Many readers will have enjoyed attending last year’s Garden Fair at Scone Palace, where volunteers from the Scottish Gardeners’ Forum organised the popular Pallet Garden and Planter Challenge which encourages schools, community groups, clubs, and enthusiastic individuals to create and display attractive living plant exhibits with a theme of their own choice.
A Pallet Garden has to fit inside a one square metre collar provided by the SGF. A Planter is slightly smaller and entrants have to provide their own container. This inspires the use of many innovative items such as old milk churns, chimney pots, and jelly pans.
Why not consider exhibiting your own handiwork, or that of your local school or community group? Entry to the Challenge is free and is open to all abilities: from young children to experienced gardeners, it is the ideal way to showcase a love of gardening. Instructions and application forms are available from the Scottish Gardeners' Forum website.
As this is a challenge, rather than a competition, the entries are judged on how well they meet the criteria embedded in the instructions. Gold, silver, or bronze certificates are awarded to worthy Pallet Gardens. Similarly, Planters receive gold, silver, or bronze rosettes. Visitors to the Fair will also have the opportunity to get involved and vote for their favourites.
The Scottish Gardeners’ Forum gazebo will be located beside the planted displays. The purpose of the Forum is to support groups that are involved in hands-on gardening throughout Scotland and there are currently close to 100 member groups spread across the country. Encouragement and assistance is given to new groups that can benefit from becoming SGF members. Please drop-by for a chat and find out more about us and our activities.
We hope to meet you at Scone Palace Garden Fair on 31st May and 1st June. Meanwhile happy gardening!