2013 Blackburne in Bloom

You still have time to get your front yard looking its best for the annual Blackburne in Bloom contest. The top 20 yards in the community will be selected between July 15 – 31, with finalists being announced by the end of July.

The finalists will then be judged over the following two weeks and a winner and two runners-up will be announced by August 15. The winner will receive $100 from the Blackburne Creek Homeowners’ Association and each runner-up will receive $50.

Janet Ekert is the Chair of the 2013 edition of Blackburne in Bloom and she’s looking for nominations to come from as many residents of Blackburne Creek as possible. This is an event that everyone in the community can participate in. They can either get their yard in great shape so it can be nominated to become a finalist, or they can let us know about a yard that should be.

Janet is also looking for a number of judges to select the top yards from among the 20 finalists. Previous judges have said that judging can be done in one evening; it’s a great way to take a close look at some wonderful yards and contribute to the community at the same time. If you would like to judge, just email Janet to volunteer. Please make sure you include your name, phone number and address.

If you would like to nominate a neighbour’s yard, please email Janet with your name, address, the nominee’s address and some short information on why you like the yard.

Here is how the contest is judged:

Contribution to the neighborhood

Is your first impression a good one, is the yard unique and does the beauty run from the street to treetops?

Design Features

Variety of foliage colors and textures
Unique shape, layout, plant material, surface treatment, etc.
Buildings, trees, floral beds work together, not dominating.
Plant colors are compatible with surroundings.
Lawn, ground covers & gravel are appropriate to driveways, steps & sidewalks

Maintenance & Horticultural Practice

Fences, driveways, steps and front yard are maintained and in good repair.
Colour and foliage shows healthy shrubs, flowers, lawn and trees.
Layout is maintained for pruning, cultivating, mulching, & weeding along surface edges, corners and through less obvious areas of front yard.

Special Highlight

Sculpture, plantings, architecture, or maintenance that sets this front yard apart from others.

The 2012 contest was won by 924 Blackett Wynd, with runners-up 726 Blackwood Crescent and 723 Blackwood Crescent

To find out more about the 2012 event, please click here.