Once a year we award prizes for the best Paluma gardens in various categories.
There are several categories of winners. The best overall garden in the village each year is awarded the perpetual Allison Evans Memorial Trophy, in memory of Allison, an avid gardener who tragically lost her life on the range road.
Here is a list of recent winners.
2023
1. Best Residential Garden in the Village
Robert and Sandra Smyth, Whalley Cr
What first caught our eye was the amazing landscaping which flowed beautifully with the sloping terrain. We loved the use of stone and natural woods which created interest and texture. We also loved the variety of colourful flowers and foliage used throughout the garden beds.
2. Best Commercial Garden in the Village
Gumburu
The gardens were beautifully designed and landscaped. You can see all the hard work that has been put into maintaining these gardens. We loved the rainbow snake feature amongst the front garden bed. We also liked how the gardens flowed with the natural rainforest that surrounds the area.
3. Best Acreage Garden
Glenn & Bobbi Parker, Mt Spec Rd (Alison Evans Trophy)
We liked that every part of their property had points of interest with the open space as well as the rainforest. The rainforest was beautiful with interesting paths to take you throughout the property, each one was a unique experience. We also liked the integration of sustainability with the bees and vegetable gardens. There was also a beautiful balance of established gardens and the natural environment.
4. Highly Recommended Village Garden
Michele Bird, Mt Spec Rd
There is always something interesting and beautiful to look at in this garden. Both the front and back garden are filled with a large variety of plants. As you walk through the little paths in this garden you will come across an eclectic collection of plants, pots and ornaments that bring the garden to life.
5. Most Unusual Garden Specimen, Feature, Development etc.( Village or Blocks)
Glenn & Bobbi Parker, Mt Spec Rd (Allison Evens Memorial Trophy)
There were many features of their garden that stood out to us as most unusual but by far, the greatest feature of this garden is the beautifully made cabin in the forest overlooking the creek. Other features of this garden that stood out to us was the carnivorous plants and the old felled tree stump with the fig growing on top.
“We would say Glen and Bobbi’s, they have such a wonderful garden that you could spend hours in!”
2022
1. Best Residential Garden in the Village (Alison Evans Trophy)
Michele Bird.
From the front of the property to the back, everywhere we looked there was something interesting and beautiful to look at. The front was full of colour that was a delight to see. As you walked through the little paths it was like walking through a secret garden. The back was beautifully landscaped creating a lovely view from the balcony which also had an amazing array of plotted plants. We loved the eclectic style and she has done an amazing job with the space that she has.
2. Best Non-Residential Garden in the Village
Djindal Bayanyu EcoRetreat (Mark Cubis and Leonie Crennan)
The place at the end of Mount Spec Rd/Loop Rd – The landscaping was very well done. It had different levels and points of interest such as the timber archway and water feature. The view from the deck down onto the garden was lovely and created such a relaxing space.
3. Best Acreage Garden
Lynn and Les Hyland.
Out of all the acreage properties we saw, we felt this property used the space to its full potential. There were interesting paths to take you throughout the property, each one was a unique experience. We also loved that the forest itself was integrated as part of the garden. It created a beautiful balance of established gardens and the natural environment.
4. Highly Recommended Village Garden
Julie and Tony Bligh
The Japanese style garden – It was such a surprise to see the beautiful little Japanese style garden amongst the Paluma rainforest. We loved the use of water which created an interesting and tranquil space and the black pine was a beautiful specimen. It was a unique little garden well worth seeing.
2021
1. Best Residential Garden in the Village – Glenda and Nick Van Rynswoud. Perpetual Trophy winner. The Judges enjoyed immensely the guided tour of such an impressive garden.
2. Best Non-Residential Garden in the Village – Gumburu. A well planned environment with some rare species to be found in the garden.
3. Best Acreage Garden – Bobbie and Glen Parker. Such a serene ambience and they loved the collection of miniature potted gardens.
4. Highly Recommended Village Garden – Michele Bird. The atmosphere created by the hanging baskets looking out onto the garden was wonderful.
5. Most Unusual Plant Specimen – Anne Bruyere’s “ Rainbow Gum“. Such a wonderful specimen of such a rare tree. The bark was highly coloured on the day of the judging.
2020
No competition held due to COVID restrictions
2019
Best Residential Garden in the Village: Glenda and Nick Van Rynswoud Memorial Trophy winner.
Highly Commended Residential Garden in the Village: Graham and Judith Malpass.
Best Commercial Property Garden in the Village: ‘Manali’ Bill and Linda Venn.
Best Acreage Garden on the Blocks: Anne Bruyeres.
Best Novelty/Unusual Garden: Rainforest Novelty Trail and Garden, Don Battersby.
2018
Best Residential Village Garden Winner is Nick and Glenda Van Rynswoud. The Alison Evans Memorial Trophy was also awarded to Nick and Glenda Van Rynswoud.
1. Best Business Garden Winner is Gumburu
2. Best Acreage Garden Winner is Don Battersby
4. Highly Commended Residential Village Garden Winner is Peter and Dorothy Klump
5. An Individual Plant, Garden Bed, Herb Garden or Vegetable Patch, Outdoor Space, etc Winner is Michele Bird
2017
Overall winner – Allison Evans Memorial Trophy: Nick & Glenda Van Rynswoud (40 Mt Spec Rd)
Best Residential Garden – Village: Colwyn Campbell (17 Mt Spec Rd)
Highly Commended Residential Garden – Village: Michele Bird (13 Mt Spec Rd)
Best Commercial Property Garden: Gumburu
“All commercial properties were well kept and a credit to their keepers”
Best Outdoor Area, Garden Bed or Plant: Greg & Cheryl Burraston (65 Mt Spec Rd)
“This was a highly contested category. Congrats to the Lilium display, two
very nice vegetable gardens and some amazing Anthuriums”
2016
Best Residential garden in the village: Judith & Graham Malpas 71, Mt Spec Rd
Highly commended Residential garden – Village: Glenda & Nick VanRynswoud 40, Mt Spec Rd
Best Commercial property garden: Gumburu
Best acreage residential garden: Lynn & Les Hyland 1962 Mt Spec Rd
Most interesting plant or display bed: Jodie Pace 6, Smith Crescent
This prize was awarded for the courtyard area design.
The Alison Evans Memorial Trophy* went to Judith and Graham Malpas.
*This is for the best overall garden and was instituted by the late Huw Evans in memory of his wife who tragically lost her life in a landslide on the Range Road.