The PA Horticultural Society hosted the PHS Awards Celebration on November 2 in the Town Hall of the PHS headquarters to honor a leader in the effort to protect and support community gardens and other accomplished proponents of urban greening and horticulture. 

The organization’s highest honor, the PHS Distinguished Achievement Award, was presented to Margaret McCarvill, President of the Board of Directors of the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, the land trust devoted to preserving and protecting community gardens throughout Philadelphia.

The award has been presented by PHS since the 1960s to an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the field of horticulture or has used horticulture as an avenue to create positive social change in the Greater Philadelphia region.

McCarvill, the president of MMM, a supply chain, finance and information technology consulting company, has been a leader at NGT since 2013. She is a member of the PHS Board, and served as Interim Executive Director of PHS in 2015.        

PHS also presented its 2016 Certificates of Merit at the ceremony. The awards are given to individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses for outstanding contributions and achievements in horticulture, including the Philadelphia Flower Show and PHS greening programs.

Hasan Malik was honored for leading the creation of the first PHS Tree Tenders group in Northeast Philadelphia. Malik took the PHS tree-care training as a high school student, making him one of the youngest members of the volunteer corps.

As owner of the nursery Tree Authority, Malik has grown more than 13,000 trees for the TreePhilly yard tree giveaway program led by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

Lynn Cook and Troy Ray were recognized for their participation since 2000 in the Philadelphia Flower Show, where they have won an astonishing 629 blue ribbons in the Horticourt competition and 21 blue ribbons in the orchid classes.

They have captured the PHS Grand Sweepstakes Trophy -- given for the greatest numbers of points in all competitive sections -- every year for the past 10 years.

Sandy and John Young were honored for their longtime participation in the Philadelphia Flower Show in numerous leadership roles.

John is Executive Vice President of the Men’s Garden Club of Philadelphia, one of the most successful exhibitors in the show. Sandy has served as Chair of the Competitive Classes Committee and the Flower Show & Events Committee, in addition to many other positions.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the PA Horticultural Society website, Like PHS on Facebook, Join PHS on Instagram and Follow on Twitter.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from PHS.

(Photo: Bodine Street Garden in Philadelphia, Neighborhood Gardens Trust.)

Related Story:

3 Hearings In Philadelphia On Discounted Stormwater Rate For Community Gardens

11/7/2016