first-ever gardening training scheme.

The six men and one woman received certificates to prove they had successfully completed the two-year course.

Members of the Parks and Agriculture departments, they can now call themselves skilled gardeners.

The scheme was supervised by assistant director of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Roberta Dow.

She said the course was academic and practical.

The programme covered every area of gardening, and included a plant identification test.

"Each of the graduates worked for two hours a day while continuing their regular job,'' she said. "All those who took the complete course passed.'' Dr. Dow said Mr. Armando (Louis) Cordoso was the outstanding student for the practical training session.

And Mr. David Buckley was the best student in the academic section with an "A'' average.

She added two others, Mr. Maurice Trott and Ms Mavis Place, were about to start the practical section of the course.

BLOOMIN' GREAT! -- Agriculture director Mr. John Barnes, assistant director Dr. Roberta Dow and assistant Parks director Mr. Bill Cook flank members of Government's first gardening course who are, from the left, (back row) Mr.

David Buckley, Mr. Maurice Trott, Mr. Andre Hayward, Mr. Omar Cannonier, (front row) Mr. Roger Parris, Ms Valarie King, Mr. Armando (Louis) Cordoso, and Mr. Jose Tavares.