Mayor Menino's Garden Contest

Posted by Hilda M. Morrill

June 22, 2011

Boston's green thumbs have until July 15 to register for Mayor Menino's 2011 Garden Contest presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, with Comcast and the Boston Herald as sponsors.

Launched 15 years ago as part of Mayor Menino'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 eight categories will receive the coveted "Golden Trowel" award from Mayor Menino and prize packages from the Parks Department, Comcast, and other sponsors at an awards ceremony in August in the Public Garden.

To enter the contest, gardeners, or those nominating their favorite gardeners, may pick up entry forms at local Comcast Customer Payment Centers, Boston City Hall, Community Centers and Boston Public Library branches, or by visiting www.cityofboston.gov/parks/gardencontest. For more information, call 617-961-3051.

Some years when our schedule has permitted, we've been honored to be one of the judges. We've met lovely people, visited beautiful gardens, and learned so much.

We particularly got a kick out of the gardener who included a photo of Mayor Menino in one of the garden containers. We'll have to check our records to see if the garden was one of the winners that year!