BLOOMIN’ marvelous! There’s spring in the air and the election campaigns are finally over.Now East End householders can get down to the real business of digging up the dirt—in their gardens, that is.They are sprucing up their patches of earth for this year’s Tower Hamlets in Bloom competition.

TOP: James Moneham in Wapping

ABOVE: AlbertShaw on the Isle of Dogs

LEFT:Latif Khwaja in Shadwell

RIGHT: Tending Phoenix School garden in Bow

By Mike Brooke

BLOOMIN’ marvelous! There’s spring in the air and the election campaigns are finally over.

Now East End householders can get down to the real business of digging up the dirt—in their gardens, that is.

They are sprucing up their patches of earth for this year’s Tower Hamlets in Bloom competition.

Town Hall judges last year green fingered’ 60 green-fingered residents, organisations and schools for awards.

James Monehen was entered into the contest by his neighbours for the communal garden and hanging baskets he looks after at Welsh House in Prusom Street in Wapping, pictured last August when it was being judged in the 2007 contest.

Pensioner Albert Shaw, 76, is preparing his garden in Cubitt Town for this year’s judging.

“I’m always in my garden,” he says, proudly showing off his waterfall, fishpond and bird feeders.

“I don’t have to travel to the countryside to see wildlife. I’ve got so much of it in my back garden.”

Albert’s colourful display has picked up many awards in the annual competition.

Back in 1997, when the competition was run at a local level, he won best garden’ in the Isle of Dogs.

Passionate gardener Latif Khwaja has been entering his garden at his home behind Shadwell’s Watney Market for the competition since 1974.

He has even had Prince Charles comment on his lovely blooms during a Royal visit to Tower Hamlets in 1987.

Latif regularly receives top marks’ for the variety and colour of his flowering displays and is often seen in Bethnal Green’s famous Columbia Road flower market buying rare plants.

Pupils at Phoenix Special school in Bow are getting ready to put their green skills to the test again, after last year’s success when they entered the contest for the first time and took the best school garden’ title.

They sow seeds and plant their own vegetables, which gives urban kids the chance to find out where food really comes from, not just the supermarket.

The youngsters have their own food preparation room so they can use their fresh-grown vegetables for school dinners!

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Tower Hamlets in Bloom’s 10 categories:

- Allotment

- Basket or container display

- Communal residential garden

- Community organisation

- Education establishment

- Front garden

- Garden not seen from road

- Kitchen garden

- Patio, balcony or roof garden

- Pub, restaurant and small business

Keen gardeners for this year’s competition being judged in July can register by calling projects officer Sue Blinman direct at the Town Hall on 020-7364 2490, or email: susan.blinman@towerhamlets.gov.uk