Plants win prizes

Published: 28 October 2021

Budding gardeners all over Napier will be hoping for sunshine on the first weekend of November as judges descend on their plots.

Official judging of the annual Napier Garden Competition takes place over two days on 2 and 3 November with the judging panel including members of Napier Councils’ Parks and Gardens Team.

Shelley Exeter who heads up the Parks and Gardens Team says warm days with a sprinkling of rain are perfect for flourishing gardens. Good news for ardent gardeners prepping their plots in the run-up to judging.

“Spring is an amazing time in the garden when everything goes ‘pop!’ The climate is warm and wet, growth is prolific and lush after the dormancy of winter,” says Shelley. “It’s the best time for a garden competition indeed!”

Judges will be looking for a number of things in their pick of winning gardens, including the ‘wow factor’. Gardens have moved on from the traditional quarter acre section and that’s mirrored in their innovative use of space.

“We will be looking for thoughtful use of space due to changes in the way people are living in 2021, like apartments, shared spaces, villages, sub-divided sections,” explains Shelley. “We’re on the hunt for fresh ideas and creativity, and themes that lend themselves to a particular environment like native, coastal, sustainable or formal.”

Entries to the Napier Garden Competition close on 29 October. There are seven categories with participants able to enter the vege garden category plus one other category. Mitre 10 Mega Napier/Hastings is sponsoring the prizes, for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd placeholders in each category, $200 for our online houseplants competition, and $500 to the overall champion garden winner.

Prize giving takes place on 20 November.

Categories:

• First-time entry
• Business, motels and retirement villages
• Vegetable gardens
• Marewa to Bay View residential
• Onekawa to Taradale residential
• Schools and pre-schools
• Houseplants (this category is judged through facebook and instagram)

For more information, go to:

https://www.napier.govt.nz/napier/gardens/garden-competition/

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