Published: Wednesday, 13th August, 2008 12:30
Clackmannan garden is best in the county
By Nicola Findlay
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Tom and Rosemary Ramage toast their success in the garden competition.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
CLACKMANNANSHIRE was full of colour as green-fingered residents battled it out over their Begonias last Wednesday.
The final round of judging of the council’s annual Garden Competition took place and judges say they were impressed with the quality of this year’s entries.
It proved to be a clean sweep for overall winners Tom and Rosemary Ramage, who also came first in Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill and won the Floral Container section.
The couple have always been keen gardeners and since their retirement have had even more time to make sure their garden is blooming marvellous.
Tom told the Advertiser, “We really weren’t expecting to win this year because of all the rain we have had, so it was a nice surprise.
“We have been the winner for Clackmannan six times now, and have also won the best floral containers section before, but this is the first time we have been overall winner and we are absolutely delighted.
“We enjoy sitting in the garden when the sun is out and we get a great deal of satisfaction when people walk past and say that the garden is nice, which means we must be doing something right.”
The couple have been members of the Tullibody and Cambus Amateur Gardening Club for many years.
Rosemary added, “We moved in to this house 12 years ago and the garden was nothing but a field.
“Tom has done everything himself and I have helped him over the years.
“He is in the garden rain or shine and, in the 43 years we have been married, Tom has always kept our gardens lovely.”
Last year’s winner Stephen Paterson came second overall but his garden was still named the best garden in Alva.
This year, however, proved to be more poignant for Stephen as his wife, Isobel, sadly passed away in January.
“My wife loved the garden and we always entered,” Stephen told the Advertiser. “She was a lot more knowledgeable than me and knew all the names of the flowers.
“I decided to enter again this year in memory of her because that’s what she would have wanted.”
He went on, “I have always enjoyed pottering around the garden as it keeps me busy and we have built it up from nothing over the last 33 years.”
The regular judges were joined this year by David Crighton, from Stirling Council, and Provost Derek Stewart.
Mr Stewart said, “A great deal of hard work had gone into each of the gardens we visited and it was obvious that so many residents across the county take real pride in their gardens.
“Helping with the judging was tough, but a pleasure. Colourful, well presented gardens definitely play a part in brightening up our communities and my congratulations go to all the winners.”
David said he very much enjoyed visiting the gardens and saw a great range of different gardens which had been beautifully and thoughtfully designed, with many making excellent use of compact spaces.
He added, “A very high standard of work and thought had gone into all the gardens we looked at with some interesting plants on display, which made my job very difficult. The gardens were a credit to each of their owners.”
The competition trophies, certificates and prizes will be presented at the reception hosted by Provost Stewart at Kilncraigs on 5 September, and the council would like to congratulate everyone who entered this year’s Garden Competition.
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