Local gardens judged winners


Courtesy Photo The Hunter Pope Memory Garden by Theresa Pope won third Place in Mayor Menino’s Garden Contest last year.

JP Home & Garden

In Jamaica Plain, which is nearly surrounded by public green space, several local residents’ gardens won awards in Mayor Menino’s Garden Contest last year. The deadline for amateur gardeners to submit to this year’s contest is July 16, with an awards ceremony scheduled for late August.

Good gardening needs to be supported by good photography, because pictures of the gardens are judged at the first stage of the contest.

Daniella Axelrod and John Brice tied for second place in the 2009 Community Service Garden category. Brice was honored for his garden at Union Avenue Apartments just off Washington Street, and Axelrod was cited for hers at Cabot Estate on Perkins Street.

Linda Higgins on Calvin Road in Moss Hill took second place in the Porch, Balcony or Deck Garden category.

The Large Yard Garden third place award went to Theresa Pope of Wenham Street in Forest Hills for the Hunter Pope Memory Garden, named for her deceased young son.

A total of more than 125 Boston residents, businesses and organizations entered their gardens last year. Judges narrowed each category to five finalists based on photographs the gardeners submitted. Then judges made site visits to determine the top three winners.

The 10 categories are: Window Boxes or Tree Pit Garden; Porch, Balcony or Deck Garden; Shade Garden; Small Yard Garden; Medium Yard Garden; Large Yard Garden; Community Garden; Community Service Garden (yields benefits community); Vegetable or Herb Garden; Storefront Garden; and School or Church Garden
The judging criteria include: general appeal–natural or formal; use of color; definition-neatness; difficulty of site/soil; plant material–variety/quality and garden hardware–furnishings/art.

Launched in 1996 as part of Mayor Thomas Menino’s citywide beautification initiative, the contest is sponsored by Comcast and the Boston Herald.
For more information, call 961-3039 or to apply electronically visit www.cityofboston.gov/parks/gardencontest.

From materials provided by the Boston Parks Department.

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