Kilgetty gardeners are once again gearing up for the annual Kilgetty in Bloom competition, on Wednesday, July 11, organised by the Begelly Kilgetty Community Association. Much time is taken up with watering in this unusually dry spell of weather after the earlier long spells of rain and worrying that those wonderful roses will have dropped their petals by the time the judges arrive!.

The volunteer gardeners of the association have planted up the flower beds and tubs around the village and are now back working in the Community Garden, which always receives good comments from those passing through or taking a rest in the pleasant surroundings. Thanks go to Folly Farm for making the Begelly sign look very smart.

The well used walking area behind the garden has an abundance of wild flowers at present and thanks go to Mike who does some extra mowing of the paths between the grass cutters visits. It has been pointed out that, unfortunately, there are still dog owners not clearing up after their pets, despite having council bins at both entrances. This is unsightly for everyone and a health hazard, especially as the Stepaside schoolchildren often visit. Dogs should be on leads in the actual garden.

Posters and entry forms for the competition are now in Bridge Stores and the Pharmacy and these must be returned by Wednesday, July 4, with the appropriate small fee, £1.50 to enter and 50p for each extra class entered and the money raised pays for the trophies to be engraved. These are presented at a Strawberry Tea, to which all entrants are invited. Thank you to the shops, PLANED for the posters and Mr. Graham Evans for printing the entry forms.

There are many classes to enter and these can be just a small area of the garden or just pots and tubs, so find a class to suit you and have a go!

This year there is a new class for anyone who hasn’t entered before. The Best Garden Theme always brings a smile to the judges’ faces, with fantastic ideas dreamt up each year and the Vegetable Gardens and Patios alway impress the judges.

Good luck,

Margaret Moffat ,

Secretary,

Begelly Kilgetty

Community Association

CLASSES

The Classes are as follows:

Class 1 - Best front garden

Class 2 - Best rear garden

Class 3 - Best display for just window boxes, tubs or hanging baskets or a mixture

Class 4 - Best over 75-year-old gardener’s garden

Class 5 - Best garden theme (Japanese, comedy etc.)

Class 6 - Best patio

Class 7 - Best new entrant’s entry

Class 8 - Best shrubbery or trees or topiary or mixture

Class 9 - Best pond or water feature

Class 10 - Best creative feature (e.g. bridge, pergola, summerhouse, well etc)

Class 11 - Best environmentally-friendly garden

Class 12 - Best trade premises display

Class 13 - Best group project - street, estate (or part of) etc.

Class 14 - Best overall garden - Shillingford Park residents only

There is also a class for Stepaside children and the judges’ own choice of garden.

If you were disappointed last year, please try again and the volunteer judges, who are not professionals and are new each year, are always impressed with even the smallest entry.