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Quirky Quakers Hill yard a finalist in Blacktown Council garden competition

QUAKERS Hill gardener Orlando Masa is prone to breaking out in a dance. Finalists in last year’s Blacktown Council garden competition got to see his party trick on stage when he collected the prize for best novel garden.

A lot of effort goes into Orlando Masa’s eclectic garden. Picture: Angelo Velardo
A lot of effort goes into Orlando Masa’s eclectic garden. Picture: Angelo Velardo

QUAKERS Hill gardener Orlando Masa is prone to breaking out in a dance.

Finalists in last year’s Blacktown Council garden competition got to see his party trick on stage when he collected the prize for best novel garden.

He hopes to celebrate in the same style this year.

Orlando Masa has a knack for recycling and reusing items. Picture: Angelo Velardo
Orlando Masa has a knack for recycling and reusing items. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Mr Masa’s yard reflects his exuberant personality and he has expanded his collection of quirky items from last year.

“My garden is talking to me,’’ Mr Masa said.

Orlando is a self-confessed hoarder. Picture: Angelo Velardo
Orlando is a self-confessed hoarder. Picture: Angelo Velardo

“I really like my garden.”

Toy sharks also make an appearance. Picture: Angelo Velardo
Toy sharks also make an appearance. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Despite being a self-confessed hoarder there is order to the garden, where international numberplates collected from trips and friends are on display near pots. Along with “thousands of pots”, visitors will see tenpins, a toy shark, a vintage telephone and teapots.

A myriad pots cram into the yard. Picture: Angelo Velardo
A myriad pots cram into the yard. Picture: Angelo Velardo
Would you like a cup of tea with that? Picture: Angelo Velardo
Would you like a cup of tea with that? Picture: Angelo Velardo

The carport ceiling is lined with discs Mr Masa garnered from 28 years as a computer operator. “Once they install the software they throw it away so I took it and put it on display,’’ Mr Masa said.

Licensed to garden: Numberplates from around the globe have made their way to Orlando‘s garden. Picture: Angelo Velardo
Licensed to garden: Numberplates from around the globe have made their way to Orlando‘s garden. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Mr Masa can be seen at a clubs, tearing up the dance floor.

“That’s my only style,’’ he said. “I usually go to clubs and do my dance and that’s my exercise.

A vintage phone opens the lines of communication in the garden. Picture: Angelo Velardo
A vintage phone opens the lines of communication in the garden. Picture: Angelo Velardo
Orlando hopes to land a strike during the competition. Picture: Angelo Velardo
Orlando hopes to land a strike during the competition. Picture: Angelo Velardo

“I went on a cruise eight times. A Canadian man said to me, ‘Hey, I think I remember you, I remember you from three years ago’. Everybody loves my dancing.”

Blacktown Council’s garden competition winners will be announced on October 26.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/blacktown-advocate/quirky-quakers-hill-yard-a-finalist-in-blacktown-council-garden-competition/news-story/1f59df7abb44e18390799c66a63642ae