Green thumbs compete

Entries are being sought for this year’s American Pride Landscape Competition for residential and commercial gardens.

Sponsored by Green Thumb Garden Club of Santa Rosa Beach, the competition will be held starting March 18 through April 18, 2011.   No garden is too small or too big.  All types of garden may be entered: patios, sun decks, shade gardens, container gardens, water gardens, wildflower or native gardens.

To be eligible to enter, the garden must be located in Walton County south of SR 20 from Okaloosa County to the Bay County line.  If you or someone you know has an eye-catching and remarkable garden either residential or commercial, the Green Thumb Garden Club would like to know.  Commercial entries are particularly encouraged.

Gardens are judged using the Standards for Evaluating Landscape Design as set forth by the National Council of States Garden Clubs, Inc. using the following guidelines: First Impressions, Purpose, Design (functional and aesthetic), Implementation, Maintenance, and Final Impression.  After initial screening by GTGC committee members, the final selection will be judged by Snookie Parrish and Kendal Horne, who are professional horticulturalists and designers.

Preliminary judging will take place April 18th.  Winners will be recognized at the GTGC monthly meeting on May 18th at the Sandestin Hilton.  Applications or nominations, either residential or commercial, should be directed to Marcia Leitman, event chairman, at 424-3663 or email marcialeitman@gmail.com.  Co-chairman is Peg Kelly, 654-2061 or email beachpeg@cox.net. To be eligible, all nominations must be received by April 13, 2011.