With so many people seeking refuge in their gardens during the COVID-19 isolation period, Kiama Garden Club is hoping that it will get record entries in its annual Garden Competition.

As the slogan on their competition form says, When the Going Gets Tough – the Tough Get Gardening.

“With such beautiful weather, gardens have never looked better,” says the Club’s Secretary, Ro Parkinson.

“Entries close on 19 October, with judging in the first week in November, so now is the ideal time to start to think about entering.”

There are categories for large and small gardens, vegetable gardens, waterwise gardens, balconies or courtyards, retirement home front gardens and school vegetable gardens.

While her business, Elders, has sponsored the competition for a number of years, Vivienne Marris (pictured) only took the plunge to enter her much loved Jamberoo garden two years ago, as the established garden needed more work after she bought it.

Last year she took out the prize for the best garden over half an acre.

“All you really need to become a gardener is to buy a plant you love and watch it grow. It’s addictive.”

She says now is the perfect time to walk around and see shapes more clearly.

“You need to think about the skeleton to see what you’ll get in the summer.”

Details: Entry forms available from Burnetts on Barney, local florists, Kiama Council and local cafes.