Citywide Gardening Challenge
Celebrating the gardens that brighten every Philadelphia block.
About the Challenge
The PHS Citywide Gardening Challenge celebrates the creativity, care, and cultural traditions that make Philadelphia’s home gardens special. Whether growing flowers, vegetables, or pollinator-friendly plants, gardeners across the city bring beauty and life to their neighborhoods.
Congratulations to our 2026 Winners!
This year’s Citywide Gardening Challenge showcased an inspiring variety of home gardens across Philadelphia. We’re pleased to recognize the 2026 winners and the beautiful spaces they’ve created.
|
Category |
Winners |
|---|---|
Decorative Container Gardens |
Megan Wilcox |
Flower Gardens |
Carrie Borgenicht |
Pollinator Gardens
|
Nancy Stedman |
Herb/Vegetable Gardens |
Molly Voss |
Combination Gardens |
Linda Brown |
Who Can Participate
The Citywide Gardening Challenge is open to Philadelphia residents who grow and care for their own outdoor home gardens. Whether you tend a front stoop, backyard, rooftop, or collection of containers, there’s a place for you in the Challenge!
To be eligible, your garden must:
- Be located within Philadelphia city limits.
- Be an outdoor home garden, including porches, decks, yards, rooftops, containers, and greenhouses.
- Be managed and cared for by you.
PHS encourages participants to embrace Gardening for the Greater Good, helping create greener, healthier, and more connected neighborhoods.
Please note: Community gardens and professionally maintained gardens are not eligible.
Find Your Garden Category
Every garden is unique! The Citywide Gardening Challenge recognizes five categories, giving Philadelphia gardeners the opportunity to showcase what makes their outdoor spaces special.
A garden primarily planted with flowers and ornamental plants, including annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs, or flowering vines grown for color, beauty, and seasonal interest.
A garden focused on growing edible plants such as vegetables, herbs, fruits, or kitchen staples for harvesting and use at home.
A garden that includes both flowers and edible plants, such as vegetables, herbs, fruits
A garden grown primarily in containers rather than in-ground beds, including window boxes, decorative pots, hanging baskets, porch planters, raised containers, and displays that incorporate some or all of these elements.
A garden designed to support birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife through native plants, nectar-rich flowers, host plants, water sources, or habitat-friendly features.
How the Challenge Works
Ready to share your garden? The Citywide Gardening Challenge follows five simple steps, giving participants the opportunity to showcase their growing spaces and celebrate their gardening achievements.
Step 1: Choose Your Garden Category
Select the category and size that best represent your garden. Each garden may be entered in one category only.
Step 2: Register
Complete the online registration form to receive seasonal gardening tips, submission reminders, and photography guidance. No photos are needed at registration.
Step 3: Submit Your Photos
Upload three to six photos of your garden during the submission period to complete your entry.
Step 4: Garden Judging
Judges review photo submissions and select finalists. Finalists are then contacted to schedule an in-person garden visit.
Step 5: Winners & Celebration
Winners are notified, and finalists are invited to a special celebration recognizing their gardens and achievements.
Partners
The PHS Citywide Gardening Challenge has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage is a multidisciplinary grantmaker and hub for knowledge-sharing, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, and dedicated to fostering a vibrant cultural community in Greater Philadelphia. The Center invests in ambitious, imaginative, and catalytic work that showcases the region’s cultural vitality and enhances public life, and engages in an exchange of ideas concerning artistic and interpretive practice with a broad network of cultural practitioners and leaders.
