Spring Garden Competition 2011

The Ryde area has a long history of gardening which can be traced back to early European settlement and the annual Spring Garden Competition showcases the variety of green-thumbed local talent, whether it be in the Edible Garden or Most Beautiful Courtyard category.

The competition is open to all residents and ratepayers of the City of Ryde. Local schools and community groups are encouraged to become involved as well as businesses.

Categories

• Most Beautiful Garden - may be the whole, or just one part of the garden
• Most Beautiful Courtyard or Balcony - pots, planter boxes, ornaments, walled gardens
• Best Edible Garden - vegetable garden, permaculture garden, pots and planters
• Best Bushcare Site - for an outstanding contribution made by volunteers to a natural site
• Best Children's Garden - created by a child, family, school group or community, large or small
• Best School Garden - open to all educational facilities
• Most Beautiful Commercial Garden - hotels, retirement villages, commercial premises, large or small

Judging Criteria

For most categories, judging is based on three main factors:

• Maintenance - the lack of elements such as dead and diseased plants, well presented lawns and clipped shrubs, considered water usage and overall attention to detail.
• Design - aspects as layout, colour, use of line, form and texture, plant use and once again attention to detail within this context.
• Intent - the active participation of the entrant, level of knowledge and enthusiasm and extent of third party assistance.