2010 Most Beautiful Flower Garden Contest Winners

All photos courtesy Vicki Kauffman TheMount Vernon News' Most Beautiful Flower Garden contest, co-sponsored by the Owl Creek Conservancy, once again provided several enjoyable afternoons of judging for Nancy Long and Marsha Wagner of the News and Vicki Kauffman, consultant for the Conservancy. We would like to thank everyone who shared their gardens with us this year and encourage anyone who enjoys their outdoor spaces to invite us to visit during next years' contest. Details will be available next spring in the News. Enjoy the second-hand tour!

First Place Linda Bland, Mount Vernon Meticulous attention to detail, great visual appeal and a large dose of the unexpected was what earned Linda Bland of Mount Vernon first prize. It was obvious to the judges that Linda's presentation of her yard is not only a creative outlet, but also a lifestyle. Every flower bed contained beautiful plants and a little something extra - a sculpture, an arbor, a water feature - even a hanging monkey and a boxwood rendition of the phrase, "When pigs fly." Flowers were the reason we came, but drama was the reason we didn't want to leave.

Every side of Linda's surroundings was so charming and visually appealing, it was hard to know where to let your eye rest. This sculpture in the front yard was a good launching point.		The front porch of Linda's white farm-style house was very inviting. Unfortunately, our tour did not include the inside, only the outside.

Everyone should have a moss monkey hanging from a tree in their yard, don't you think?		Purple coneflowers in the foreground of a climbing clematis were a striking combination.

Stepping away from the clematis and conflowers gives a better view of the arbor and of another sculpture on the side of the house.		A rough-hewn stone bird bath anchors this shade bed.

A gazing ball nestled among the flowers is a great way to draw attention to a beautiful area.		Another porch and another lovely spot of color.

"When Pigs Fly." Topiary is an art form that takes years to complete. These boxwood balloons will grow into their "ribbons" and the pig is already recognizable. Note his metal corkscrew tail.		Another amazing sculpture serves as the focal point of this alleé. A stone bench at the other end (not pictured) provides a place to enjoy the artwork.

A dragonfly on a stepping stone, a sculpture on a blank wall, and a stone path with bottle bottoms laid in it all demonstrate how Linda has made her space her own.

Second Place Ron and Judy Hess, Howard Ron and Judy Hess have a wonderful country yard that was great fun to explore. Gardening is definitely a passion for them both and they demonstrated a lot of creativity in their clever repurposing of found items. The judges were pleased to give them second place.

A lush, beautiful pot of blossoms is just the thing to compliment Ron and Judy's retro porch furniture.		An old wooden birdhouse sits on a stone wall that divides the house yard from the vegetable garden.

Ron and Judy's outbuildings are very well maintained and beatifully landscaped.		Purple liatris against stone.

Ron built this wishing well at Judy's request.		Ron and Judy share their gardening skill with passers-by in this flower bed at the end of their driveway.

Third Place Kathy Organ, Mount Vernon You'd never suspect what's hiding behind Kathy Organ's gracious brick home. We judges were delighted to find a shady enclosed courtyard that invites one in with a water feature, several seating areas, a fire pit and a really nice assortment of plants. We were impressed to see how much had been done in a small space.

An orange daylily and lime green hostas compliment one another perfectly.		These lively pink petunias need no accompaniment.

An urn filled with an unusual yellow combination serves as a backdrop for a little bird ornament.		Imagine having this to come home to after a long day!

For Kathy, even a brick wall is a perfect place for flowers to live.		A table and chairs in the courtyard invite you to sit down and take in the lovely surroundings.

Honorable Mention Barbara Knight, Howard Barbara's gardening style is all about the blossoms! Her colorful flower beds grabbed our attention as we drove by and looked marvelous close up, despite a lack of rain and punishing temperatures during judging.

Barbara's front porch looks comfortable and inviting.		An evergreen makes an uncommon yet striking focal point for this planting arrangement.

Barbara's meticulous attention to her gardens is evident in the health and vitality of her potted plants.		A bench made of logs faces Barbara's house and is a great place to sit and take in all the color in the yard.