Get in quick: How to enter the 2022 Garden Competition

A star performer in the 2021 Chronicle Garden Competition has offered sage advice to newcomers looking to enter this year. See here for all your Garden Competition news. 

The Chronicle Garden competition has launched and already, excitement is blossoming.

Here's all your Garden Competition news below: 

Give the Garden Comp a go 

“Give it a go!” is the overwhelming advice from Chronicle Garden Competition entrants to others thinking about participating for the first time.

Ros Wackerling, from Westbrook, entered the Competition for the first time in 2021 and was thrilled to walk away with the Runners Up trophy for the Regional Acreage Gardens category.

Delighted by the prize, Ros said the biggest win was overcoming her initial nerves to enter and the joy of sharing her garden with others.

Regional Acreage Garden runner-up Ros Wackerling, Westbrook. Chronicle Garden Competition presentation of awards at City Golf Club. Carnival of Flowers 2021.

“Don't get hooked up on the actual competition and prizes; enjoy the visitors, the pleasure they get from your garden and the appreciation and wonderful comments you will get from them can’t be beaten, - plant lots of flowers, mulch well and enjoy the experience,” she said.

Mount Lofty gardener, Michael Glennon, was also a first-time entrant last year, and shared the first-time nerves and doubt about whether his garden was ‘worthy’ of being part of the Competition.

“I kept on thinking to myself, is my garden good enough, am I wasting my time and what will the judges say,” he said.

“But the judges were very friendly and gave me plenty of advice about planning and improving my garden.".

Michael took out first place in the Small City Residential category in 2021 and said he is looking forward to opening his garden again with the hope of bringing more smiles and enjoyment to visitors.

Garden Competition Entrant Liaison, Mike Wells, is excited to see fresh faces entering the competition and hopes the new Under 45-year-old Category for 2022 will encourage more younger people to take part.

“The over 70s have been the heart and soul of this competition, but it’s wonderful to see a new generation joining their ranks,” Mr Wells said.

Mike said trial and error is common when it comes to gardening, and hopes new gardeners feel inspired rather than daunted by the ‘champions’ and focus on getting to know what works best in their own garden and weave in things that bring you delight.

Michael recently fell in love with a new sculpture he said will become a new feature in his garden for visitors to discover and enjoy.

If you have any questions about entering The Chronicle Garden Competition please contact the Garden Competition Liaison Mike Wells at  [e-mail].

-Submitted by Megan Stenner

How to enter Chronicle Garden Competition

Judges have been announced, as well as some new categories, making for a very exciting start to the competition.

Now, it’s time to enter.

Applications are open for the Garden Competition this year as a feature event during the Carnival of Flowers.

ENTER NOW: Here is the entry form to look for in Monday, Wednesday and Saturday editions of The Chronicle.

You can find the entry form in The Chronicle on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Applications close on August 12, and judging commences on August 29.

Post your completed entry form to: The Chronicle Garden Competition, C/- Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, PO Box 3021, Toowoomba Q 4350.

You can also email completed entries to [e-mail].

So, get your entries in!

Revealed: Judges, new categories for the 2022 Garden Competition

Change is coming to the Garden Competition, with some exciting announcements made at the annual event’s official launch.

The judges for the 2022 event were revealed, as well as three new categories for the region’s avid gardeners to enter.

Garden liaison Mike Wells announced George Hoad as this year’s residential garden judge, while Rusell Campbell would cover the commercial, not-for-profit and school entries.

”It’s not an easy task to choose judges for this competition,” he said.

“We need to find people who are good horticulturists and know how to judge gardens … I’m very pleased to announce our judges for 2022.”

The Chronicle general manager Erika Brayshaw and Mike Wells, garden liaison. Chronicle Garden competition launch at Cobb+Co Museum. Saturday, June 11, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Mr Hoad has spent years travelling across Australia to visit all kinds of gardens, is a life member of the Garden Club of Australia and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) last year for significant service to the residential horticulture industry.

Meanwhile, Mr Campbell is well-known for working as curator for the University of Southern Queensland (USQ)’s Japanese Garden for many years.

He now owns his own business and has helped design and establish several Carnival of Flowers prize-winning gardens across the region.

Three new categories were also revealed at this year’s competition including the Rural Residential and the Under 45 and 70-year-old Gardeners.

The Chronicle’s Garden Competition is sponsored by the Toowoomba Regional Council and USQ.

Chronicle Garden competition launch at Cobb+Co Museum. Saturday, June 11, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

All you need to know about the official launch

It’s officially time for the region’s gardeners to whip out the hedge clippers, trowels and tough-love gloves.

The Chronicle’s 73rd Garden Competition will officially launch at the Cobb and Co Museum this Saturday, June 11, from 10.30am.

To celebrate the launch, all members of the public are welcome to attend the free event, with lots of exciting news set to be announced on the day.

Speakers will include The Chronicle’s general manager Erika Brayshaw, event liaison Mike Wells, Councillor James O’Shea and Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald.

Launch of The Chronicle‘s Garden Competition for 2021. From left; Erika Brayshaw – The Chronicle, Mike Wells and Kate Scott – TRC.

The judges for this year’s competition, as well as three new categories, will also be announced for this year’s competition.

“We’re hoping to see a lot of entrants this year – who knows, there may even be gardeners entering for the first time,” Mr Wells said.

“(On Saturday) I will be talking about the judging criteria and how they will be scoring and giving some hints and tips about how gardeners can prepare from now and up until the big week.”

Applications will open from June 11 and close on August 12, at 2pm.

Judging will take place from August 29 to September 2.

The gardens will be open to the general public from September 16 to 18 and September 23 to 25.

Mike Wells

Gardeners prepare for Chronicle Garden Competition

Green thumbs across the region have begun preparations for The Chronicle’s Garden Competition in September.

And while the excitement is starting to grow, it won’t be easy for our Toowoomba gardeners this year who have already battled less than ideal weather conditions.

The competition’s 2021 grand champions Leisa and Serge Rossignol sadly suffered a fair amount of damage to their French cottage-styled garden during the January hailstorm.

The Chronicle garden competition gardener Leisa Rossignol works in her garden in preparation for the competition, Friday, May 27, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Flowers I had planted for Summer were badly damaged, which meant they got cut back and bloomed in Autumn,” Ms Rossignol said.

“Then we went on a month-long holiday and we only got back three weeks ago – our garden was just summer everywhere.”

Despite being slightly behind schedule, the couple’s fingers are crossed for rain, sunny days and a warm winter.

And spectators certainly won’t be disappointed with crowds expected to see lots of colour in the form of Iceland poppies, pansies, violas and anemones.

Garden competition liaison Mike Wells advised entrants to continue normal preparations and not try to predict the weather conditions ahead of time.