Residential and commercial gardens encouraged to enter

The Green Thumb Garden Club of Santa Rosa Beach will be hosting The American Pride Landscape Competition” for residential and commercial gardens, starting Mar. 26 – Apr. 26.

Each year, the club encourages people to enhance their surroundings, and also recognizes those who have put the time and effort into beautifying their homes and businesses.  No garden is too small or too big to be included.  The club’s competition includes patios, sun decks, shade gardens, container gardens, water gardens, wildflower and native gardens.

The competition promotes gardening excellence in South Walton County and recognizes community residents and local businesses whose landscape designs create aesthetic and functional garden that is attractive and enhances the beauty of our area.  Anyone residing in Walton County south of SR 20 in Walton County is eligible to participate.  If you or someone you know has an eye-catching and garden, the Green Thumb Garden Club would like to know. 

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 Randy Harelson and Kendall Horne, professional horticulturalists and designers.

Preliminary judging will take place April 26 – 27.  Winners will be recognized at the GTGC monthly meeting on May 19th at the Sandestin Hilton.  Applications or nominations, either residential or commercial, should be directed to Robbie Carroll, event chairman, at 850-608-6067 or email robbiecarroll@cox.net.  To be eligible, all nominations must be received by April 23rd.

2009 winner in the Commercial category, Topsail State Park Butterfly Garden.