Winners of Mayor’s Garden Contest announced
The Mayor’s Garden Contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, shrubs, and, in the process, helped beautify Boston’s neighborhoods.
Mayor Kim Janey recently announced the winners of the 25th annual Mayor’s Garden Contest with a grand prize provided by JetBlue and prize packages donated by Mahoney’s Garden Centers. The Mayor’s Garden Contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, shrubs, and, in the process, helped beautify Boston’s neighborhoods.
“I am proud to carry on Boston’s tradition of commemorating those who help keep our neighborhoods vibrant and inviting,” said Mayor Kim Janey. “I first learned the joys of gardening from my grandmother and have continued in my own community. This contest is a great way to affirm our city’s dedication to beautifying urban spaces, and plant a seed of interest in the next generation of gardeners.”
First place winners received the coveted “Golden Trowel” award from Mayor Janey while second and third place winners were awarded certificates. First place winners were entered into a drawing for a JetBlue Grand Prize consisting of roundtrip flights for two to any nonstop destination from Boston and also received a pair of tickets to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Gift certificates were provided by Mahoney’s Garden Centers to the top three winners in each category as well as the 2021 Hall of Fame winners.
This year’s winners:
Shade Garden
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winner Sally Reyering of Beacon Hill, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winners Jan and Errol Uys of Dorchester, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, third-place winner Christa Comeau of the Back Bay, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Vegetable or Herb Garden
First Place: Sunny Ha - Brighton
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Pasqualino Cerro of Hyde Park, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Third Place: Amina Shabani - Brighton
Medium Yard Garden
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winner Jessica von Ammon of Roxbury holding daughter Ivy Gibbs (aged 6), and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Linda Sklar of Jamaica Plain, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, third-place winners John Jenkins and Carey Moffitt-Jenkins with three-year-old twins Lila and Lily of Allston, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Small Yard Garden
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey with first-place winner Julia Fairclough of Roslindale, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, Franco Campanello accepting the award on behalf of second-place winner Doug Gifford of the South End, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, third place winner Jill Christians of the South End, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Large Yard Garden
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winners Stephen Smith and Richard Allsbrook of Roslindale, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Amy Galblum of Roslindale, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey with third-place winner Michael Bresinski of West Roxbury and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Porch, Balcony, or Container Garden
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winners Stephanie and Alex Tsalagas of the South End, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Cindy Joyce of the Back Bay, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey with third-place winners Bev Christians and Chris Hartmann of the South End, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Community Garden
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winners Craig and Kimberly McNulty of the Fenway, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Second Place: John Ruiz - Fenway-Kenmore
Third Place: Dionna Di Pierro and Steven Davy - Fenway-Kenmore
Age Strong Garden Category
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, first-place winner Janice Dunlevy of Dorchester, and Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Left to right: Mayor Kim Janey, second-place winner Maria Termini of Roslindale, Rev. Mariama White Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space
Third Place: Arlene Simon - Dorchester
Storefront, Organization, or Main Street District Garden
Mayor Kim Janey and Rev. White-Hammond with representatives from the first-place winner Carroll Thomas Funeral Home of Hyde Park
Mayor Kim Janey and Rev. White Hammond with representatives from second-place winner Friends of Christopher Columbus Park of the North End
Mayor Kim Janey and Rev. White-Hammond with representatives from third-place winner Fairmount Hill Neighborhood Association of Hyde Park
Gardeners who have won three or more times are automatically entered into the Hall of Fame and will be recognized at the awards ceremony. These distinguished Hall-of-Famers will be ineligible to enter as contestants but are welcome to return as judges. The 2021 Hall of Fame inductees are:
- James Anderson
- John Govoni and Dorothy Giarla
- Miguel Rosales, and
- Julie Murphy.