GET your green fingers ready and grow for gold with Grimsby In Bloom.
That is the rallying cry from committee members as they launch 2013's summer gardening competition.
And this year they want more than flowers and greenery ... they would love to see tasty, homegrown treats, too.
The theme is edibles, so they will be looking for entrants who have incorporated colourful vegetables, fruit and herbs into their displays.
The chairman of Grimsby In Bloom, Elaine Atkinson, said: "We want everyone to plant their normal bedding but to also include something edible in there too.
"You don't need an allotment or vegetable patch to do it, it can be created in the tiniest space. It can even be done in a hanging basket!
"Adding vegetables and fruit to the display can look really nice. People can be as creative as they like. They can plant strawberries or tumbling tomatoes or herbs with their trailing flowers. The mix can look stunning."
In its fifth year, the competition unites the community with a bit of healthy competition, driven by the incentive to improve their neighbourhood – and bag their share of £1,200 in garden vouchers.
There are seven categories: front garden or hanging basket or container display, school or children's centre garden, place of worship, street, community gardening project, business or retail, and group dwelling.
Sponsored by Pennells Garden Centre, Humberston Road, Cleethorpes, £30, £20 and £10 will be given to the top three respectively in each category.
The chairman of Old Clee's Howard Grove Gardening Group, Malcolm Tombs, 71, hopes they can retain their title of best street for the third year.
He said: "We get a lot of pride from it. We'll be going for a hat trick this year!"
The launch came as the winners of the Grimsby In Bloom poetry competition were announced at Waterstones, which sponsored the event.
The eight winners were all from Healing School, a science academy.
Assistant principal Alison Smith said: "The competition follows on from a poetry module they have been studying. It's a great way to help get them engaged in their creativity and they have really enjoyed it."
Hannah Ritchie, 13, won first place and a £30 Waterstones voucher.
She said: "I am overwhelmed. I really was not expecting to win. I am really proud of myself.
"I will definitely enter again next year. I write poetry a lot and it's really fun."
ON THE WEB: Visit www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk to download your entry form for the summer gardening competition.
