Boston Flora

Tag: golden trowel

  • Wednesday, July 9 – Deadline for Mayor’s Garden Contest

    Mayor Michelle Wu has announced the Annual Mayor’s Garden Contest highlighting the hard work of Boston’s urban gardeners. The competition provides the perfect opportunity to recognize the skills of all Boston residents who contribute to the beauty of the city’s landscape.

    Boston’s green thumbs have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9 to submit their gardens for award contention. The contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, shrubs, and, in the process, helped beautify Boston’s neighborhoods.

    Gardeners or those nominating their favorite gardeners may find printable and online nomination forms HERE. The preferred method of entry is to submit photos through the online application. Alternatively, contestants may request an application by emailing their name and address to gardencontest@boston.gov. Paper applications are also available in English and ten additional languages.

    Judges will fan out across the city visiting finalists in late July. Once the votes are tallied, first place winners will receive the coveted “Golden Trowel” award from Mayor Wu while second and third place winners will be awarded certificates. The traditional awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in the Boston Public Garden in late August

    Gardeners who have won three or more times in the last ten years will be automatically entered into the Hall of Fame. These distinguished Hall-of-Famers are not eligible to enter as contestants but are invited to return as judges.

    First place winners are eligible for a drawing for a JetBlue Grand Prize consisting of round trip flights for two to any nonstop destination from Boston. Terms, conditions, and blackout dates apply. In addition, Mahoney’s Garden Centers will provide gardener’s gift bags to the top three winners in each category, as well as gift certificates for the 2025 Hall of Fame winners.

    For details and to enter the contest, visit the website.

    Screenshot

  • Friday, July 11 – Entry Deadline for Mayor Walsh’s Garden Contest

    Launched as part of Mayor Walsh’s citywide beautification initiative, the contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, and shrubs, and, in the process, helped beautify Boston’s neighborhoods.

    First place winners in the garden categories will receive the coveted “Golden Trowel” award from Mayor Walsh and prize packages from the Parks Department, Mahoney’s Garden Centers of Brighton and other sponsors at an awards ceremony in August in the Public Garden. Grand Prize provided by JetBlue.

    Mayor Walsh will recognize Garden Contest Hall of Fame inductees this year. To be eligible to be in the Hall of Fame, a gardener must have won three or more times. Residents and businesses are encouraged to nominate their own or a neighbor’s garden, window box, or front, back, or side yard. Only gardens planted by amateur gardeners are eligible to take part in the contest. No professionally contracted work will be allowed to enter. Entrants are required to submit photographs of their garden along with an official entry form. Using these photos, judges will narrow the entrants to five finalists per category. Site visits by contest judges will determine the winners.

    Your photo(s) and completed nomination form must be received at our Boston offices by July 11, 2014 at 11:59PM to be eligible for competition.

    Entries without photographs will not be accepted.
    Online Entry Form – http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/gardencontest/gardencontest.aspx
    Complete the form online and upload up to 5 digital photos of your garden.
    For More Information call 617-635-4505 or email GardenContest@cityofboston.gov. Pictured below, last year’s first place senior garden in Roslindale.