Douglasdale Retirement Village marks a decade of floral festivities with the theme: Artists in the sun
DRV celebrated 10 years of gardening excellence with their annual garden extravaganza, which was won by Ronnie Huber for her creative garden which used a combination of shrubs and flowers, fostering an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
The Douglasdale Retirement Village (DRV) proudly commemorated its 10th garden extravaganza competition, an event hailed as one of the village’s annual highlights which marks the arrival of spring.
With participants eagerly preparing their gardens, the anticipation of this year’s event sparked a flurry of activity among residents, as they eagerly competed for top honours.
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Barbara Holcroft, from the home, said, “the main purpose of the day was to allow residents to invite family and friends to view this year’s entries. This is one of the annual highlights of the village, which celebrates the arrival of spring and allows residents to have fun.
“The competition was fierce, and we had assembled an excellent panel of judges, including both internal and external experts, who upheld a very high standard.”
The celebration kicked off with an invitation to residents, their families, and friends to partake in the festivities, which were themed: Artists in the sun.
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Among the village community, there were many talented artists, eager to showcase their creations, while visitors enjoyed lively bargaining over the displayed artwork.
Culinary delights were provided by Feedem, featuring a variety of street food and refreshing drinks. Adding to the lively atmosphere, live performances by the talented Steve Wells entertained attendees, making for a perfect backdrop to the day’s events under the splendid weather.
“To enhance the experience, maps were provided to guide visitors to the finalists’ gardens, allowing them to explore the exceptional entries. The creativity and diverse themes presented by the residents left many inspired and eager to gather gardening tips,” added Holcroft.
At the prize-giving dinner, winners were announced by Shawn James, from TurfNet, a recognized expert in gardening. Ronnie Huber was crowned the champion, winning both the 1st prize for her breathtaking garden and the prestigious title of Gardener of the Year for 2024.
Huber’s garden featured a brilliant mix of shrubs and flowers, fostering an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, alongside cleverly interspersed herbs and vegetables among her colorful seedlings.
Dawn McDonald also shone brightly, taking home the 2nd prize for her stunning interpretation of an ‘English country garden’, which was rich in color and variety.
Holcroft congratulated all the participants, of the garden extravaganza. “This is a wonderful initiative for the residents of Douglasdale. It promotes camaraderie and excitement among people of all ages, creating lasting bonds within our community.”
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