The Boston Parks and Recreation Department recently announced the winners of Mayor Menino’s 2011 Garden Contest presented in partnership with sponsors Comcast and the Boston Herald.
John Driscoll of Charlestown finished in second place in the Porch, Balcony or Deck Garden category, Nadine Firth and Darcy Ertle tied with an East Boston resident for third place in the same category. Gardens for Charlestown tied for third place in the Community Garden category.
Launched 15 years ago as part of Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s citywide beautification initiative, the contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, and shrubs, and, in the process, beautified their own small piece of Boston. The Parks Department received hundreds of entries this year and the judges who crisscrossed the city visiting the finalists were impressed by the quality in every category.
First, second, and third-place awards will be presented by Mayor Menino and Boston Parks Commissioner Antonia M. Pollak at an awards ceremony being held on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 5 p.m. in the Public Garden. First place winners in each category will receive the coveted “Golden Trowel” award from Mayor Menino, in addition, all winners will receive prize packages from Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, Metro Credit Union, Boston Organics, Boston Garden and Flower Show/Paragon Group, Zoo New England, Mahoney’s Garden Center, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and Comcast.
This year’s winners are:
Community Garden
First Place – Susan Povok, Fenway Victory Garden, Boston
Second Place – John Walsh, Saranac Gardens, South End (Jamaica Plain resident)
Third Place – (tie) Caroline Gelinas, Symphony Road Community Garden, Fenway; Gardens for Charlestown, Charlestown
Porch, Balcony or Deck Garden
First Place – Kim Reiser, Brighton
Second Place – John Driscoll, Charlestown
Third Place – (tie) Kimberly Roberts, East Boston; Nadine Firth and Darcy Ertle, Charlestown