ThePennsylvania Horticultural SocietyandKeep Pennsylvania Beautifulannounced the winners of the2008 Community Greening Awards.

The Community Greening Awards recognize individuals, garden clubs, civic associations, businesses, municipalities and community groups who have created and maintained public green spaces that enhance their communities.

Drawing 101 entries this year from all over the state and with entries also coming from New Jersey and Delaware, the program will honor 76 recipients at separate award ceremonies.

“We would like to congratulate all of the Community Greening Award participants for the impact they have made in their communities,” said Blaine Bonham, executive vice president of PHS. “Studies show quality green spaces enhance the health, beauty and economic vitality of an area and often serve as meeting places. This award represents a mark of excellence.”

Judges visited the sites over the summer and winners were notified in late August.

Representatives from public sites will be honored at separate awards receptions on September 28 in Pittsburgh, October 12 in State College and November 2 in Philadelphia.

Here are the Pennsylvania award winners:

Allentown, Asbury United Methodist Church

Bethlehem, Burnside Plantation

Butler, AM Rotary Club of Butler

Chadds Ford, Hank's Place

Clarks Summit, NewSeasons at Clarks Summit

Collegeville, Still Meadow Stormwater Basin

Danville, Danville Town Entrance

Dover, Dover Township Municipal Building

Doylestown, Penn State Master Gardeners Demo Gardens

Doylestown, Triangle Park

Easton, St. Francis Retreat House Inc.

Elkins Park, Cheltenham Avenue Inter-Municipal Tree Planting

Etna, Western PA Conservancy

Farrell, Southwest Gardens Economic Dev. Corp. Neigh. Org.

Glen Mills, Maris Grove - Erickson Retirement Community

Haverford, Sharpe Park

Hollidaysburg, Discovery Garden at Legion Park

Huntingdon, Jean Anderson Rose Garden

Kennett Square, Butterfly Garden

Kennett Square, Waywood Bed

Lancaster, Conestoga House and Gardens

Lansdale, Fischer Park

Lansdale, St. Stanislaus Church

Leetsdale, Leetsdale Roadside Beautification Project

Lewisburg, Hufnagle Park

Macungie, Macungie Flower Park

McKean, McKean Triangle

McKeesport, Garden Club of McKeesport

Milford, Borough of Milford

Milford, Remembrance Place

Nazareth, Moravian Hall Square

Palmyra, Palmyra Town Square

Pennsburg, Marian Stefano Meditation Garden

Philadelphia, Penn Alexander School

Philadelphia, Society Hill Towers

Philadelphia, The Chestnut Hill Hotel

Pittsburgh, Dobson Lot

Pittsburgh, Forest Hills Park

Pittsburgh, Lincoln Place Garden

Pittsburgh, McKnight Road Community Garden

Pittsburgh, Mellwood

Pittsburgh, N. Canal & Cedar Community Garden

Pittsburgh, Olde Allegheny Community Gardens

Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh Project

Pittsburgh, The Point Garden

Pulaski, Pulaski Elementary School

Reading, Gateway Park

Reading, Lauer's Park Elementary School

Sharon, Salvation Army

Sharon, Town of Sharon Beautification Project

Swarthmore, Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, Swarthmore Public Library

Tarentum, Tarentum Bridge Triangle

Troy, Mitchell House

Warminster, Ann's Choice

Warren, Celeron Park

Warren, Crescent Park

Warren, General Joseph Warren Park

Warren, Municipal Building

Warren, Warren General Hospital

West Chester, Sts. Simon & Jude Church

Whitemarsh, Manor Creek Streamside Habitat

Williamsport, Brandon Park

Windsor, Windsor Manor Elementary School

Wyomissing, Wyomissing Centennial Circle

The full list of winners fromall states is available online.

Since 1975, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has invited Philadelphia gardeners to participate in a friendly competition to show off their creative urban gardens. In 2006, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society partnered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to reach beyond the boundaries of the city and suburbs to invite participants across Pennsylvania.

This year’s nominations included train stations, public parks, Main Street planters, church gardens, and landscapes around municipal buildings and museums. Though these landscapes were not competing against each other, it was the task of the committee to determine which plantings deserved PHS recognition.

Spaces were judged on a host of criteria, including variety of plant material, maintenance, design, visual appeal, and use of space. Each group will receive a framed certificate along with a sign to display in the garden.

If you know of a planting in the region that should be recognized, or to learn more, please contact Flossie Narducci at 215-988-8897 send email to:specialevents@pennhort.org.

NewsClip:Six WPC Gardens Win Greening Awards

10/3/2008