More than one hundred and seventy local gardening gurus gathered at Brush Farm House on Wednesday 7 October, for the announcement of the winners of the 2009 City of Ryde Spring Garden Competition. A record number of entries were received from which twenty-four we chosen for Awards in eight categories.
Presenters included special guest The Hon. Maxine McKew, (Member for Bennelong); Sponsors Michael Mcnaught (Eden Gardens), Tom Sweeney (Macquarie Park Cemetary and Crematorium), Ian Fribence (Australian Native Landscapes); and the Mayor, Clr Michael Butterworth.
Most Beautiful Garden
1st - Rod Browne and John Hancock
Judges note: In this beautiful garden there is not a spare patch of soil in sight and it is filled to bursting with plants that thrive in the Sydney climate. There are flowers everywhere; bromeliads, orchids, abutilon, clivias and begonias, to name just a few. The rear garden is quite magical with seats tucked into nooks everywhere, a cleverly disguised compost and work area, and modest water features dotted around the garden. John and Rod’s passion for gardening and plants is evident everywhere you look and the garden is a great testament to all their hard work.
2nd - Andrew Stutchbury
3rd - Patricia Pelly
Highly Commended – Mike and Betty Willis
Highly Commended – Gary Eaves
Highly Commended - Rosetta Maggio
Most Beautiful Courtyard or Balcony
1st - Alan Taylor, Meadowbank
Judges note: Alan and his partner Simone have created a delightful oasis in a very small and challenging site which they describe as a ‘canyon’. Their balcony receives full sun during the middle of the day and is in full shade during the morning and afternoon. Attention to detail can e found in the choice of pots, plants and layout, with small touches like black pebbles for mulch. Alan and Simone have become successful through a process of trial and error. Healthy succulents, ficus, palms and ferns are beautifully presented and are a credit to them.
2nd - Judy Thompson
Joint 3rd - Megan Wade-Ferrell
Joint 3rd - Joy Scott
Best Children’s Garden
1st - Ryan de Burgh and the West Ryde Neighbourhood Children’s Centre
Judges note: Collectively the group has created a beautiful ‘Dinosaur Garden’ in a small space at Ryan’s home in Putney. The garden is well laid out, the plants are well mulched, labelled and have attendant dinosaurs.
2nd - Ilankumuran Muragappan
3rd - Sophie Jones
Most Beautiful Commercial Garden
1st - Calvary Retirement Community
Judges note: The grounds of this site cover 22 acres and are well established with large palms, extensive mature azalea beds, wisteria walk, crab apple avenue and an exquisite dendrobium covered grotto. The resident participation extends to an enchanting tropical garden and active vegetable garden.
2nd - Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium
Best Edible Garden
1st - Carmello Rafaelle
Judges note: Mr Rafael is a master of growing edible plants. Huge mango trees, all in full flower, which feed family and friends all year round, dominate the streetscape. Coffee trees, persimmons, olives, mulberries and even sugar cane are dotted through the front garden. The rear garden is entirely given over to growing fruit and vegetables. The garden is immaculate and everything is thriving. Eggplants and chillis have just gone in and huge beds of lettuce, parsley and rocket are all growing strongly. It is a delightful garden to be in and an inspiration to anyone interested in growing their own.
2nd - Julie Jardine
3rd - Macquarie University Community Garden Club
Best Bush Care Site
1st - Pidding Park
Judges note: This site has an extraordinary level of commitment from the volunteers especially Edie Rosenburg who has been working on the site since 1981. The bushcare group was formalised in 2006 and the roving group provides assistance every 3-4 months. No contractors work on this long thin site which runs from Pidding Park quite steeply down to Pidding Road.
2nd - Wallumatta Nature Reserve
Best School Garden
1st - Ermington Public School
Judges note: This garden is an outstanding example of gardening integrated into the curriculum all through the year and for all students. Recently established, the children researched and chose a suitable site, they designed the layout of the beds and then moved the soil in. The garden incorporates an area of native plants with a water feature and frog pond as well as productive beds for vegetables and herbs. The children actively compost, run a worm farm and are assisted by science teacher Carolyin Amat.
2nd - Truscott Street School, North Ryde
3rd - Our Lady Queen of Peace, Gladesville
Mayor’s Choice Award
Angela Thomas
Judges note: Angela has created a formal, modern Japanese style garden around an imposing house which is comprised of such elements as topiary, cascading conifers and a feature lawn of mondo grass.
