2012 grand champion of the Hervey Bay Garden Club spring competition, Gavin Baldwin.

MOST households would have several wilted plants in the backyard thanks to the region’s recent dry spell.

But that’s not the case for the Hervey Bay Garden Club’s spring garden competition winner Gavin Baldwin who used ingenuity to help secure the honour of grand champion garden at the weekend.

Along with 18 months of blood, sweat and tears to create his tropical wonderland, the former landscape gardener’s clever use of about 10 44-gallon drums to collect and store rainwater has enabled his Kawungan garden to bloom.

Mr Baldwin said he was a regular customer at the Nikenbah Reuse and Recycle shop, which is where he found the drums, along with other ornaments and bits and bobs that take pride of place amongst a variety of gardenias, frangipanis, palms, bamboos and other tropical species.

“That’s my favourite shop. I get a lot of good stuff out there,” he said with a laugh.

“I got the drums from the tip and hooked them up to my downpipes. There’s a bit over 200 litres in each one and they fill up quite quickly.

“If I can rely on the rainwater I’d rather use that any day of the week. They’re getting a little bit dry now so I’m just waiting for some rain.”

As a first-time entrant in the competition, Mr Baldwin said he was elated to find out he had been awarded the prestigious title.

“I can’t believe I won. I thought even if I just got second or third I’d be happy but this is a really good feeling.

“Some days I walk out and I love it and sometimes I don’t because I’m out there every day but to see the surprise on people’s faces who see it for the first time is great.

“The garden does my soul really good. It’s my passion.”

Numbers were down on last year’s competition but garden club spokeswoman Henny Hoff said entries were still of high quality.

“Considering we have had such a dry year the gardens were still apparently very nice,” she said.

A presentation to all winners will be held at Torbay’s Tavistock Crt this Friday from 9.30am.

All winning gardens will be open for public viewing this Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Winners

Class 1: Under half acre, three years and over

1. Barbara Bensen, 46 Fraser Dr, River Heads
2. Wendy Caffyn, Alana Crt, Torquay
3. Kim Buckspitt, 15 Hayworth St, Point Vernon

Class 2: Under half acre, under three years

1. Gavin Baldwin, 12 Queben Crt, Kawangan
2. Olive and Tom Phillips, 5 Moolyyir St, Urangan
3. Christina Maynes, 36 Harrison Crt, Urangan

Class 3: Best pensioner garden

• R and L Gaunson, 65 Pulgul St, Urangan
• Equal 2: Andrew Nightingale, 64 North St, Point Vernon and Betty and Col Winney, 16 Craig Crt, Pialba

Class 4: Best frontal

1. Ken and Annette Scurr, 95 Colyton St, Torquay
2. Bob and Donna Cliff, 1 Lakeside Crt, Torquay

•  Equal 3: Pamela Thomas, 163/100 Nissen St, Fraser Shores and Brigitta Schwary, 18 Cathy Place, Torquay

Class 5: Best Shade House

1. Bob and Lyn Emslie, 180 Christensen St, Urraween;
2. R L Gaunsen, 65 Pulgul St, Urangan
3. Col and Betty Winney, 16 Craig Crt, Pialba

Class 6: Best Institutional

1. New Horizon Village, McNally St, Scarness
2. Fraser Shores, 58 Nissen St, Urraween
3. Fraser Shores, 100 Nissen St, Urraween

Class 7: Best Vegetable Garden

1. Dawn Bryant Family, 57 Rowley Rd, Booral
2. Fraser Shores Retirement Village, 58 Nissen St, Urraween
3. Fran and Jeff Amor, 23 Marlin Dr, Kawungan

Class 8: Best Small Garden

1. Mr Mrs Burgess, 162/100 Nissen St, Pialba
2. Pamela Thomas, 163/100 Nissen St, Pialba

Class 9: Best Rural

1. Penny Macaulay, 4 Agnes Crt, Craignish
2. Rob and Corrie Blacker, 5 Jasmine Crt, Dundowran Beach
3. Margo Lawton, 30 Bluewater Rd, Booral

• Reserve Champion: Penny Macauley, 4 Agnes Crt, Craignish
• Grand Champion: Gavin Baldwin. Phone 4191 4229 for address details

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to offer adults, ages 18 and older, a series of landscaping classes this fall at Trailside Nature Science Center in Mountainside. The Trailside Museum Association is sponsoring these classes from 11:00 a.m. to noon on three Saturdays: October 13 (Planting Bulbs); October 27 (Deer Resistant Plants); and November 3 (Creating a Natural Wildlife Garden). Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcomed as space permits. There is no fee for these classes but donations are appreciated.

 “These landscaping classes will provide residents with knowledge and skills to grow and maintain beautiful gardens,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Board of Chosen Freeholders appreciates the Trailside Museum Association’s sponsorship of these landscaping classes, as well as their ongoing support and commitment to Trailside.”

Bryan Lowe, horticulture consultant for HortSeminarsNJ, and a certified rain garden installer, will present an informative series of landscaping lectures. On Saturday, Oct. 13, learn which bulbs are available in the season; which do well in our area and are deer resistant; and find out how to plant, care for and maintain your bulbs. 

The topic of discussion on Saturday, Oct. 27 is deer-resistant plants. You’ll learn what plants are not attractive to deer, and what techniques work to deter deer. On Saturday, Nov. 3 the class will examine the proper design for creating a backyard corner for attracting birds, as well as a landscape dedicated to providing food and shelter for our animal friends. The class will offer a chance to explore Trailside’s wildlife habitat.         

 The Trailside Museum Association, sponsor of this landscaping series of programs, is dedicated to assisting Trailside staff in their ongoing efforts to educate people in all aspects of nature, science and conservation by assisting with funding, volunteering and advocacy. 

For information about the landscaping classes or information about any other programs or upcoming events, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Some azaleas to tempt you.

THERE are heaps of things to do in our garden at this time, and not the least is the simple rule: if it flowers in spring, prune immediately after it finishes.

That should be followed by a good dose of fertiliser to encourage new growth and have your garden looking just beautiful.

The new Yates Uplift plant food, made from organic ingredients including seaweed, is ideal for this, so try it and watch those plants respond.

This liquid fertiliser promotes healthy growth, and the easy-pour bottle makes it a simple job to apply regularly.

Yates have a good promotion at present, which means when you buy your new Yates Uplift, you can go online to www.yates.com.au and claim two free packets of their top value seeds.

More Blooming Beauties

Amost without fail, when you mention azaleas to garden

lovers, they react with enthusiasm.

This time of year provides lots of pleasure for us, with gardens brimming over with so many different colours, forms and sizes of these beauties, and not only in gardens but in pots.

There are varieties suitable for

hedges, garden bed features, pot culture, some low growers perfect for borders or hanging baskets and hosts more.

Simply ensure you select the colour and ultimate size it will grow for your chosen position and whether it’s suitable for sun or shade.

If you are considering planting some in your garden, they need slightly acidic, well-drained soil containing plenty of organic material that can be kept moist but not wet.

The older varieties save their energy to flower well in the spring, while newer forms known as azalea encore flower in the autumn, then continue to bloom through winter into spring.

These are free flowering with a very broad colour range, attractive evergreen foliage, grow well in sun or shade, and are heat tolerant.

Incidentally, azaleas are not difficult to grow, see the many beautiful ones growing along roadsides!

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