National Flower Garden Award goes west!
17 November 2004
The national winner of the first Australian Local Government Flower Garden Awards is the City of Bayswater, a suburban council in Perth, Western Australia.
The judges said both entries submitted by the council for its garden beds throughout the city and roundabout plantings were outstanding both in design and quality of plants.
"In a state where they have lived with water restrictions for several years, they had stunning presentations of annuals and had really brightened up their community," said Chairman of judges and media gardening expert, Graham Ross.
"In particular, the roundabout plantings were top quality considering the adverse conditions in which they live," said Joy Heard, judge and National Administrator of Bedding Plants Australia, the organizers of the awards.
"Hardy annuals like African Queen marigold and petunias and pansies were used in different colour combinations to great effect," agreed the judges.
Apart from being national winner, the City of Bayswater also took out the state award for W.A.
The other state winners were:
- Victoria
- Colac Otway Shire (2 hrs west of Melbourne)
- In the Colac Botanic Gardens the Shire had planted out three beds to add colour. Judges said "using the old fashioned methods of mounding garden beds and different height annuals, they had increased the impact of the displays dramatically. The plant quality was excellent and the display of primulas was simple but beautiful."
- New South Wales
- Joint winners - City of Botany Bay (Sydney metro) and Young Shire Council (west of the Blue Mountains)
- City of Botany's entries were street plantings while Young's were plantings in the Central Business District of Young. Judges couldn't split them so they are joint winners!
- Judges said of Botany Bay's effort - "in a difficult environment and industrial areas, they managed to brighten up streetscapes significantly. Colour selection and design were minimalist but effective and the quality of plants was very good considering locations."
- Of Young, they said - "They put beautiful displays in every corner possible - where other councils put bitumen they put annuals! There's no doubt that their displays throughout the city would add to a 'feelgood' and proud community."
- Queensland
- Brisbane City Council - City Botanic Gardens
- Judges said the Queensland entries were generally of a high standard and "while the Botanic Gardens should be expected to present gardens of high quality, theirs were of international standard. The grand classical design with raised beds was outstanding in colours and plant selection."
- Tasmania
- Launceston City Council
- They submitted three garden entries and judges were impressed with their overall results. "They kept them simple and their Princess Square plantings where they used only one variety of pansies (Madame Butterfly) and City Park where yellow pansies and Matilda Poppies made big impacts, they were real eye-poppers!"
No winners were selected for South Australia, ACT or Northern Territory due to lack of, or incomplete entries.
Judges also included garden designer, Carolyn Blackman from Victoria, who said "When councils use mix upon mix upon mix and try to create intricate patterns on the ground they really lose the effect.
"For me, the best effects were achieved with bolder patterns that have purposeful use of a mix with complimentary blocks of colours. In Bayswater's case, they seemed to achieve this most effectively. The 'all out' mixed planters near the shopping centre were terrific in that while definitely 'over the top' with colour, that's all they were trying to be. I bet the residents loved those!"
27 councils registered over 62 gardens into the awards. Bad weather and other extreme conditions meant that some did not present final entries. The awards were endorsed by the Australian Local Government Association, which represents all local government authorities across Australia.
Bedding Plants Australia is the national association of seedling and flowering bloomer growers and is well known for its national Flower of the Year released every year, such as Simba marigold this year and Madame Butterfly and Pussycat pansies in recent years.
Each State winner will receive a framed certificate, a plaque for display at the site of the winning garden and $500 wholesale value of seedlings for next season planting. The National winner will receive in addition a further $500 wholesale of seedlings and registration for their representative to attend the National Conference of the Australian Nursery and Gardening Industry in March, 2005.
Images of and more information about the winning gardens can be sourced at the Bedding Plants Australia web site.
