2015 WINNERS

Gwynedd Pointe Homeowners Association

11^th Annual Garden Contest - 2015 Winners

Co-Sponsored by the Gwynedd Pointe Homeowners Association

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The Rhoads Garden, 570 DeKalb Pike, North Wales

We say it every year – it gets harder and harder to judge the wonderful gardens in Gwynedd Pointe because there are so many great ones. Congratulations to the winners, and to all of those who did not win, yet contribute to making our neighborhood so beautiful! There were contenders on every court and drive, but there could only be thirteen winners.

Grand Prize - $100 Gift Certificate for the Rhoads Garden

6500 Rolling Hill – This garden has it all – garden art, color, even a hummingbird visit during judging. We saw coral bells, creeping Jenny, hostas in a crockery pot, gaura, lavender, lobelia, lantana, coreopsis, verbena, stella doro lilies, and geraniums bright against the cocoa mulch. Non-plant material includes wind chimes, a peacock sculpture, a little boy statue in a planter, and a glass bowl in a bird bath. Rocks at the end of the garden add a nice dimension to the space.

Judges Note: There are MANY gorgeous gardens along Rolling Hill. If you think we mean yours, we probably do!

Second Place - $75 Gift Certificate for the Rhoads Garden

3401 Carriage – Stunning garden. We saw hostas, begonias, stella doro lilies, pink heather, creeping Jenny, lilies, coleus, blue eyed grass (a native), and dichondra silver falls. The plant stand with hanging pots is like a beautiful still life painting, with lobelia, verbena, and calibrachoa; the vine on the shepherd’s hook shows the attention to detail in this garden. We liked the block border and flagstone raised bed, and a seashell easel-like artwork. Plants are a good size/scale for the space.

Third Place - $50 Gift Certificate for the Rhoads Garden

2402 Grist Mill – This garden is all about color! We saw New Guinea impatiens, regular impatiens, geraniums, black eyed Susan, and sedum. The colors in the wind spinners match the flower colors. Planters extend the garden down the walkway. Bonus view: the back yard, seen from Bell Run- stella doro lilies, New Guinea impatiens, geraniums, and a two-way spinning wind toy that provides visual interest.

Honorable Mentions (in order by address) - $15 Gift Certificate for the Rhoads Garden

205 Signal Hill – We liked the topiary shapes visually tying the garden together, and nice shades of yellow and orange. We saw dianthus, pomegranate yarrow, and a pot of pelargonium. Nice stone block border. The colored bottles in the window harmonize with the plant tones.

405 Evergreen – A nice outdoor room, with a visually economical design. We saw hostas, sedum, stella doro lilies, and a rose on the side wall. The two pots of purple petunias move around day to day (on their own?). There is topiary, a bench, stepping stones, a wind spinner, and a turtle sculpture. The burnt orange ball on a pedestal is a nice focal point.

1002 Kenwood – A shade garden under a purple leaf plum. We saw hellebore, astilbe (we’re seeing more of this great plant in the development this year), hostas, spider wort, blue lobelia, and coreopsis. The yellow flowers “pop” next to the dark purple leaves of the tree and the nice dark mulch. The border has a graceful sweep. This garden is understated, like a Chablis.

Judges’ note: There are many splendid gardens along Signal Hill, Evergreen and Kenwood. Check them out!

2401 Grist Mill – A lovely, colorful garden that works nicely with the neighbor’s with which it shares a Japanese maple, yet it has a personality of its own. We saw creeping Jenny, dahlia, sweet potato vine, and calibrachoa. The rear garden can be seen from Bell Run and has clematis, cranes bill geraniums, lilies and petunias.

Judges’ note: Grist Mill consists of two short streets, yet has several great gardens.

3405 Carriage – This is a whimsical garden, with a gnome statue, turtle statue and two frog statues. There is a big personified bee. Within its stone border we saw hostas, lilies, coreopsis, calla lilies in a square pot, and a pot with a “thriller, filler (aka chiller) and spiller” (Google for an explanation). We loved the big green flower pot.

Judges’ note: It was hard to choose among the many wonderful gardens on Carriage.

4203 Quaker – Nice placement of plants and rocks. We saw lilies, blue balloon flowers, stella doro lilies, lambs ear, petunias, cosmos, zinnia, and a nice rock border on the side. Unexpectedly, the white rain pipes work well as a design element.

Judges’ note: Quaker has some wonderful gardens, and some great flagstone walls.

4400 Congress – This garden is arranged well. We like the elliptical shape formed by a brick border, the height of the plants, and the use of negative space. We saw black eyed Susan, tiger lilies, New Guinea impatiens, hostas and creeping Jenny.

5001 Plantation – Nice, amoebic shaped garden. We saw tiger and stella doro lilies, butterfly bush, and coral bells. Garden art includes a turtle statue, a gnome playing a concertina/accordion and a mock fire hydrant. Good looking bird feeder, too.

6901 Colonial – Within its stone border we saw stella doro lilies, pansies in a basket, hydrangea, peonies, violas, and a basket of lantana. We liked the deer statue and the ornamental hose hanger. Good use of a small space.

Judges’ note: Colonial is a good place to find some great gardens.

7205 Union – Within its picket fence border, we saw clematis, coleus, New Guinea impatiens, osteopernum, dahlias, rose, euonymous, calibrachoa, and orange & yellow lantana. The wishing well is a nice focal point.

Special thanks to Frank DePace of Continental Property Management for his support, to The Rhoads Garden for 11 years of support, and to all the great gardeners that help to make Gwynedd Pointe so attractive!

Disclaimer: We did our best to properly identify plants, but it’s not always easy.

Go to http://www.gwyneddpointegardencontest.blogspot.com/ for rules and more information.