THE winners of the annual Somerset Garden Competition, organised by Somerset Regional Council, have been announced.

This year the competition had 16 entries over four major categories, Best Rural Garden, Best Urban Garden, Best Business/Community Group Garden and Best First Time Entrant.

The winners of the four major categories for 2024 are:

Best Business / Community Group Garden – Esk Caravan Park

Best Urban Garden – Heather Shelton

Best Rural Garden – Fay Craddock

Best First Time Entrant Garden – Carlie Oravsky

The garden competition was sponsored by Searles Garden Products and The Lockyer and Somerset Independent newspaper. 

The gardens were judged by Somerset Councillors Sally Jess and Michael Bishop together with Carol Blacklock who is a former runner-up in the Rural Garden category and an active member of the Valley of the Lakes Garden Club. 

Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt congratulated all garden competition entrants on preparing their gardens in what was a challenging season.

“It’s clear that a lot of time went into nurturing the gardens and this year made it challenging with the cold temperatures, frosts, dry spells and summer heat all before Spring started,” Cr Wendt said.

“This has been a fantastic competition run by council for eight years now and brings together the best gardens in Somerset for everyone to enjoy over one weekend at the end of September.

“I encourage Somerset residents and visitors to the region to visit the gardens during the open garden weekend.”

Gardens entered into the competition will be open for public viewing and enjoyment from 9am to 2pm on Saturday, 28 and Sunday, 29 September 2024.

For the full list of entrants and open gardens visit:  www.somerset.qld.gov.au,