of Ruby Brunner in Crown Street, Rangeville.

Ruby’s been living there since the early 1960s, practising her very special brand of sustainable gardening ever since.

This year is Ruby’s 35th year of entering the competition.

When you visit, you won’t find manicured lawns and lots of bright annual flowers, typical of competition gardens of years gone by, but will no doubt be amazed at the number of different species that have survived and grown well in her garden.

Look for the many self-seeding daisy varieties, the ubiquitous air plants (or grandfather’s beard) hanging from almost any plant or structure, and the numerous “old-fashioned” spring flowering plants that have disappeared from some of the newer gardens over the years.

One feature of her garden is the secluded walk in behind her garage, dotted with shadeloving plants such as begonias and clivias and even the occasional citrus tree.

2.

Second cab off the rank was the stunning front garden of Bob and Val Ford in Burke Street, just around the corner from Ruby’s place.

This is their 31st year of entering the competition in which they have won Grand Champion twice, missing out only once on a prize in each year they entered.

Bob’s pride and joy is no doubt his exquisite footpath and front yard ‘Wintergreen’ couch lawn, an expanse of green that is seen long before the garden comes into view as you approach.

Other highlights include the range of dwarf conifers, azaleas and clever selection of well-placed annuals in the small spaces between the perennial shrubs that almost fill the garden beds.

Other stunning features include the gorgeous hybrid clivias under the Magnolia at the front door, the oriental alcove on the southern boundary, and the colourful plantings of ‘Bloomingdale’ double ranunculus in various sunny garden spots.

3.

Next stop was the city garden of Les and Fae Stephson in Perth Street.

They have also been entering the competition for 31 years; the garden constantly being modified in some way by the resourceful Les each year.

Awards include Champion Large Garden 2002, Margaret Timbs Design Award 2011 and even an ABC Gardening Australia award.

The first thing you’ll see as you approach the garden is the bright footpath plantings, but it’s entering the front gate that will take your breath away.

Les and Fae’s garden is a riot of colour, using both mass annual plantings as well as dazzling perennial plants such as eremophilas, grevilleas and pelargoniums to great effect.

The shaded walkways and covered courtyards are filled with exceptional shade lovers such as clivias and one of the best donkey’s tail sedums you’ll see anywhere.

Their kikuyu lawn is also a joy to behold.

4.

A short drive to Beresford Street in Pittsworth brought me to David and Gay Kearey’s beautiful garden, entered for around 20 years in The Chronicle competition.

Prior to that, David and Gay had entered in regional contests and have a total of 37 years in some form of local garden competition.

Gay is an ex-nursery person and told me she has trouble visiting plant nurseries without bringing home a plant or two, which is borne out by the amazing range of plant species in the gardens that surround the home.

When you visit, look for the many different perennial wallflowers (Erysimum cultivars), Indian hawthorns (Raphiolepis) and wonder at the green haven that is their shadehouse on the southern side of the house, filled with a variety of maidenhair ferns and other shade-lovers.

Ask David to show you his healthy and very productive vegie patch as well.

GARDEN CUTTINGS

Don’t forget to also visit the four exceptional Toowoomba Exhibition Gardens, open from September 17 to 26. These are some of the Toowoomba region’s finest, private gardens and it’s guaranteed that any gardener who visits will leave with renewed enthusiasm and plenty of gardening ideas. There’s a small entry fee which is donated to charity, and since its inception in 1973, close to $750,000 has been raised.

Go to ww.toowoombaexhibitiongardens.com for more information.