Congratulations to the winners of Phoenix in Bloom 2020!

Congratulations to our Phoenix in Bloom 2020 winners! This year judging took place virtually with residents emailing and posting in photos of their entries. We visited some of the residents who entered to see their handiwork and hear why they entered this year’s competition. 

Phoenix in Bloom is our annual gardening competition which celebrates the hard work and talent of the gardeners in our community. The awards recognise the contributions of our residents to make our community beautiful, whether they have a great garden, blooming balcony or wonderful windowsill. 

Thank you to all of the residents who entered and to our resident judges Pat Sheafs, Eileen Davies, and resident and Vice Chair of the Board, Carmen Simpson, and to Phoenix Estates Services Manager, James Peters.

Phoenix resident and the winner of this year's judges’ special prize, Barbara Perzyna, highlighted that this year’s competition was more accessible to residents: “Being online appealed to me as I have mobility issues and so being able to enter from home made it easier”.

Wendy Mulligan, who entered for her second time this year said: “I was entered last year by a neighbour without my knowledge and won, so I thought I’d give it a go this year.” Wendy is planning to use her gift voucher prize to buy a cherry or plum tree, so her grandchildren can enjoy fruit from the garden.

Phoenix resident and Chair of the Board, Carmen Simpson, said: “It was a pleasure being on the Phoenix in Bloom judging panel for the first time this year. I was so impressed! Thank you to everyone who entered and to everyone who contributes to keeping our corner of south Lewisham green and pleasant.” 

This year residents entered in to seven different categories with the chance of winning a gift voucher up to £250! And the winners are…
 
Best Residential Garden
1st place – Frances Raphael - “A very cheerful, tidy garden with great use of colour and much improved on last year”
2nd place – Wendy Mulligan - “Lots of variety and a stunning lawn”
3rd place – Lynda Eastwood - “A lovely pond with interesting and creative use of pots”
 
Best Balcony Display
1st place – Dian Welch - “Lots of colour, great use of trailing plants plus some edible plants”
2nd place – Amanda White - “Very welcoming with lots of plants and colour”
3rd place – Luis Vasquez - “Lots of plants brightening up the walk way”
 
Best Residential Community Garden
1st place – Farmstead Road Community Garden - “The garden was looking splendid this year and has provided a great resource for local residents during lockdown”
 
Judges’ Special Prize
1st place – Barbara Perzyna - “First time entrant, great arch with lots of plants and environmentally friendly with water butt”
2nd place – Sakine Bekiroglu - “First time entrant, we look forward to seeing this garden next year”
  
Thank you to all our residents who took part. Here are some highlights of this year’s winning entries: