Call for creativity from floral fans

Published: 23 February 2022

What do a red cross, a fish hook, a yin and yang symbol and a hammerhead shark have in common?

They are all designs that have been planted in the flower beds of Napier’s Sunken Gardens by Napier City Council’s talented gardeners.

The Sunken Gardens Bloomin’ Masterpiece competition launches today on NCC’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Residents are invited to submit their ideas for a new flower bed design. The winning entry will be designed and planted by Public Gardens Team member Antonio Pronesti, and the winner will receive a $250 gardening gift card.

Antonio says he’s looking forward to seeing what the community comes up with.

“We’d love to select a creative idea from the community for the gardens this year. Think of the flower bed as a blank canvas and be imaginative!”

The Sunken Gardens is a hidden treasure enjoyed by many locals and visitors who often stop to explore and admire the new and established plantings. Two flower beds feature in this space and they’ve become an artist’s canvas for Antonio. The garden beds are planted in six month periods, with the planting of the winning entry to take place in late October, ready for showing in summer.

“Planting the designs requires careful consideration,” says Antonio. “We need to think about the type of plants, use of colour, expected plant height, and growth longevity.”

Residents can submit their ideas on Facebook or Instagram Wednesday 9 March. The winner will be announced on Friday 11 March.

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