Congratulations to this year’s Phoenix in Bloom winners!

Updated: 21 September 2021 at 16:37pm

This year judging was back in person! We visited this year’s entrants 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 our residents who entered and to our guest judges’ residents Pat Sheafs and Eileen Davies, and Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, Ben Moss.

Phoenix resident and best balcony display winner, Amanda White, entered for her second time this year: “I entered for the first time last year after losing my Mum and a very dear friend to cancer. Then in February this year I was made redundant after 19 years working in the charity sector. After so much bereavement and loss my little balcony has been my sanctuary. A lot of the plants remind me of Mum and I have loved pottering around with a cuppa, or just sitting watching the insects and birds.

I was absolutely delighted to have won 1st prize this year after coming second last year. I will be spending my prize voucher on more plants and look forward to watching my little patch of heaven evolve over the coming seasons. “

 

Special guest judge, Phoenix resident and member of the Phoenix Gateway Committee, Eileen Davies, said: “'It was great to be able to do the judging in person again this year. It was wonderful to see how previous entrants’ gardens had improved and to see some new ones! There was a spectacular array of blooms this year and the winners are all well-deserving."

 

This year, residents entered in to seven different categories with the chance of winning a gift voucher up to £250! The winners were presented with their awards by our newly appointed Chair, Carmen Simpson at an award ceremony at Farmstead Community Garden. And the winners are…
 
Best Residential Garden
1st place – Stephen Fuller - “Our favourite garden of all. Sectioned into areas with a fantastic pond with huge fish. Child area, pet area and a huge array of flowers, fruit and veg.”

2nd place – Wendy Mulligan - “Like a holiday, a colourful garden. Clear of weeds and the grass is marvellous. Well-deserved second place.”

3rd place – Patricia Grange - “A wide array of flowers since the first entry. Plants are now well established and very neat and tidy.”
 
 

Best Balcony Display
1st place – Amanda White - “The judges reaction was wow! A huge array from olives to figs and British plants. Dotted around were salt stones which just added to the effect. A small balcony with so much to give.”

2nd place – Luis Vasquez - “Nice selection of plants kept tidy and adds character to an otherwise plain balcony.” 

 

Best Residential Community Garden
1st place (joint) – Mary Heelan - “Established garden now and a good variety of plants. Also established a new corner garden on Shroffold Road.”

1st place (joint) – Jacqueline Mullis - “Amazing array of flowers and colours. Well established, relaxing and welcoming. Always something new.”

 

Best Fruit and Vegetable Plot or Allotment
1st place – Farmstead Road Community Garden – “Vast improvement. New paths and beds. New sleepers to beds, new grasses area for the children and a school area. Fruit and veg still in abundance.”

 
Thank you to all our residents who took part. Here are some highlights of this year’s winning entries: