Once again, Lilac City festival organisers are holding the annual garden competition and encouraging green thumbs to take part.

Competition coordinator Jacki Waugh said rain and unseasonably warm conditions had created ideal growing conditions.

"The gardens around town are looking beautiful with all their blooms," she said.

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Lilac is featuring in many of them, thanks to tube-stock sold in recent years to encourage more plantings. The council also planted lilacs in Howard Park in 2019.

Extra points will be awarded in this year's competition to those gardens with lilacs in them.

Entries limited to the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area are open until September 25 in the following categories:

1. First time garden entry.

2. Seniors citizen garden (60 years and over).

3. Small garden.

4. Medium garden.

5. Large garden.

6. Country garden.

7. School garden.

8. Community garden.

9. Business garden.

10. Heritage garden.

11. Fruit and vegetable garden.

Winners will receive vouchers and judges will also announce recipients of the Betty Jane May memorial trophy, the best overall garden trophy and the 'Judges Choice Special Award.' These will be presented at the Festival's opening ceremony in Belmore Park on Saturday, October 3.

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Local Garden Club members John Weatherstone and Audrey Tabner will judge entries on Wednesday, September 30.

Entry forms are available from the Visitors Information Centre in Sloane Street, Goulburn or via the Lilac City Festival's Facebook page.

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Mrs Waugh said organisers would like the gardens to be open to the public for viewing from the footpath on the Festival weekend, October 3 to 5. Larger gardens, such as at The Waterworks, would be open subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

A full program for the 69^th Lilac City Festival will be announced soon.

For further information about the Garden competition competition, phone Mrs Waugh on 0428 298 157.

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