Garden competition blooming for spring

Gardening in Florida has its challenges. Finding plants that do well in a climate of extreme cold to extreme heat can be overwhelming. Not only does the weather reek havoc for some gardeners, others find it difficult to maintain a garden in sand. For those who live near the water, salt deposits in the sand and air add another level of difficulty.

For more than two decades the Green Thumb Garden Club has honored gardeners who have overcome the elements and created beautiful landscapes in South Walton.

This year marks the 21^st annual American Pride Landscape Competition.

Nominations are being accepted March 27 through April 27. Judging will begin April 28 and winners will be recognized May 20 at Café Provence during the regular garden club meeting.

"The competition started in 1988 when original club members, John Foster and Peggy Baylor, wanted to honor gardeners who could create a landscape in sand and other challenging elements along the panhandle," said Ellen Tabor, GTGC member.

Any garden, no matter the size or style, residential, commercial or public, in South Walton is eligible for nomination to the competition. South Walton includes all areas south of State Road 20 from the Okaloosa County line to the Bay County line.

Gardens of every kind have been nominated over the years including wildflower gardens, shade gardens, water gardens and growing gardens.

"We want people to know it doesn't matter what type of garden they have," Tabor said. "It can be any size from a container garden to a fully manicured landscape."

Each year from 10 to 20 gardens are nominated. All nominations are accepted whether by word of mouth or by the individual gardener.

The GTGC judging committee tours every garden with an evaluation sheet in hand. Each garden can be given up to 100 points and the grading is divided into areas of first impression, functional aspect, aesthetic aspect, implementation, maintenance and final impression.

"We had a garden last year that was nominated and when we arrived to judge we discovered it was an heirloom garden," Tabor said. "Every plant in the garden was cultivated from a family garden in Louisiana. We wouldn't have known if she (Claudette Roberts) wasn't home to tell us."

Roberts was a finalist in the 2008 competition.

Other gardens that caught the eye of the judges included a succulent container garden surrounding a pool and a shade garden where all the plants thrived under massive trees.

"Every garden is unique," said Tabor. "I get a new perspective every year of the creativity of gardeners in South Walton. It takes a lot of patience in this area to maintain a garden and we (GTGC) are happy to recognize every garden nominated."

Every nominee receives a certificate and the winners receive a plaque to place in the garden signifying a "Landscape of Merit."

"It may not seem like much," said Maggie Grogan, GTGC member and publicist. "But several used that recognition as selling points when their homes went on the market."

The competition is based on the rules of the National Council of Sates Garden Clubs and the finalists are judged by professional horticulturalist Randy Harelson and Kendal Horn, landscape coordinator of Alys Beach.

Founded in 1956, the GTGC meets every month from September to May, with the competition as the final event of the year.

"This is just one of the many events we enjoy throughout our meetings," said Tabor. "With more than 110 members, our meetings can be quite lively."

The club is also an active participant in local events and charities, contributing to Caring and Sharing and planting trees at public schools. Members donate books to libraries and award a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving student pursuing a degree in horticulture or landscape design.

For more information about the GTGC American Pride Landscape Competition, contact Ellen Tabor at (850) 267-0417.