Contest for best gardens
David Masango
28 July 2004
Following the success of last year's inaugural Pam Golding Properties Gardens of Pride competition, launched in the Western Cape metropolitan region, this year's competition has been extended to the Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Pietermaritzburg metro areas, as well as the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The 2004 competition - held in association with Mortgage SA, under the auspices of the National Botanical Institute - aims to encourage South Africans to grow indigenous plants in their gardens and to use "water-wise" gardening techniques, as well as to stimulate pride in and appreciation of the environment among South Africans.
The National Botanical Institute, in association with Pam Golding Properties and MortgageSA, have launched a "Garden of Pride" competition for homeowners and schools in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Homeowners will be judged according to garden design and layout, compatibility of the garden with the home,
varied use of plants and sustainability of the garden, as well as maintenance of the garden, pest control and the application of water-wise techniques.
The homeowners' category has been divided into two sub-categories for owners of properties smaller than 500m2 and owners of properties bigger than 500m2.
In the schools category, judging will focus on use of indigenous plants, involvement of the school community - including learners, teachers and parents - and garden upkeep, ranging from watering and weeding to control of vandalism.
First prize winners in each category will compete for the national title, thus putting themselves in line to win a trip to next year's Chelsea Flower Show in Britain.
All winners will receive complimentary one-year membership of the Botanical Society of South Africa.
For the duration of the competition, the public can gain free access to any botanical gardens by producing the competition's entry
form.
The closing date for the competition is 30 September, with regional and national prize giving scheduled for November.
For more information, and entry forms, visit the Gardens of Pride 2004 page on the National Botanical Institute or Pam Golding Properties websites.
Entry forms are also available at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort, the Pretoria National Botanical Garden, and the Natal National Botanical Garden - as well as Pam Golding Properties offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Source: BuaNews
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