The 2009 Logan Garden Competition will be officially launched on Sunday, March 29, at the award-winning Joncia Gardens at Logan Reserve.
Owners John and Marcia Rivett are opening their 2008 Grand Champion Garden to the public on March 28 and 29 as part of the Australia's Open Garden Scheme and Queensland Plant Fair, and have invited Logan residents to learn more about the Logan Garden Competition as well.
Ms Rivett said their six-acre property was "just a paddock" when they moved there in 1992.
"We started right from scratch. We didn't even have a gateway and we lived in a shed until we built the house," she said.
Ms Rivett said water supply was their biggest challenge, with a dam and bore providing hydration to the three acres of gardens and lawn, supported by mulch and organic fertiliser such as horse manure.
"It's a dry area, but we had good rain in January and February. Our dam has never been as full as it is now - we have an abundance of water now. Ninety per cent of the garden is handhosed. We spread manure on the gardens, water it down, and then mulch, mulch mulch, and we don't usually go back to water for weeks. The soil has worms everywhere."
Joncia Gardens features what Ms Rivett calls "little rooms", with vegetable, Japanese, cottage and native gardens just an example of what can be discovered.
"Each section tells a story - like little properties all of their own," she said.
"I love to see people's smiles when they see the dinosaur in the rainforest area. All of it is John's idea. He says he is going to do something and it always comes good. He does all of the backbreaking work. It's never a chore; it's really rewarding."
And that hard work paid off last year when the property was named the Grand Champion Garden in the Logan Garden Competition.
Ms Rivett encouraged interested people to consider entering this year's competition.
"It's a great experience. We were really honoured to win because there are some really lovely gardens out there."
Information about the 2009 Logan Garden Competition can be found at Joncia Gardens, Lot 35, Derby Road, Logan Reserve, on Sunday, March 29 from 8.30am to 3pm.
Entries open on August 3 and gardeners can register until September 25. Awards will be given in residential, commercial, school and community categories.
For more information, visit the Logan City Council stall at Joncia Gardens, phone Council on 3412 4718 or visit www.logan.qld.gov.au. Learn more about the Australia's Open Garden Scheme at www.opengarden.org.au.