Landscape Challenge provides inspiration
July 2, 2010
Visitors to this year’s Home Garden Expo between 9-11 July can once again be inspired by the impressive display gardens designed by professional landscape artists in a quest to win the coveted Seven Local News Landscape Challenge.
Designers from across the Coast will showcase their creative talents in nine uniquely different display gardens created in the allocated 10m x 8m plots, including last year’s winner Ruth Sinnott from Hummingbird Native Design in Nambour.
“After our great success last year, I am very excited about our theme for this year’s Expo which is a night garden in a rural setting, featuring earth, wind, fire and water. I have named my garden, In Your Element” said Ruth.
“This competition is a real challenge and tests your abilities on so many levels. As a designer you need to show you can work to extremely tight deadlines, within a confined space and demonstrate the creativity to develop an innovative and welcoming garden according to the theme.”
Event manager, Marion Beazley says the display gardens are a highlight every year and the challenge of creating a complete garden in a matter of days makes the outcomes even more impressive.
“Each designer starts with an empty plot and the end result provides inspiration and great ideas for the over 27,000 people who are expected to attend the Expo this year,” said Marion.
“The gardens will give our visitors fresh ideas on how to design their own garden using the plants and accessories available at the Expo. The objective is to demonstrate what can be done in a relatively small area and to encourage people to go home and get creative.”
Gardens are judged on whether all the various elements are in harmony and reflective of the theme of the design, the choice of greenstock works well together and is in keeping with the design and the how cleanly the design is presented.
Construction of the display gardens will begin on Monday, July 5 and the landscapers will be hard at work all week to complete their spectacular designs at the entrance to the Expo when the gates open at 8am on Friday, July 9.
Those participating in the challenge will be hoping to win one of the cash prizes of $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third.
The Queensland Home Garden Expo is held at the Nambour Showgrounds and is a celebration of all things gardening attracting over 27,000 visitors last year who enjoyed displays from over 360 exhibitors, including 50 nurseries.
For more information please visit www.homegardenexpo.com.au
Here’s a sneak preview of what landscapers will be creating next week:
Hummingbird Native Design – Gold Award Winner 2009 (Nambour)
Ruth will create a reflective night garden in a bush setting.
SJ Landscapes – Silver Award Winner 2009 (Nambour)
Saul and his team will be creating a stylish, modern and productive garden.
One Earth Landscaping – Bronze Award Winner 2009 (Pomona)
Sean is passionate about creating habitat for native birds and frogs and his design will show how you can do this.
Anthony Stead Landscapes (Nambour)
Anthony will create a landscape in its truest sense. This design will play with scale to recreate a soaring mountain range and show that anything is possible.
Zen Metal Art and Landscaping (Toowoomba)
Kevin Fowler will create an outdoor room with a difference. This display will combine a number of striking and innovative features.
Clint Kenny Design (Warwick)
A classic and stylish design for courtyards and inner city living.
Greenstock Nurseries (Bellmere)
Bold, beautiful and colourful – a mass display of bromeliads.
Utopia Palms and Cycads (Valdora)
A unique selection of plants will be a feature of this tropical hideaway garden created by Teresa and Daniel.
Aloe Aloe (Toowong)
This display of Aloes will have an African theme that is sure to catch your eye.
Ends.
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