Well done Edmonton! We received 6,226 nominations for front yards this year. The judging is complete and the winners in all 5 categories have been posted.
Our Edmonton in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday August 24, 2017 where we awarded the winning yards of Front Yards in Bloom, as well as other community greening awards.
This recognition program is all about celebrating the efforts of our neighbours in beautifying Edmonton's neighbourhoods.
Award Categories
Uniquely Canadian Front Yard (2017 only)
- New and only in 2017!
- These front yard gardens celebrate Canada in a unique way.
- Yards may include flowers with cultural significance such as tulips, or fun features such as ornamental beavers, maple leafs, canoes, or even sculptures or other additions.
- When nominating, we encourage you to use the comments section of the form to tell us why you think it has a Canadian flair.
- This category follows the same guidelines as the rest - we encourage you to nominate your neighbour. If you have built a Canadian-themed garden, get your neighour or friend to nominate you so that you can be recognized for your efforts.
- Yards in the general category are judged by volunteer judges trained by the Edmonton Horticultural Society.
- The top 5 winners in this category will each take home a prize presented by the Edmonton in Bloom Fund with support from the Edmonton Community Foundation at the Edmonton in Bloom Awards in August.
General Front 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 Front Yard
- A yard with native flowers, trees, shrubs or ground cover plants that attract local wildlife such as birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects.
- 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 Group.
Edible Front Yard
- A yard incorporating edible plants into the landscape design. Landscaping includes everything 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
- 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
- Yards in the public spaces category are judged by the City of Edmonton's Neighbourhoods Portfolio.
Volunteer with Front Yards in Bloom!
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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.
- 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.
Program Support
This program receives 100% funding from sponsorship and donations. Thank you to our 2017 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!
