Local Government Flower Garden Awards entries encouraged
June 23, 2006
Registration for this year's Australian Local Government Flower Garden Awards will remain open until the end of the year so that councils will have maximum opportunity to enter.
"We already have several registrations from councils around Australia and many enquiries, but it appears that many are waiting to see how good their gardens are going to be and enter later in the year," said Awards coordinator, Mr. Neville Sloss.
"Originally we had asked for registrations by July 1, but it appears that most entries will be spring/summer gardens. With many councils currently planning their plantings now, this will allow them to register right through until their gardens are looking their best."
First held in 2004, they are being organised every two years by Bedding Plants Australia, the national association of seedling and flowering bloomer growers, and jointly sponsored by Toro Australia, a world leader in the design and manufacture of automated irrigation systems and commercial turf maintenance equipment. The awards are endorsed by the Australian Local Government Association.
Those who have already registered include:
Mooney Valley Council and the City of Stonnington in Victoria, Maroochy Shire Council in Queensland, Bathurst Regional Council & Orange City Council in regional NSW and City of Sydney and Sutherland Shire Council in Sydney.
An independent judging panel will assess the entries and includes well-known gardening personality Graham Ross, and leading Victorian garden designer, Carolyn Blackman.
Criteria and entry are simple. Gardens or plantings need to include at least a majority planting of flowering annuals and need to be 'waterwise'.
Brochures are available will be mailed to every local government authority in January 2006. Registration is requested for all intending participants and entries must be in by January 20, 2007. Winners will be announced in March 2007.
"The entry process is very simple – all that is required is a brief description of the garden preparations and a series of photographs to show it at its best. Several of 2004's entrants have indicated they are entering again which is great," said Mr Sloss.
Each State winner will receive a framed certificate, a plaque for display at the site of the winning garden and $1,000 value of product – seedlings and irrigation product. The National winner will receive in addition a further $2,000 of seedlings and irrigation products, as well as registration for their representative to attend the National Conference of Nursery and Gardening Industry Australia in March/April 2007.
Full details will be outlined at the BPA website www.beddingplants.com.au or a brochure can be obtained by contacting mail@beddingplants.com.au
For further information:
- Bedding Plants Australia
- Neville Sloss, 0414562010, or at mail@beddingplants.com.au
- Peter Douglas President, Ph 03 9798 7066
- Toro Australia - Irrigation Business
- Marjoleine Lloyd, Marketing Services Coordinator, Ph 08 8300 3629
- Australian Local Government Association
- Rohan Greenland, Director Public Affairs, Ph 02 6122 9434
BPA backgrounder
Bedding Plants Australia Limited, or 'BPA' as it is commonly known, represents a majority of the growers of flower and vegetable seedlings in the country.
As well as the promotion of outstanding new releases, the other objectives of BPA are to:
- Promote the growing of quality plants by members and the purchase of quality plants among the public
- Encourage people to grow annuals and vegetables and educate them about the easy care nature of the products and their adaptabity to smaller gardens through container planting
- Remind people of the benefits (ie relaxation, pleasure, etc), the variety of choice and the easy care nature of flowering annuals
- Remind people that many flowering annuals don't need as much water as they think and encourage responsible use of water.
Toro Australia backgrounder
Toro is a world leader in the design and manufacture of automated irrigation systems and commercial turf maintenance equipment. The two major brands, Toro Irrigation and Irritrol, provide irrigation systems to the landscape, municipal, agricultural, turfcare and domestic household garden irrigation markets.
Our community depends on water reserves that are available, affordable and sustainable. Toro's commitment is to invest in products and services that promote and facilitate water conservation. Watering efficiency is a major factor in Toro's product development, and system specification.
State of the art products enable precise control of application for greater watering efficiency and lower running costs. Toro's extensive range includes computerized controllers with sophisticated software, radio controlled and hard wired satellite stations, inline drip tube, sprinklers, and equipment such as filters and valves.
Toro have partnered with many councils in managing their water resources. In addition to supplying efficient products, they also offer field staff training, irrigation system audits, technical services support, product specification support, water management advice and waste water recycling advice.
For more information, visit www.toro.com.au or contact Toro's customer service team on 1300 130 898.
