A NOTE ON JUDGING

Gwynedd Pointe gardeners have asked us what the judges look for when choosing the garden contest winners. We are happy to oblige.

First, judging is not easy. We have to equate some disparate sites to create a baseline. Some gardens are very small, out of necessity. Some have a lot of shade. End units can have five or six times the amount of space as others. We had toyed with the idea of having separate judging criteria, but decided that it would become so complex that it would no longer be fun.

So, what do we like to see?

One of the most important factors is the "first impression." There has to be something that catches our eyes as special, different or unusual.  

Most of the properties are nicely maintained, in part because of the association's watchful eye. Relative to gardens outside our development, all Gwynedd Pointe gardens are on the small side. Originality is more important here than in many other gardens. There has to be something that makes a garden "pop."  

Garden art, while not required, can add to the ambiance of small gardens. Different heights and the avoidance of monotony help create a positive overall impression of a garden space.  A trellis and vine back by a wall or near a walkway can often help.

Because our gardens are small, themes seem to help make a garden a winner. The theme could be all one color, waves or sweeps of the same type of plant, a patriotic color scheme, or an artistic arrangement of rocks and driftwood.

Weeds, and plants that need pruning, cannot be avoided. As judges, though, if we see the same defects on the several times that we revisit a garden, we are left with an unfavorable impression.

Nice use of native plants will draw our attention. It is also a way of helping the environment.

Something we can’t account for is when various flowers bloom or look their best. We judge during the month of June. Some Junes are wet, and in others we have drought. Some gardens look best in May, or in August. Practically, there is nothing we can do about it. The best we can say is that the garden contest is done for fun, so there are variables we just have to live with and not fret over.

What if a garden has won in the last couple of years; how can it win again? It needs to be different the following year. It's not that it doesn't look nice. But we look for newness when it comes to imagination, a new vision. Neighbors, judges and other gardeners are always looking for new ideas, new plants, new ways to show the same old plants, etc. It's why gardeners spend so much time reading magazines and visiting other people's gardens. We are most pleased when we come back with a novel idea and we are inspired to try it in our own gardens (or better still, improve upon it).  

We hope the above is helpful to garden contest aspirants. And if you don't win the contest, remember that gardening is good for you, nature and the community, and is a worthwhile pursuit in any event. Plus, the judges' choices are somewhat subjective. But as judges, we try our best and try to make the contest fun. We wish you luck!