Flower power: Grower shares secrets behind her sweet garden

The nature lover decided to stay in the garden city after she witnessed Toowoomba’s climate and ability to grow flowers.

Martha Collier relaxes in her Chronicle Garden Competition entered garden. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Martha Collier’s love for gardening is so strong that it convinced her to stay in the garden city.

The passionate grower who migrated to Australia with her family, from Canada 50 years ago, has been growing her beloved garden for almost two decades.

Martha Collier relaxes in her Chronicle Garden Competition entered garden. Saturday, August 21, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“I moved to Toowoomba to finish my degree but it’s the perfect place to grow a garden, so I ended up staying,” Mrs Collier said.

After entering in the Chronicle’s Garden Competition in 2015 and 2016, Mrs Collier took a few years off, but is keen to showcase her efforts again this year.

“I don’t enter to win but I just really love gardening and thought I would to celebrate our 50th anniversary in Australia by signing up again,” Mrs Collier said.

“Gardening is my form of exercise but to hear the birds singing and to see the beautiful colours in your garden is so inspiring.”

Martha Collier relaxes in her Chronicle Garden Competition entered garden. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The 84-year-old designed her own garden which grows a variety of bright blooms and tasty vegetables.

Sharing the success behind her lively garden, the passionate grower said the secret was to persevere and not give up.

Mrs Collier said she is hoping to impress this year’s judges who were announced on Friday.

International horticulturist Annette Irish has been named as this year’s regional judge.

Martha Collier relaxes in her Chronicle Garden Competition entered garden. Picture: Nev Madsen.

While Clint Kenny who has been designing and building gardens for the past two decades has come on board as the school judge.