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Front Yards in Bloom

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The nomination deadline has passed. Thank you for participating!

2019 Front Yards in Bloom winners will be announced at the Edmonton in Bloom Awards on September 11.

What I love about Front Yards in Bloom

"What I love about Front Yards in Bloom is that Edmontonians get a chance to thank their tireless neighbours who do so much to beautify their neighbourhoods."

Jon Dziadyk, Ward 3 City Councillor

Check out this post on Councillor Dziadyk's Facebook page promoting Front Yards in Bloom.

Get Inspired

To get inspiration for your own yard or balcony, browse photos of our front yard winners and finalists from 2018.

Yard Categories

Tiny Yard

FYIB tiny yard

  • Introduced in 2018... tiny yards!
  • Some of the best things come in small packages
  • Do you have a tiny yard on your block with a beautiful garden that needs some recognition?
  • Tiny yards can be infill lots, townhouses, duplex units, or anything that is small!
  • Yard should be less than 600 square feet including space on either side of walkways
  • As with all nominated yards, tiny yards must have at least 25% flowering plant material (non-turf grass)
Balconies in Bloom

A balcony with flowers and edible plants.

  • Balcony gardens can feature flowers, edible plants and vegetables, decorations and birdfeeders and whatever your mind can create
  • Nomination should include the unit number
  • All nominees will receive a sign in the mail celebrating your beautiful balcony
  • Top 3 balcony gardeners will be awarded at the Edmonton in Bloom Awards ceremony
General Yard

General yard

  • An appealing front yard that catches your eye, inspires smiles, and invites visitors to enjoy its beauty!
  • May include a variety of plants, colours, textures, heights, decorations, and unique features
  • Yards should contain at least 25% non-turf plants over the area - pots, containers, flowering trees, shrubs, mosses, and grasses are all included in this category
  • Yards in the general category are judged by volunteer judges trained by the Edmonton Horticultural Society
Natural Yard

Natural yard

  • A yard with native flowers, trees, shrubs or ground cover plants that attract local wildlife such as birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects
  • A guideline of at least 60% perennial varieties defines this category
  • Extra points during judging are given for native plants with an Alberta origin (bees love them!)
  • Yards in the natural category are judged by the Edmonton Native Plant Society
Edible Yard

Edible yard

  • A yard incorporating edible plants into the landscape design
  • Can include anything from vegetables and grains to fruiting trees, berry bushes, perennials, flowers or even mushrooms
  • As a guideline - of all the plants found in these yards, at least 60% must be edible.
  • Yards in the edible category are judged by Sustainable Food Edmonton.
Public Space

Public Space

  • A yard or garden with landscaping features and aesthetic appeal in front of a public building.
  • This space can be located in front of a school, business, office building, multi-unit residence, church, community league, or volunteer association.
  • Yards in the public spaces category must be accompanied by a street address to qualify - no city parks/parkettes, median gardens and trees, boulevard plantings or shrub beds. Exceptions can be made if the citizen gardener(s) can be named along with a mailing address (email front.yards@edmonton.ca in these circumstances).
  • This category does not include community gardens. To nominate a community garden for an Edmonton in Bloom award, contact front.yards@edmonton.ca

Guidelines

  • Anyone can nominate a front yard.
  • You can't nominate your own yard, but you can ask a friend or neighbour to nominate your yard. For Balconies in Bloom, we accept self-nominations and third-party nominations in the form of photo submissions.
  • Yards and gardens should be connected or adjacent to a residence or building that has a mailing address.
  • Please consult Alberta's Regulated Weeds list before planning your garden or nominating a garden that may include these species. Yards with weeds may still receive a nomination sign, but volunteer judges use the presence of weeds as one of their criteria for considering a yard for an award.
  • Front yards in bloom will have "curb appeal", and so should be in full view from the sidewalk - not hidden with wooden fence or locked gates.
  • Yards should have easy access to the walkway of the yard for volunteers to place a sign and deliver a brochure (no locked fences or gates).
  • Yards must contain at least 25% non-turf plants. While green lawns are quite common in Edmonton, our volunteers are placing signs only in yards where other types of plants add beauty to the area.

Volunteer

Volunteer with Front Yards in Bloom!

Help deliver signs in a neighbourhood near you and help to short-list our Front Yards in Bloom nominees. For more information on the volunteer guidelines, visit our About Front Yards in Bloom section.

Sign Up!

Edmonton in Bloom Newsletter

Missing something? 

Sign up to receive our seasonal newsletter to stay in the loop about all things in bloom.

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Program Support

This program receives 100% funding from sponsorship and donations. Thank you to our partners, sponsors, donors and supporters!

Winterscapes Program

Did you know that front yards are also celebrated in the winter? Check out the Front Yards in Bloom: Winterscapes program. It's never too early to get started on your plans!

Related Links

Sustainable Food Edmonton

Edmonton Native Plant Group

Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)

Edmonton Horticultural Society

For More Information

311 Contact Centre

Online Contact 311 Online
Telephone

In Edmonton: 311
Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
TTY 780-944-5555
Email 311@edmonton.ca

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