More than 60 readers sent photos of their gardens along with a short essay. The entries were narrowed to 13 and judges visited each. An overall winner was named, as well as a winner and a runner-up in each of four categories: large, medium, small and container.

And there was a special commendation for a gardener who goes above and beyond the call of garden duty, Shirley Lustek of Baltimore.

Visit baltimoresun.com and you will see stories about the winners as well as more than 150 photos of the gardens, all of them by Sun photographer Amy Davis, herself an exceptional gardener.

It is an extraordinary package, capturing the beauty, and the thoughtfulness, of these gardens. You will learn that Barry Glassman had to had to rescue a vacant lot in Butcher's Hill for his garden; that Glen Stemiller of Sykesville gives new meaning to the term "train garden;" that Sally Barker's garden in Phoenix reflects her knowledge, and that Emily Jaskot of Baltimore has done a lot with a little bit of space.

Continue reading "Baltimore Sun Garden Contest: the winners!" »

Posted by Susan Reimer at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Baltimore Sun photographer Amy Davis captures details of the gardens competing for top honors in The Baltimore Sun's 2011 Garden Contest. The winning gardens, and lots of pictures of them, will appear Saturday.

Continue reading "Wordless Wednesday: The Baltimore Sun's garden contest" »

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Good morning Garden Variety readers!

First, my apologies to any of you who have attempted to post comments in the last week. Technical problems required that we shut down the comment phase of some of our blogs and Garden Variety was one of them!

I missed you all! And I felt like I was talking to myself...

And today I will be out judging the entries in The Baltimore Sun's garden contest (OPG=Other People's Gardens). With a heat index of 100-plus degrees no less. And in the days ahead, I will be posting some pictures of what we see.

Stay out of the heat, gardeners!!!

Posted by Susan Reimer at 7:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Sam and Donie Ely had the best shade garden in The Sun's 2007 garden contest.

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/ Amy Davis

If you have a garden that makes your neighbors green with envy, we want to hear about it.

The Baltimore Sun is searching for the most beautiful and creative gardens in the metropolitan area. Flower gardens, shade gardens, container gardens and even water gardens will be considered, but they should be designed and tended by amateurs. Those selected will be featured in a publication this summer. Category winners will receive a $50 garden center gift card.

To submit your entry, send 3-5 photos and a 200-word description of your garden to homes@baltsun.com.

Or mail the photos to Baltimore Sun, Garden Contest, 501 N. Calvert St. Baltimore, MD 21278

Be sure to explain the type and size of garden, its noteworthy features and your source of inspiration. The deadline for submission is June 3.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Each year, more than 1.5 million third-graders in 45 states are given hands-on gardening experience growing colossal cabbages. At stake is a $1,000 scholarship from Bonnie Plants.

The free O.S. Cross, or "oversized," cabbage plants are delivered each year to students whose teachers have signed up for the program on line www.bonnieplants.com.

Continue reading "Cabbage patch kid!" »

Posted by Susan Reimer at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Garden contests
        

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council is sponsoring a conservation landscaping contest and photo entries will be accepted until Sept 1.

Homeowners, students, schools, business and professionals are welcome to enter. The site must be in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Winners will be announced Nov. 1

Check out the website for information on the contest and an application (there's a $10 fee). And there is also information about how to make your gardens more "bay friendly."

There are also wonderful photographs of previous winners and an explanation of their designs.

Photo courtesy of the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council

Posted by Susan Reimer at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests
        

The welcome sign to "Mr. Leroy's" city garden still stands.

Photo credits: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

"Mr. Leroy," as he was known, was a gardening inspiration in the Baltimore neighborhood of Reservoir Hill.

He chiseled a patch of dirt out of the cement parking pad behind his house and planted vegetables there. And there were sunflowers and morning glories around the edges of what passed for his backyard.

He was Eleanor Justice's neighbor, and her inspiration, too. If he could grow his own food in the cement world of the city, she could, too.

"I live just a couple of skinny Baltimore rowhouses down from Mr. Leroy's garden. As I stand at my window, looking from his garden onto the cement below my window, I'm inspired. I could grow our groceries in that little patch of sun, and I dream of raised beds brimming with herbs and vegetables, and of sharing the bounty with our neighbors. I could turn that wasted space into something productive, and raise our quality of life more than I know how to articulate." 

This was part of an award-winning essay Eleanor Justice composed and her reward arrived Tuesday: a planter vegetable garden installed on the parking pad behind her house by Burpee Seed. Co. The "dream garden" essay contest was run in Baltimore only last summer, and drew about 80 responses, the company said.

"This little patch of cement is about to be turned into a little garden oasis," Eleanor said Tuesday morning as she excitedly waited for the containers, soil and plants to arrive.

"I offered the jack-hammer the cement out of here, but they said it would be fine," she said.

While Jessica Atchison and Brenda Connolly of Burpee filled the cedar planters with potting soil and lobster compost and with about 30 vegetable seedlings, Eleanor took visiting media to the community garden across the alley from her new garden.

She had written in her essay about Mr. Leroy's passing last year, and the resurgence of the community garden that mysteriously followed. After years of languishing, it is returning to life and gardeners were working there even while the Burpee gardeners were working in Eleanor's yard.

"While Mr. Leroy was alive, the community garden was largely abandoned; vandalism and disuse had taken it's toll. Maybe it's Mr. Leroy's spirit looking over it that's helped to make such a big difference, but for the first time in god knows how long, every plot is taken and many people have been turned away."

Eleanor Justice's "dream garden" was installed Tuesday.

Continue reading "Garden writing" »

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for Garden Variety in the Mouse & Trowel Awards.

We are a finalist in the "best garden blog by a company!"

Please take a moment to vote again among the finalists in all the awards categories. Here's hoping you'll vote for us in ours!

http://mouseandtrowel.org/2010-final-vote/

Posted by Susan Reimer at 1:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests
        

And we have a winner....

Katie's name was randomly selected from readers who commented on Debra Prinzing's new book, "Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways."

Congratulations Katie! It is even autographed by the author!

Posted by Susan Reimer at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Calling moles "the Taliban of mammals," and describing a campaign of military proportions, "Arthur" of Connecticut is the winner of Sweeney's third annual "I hate moles because ... " essay contest.

In his essay, "Shock and Awe," he writes.

"Hamstrung by local ordinances against gunfire, explosives, exotic carnivores, and illegal uses of electricity and propane gas, occasional thoughts of going "rogue" turned into full time fantasies."

Soon, his wife is spreading "Critter Ridder" on his side of the bed. Neighbors are putting up "For Sale" signs. His lawn becomes a barren waste land.

See how this story ends, and read the runner-up essays.

By the way, "Arthur" earned a $500 gift certificate from Sweeneys.

No word yet on whether it can be used to pay the security deposit on an apartment. 

Posted by Susan Reimer at 2:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Baltimore's Eleanor Justice is the winner of Burpee's first-ever garden makeover essay contest.

The "Dream a Little Green" contest, advertised here on Garden Variety, had its trial run in Baltimore this season before going national next year. 

Justice's tribute to a neighbor earned her the design help, installation, fertilizer and tools she will need for her garden next spring.

Here is her winning essay:

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Baltimore vegetable gardeners! Just four days left to enter Burpee's "Dream a Little Green" garden makeover contest.

Describe how a new vegetable garden would change your life. The best dream, with the best rationale, will be awarded a Burpee Home Gardens™ vegetable garden makeover.

Entrants must complete Burpee's official entry form online and describe how a Burpee Home Gardens vegetable garden could change his or her life.

Entries will be accepted between until June 14. Judging will take place on or around June 19. Winners will be announced on or around June 26.

Burpee Home Gardens’ Dream a Little Green contest is open to residents of the Baltimore area in 2009. This contest may be launched nationally in 2010.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Good news, Reggie and Mark!

You have each won a pair of tickets to the Reservoir Hill Garden Tour this weekend.

I will email you the details!

Posted by Susan Reimer at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Just in time for the 4th of July, Wave Petunias is having a contest.

You can win two six-packs of the grower's red, white, and blue petunias.

5 lucky winners will be drawn at random for the contest, sponsored by Garden Design magazine.  Winners will be drawn on June 18th  and notified by June 22nd.

The prize also includes a 14" fiberglass container and tote bag.

Go to Garden Design magazine's web site to register to win.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests
        

On Sunday, I blogged about a charming  new book about weeds titled, well, The Book of Weeds.

And I promised a copy of the book to a randomly selected person who commented on the post.

Well, my colleague Jill Rosen, the voice behind the blog Unleashed, randomly selected "Greg" out of the names I place in a hat.

Thanks Jill and congrats Greg.

And Ken Thompson, author of The Book of Weeds? You owe me a percentage if all the posters who said they wanted a copy of this book actually go out and buy one!

Posted by Susan Reimer at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests
        

I hate moles because one winter, they ate all of the 250 tulips I planted.

When none of the flowers came up the following spring, I looked around to see if there were any really fat moles laying around on their backs, looking contented.

And I was out a bunch of money.

Now, I plant only daffodils, which are toxic to moles. You can guess what I am hoping for...

Sweeney's is hoping you'll write your mole story and send it to them.

The company is running its third annual "I hate moles because..." contest and the winner will receive a $500 Lowe's Home Improvement Gift Card.

 If you want to see the winning essays from the last two years --- the most aggravating mole incidents and the most creative solutions -- go to Sweeney's Web site. Contest details are there. This year, you can enter video versions of your story.

 And this is key: You don't actually have to have triumphed over your mole to enter the contest!

Posted by Susan Reimer at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Courtesy photos

Gardeners love free plants.

And I am guessing gardeners love free tickets, too.

Garden Variety has three pairs of tickets to next weekend's Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium (valued at $16 a pair), and we'd be glad to give them to three randomly selected Garden Variety fans who post a comment today.

(Be sure to include your e-mail  so I can contact you for a mailing address. Don't worry, I won't share it with anyone else.)

Sugarloaf is famous for its eclectic collection of one-of-a-kind crafts, but there is also live entertainment and plenty of food. It makes for a good kind of family fun. Some of the master craftsmen will also be on hand to demonstrate their skills.

And some of the art at Sugarloaf has particular appeal to gardeners. Pictured above is the Kidera Bell, made by Woodbine resident Ed Kidera from the parts of old cars, trucks and farm equipment, and a nature-inspired wind chime by New York artist Bernard Scheffel.

The festival runs Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 800-210-9900 or visit sugarloafcrafts.com

Posted by Susan Reimer at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Garden contests
        

Burpee Home Gardens is asking Baltimore residents to share how a vegetable garden could change their life for a chance to win a dream vegetable garden makeover.

The winner of "Dream a Little Green" contest will recieve a professional dream vegetable garden assessment, on-site design with a Burpee professional, up to $1,000 in plants and installation of the garden in the spring of 2010.

There will also be five second-place winners who will receive $100 gift cards to Home Depot and 25 third-place winners who will receive a Burpee Home Gardens T-shirt.

Entries will be accepted until May 29.  

For contest entries, rules and conditions, go to Burpee Home Gardens.

Photo courtesy of Burpee Home Gardens.

Posted by Susan Reimer at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests
        

There is still time to enter the 2009 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards competition for community and public gardens.

Groups and organizations that are “greening” their communities, parks, schools and public spaces--by planting trees, shrubs and other plants--are eligible.

The Grand Prize winning garden project will receive $2,500 in plants from Nature Hills Nursery, while the First Prize and Second Prize winners will receive plants worth $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.

The plants can be any combination of trees, fruit trees, bushes and shrubs, perennials and vegetable seeds that Nature Hills Nursery offers.

 Applications for the 2009 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards will be accepted until April 1.

Winners will be announced on April 17, 2009.

To apply, go to Green America Awards.  

Posted by Susan Reimer at 2:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Garden contests