in Bloom garden contest.

Hosted by the Garden Club of Bermuda, the contest will include large, small and porch/balcony gardens that can be seen from the public road.

"There are over $7,500 in total prizes,'' said Joyce Zuill, president of the Garden Club.

Molly White, vice president of the Garden Club, said.

"The aim of this competition, Bermuda in Bloom is to enhance and display the beauty of our Island at the beginning of the new Millennium,'' she said.

"The competition divides the Island into three zones: East, which consists of St. George's, Hamilton and Smith's Parish; the Western zone which consists of Warwick, Southampton and Sandys; and the Central zone which consists of Devonshire, Pembroke and Paget.

"There will be a trophy and prizes in each zone in addition to an overall trophy covering the entire Island.

"Within the boundaries of Corporation of St. George's and Corporation of Hamilton both of those entities have decided that they wish to present their own prize.'' "One of the first garden type competitions was the Bermuda Wayside garden competition.'' According to Elfrieda Chappell, former Garden Club president, the competition began in the early 1930s and continued until the early 1970s.

"It happened in the springtime period similar to what we are we doing now, but it did include school gardens which we are not doing,'' she said.

"They had awards and silver cups awarded to the winners.

"There hasn't been anything like it in 30 years, that is why we are trying to bring something of the nostalgic back to Bermuda.'' However, Mrs. Zuill noted that there were similar competitions in Canada and Britain.

The rules for the judging are as follows: All gardens to be judged must be visible from either a public or an estate road, and only that portion which is visible will be judged; Only residential properties are eligible; and The committee's decision is final and no discussion will be entered into; Entry forms, which have a listing of all the rules, can be found at all plant nurseries and other garden centres.

They must be submitted no later than March 31, 2000.

Judging will begin on Monday, May 1, 2000.

Blooming good fun: Pictured is Molly White, vice president of the Garden Club and chairperson of Bermuda in Bloom garden competition.