Community call out as Chronicle Garden competition grows

BEHIND every Chronicle Garden Competition is a huge display of community - and it is this that entrant David Stanfield is hoping to draw on again this year.

WATER PARADISE: Toowoomba gardener David Stanfield has created two new ponds and is hoping readers might have water plants they could donate. Picture: Bev Lacey

BEHIND every Chronicle Garden Competition is a huge display of community - and it is this that entrant David Stanfield is hoping to draw on again this year.

Donated Tillandsia helped to push Mr Stanfield's garden to a win in the ABC family garden section of the competition last year, and now he is hoping people may have a spare water plant or two.

In preparing for this year's competition Mr Stanfield has added two new ponds to his garden, which are looking a little bare.

"If people have any marsh plants, water plants or reeds - I will happily re-home them, I need to fill this (pond) space," Mr Stanfield said.

"I want people to be able to enter into the bog garden, with water plants all around them - and where it's safe for grannies to walk."

Mr Stanfield said he had 17 people contact him last year to donate Tillandsia for his tree.

"I went to visit every single one of them - it was delightful because it was a community thing," he said.

"I want to give the sense of let's do this together - I would really like to inspire others into thinking 'that is something I can do'."

Anyone who would like to donate can contact Mr Stanfield on 0417 636 747.

Entry to the 2019 Garden Competition has now closed, with 122 applications received.

This year there are seven first time entrants to the city sections and five for country, the most popular section being the floral garden.

The Chronicle Garden Competition launch is on at Cobb and Co Museum on August 24, where the team will announce the three judges and showcase the Secrets of Toowoomba's Gardeners book.

This year there will also be a special display of carnival and The Chronicle Garden Competition memorabilia for the launch, compiled by Bev Lacey and Janelle Insley. The major sponsors of this year's event are Heritage Bank, Toowoomba Regional Council and University of Southern Queensland.

Originally published as Community call out as Chronicle Garden competition grows