A ‘pollinator haven’ brimming with a cottage-style mix of natives, annuals and hardy exotic plants on a small residential verge in Southern River has won the City of Gosnells Sustainable Garden Competition.
Supported by The Retic and Landscape Shop in Southern River, the competition’s top three garden entries received prizes including $500 for first prize, $250 for second prize and $100 for third prize.
Homeowner and eager gardener Sarah Clarke, who moved into the property in 2020, initially installed lawn to the front verge.
But she later realised that she wanted to create a more sustainable garden that not only attracted bees and wildlife such as birds and frogs, but also complemented the verge tree, an Agonis flexuosa, commonly known as a peppermint tree, which was planted by the City.
“Even though my front yard and verge is small, I've got so many pollinators, birds, and frogs visiting my garden,” Mrs Clarke said.
“It just shows that, even with a tiny space, you can still have a positive impact on the local environment.”
Mrs Clarke’s colourful compact garden caught the eye of Mayor Terresa Lynes and City of Gosnells Councillors who dropped by to do visual inspections of the top three garden entries before a winner was decided.
Mayor Lynes was impressed by Mrs Clarke’s verge garden, which attracts many local birds including magpies and willy wagtails.
“This garden has demonstrated how it is possible to create a beautiful verge garden on a smaller lot,” Mayor Lynes.
“You can see the passion and dedication that has gone into establishing this garden, which is bursting with colour and fragrance and is also much-loved by the local wildlife – especially the bees!”
The garden of Southern River resident Kyle Wood placed second, with Swati Sankhla’s Canning Vale garden in third place.
The gardens were recognised for embracing sustainable waterwise practices and drawing inspiration from WA’s diverse native flora.
For more information about sustainable gardens, click here.
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