FIRST Theydon Lodge

This front, or as some may say, side garden at the junction of The Leys, Bow Brickhill Road and Theydon Avenue, is a beautiful garden full of many varieties of summer flowering herbaceous plants and shrubs - there are just too many to list. What stood out in the judges eyes were the magnificent pink flowering Hydrangea macrophylla near the road side end, and at the very bottom of the border, a very large clump of white Arum Italicum lilies. Nearby are large clumps of mauve-coloured Phlox all in full flower, a worthy winning border with no space for weeds to grow.

SECOND 75 Elm Grove

This garden is one of the gems of Elm Grove. To the right of a large drive is a well maintained and manicured lawn. To the back of this there is a mixed border of bedding plants, herbaceous plants and well maintained and shaped large shrubs. When the judges visited it was in beautiful colour, well worth a walk down Elm Grove to see for yourself.

THIRD 27 Hardwick Place

A beautiful garden on the corner of Hardwick Place and Chapel Street, seen by all who walk by.

Well maintained flowers beds, containing colourful bedding plants such as Begonia sempervirens, geraniums, African marigolds, shrubs and neatly trimmed Box balls, not a weed to be seen anywhere, all surrounded by well maintained and manicured lawn.

FIRST 1 Chantry Close

This garden is joy to see; full of colour. A third of the garden is made up of gravel and raised vegetable beds, there is a greenhouse which is full of tomatoes and other crops, all in a very healthy condition, as are all the other vegetables and salad crops. Along a neatly trimmed boxed pig and caterpillar growing up poles, are neatly trimmed variegated ivy. The other two thirds of the garden are made up of a paved patio and dining area, on which are stunning pots and containers full of flowering geraniums and many pots of Sempervivens - all in excellent condition. To the back of the border are mature shrubs, which make this garden very secluded. Around the garden the judges found six water butts - there may be more as they were so well hidden. A very worthy winner.

SECOND  5 Badgers Holt

This is an amazing garden which has been a winner in the past. A square well maintained lawn is surrounded on three side by borders. To the right is tropical border of many foliage plants, and signs of growing plants for autumn colour if the slugs leave the dahlias alone. To the top border near the garden shed is a shady fern area, almost a mystery garden, and to the left border are now mature horizontal trained fruit trees, along with other soft fruits. Near the back door are tiered window boxes full of ivy leaf geraniums and many other trailing bedding plants in full colour. A very beautiful garden.  What impressed the judges was that most of the bedding plants are fed on homemade Banana Fertilizer, very simple to make yourself - just soak your old banana skins in water for a few days then feed the liquid to your plants.

THIRD 30 Russell Street

When the judges walked into this very long narrow garden they were amazed at what they found! A winding central narrow grass path, with tall growing shrubs either side forming a tunnel like effect. As you walk the length of the garden, in places the grass is mown wider than the central path to form small islands of space. At the base of the shrubs there are many varieties of herbaceous plants growing either side of the path. At the bottom of the garden is a large summer house, nearby is larger herbaceous border full of colourful plants such as lovely flower lilies. This garden is a haven for wildlife, ideal for nesting birds in spring, bees, butterflies and many other insects.

FIRST  8 Ridgeway

A stunning well maintained basket in excellent condition, with deep purple and magenta ivy leaf geraniums and white and purple Eva Borg Fuchsias, planted together blue and white lobelia, all in full flower.  A very full basket, and like the other baskets and containers in the garden, full of colour and well maintained.

SECOND 27 Tavistock Close

A very full basket of colourful red, orange and yellow pendulous begonia. A beautiful basket, full of colour and very well maintained.

THIRD  25 Vandyke Close

A very full and colourful basket containing bright cerise coloured million bells petunia, with pale pink impatiens hanging below. The top of the basket is a crown of white, red, pink and blue lobelia - a very full basket

Wildlife Certificate

20 Blackthorn Grove

The Judges found this an amazing new addition to the competition.  The almost newly planted borders, either side of a central but waving paved path, lead to a luxury sun room which had been transformed through the pandemic to a working office and, when time allows, an art studio.  However, the garden also contains bird boxes, hedgehog nesting boxes and night-time vision cameras have picked up many visiting foxes and badgers.  The borders are edged with recycled plastic boards and are planted with plants and shrubs to attract butterflies.

Certificate for Creative Effect

125 Greensands View, Parklands

The flat is a corner ground floor flat.  There is a spectacular display of eight perfectly shaped and well maintained hanging baskets on the corner of Greensands View at Parklands, all containing a mixture of red and pink impatiens and trailing blue bacopa. All baskets and plants are well maintained in excellent condition, they are a credit to their owner and producer and a beacon on the corner of Greensands View.

Mediterranean or Dry Garden

11 Vandyke Close

This garden is a dry gravel garden, perhaps planted by the owners for the future and climate change, but it impressed the judges.  Planted with two large palm trees, large specimens of agapanthus and a superb specimen of Acer Japonica Purpurea and Cordylines, the garden had its novelty side of fairies and goblins.  A small table for two at the top of the front garden by the front door made it a relaxing, dry, low maintenance garden.