Fareham in Bloom 2024
Best Garden
To vote for your favourite, look through the entries below and email inbloom@fareham.gov.uk with your choice, including the category of 'best garden' and the number of the image.
You can view entries in other categories here:
Businesses and schools
Something Small
Community
Sustainable Garden
Best Garden - 1
"My tranquil haven full of roses, olives, bamboos, 40 year old peonies from my late father. It's very relaxing full of birds and wildlife to enjoy along with my new miracle grandson. I laid all the reclaimed bricks over the last 2 years myself I'm 76! 3 water butts to conserve water."
Best Garden - 2
"Fareham Figs. Each year my fig tree that I planted 7 years ago produces so many figs, I take huge bowls of them to work all throughout August. The summer house was my lockdown project made mostly from things salvaged from neighbours' skips. I also have a lemon scented summer flowering, evergreen magnolia, which seems to love the spot I planted it in. The annuals have done well to survive Nessie and Pepsi's attempts to help with the gardening."
Best Garden - 3
"We have a many faceted garden which is difficult to photograph as there are so many areas and niches to discover. We have several seating areas so can view the garden from different angles each day. We have a wide variety of trees, shrubs and flowers chosen to encourage wildlife and provide food for pollinators. We open the garden for charity each year - for Cancer Research UK and previously for Fareham in Bloom."
Best Garden - 4
"My entry shows a mixture of cornflowers(collected seed from last year) peonies, alliums,foxgloves,germ and aquilegia. My garden is in Hill Head so it can become very windy where I am. I spend most days in the garden as I find it improves my wellbeing.I am lucky to have a greenhouse where I can grow seeds I've collected or have done a seed swap with other local gardeners. There's always something to do in the garden as well as looking at it and enjoying the wildlife. This year I have spotted slow worms, stag beetles, bees and plenty of birds, with the robin my favourite as it keeps me company."
Best Garden - 5
"Tiny little oasis to relax in, 6th year we've been here and there was absolutely nothing, bought alot with us, we love our garden only 30x15 but it's full and I potter in it everyday, lots for butterflies, bees and hedgehog that helps with slugs, we have a public alley beyond that we also garden and gets overspill."
Best Garden - 6
"We moved in two years ago and the garden was completely bare. We are very lucky to have a large garden to work with. We are creating a lived in, colourful garden, with all year long interest with plants like the topiary balls and heucheras. It was also important that it must be hardy enough to withstand 2 children (at least) and a dog playing ball games. It is also illuminated at night for the adults needing to relax whilst drinking Prosecco."
Best Garden - 7
"This is the shaded corner of my garden, so I have planted acers, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas and ferns. I've also grown a selection of hostas in pots, for colour i've grown from tubers, begonias. For ground cover I've planted violets and lily-of-the-valley in memory of my dear grandmother. I often sit here as I find it very peaceful and relaxing."
Best Garden - 8
"My garden has evolved over many years, children and grandchildren playing here. As the trees and shrubs have grown it has given privacy and most of the plants have special memories. A lady gardener helps with brambles etc but I can still cut the grass. I love being able to enjoy the natural elements, not pristine in any way."
Best Garden - 9
"I spend days in the week tiding and looking after my garden.I have recently created a feature of a secret garden effect with items that I found in my dads garden after he passed away. This has made a nice memory of him. I love revitalising cheaper plants. I like saving them! We entertain friends and the birds love bathing in our water stream. It's a lovely area to sit and unwind."
Best Garden - 10
"My garden is a small back garden with patio area for sitting out. My wife and I are the residents although our grandchildren like to help with watering etc. I like to have hanging baskets and my favourite plants are roses and shrubs. When the weather is fine I spend my days pottering in the garden or greenhouse (I am retired). As I can't show all the garden angles in one photo I have chosen the view down one side. I have many quirky garden ornaments including an angel in my memorial garden. Although there is a lot of work involved I get the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of my labour blossom."
Best Garden - 11
"My garden was inspired by my exotic travels.. It's full of tropical plants. It's a peaceful escape. Friends that visit say it's like being on holiday. It's has around 25 x 12 ft banana trees that produce fruit. Giant gunners and 12 ft high yuccas. Plants that are in the garden require little water to survive, allowing me to travel!
I've a pond full of wildlife and insect boxes too."
Best Garden - 12
"Whilst a small front garden I have packed in a variety of bedding plants and perennials to give a good show of colour. I spend a good amount of my time in the garden but this is my hobby and time does not matter."
