EDMONDS – This year, Edmonds in Bloom added a youth category to its annual garden competition.
School age youth competed in their special category with individual containers or family gardens, or with organized group gardens planted and maintained by youth programs.
Garden competition judges had the great pleasure to view six lovely, creative individual and group youth gardens this first year.
As with adult gardens, judges rated each garden individually according to specified, and in this case, youth friendly criteria.
“We’re very pleased with the success of our young gardeners,” said Edmonds in Bloom Garden Competition Chair Margaret Duncan. “Imagine secondary school students using the Edmonds in Bloom garden competition as a vehicle to receive credit for community service and/or school-to-work experience. And, of course, imagine how fun it can be for kids who help in the family garden to share their gardens with the public and be recognized for their efforts.”
Each youth entrant will receive an award, along with all other Edmonds in Bloom Garden Competition winners, at the annual Awards Ceremony, scheduled for 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 at the South County Senior Center in Edmonds.
Winners will receive specially commissioned glazed ceramic garden plaques. The ceremony is free and open to the public and will feature photos of the winning gardens, a presentation of awards and a drawing for prizes.
The prizes include a trip on the Victoria Clipper to Victoria, B.C., a one-night stay for two at the Victoria Suites Hotel and complimentary passes to Butchart Gardens.
Other prizes include one hour of landscape design by Courtyard Gardens; two hours of weeding performed by Girl Scout Troop #413; a Crabtree and Evelyn gift basket from La Bella Flora; gift certificates from Emery’s Garden and Garden Gear, and from local restaurants.
Tickets for the drawing are $5 or five for $20 and can be purchased by calling the Edmonds in Bloom office, 425-771-2631, or at the Awards Ceremony.
Participating gardens were judged on their individual merit, not in competition with other gardens. Judges of the street-front gardens rated effective use of color, health of plants, size of display, visual appeal and architectural features.
Visitors can drive through Edmonds neighborhoods and view the gardens. A list of participants in the garden competition is available at the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St. in Edmonds.
Edmonds in Bloom is a non-profit organization of volunteers that promotes floral beauty and related gardening activities.
Its supporters include Hubbard Family Foundation, Emery’s Garden, Windemere Real Estate, Port of Edmonds and Edmonds Arts Commission.
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