Hello Fellow Gardeners!
It’s time for the annual City of Boston Mayor’s Garden Contest! I love this contest and encourage everyone in Boston with a front, back or side garden, window box or container garden to enter!
Residents and businesses can nominate their own or a neighbor’s garden. Why not make someone’s day? Only gardens planted by amateur gardeners are eligible. Just think, in a month or so you could be the winner of a coveted Golden Trowel! Deadline for entry is Monday, July 12th.
My tree garden needs some work to be contest ready. The impatiens I planted in late April are dried out, sprawling and spindly. However, the lavender, catmint and ivy are doing just fine.
This morning I replanted my tree garden with yellow snapdragons, white and purple petunias, grasses and Blue Dwarf argeretum in the 
front corners. All the plants come from That Blooming Place (TBP) on Route 53/Washington Street in Weymouth. They don’t have a website but don’t let that stop you from stopping by. The hanging plants are gorgeous and there’s a great selection of healthy potted plants!
A few years ago my tree garden earned an honorable mention in the Mayor’s Garden Contest. Unfortunately, tree gardens are no longer eligible for the Contest. I’m not exactly sure why but it’s a real shame. I’m going to enter anyway and try to get them to open this category back up.
Gardening around a street tree actually helps the tree. It is getting good soil, water and attention. You just shouldn’t mound soil around the base like a volcano because it may suffocate the tree and flowers or ground cover should be planted, never shrubs. Shrub roots could interfere with the tree roots.
Enough about me… Here are the Contest specifics:
Fill out the application form and attach or send up to five (5) photos. The judges will use these photos to narrow the entrants to five finalists per category. Site visits by the contest judges will determine the winners.
Applications can be mailed or filled out online. Go to www.cityofboston.gov/parks/gardencontest.
Photos and forms are due July 12, 2013 by 11:59PM. More details are at GardenContest@cityofboston.gov or call 617-635-4505.
Good luck!
City Garden Ideas 