Chris Gardner It's a crack up! Bart Leslie couldn't be blamed for giving people the bum's steer over this year's Festival of Garden Awards.
The Hastings District Council's strategic projects planner, who is responsible for co-ordinating this year's awards on behalf of the council and the Landmarks Trust, has placed a series of amusing signs around the district's gardens.
The signs, which will come on at night to prevent vandalism, depict a horde of gardeners bent over and at work. The signs were designed by Landmarks Trust president Joyce Barry and painted by Mr Leslie's mother, Betty Leslie.
Since entries for the revamped competition opened in July, only about 30 have come in. The competition, which took a breather last year, usually attracts between 120 and 200 entries.
"We have had quite a lot of interest and there's usually a big rush towards the closing date," Mr Leslie said.
The council has brought the competition, which was resurrected in 1996 after a long break, up to date with 10 categories: The Creative Garden, Water Feature, Outdoor Living Areas, Best Use of Native Flora, Schools, The Structured Garden, The Productive Garden, Pots and Baskets, Industrial and Commercial and Stand-out Streets.
The awards cost the council $7500 each year, and staff spend more than 500 hours running it. Entries for this year's competition close on October 15, with winners to be announced at an awards night in Cornwall Park in late November.
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