America In Bloom Announces Winning Cities
Just as summer turns to fall, the cities who planted America In Bloom in their towns this spring reaped the rewards of their efforts at the Ninth Annual America In Bloom Symposium & Awards Program in St. Louis last week.
-
Gateway Greening is a nonprofit that is installing high impact plantings Chicago style but with a St. Louis twist.© 2010 -
Large plantings have a theme and signs listing each variety planted by "Thriller, Filler and Spiller." What a great way to educa© 2010 -
Gateway Greening has transformed Kiener Plaza into the Kodak moment it should be with the arch in the background.© 2010 -
Kiener Plaza in the opposite direction.© 2010 -
Gateway Greening has created a custom-molded signature planter for St. Louis with a fleur-de-lis motif, which adds a touch of cl© 2010 -
The arch is in an inviting green park. Museums and gift shops are underground. Modern magnificence. :)© 2010 -
City Seeds Urban Farm helps train the homeless, addicted and mentally ill, as well as recently released prisoners, grow food to© 2010 -
Another view of the urban farm -- skyscrapers in the background, squash plants in the foreground. Gardens make vacant lots produ© 2010 -
Community gardens in residential neighborhoods blend mix flowers and vegetables.© 2010 -
Garden Centers of America President Dave Williams of Westfield, N.J. joined the tour. Westfield won its America In Bloom populat© 2010 -
America In Bloom officers, President Marvin Miller and Past President Ron Pierre, enjoying the tour.© 2010 -
A simple sign deters theft in community gardens and communicates what is expected.© 2010 -
Activists in the Soulard neighborhood transformed a former auto repair shop and used car lot into a beautiful garden and meeting© 2010 -
The same Soulard activists transformed a neglected basketball court into a beautiful garden in the park.© 2010 -
Lizzy McPheeters Rickard and her father John McPheeters welcomed our tour to Bowood Farms, a really cool urban chic garden cente© 2010 -
Ellen Barredo with beautiful annuals for fall.© 2010 -
The new black and yellow 'Phantom' petunias from Ball are a perfect fit for Mizzou alumni (University of Missouri).© 2010 -
Mums, pumpkins, pansies and asters fill the courtyard for fall. The building's brick texture adds character.© 2010 -
Bowood Farms grows fresh herbs it uses in its cafe on one of the roofs. The rooftop garden is for employees, only, not the publi© 2010 -
America In Bloom Announces Winning Cities© 2010 -
Joe Lamp'l and Dave Williams pose with the Westfield, N.J., paper after Westfield wins its population category.© 2010
Image of
Just as summer turns to fall, the cities who planted America In Bloom in their towns this spring reaped the rewards of their efforts at the Ninth Annual America In Bloom Symposium & Awards Program in St. Louis last week.
America In Bloom is an independent nonprofit organization that plants civic pride by engaging municipalities and their citizens in educational programs and organizing a national competition to recognize communities for their efforts. More than 180 towns have participated to date, including nearly 30 this year.
Each participating town was judged on eight criteria: floral displays, urban forestry, landscaping, turf and groundcovers, tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage preservation and community involvement. Specially trained judges visited towns of similar populations and spent two days touring the town, meeting municipal officials, residents and volunteers:
The population category winners were announced at the banquet Saturday night. Garden celebrity Joe Lamp'l of Growing A Greener World and AIB's Executive Director Laura Kunkle were the emcees. "I'm a big fan of America In Bloom and have followed AIB for a number of years," Lamp'l says. "I wholeheartedly believe in what you do. You are cultivating community within communities. You're not only making them more livable but more sustainable."
The 2010 population category winners are:
- Echo, Ore. - Under 2,000 population
- Lewes, Del. - 2,001-4,000 population
- Charles City, Iowa - 4,001-10,000 population
- Tipp City, Ohio - 10,001-15,000 population
- Arroyo Grande, Calif. - 15,001-25,000 population
- Westfield, N.J. - 25,001-50,000 population
- Bloomington, Ind. - 50,001-100,000 population
In addition to the population category awards, criteria awards were presented based on feedback from the teams of judges on outstanding efforts they witnessed. These criteria awards go to one community among all the AIB entrants across all population categories.
The 2010 criteria award winners are:
- Shipshewana, Ind. - Floral Displays Award sponsored by Ball Horticultural Co.
- Westfield, N.J. - Landscaped Areas Award sponsored by OFA - The Association of Horticulture Professionals
- Addison, Texas - Turf & Groundcover Areas
- Arroyo Grande, Calif. - Community Involvement Award sponsored by the American Horticultural Society
- Fayetteville, Ark. - Environmental Awareness Award
- Bloomington, Ind. - Urban Forestry Award sponsored by J. Frank Schmidt & Son
- Rising Sun, Ind. - Tidiness Award
- Webster Groves, Mo. - Heritage Preservation Award sponsored by Meister Media Worldwide
Arroyo Grande also won the first YouTube video contest, capturing what AIB has done for their town. And Bob Lund, a local business owner in Arroyo Grande, won the second annual John R. Holmes III Community Champion Award. The winner must come from a city that has participated in AIB and recognizes an individual who, in the view of the board of directors, best exemplifies community leadership through actions that reflect the mission of the organization. The award honors the memory of John Holmes, the late CEO of OFA, who was an AIB board member and officer since the organization's inception.
Dave Williams of Williams Nursery, who planted the effort in Westfield, was also a finalist for community champion and was thrilled to see Westfield take home the Landscaped Areas Award and win its population category.
"It was a lot of work but it was well worth it. Our town looks beautiful," Williams says. He advises other growers and garden center retailers to take the plunge. "Just do it! At first it's like when you're about to step into a cold pool and you're not sure about it. Find a strong partner in your community who has the contacts you don't have and together you'll make a great team and make it happen."
St. Louis was a wonderful venue the awards and symposium. Event chairs were AIB board member Evelyn Alemanni and Bill Ruppert of Gateway Greening and National Nursery Products. In addition to being supported by a vibrant green industry that is transforming downtown, urban neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs, it was a great venue for cities from all over to learn how to do the same in their towns and be recognized for their efforts. Tour St. Louis' community gardens and catch the highlights of the symposium in the slideshow below.
Comments (0)
