Four teams maintained garden beds in the community this summer, and one, 3rd Fonthill Scouting, was named the winner of the community garden bed competition.

“The winner of our competition won by one point over the talented Pelham Garden Club,” said Pelham Beautification Committee Chair and judge Jen Pilzecker. “The win is attributed to the use of colourful mums which are often perennial in Niagara’s growing zone and the nice combination of annuals with consideration of plant layering and movement.”

The garden bed competition, born from a motion from Councillor Lisa Haun, maximized the time residents may have had due to stay-at-home orders by the province during the pandemic. Combined with the Town’s decreased staff and service levels during the pandemic, competitors were asked to support local growers and spruce up flower beds that would have otherwise gone unplanted this year.

“The Town of Pelham Beautification Committee would like to thank all of the competitors for their efforts to bring life and colour to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pilzecker. “You brightened the lives of all of those who were able to stop and admire your hard work.”

The beds, fully maintained by individual teams (save for a once-a-week watering by the Town), were cared for during the summer and readied for judging this past Labour Day weekend.

The judges, members of the Pelham Beautification Committee, braved the high winds and heavy rains Labour Day Monday, judging all the competition beds. Based on the contest criteria posted on the Town’s website, the judge’s results were:

1st	3rd Fonthill Scouting
2nd	Pelham Garden Club
3rd	Meridian Credit Union
4th	Shawn Petlichkov and Daniel Kilmowicz (sponsored by Lookout Point)

 

What the judges had to say:

Click photos to enlarge

3rd Fonthill Scouting 54 points

The winner of our competition won by one point over the talented Pelham Garden Club! The win is attributed to the use of colourful mums which are often perennial in Niagara’s growing zone and the nice combination of perennial, annuals with consideration of plant layering and “movement”. Congratulations to our winner!

 

 

Pelham Garden Club 53 poitns

This close runner-up used spectacular colour combination, carefully considered design elements and incorporated interesting plants like Canna for visual appeal. It is clear this garden bed was planted and maintained by a group of dedicated and talented gardeners.

 

Meridian Credit Union 42 points

Our third place winner used strong colours and maintained this bed nicely. The incorporation of a community “smile” rock in the design did not go unnoticed.

 

Shawn Petlichkov and Daniel Kilmowicz (sponsored by Lookout Point) 38 points 

This garden was nicely maintained and incorporated grasses for some movement.

Congratulations to those who participated and thank you for your time and effort in keeping Pelham beautiful.

 

Thank you to this year’s judges:

Cynthia Roberts: Pelham landscape business owner and retired municipal staffer responsible for municipal garden management in Niagara Falls.

Frances Kupyers: Fenwick resident and businesswoman who retired from Halton where she frequently admired the Oakville/Burlington sponsored municipal garden beds.

Cathy Robins: Long-time Pelham resident, hydro worker, and farm owner with an appreciation for a gardening aesthetic amongst growing considerations.

Jen Pilzecker: Fonthill resident with formal education in Environmental Science and Fine Art History with an appreciation for thoughtful design and use of non-invasive native plants.

For more on the garden bed compeition, visit: www.pelham.ca/garden-beds

Photos courtesy of Jen Pilzecker and Town of Pelham.