General News
21 December, 2023
Garden club winners announced
The Maryborough Garden Club hosted the Central Goldfields Shire Garden competition for the first time in four years, with Maryborough couple Gail and Steve Foster coming out victorious. The competition has been running annually for nearly four...
The Maryborough Garden Club hosted the Central Goldfields Shire Garden competition for the first time in four years, with Maryborough couple Gail and Steve Foster coming out victorious.
The competition has been running annually for nearly four decades with gardens from Bealiba, Carisbrook, Dunolly, Talbot and Maryborough all eligible to claim the top prize.
Steve said their garden filled with luscious leaves, abundant seating, sprouting veggie patch and much more has been six years in the making.
“When we first moved in six years ago we had some ideas as to how we wanted to reimagine the garden and it continues to evolve,” he said.
“It was a bit of work at the start, we spent around three years getting all of the weeds out of the garden, but now we have automatic sprinklers that use rain water, we take advantage of the sunlight and now it is no effort at all.”
Gail said she is proud the garden caters to the couple’s needs and looks forward to adding even more elements in the near future.
“We always enjoy having breakfast out here, reading a book and just relaxing in a peaceful environment,” she said.
“I am most proud of our covering plants which are deciduous, meaning we just get the sunlight during winter, after their leaves have fall off, then we get shade during summer as the leaves have regrown during spring.
“There is always a new colour or a new plant that we think fits well for our garden and it keeps us invested.
“I have always liked gardening and Steve enjoys digging the holes for it.”
Maryborough Garden Club committee member Linda Pickering congratulated the Fosters and was happy to see the event return.
“After a three year break, the committee agreed that it is an important part of our program and aims to foster gardening in the shire,” she said.
“Thank you to all those who helped with judging, our valuable sponsors and especially our garden owners for entering.”
Major sponsors included Crameris Mitre 10, Dellavedova Fertilisers, Professionals Real Estate and PJ’s Timber and Hardware.
Gail and Steve also won the best vegetable garden in the shire as well as best backyard garden.
Awards were also given out to the best kept streets in the Central Goldfields Shire, with Peel Street winning the award for Maryborough.