FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
David Cheng, Communications Manager
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
[email protected] | 215-988-1631
2019 PHS Gardening Contest Celebrates Gardening for the Greater Good with Over 400 Entries
Over 100 Earn Blue Ribbon Recognition and another 92 earn Garden of Distinction
[PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 9, 2019] – The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s annual gardening contest set a record this year with over 400 entries, 102 of those entries were recognized with a Blue Ribbon, and 93 more earned the Garden of Distinction Award.
PHS encourages non-professional gardeners from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware to enter their beloved green spaces. The contest brings together a diverse, talented collection of individuals and community groups who are passionate about using horticulture to create beautiful, impactful gardens for themselves and their community. Home gardeners, community gardeners and urban farmers, as well as those who tend gardens in public spaces are invited to participate. Competing gardeners are invited to attend educations programs, networking events, and a contest Facebook page to connect and learn from each other.
Gardens are judged onsite by a panel of knowledgeable plant lovers and assessed on a variety of factors, including demonstration of:
- Aesthetic appeal, beauty, innovation, and effective design
- Plant health, sustainable practices, and resourcefulness
- Edible plants
- Habitat for pollinators and other wildlife
- Connections to family, neighbors, and/or community
In addition to the judge’s selections this year, nine gardens were selected to compete in a fan favorite competition. Voting was completed through PHS’s website and promoted largely through PHS’s social media channels. Biddle Garden, a sensory garden at Overbrook School of the Blind, pulled out the victory. Followed closely in second by the Gibbsboro Community Garden in Gibbsboro, N.J., and finishing in third was Illgarden, a home garden in South Philadelphia.
About PHS
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, advances the well-being of the Philadelphia region by creating healthier living environments, building deeper connections between people,and increasing access to fresh food and economic opportunity. Fueled by a diverse community of supporters, PHS delivers impact through initiatives in more than 250 neighborhoods, an expansive network of public gardens and landscapes, and the nation’s signature gardening event, the Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS invites everyone to garden for the greater good as a participant, member, donor, or volunteer.
PHSonline.org.
