- Author: Betty Victor
For several years the UC Master Gardeners of Solano County have entered the Solano County Fair amateur garden competition. This year we did it again.
Master Gardeners come from all walks of life: teachers, retirees, office workers etc. and work hard to create a display based on the fairs theme. This year's theme is “Play It Again Solano”. So with that in mind, a meeting was held and the decision on our entry was made.
A replica of a piano was built, with the top and keyboard planted with flowers, (it is an amateur garden competition). A sheet of music on the piano is “As Thyme Goes By” written by one of our own MGs, Cheryl Potts. The planter box both top and bottom were then filled with a multitude of colorful flowers. These beautiful flowers were donated by DJ's Growing Place, a nursery in Napa, along with plants from the master gardeners' own yards. A walk way representing a piano keyboard was put up the middle to the piano on the top. The mulch for the garden was donated by Organic Solutions.
The Master Gardeners also did the fairs entry garden-which designates the entry to the competition gardens. This garden is not judged. A sun rising was painted yellow with the fairs theme “Play It Again Solano” across the top. In the top box, colorful flowers were planted, the bottom box was filled with Asparagus Fern and Fountain grass that was donated by Hines Nursery in Winters.
In the middle of the bed is a sculpture of a horn playing gentleman in bright red, this was donated by Chad from Glashoff Gallery and is the centerpiece to this entry garden. The Master Gardeners donate time and energy for this garden, even with it not being judge, so the public can enjoy it.
So after several days of hot, hard work all we need to do now is wait and see how our amateur garden entry will be judged. We all think it's perfect and hope the judges agree with us.