Thank you for a great season - we received 5,654 nominations of blooming front yards! Feel free to browse photos of our front yard winners and finalists in all their glory.
The Front Yards in Bloom recognition program is all about celebrating the efforts of our neighbours in beautifying Edmonton's neighbourhoods.
Yard Categories
Tiny Yard (New in 2018)
- Introducing 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
- Balcony gardens can feature flowers, edible plants and vegetables, decorations and birdfeeders and whatever your mind can create
- Nomination should include your 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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