<strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>November</strong> <strong>23</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 10 NEWS • By Susan Sandys IT HAS BEEN a case of third time lucky for Lynette Chamberlain. Her passion for colour, eye for detail, and love of spending hours each day in her garden has seen the 72-year-old rewarded with the supreme award in the Rolleston Residents Garden Competition. “Overwhelmed really, a great thrill,” was how she described her feelings on achieving the top accolade, on the third time she has entered the biennial competition. She also won the award for best garden on a medium-size section, which she has also won in the last two competitions. When Lynette and husband Gordon moved to their 1180m2 East Maddisons Rd section as retired dairy farmers and built their home about 15 years ago, there were trees, rhododendrons, camellias, and a front-yard stock water race, for them to landscape around. Plants to go in include roses, peonies, lupins, irises, hyacinths and many more, which are joined each season by large selection of annuals. Lynette said her motivating force was creating colour schemes, especially when they could highlight her favourite colour of pink. That is pink in any shade, and she is also partial to lavender shades of purple. She spends three to four hours each day in her garden, getting COURTNEY Chamberlain gained third place in the rigorous Young Horticulturist Competition. The Springston florist represented the Young Florist and Flower Grower sector at the competition finals, held in Karaka, south of Auckland, last week. Chamberlain, 28, has a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce, and is assistant manager of Hadstock Farm. She also assists at Miss Feaver Florist, which has been a Chamberlain family-run business most of her inspiration from visualising what should go where. “It’s just by looking around and thinking, and changing the colour schemes. Also if something is not growing too good I will move it. I try and do different things every year,” Lynette said. “I just love being out there, it’s good therapy.” Some of that time is spent hose watering, as the garden’s mainline system has sprung for 36 years. She is a sixth-generation member of the family to live at Hadstock Farm and the fourth generation of flower growers. Chamberlain competed against finalists from the competition’s other sectors – Young Grower of the Year (Horticulture New Zealand fruit and vegetable Sectors); Young Amenity Horticulturist (New Zealand Recreation Association); Young Achiever (New Zealand Plant Producers); Young Landscaper of the Year (Registered Master Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Pink wows Rolleston gardens’ judges THRILLED: Lynette Chamberlain has won the supreme award in this year’s Rolleston garden competition. many a leak from being hit with forks and spades. Lynette said many people didn’t realise when they put these systems in, that plants ultimately grow over them and it was hard to see where they were. She has taught herself topiary, where she will use a pair of scissors to clip shrubs into various shapes. Gordon has helped out with the odd construction project, including a large display frame for Landscapers New Zealand); Young Viticulturist of the Year (New Zealand Winegrowers); New Arborist (New Zealand Arboriculture Association); and Young Florist/Flower Grower (FLONZI Florists and Flower Growers NZ). The winner was Napier’s Regan Judd, an orchard sector manager; viticulturist Sam Bain, was second. The competition’s partners are Countdown, Fruitfed Supplies and T&G Fresh. growing succulents. He is a green thumb himself, having come second equal in the competition’s vegetable garden category. Competition committee president Brenda Dunlop said one of the best things about organising the competition was seeing Rolleston’s “stunning gardens,” many of which were not visible from the roadside. There had been more than 30 gardens entered. “We get to see a range of Results: Supreme winner – Lynette Chamberlain. Small-sized garden – Karen Andrews, 1; Eunice Edgecombe, Susan and Graeme Bradley, 2=. Medium-sized garden – Lynette Chamberlain, 1; Emily Bell, 2. Large-sized garden – David and Marilyn Cable, 1; Sue and Bryan Wilson, 2. Garden up to threeyears-old – Cherise Lightfoot, 1; Lesley McAuley and Paul Bryant, 2. Commercial garden – The Boulevard Retirement Village, 1. School – Clearview Primary School, 1; Rolleston Primary School, 2. Viewed from the street – Rose Dunn, 1. Hidden behind the fence – Helen and John Wilson, 1. Vegetable garden – Hughes Development Community Garden, 1; Selene Tan, Gordon Chamberlain, 2=. gardens, some just starting out and some already established. All have their own appeal and I would like to thank our sponsors and those who entered the competition and made it possible,” she said. A presentation event was held recently to award cups, keepsakes and prizes. Third place for florist in national horticultural competition Get all ‘Christmasy’ with us! PRE-CHRISTMAS FUNCTIONS, PARTIES, WORK BREAK UPS. CHECK OUT OUR SET MENUS AVAILABLE LUNCH & DINNER DAILY UNTIL 24/12/22 FOR PARTIES OF 10 OR MORE SORRY, WE ARE CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY The RESTAURANT & CAFÉ 0pen from 6.30am Mon - Fri and from 8.30am Sat/Sun RACECOURSE HOTEL & Motorlodge 118 Racecourse Rd, Sockburn, Christchurch. Ph 03 342 7150 www.racecoursehotel.co.nz HEAT PUMP SALE NOW ON! Plus up to $250 cashback <strong>2022</strong> Heat Pumps
Wednesday <strong>November</strong> <strong>23</strong> <strong>2022</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 11