The growing talents of gardeners have given Ilkley in Bloom judges some tougher decisions to make this summer.

Rising standards meant that judges had some difficult choices to make as they named the winners of the 2010 competition for the most decorative floral gardens and businesses in town.

The contest sees residents, nursing and retirement homes, pubs and restaurants, tourism establishments, commercial premises with a garden and commercial premises without a garden, go head to head for the honours.

The awards, which this year include several highly commended accolades in addition to the top three placings, will be officially presented to the winners in the autumn.

The Ilkley in Bloom competition is held to encourage more people to take a pride in their surroundings, and also gives a boost to Ilkley’s fortunes in the regional Yorkshire in Bloom competition.

Ilkley in Bloom’s Kate Brown said: “The judges found it very difficult to mark as the standard of entry was so high. We were also pleased that this year we had more entries, and hope that next year we can encourage even more entries across the categories.”

A previous runner-up in the competition, Jennifer Moore, of St Helen’s Way, won first prize in the contest for the best private garden visible from the road, with her all-year tiered garden.

Joint second were 2 Wheatley Road and 35 Mayfield Avenue, and the judges handed out a highly commended award for a private garden on Back Weston Road.

Hollycroft Care Home, on Hebers Ghyll Drive, took first place in the nursing, care and retirement homes section of the contest, while Abbeydale retirement home on Grove Road, a regular winner of both local and regional In Bloom titles, was a strong runner-up.

Another past competitor, Homecroft Residential Home, on Victoria Avenue, was third, and Audley Court was highly commended.

In the restaurants and public houses section, the Yard, off Brook Street, added another award to its collection. Celebrated Michelin-starred restaurant the Box Tree, on Church Street, was second, and Pizza Express, on Station Plaza, was third. Another highly commended accolade was given out in this section, to Emporio Italia, on Railway Road.

Another past winner regaining its title was dental equipment company, Optident, on Valley Drive. Based in the former International Wool Secretariat building, Optident won first place in the commercial premises with garden category. Ilkley Bowling Club, on Skipton Road, was second, and Susan Cuthbertson, solicitors, was third.

The Clarke Foley Centre, on Cunliffe Road, was highly commended.

In the tourism contest, first place went to Wharfedale Grange Farmhouse, a bed and breakfast business on Ben Rhydding Drive. Second was the Rombalds Hotel, Wells Road, and Westwood Lodge self-catering and cottages and apartments, on Westwood Drive, was third.

The Riverside Hotel, standing on the edge of the Riverside Gardens, was highly commended.

Leeds Road butcher David Lishman took first place in the section for commercial premises with no garden. Estate agent Dacre, Son & Hartley on Wells Road, was runner-up, and Grandad Nicol’s fish and chip shop on Leeds Road was third.

Jeweller Lister Horsfall, on Brook Street, was highly commended.