Garden awards: will it be May's day?

May Herring tends a pot plant in her Ipswich garden.

Not even the floods which forced May Herring from her Ipswich home in January could come between the pensioner and her garden.

Months later, having moved to the home of her daughter Judith, May (pictured) was still returning to the unit every weekend to rehabilitate her flood-damaged garden.

It is dedicated social housing gardeners, like May, who encapsulate the spirit of the annual Garden Awards run by the Department of Communities in partnership with regional tenant groups. This year’s awards are now officially open.

The pensioner is being encouraged to enter the awards by Ipswich Regional Tenant Group, which is right behind her endeavours. The group has donated an orange, lemon and topiary tree, as well as potting mix and garden tools.

Now in their 17th year, the annual Garden Awards are an important part of the department’s Tenant Participation Program and social housing tenant networks across the state.

 The awards give tenants an opportunity to showcase their gardens while providing recognition of the important role these residents play in improving their local community.

Entries close on 1 September and awards will be presented in October at functions organised by regional tenant groups with support and funding from the department.

For more information phone 3227 6650 or go to www.communities.qld.gov.au/housing and click on social housing, then tenant participation and finally Garden Awards.