Right Around the River Blog
Rocketts Landing Community Garden Contest Selects Winner
Post Date: 07-31-2013
The seeds have been sown, gardens tended and plants grown. And with bountiful gardens pouring out of their plots in the Rocketts Landing community garden, we're proud to say that we have some impressive green thumbs in our riverside community! So, we wanted to honor the hard work and verdant creations our residents have dedicated their free time to nurturing with a community garden contest.
Last month, we invited two Master Gardeners from Henrico County's Extension Office to judge each plot and name the winning garden. They came out to each plot and critqued them for a variety of gardening successes: "Best Flowers" and "Most Approachable," among many other categories. We're happy to announce that they crowned Rocketts Landing resident Jonathan Leist the winner for plot #19 with the "Most Approachable, Organized, Pleasing, Great Plant Variety."
(The winning garden, Plot #19, Jonathan Leist)
As the winner, Jonathan won a $50 gift card to Rocketts Landing restaurant The Boathouse. He also claims the winning garden gnome for the year and gets to proudly display his trophy in his garden.
We'd like to also congratulate contest runner-up and Rocketts Landing resident Tom Tarkington for garden plot #25 being named the "Best Prepared" plot. Tom took home a $25 gift certificate to Rocketts Landing restaurant M Bistro & Wine Bar.
“Competition was fierce,” explains Stephani Fowler, site manager for Virginia Management at Rocketts Landing, “not only between the gardeners but also between human and groundhog! There's a family of four living in the area who considered the gardens their own personal buffet.”
We’re quite impressed that despite the hungry critters claiming the gardens as their own personal kitchen, the community garden continues to bountifully produce everything from eggplants to basil to squash — and nearly everything in between!
The Master Gardeners also recognized many other plots — and Rocketts Landing residents/gardeners — for their efforts. Below is a list of the other winning categories:
- Plot #3, Jim & Jean Timberlake: "Squash Superior"
- Plot #4, Jim & Jean Timberlake: "Herbalicious"
- Plot #6, Donnell Brantley: "Best Flowers"
- Plot #7, Annette Wilkins: "Most Approachable"
- Plot #9, Bob & Jill Wright: "Best Bird & Butterfly"
- Plot #14, Wray: "Most Successful Tier"
- Plot #20, Sinclair: "Pesto Palooza"
- Plots #27 – 29, Marty & Eileen Davis, Robertson, Vairavamurthy: "Best Prairie"
We thoroughly enjoy seeing the awesome gardens growing year after year and are thankful to have such wonderful residents tending them. Congratulations to this year’s Rocketts Landing community garden contest winners — and enjoy your garden bounties!
