The inaugural Newcastle Garden Awards have unearthed some horticultural masterpieces and have drawn attention to the simple joy of pottering in the backyard.
Supported by the Tradie Network, the competition was founded by Michael Edwards, who said the idea had come from his role in the property industry.
He found that people not only loved displaying their homes but their gardens as well.
“There didn’t seem to be a platform to showcase the many spectacular gardens across the Newcastle region and, equally, the hard work, passion and dedication that is put in by their owners,” Edwards said.
He said they were overwhelmed with the positive response and that entries had set an extremely high standard for future competitions.
After receiving loads of entries and selecting the finalists, the judges had a tough job choosing winners in four categories.
“We received many great entries, and all of our finalists set an extremely high standard, making the judges’ job a challenging one,” Edwards said.
“But after a significant amount of debate, our judges Judy Sharpe and Brian Bird have chosen very worthy winners, representing very different properties and types of gardens.”
The four categories were Best Small Garden, Best Small Spaces Garden, Best Large Garden and People’s Choice.
The Best Large Garden category was taken out by a seven-acre property in Whitebridge that borders Glenrock Reserve.
The partially formal gardens, which have been developed over 30 years and are surrounded by well-maintained lawns, were described by the judges as “park-like with beautiful open spaces, balancing out well-selected plants”.
The Best Small Garden award went to a cottage garden in Hamilton South. Featuring an entry arbour and Lamarque roses, it was “inviting from the front entry, with a layout and plant selection to complement the home”.
The Best Small Spaces Garden went to an Adamstown house that has made use of a limited space, where hard surfaces have been transformed into a green sanctuary.
The People’s Choice award went to a desert-inspired garden in Belmont North populated largely with cacti and succulents.
“We hope that the Newcastle community have enjoyed a glimpse into some of the beautiful gardens we have across our region and potentially drawn some inspiration for their own gardens or small spaces,” Edwards said.
“We have already received inquiries from numerous people who missed out on entering this year, so we expect next year to raise the bar even further.
“The recurring theme we heard from our entrants was that their gardens were their happy places, so it has been a joy to be able to showcase them.”
For more information visit the Newcastle Garden Awards Facebook page.
Hayley McMahon