CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Fergus & District Horticultural Society has awarded six homeowners with Grand Garden Awards.
“The winners met all the criteria we look for when judging gardens. Each illustrates the gardener’s passion, creativity, knowledge and commitment to horticulture,” said Patty Johnston, one of the judges.
“There are a number of factors we look at when we judge gardens,” said Doreen Broome, another judge.
“The overall visual appeal and impact. Things like design and special features, balance and fluidity all are taken into account.
“And composition with a layout that compliments the surroundings,” piped in Larry Broome, another judge.
“Creativity including features that have never been tried. Features that cause an element of awe in the observer.”
The six winners of this year’s Grand Garden Award include:
Marlene Murray
555 St. Patrick St. E. Fergus
Marlene Murray has been working on her gardens for 42 years.
The front garden, the side gardens and back with a pond and stone patio are stunning.
Murray is constantly changing her gardens. It’s a passion. It’s trial and error. It’s constantly learning what works and what doesn’t. Her gardens are spectacular, the judges remarked.
Fred Mallett
541 Watt St., Fergus
Fred Mallett describes what he has created as a “cottage-style” garden.
It’s full of pollinator-friendly perennials and ornamentals for colour and interest. And it’s a hive of activity with bees and butterflies fluttering about all summer.
He took up gardening after he retired and what started as a small garden has grown and continues to grow each year.
The total planted area is now five times the size of the original.
Greg Boland
319 South River Road, Elora
Greg Boland bought the house in 2001 as a fixer-upper and had only four sickly roses on the whole property.
The 1/2-acre property is now full of stunning gardens. It emphasizes perennial plants of varying leaf colours and textures.
Annual flowering plants in pots add to the colour, and shrubs and small trees provide vertical interest.
Shannon Shan, his wife, met Boland at the University of Guelph, with both involved in plant pathology and their mutual passion for gardening continues.
Bonny Shears
531 St. George St. W. Fergus
Bonny Shears attributes her creative approach to her gardening experience living abroad in England, Italy, Japan and Brazil.
Her magic touch and the selection of plants, shrubs and trees are proof of that.
Shears has an insatiable appetite to learn everything she can, especially from Barry at Little Tree Garden Market and other nurseries in the area; she is always full of questions.
She is quick to point out that she is not a painter but expresses her creativity using her garden as her canvas.
James Frielink
290 St. George St. E. Fergus
James Frielink started gardening just four years ago when his front yard needed new water and sewage pipes.
He took the opportunity to create beautiful gardens in front and back of their newly renovated home.
Frielink educated himself through garden centres, their websites and absorbing knowledge from anyone that he could learn from.
He is new to the world of gardening. This illustrates how, in a short period of time, you can create beautiful gardens.
Jeff Bellinger
365 Brock St. Fergus
Jeff Belinger purchased his home over 30 years ago.
There were no trees, no flowers and no plants on the property.
It is now a haven of fully grown trees and spectacular gardens throughout.
It is a testament to his creativity in capturing a fluid, eye-pleasing spectacle of colours, texture, nooks and corners everywhere you look and his selection of plants is so unique.
His love of gardening started with his mother.
He also gives Barry at Little Tree credit for being a great resource.
Bellinger has learned through experimenting, listening and talking to other gardeners and professionals.
Congratulations to all the winners.
“The real winners are the people that will enjoy their gardens as they pass by,” the judges say.
