leaf icon
Donate
leaf icon
Join
leaf icon
Volunteer
Calendar
calendar icon
Search close icon
Gardens To Visit
caret icon
Visit a PHS garden or landscape to help build stronger social connections with your community.
For Neighborhoods
caret icon
Explore programs that create healthy, livable environments and increase access to fresh food.
For Gardeners
caret icon
Engage with PHS on gardening, whether you’re an expert or a beginner.
About Us
caret icon
Get to know our story, become a part of our staff, or see what is in the news with PHS.
The Flower Show

PHS Gardening Contest

2020_GardeningContest_01

Welcome to the PHS Gardening Contest!

A true celebration of gardening and gardeners, the PHS Garden Contest allows gardeners of all levels to showcase their horticultural accomplishments in a friendly virtual competition.

The contest is closed.
We are no longer taking submissions.
 

Gardens will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Aesthetic appeal including beauty, creativity, resourcefulness, and effective design
  • Plant health
  • Crop productivity (if applicable)
  • Sustainable practices
  • Habitat for beneficial wildlife
  • Social impact and connectedness

Winners will be announced in early Fall.


Gardening Contest FAQ
 

​​​​​​Yes. Please submit a separate response for each garden. You can only submit one indoor garden, one outdoor garden and one public space garden.

​​​​​​​No. Please use the submission form uploader to submit your photos. Emailed photos will not be considered.

For our 2021 contest, PHS Membership is required to submit a personal garden (either indoor or outdoor).  You can become a member on our Membership Page here.

 

PHS Membership is not required to submit a community garden to the Gardening Contest.

No. We are only accepting one submission per garden. Please work together to submit one form with one point person.

No, members may submit personal gardens from any location. However, public space gardens must be located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware. ​

There are no prizes associated with the Gardening Contest.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept any additional information once your form has been submitted. Please make sure your entry form is complete before you submit it.

​​​​​​​If you submitted your form early by mistake, please email us at [email protected] and we will help you submit a new entry. Please do not submit a second entry unless a PHS team member provides approval.

​​​​​​You must submit your entry in one session. If you would like to work on your entry over multiple sessions, we encourage you to type your responses in a separate document and then paste the information into the contest entry form when you are ready to submit it in its entirety. The contest entry form will not time out, so you may take as long as you’d like to fill out the form, and you are able to pause and come back to your responses as long as you keep the form open on your computer or cell phone. Your responses will not be saved until you submit your entry.

​​​​​​​If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.

Questions? Contact the PHS Audience Engagement Team.
email
[email protected]
A beautiful display of indoor container gardening
Great integration of water elements in this outdoor garden
Fantastic community garden submission
Eclectic array of plantings in this outdoor garden
Great collection of indoor gardening containers

By participating in the Gardening Contest, you give the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) permission to use your submission or any portion of it in current or future promotional materials and in fundraising, advocacy, or media outreach projects and materials, including sharing your photographs publicly with a variety of audiences, media, or publications, including the press, and in multiple media formats. You waive any rights and compensation arising from such use and release PHS from any claims arising from such use.