Garden enthusiasts will have more to look forward to at next year's Singapore Garden Festival (SGF).

The biennial event will not only return earlier, from July 25 to Aug 1, but will include an exciting contest and the launch of a new trade component, SGF Expo 2008.

Last year's inaugural event was held at the Suntec City Convention Centre and attracted some 200,000 visitors from Singapore and around the world.

For SGF 2008, budding home gardeners can stand a chance to win a home visit by international award-winning garden designer Jim Fogarty in the "Garden Magic with Jim Fogarty" contest.

Fogarty, who is the first Australian show garden designer to win an award at the Chelsea Flower Show, will provide personalised garden design tips and ideas for the winner's home.

Contestants will have to submit a picture of their home garden and a 100-word writeup to participate, and the winner will get to meet Jim Fogarty on Nov 1 this year.

SGF 2008 will also introduce a trade show - SGF Expo 2008, which will feature a trade exhibition as well as international conference for industry players.

"While the conference addresses the information needs of the industry players, the exhibition aims to provide an international platform that brings together influencers, buyers and sellers of landscape and horticulture products, equipment and services for the landscaping and horticulture industry," said event organiser NParks.

About Singapore Garden Festival 2008
Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) is a biennial event, positioned to be amongst the top flower and garden shows on the international calendar. SGF is the first show to bring together top international award-winning landscape and garden designers, florists and horticulturists from around the world, who are invited to the Festival to work alongside Singapore's own talented horticulturists. Singapore's geographic location makes the Festival an ideal platform to showcase horticultural and gardening products and services from the northern and southern hemispheres, as well as from Asia and New World nations.

SGF 2008 will take place at the Suntec City Convention Centre from July 25 to August 1 2008.

For more information on the Festival and the contest details, visit the website www.singaporegardenfestival.com