If you enter Hawkesbury City Council’s 2008 Garden Competition, professional photography is one of the great benefits.

Hawkesbury Camera Club sends its members out to photograph every garden entered in the competition, and if you want a disc of these, you pay and order it on the competition awards night.

The awards were launched last Thursday by Mayor Bart Bassett at Windsor Riverview. “The presentation of a city is closely tied to how residents care for their homes and gardens and how businesses and institutions keep the areas surrounding their facilities.

The Hawkesbury Garden Competition is designed to encourage and recognise pride in the Hawkesbury Community,” Mayor Bassett said.

This year there are 10 categories in the competition and you can enter up to two of them. All entries are also automatically entered in the best garden in their township/area.

Categories for the competition this year are best front yard, best backyard, best colourful garden, best acreage garden, best new garden, best seniors garden, best environmentally-friendly garden, best non-residential garden, best educational institution garden and kids’ garden.

Judging will be held on the third weekend of September for east of the river, and the fourth weekend of September for west of the river.

Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third in each category, as well as the district categories, with all first prize winners being entered into the running for Champion Garden 2008. This year’s competition is sponsored by Hawkesbury City Council, Windsor Riverview Shopping Centre, Seasol Seaweed Solution and Better Grow Quality Landscape Supplies.

The awards night will be held at Richmond Club on Wednesday, October 8.

Entry forms are available at Council chambers in Windsor or online to print out at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/community/1017/28163.html

Entrie s close September 5.