2023 WINNERS
Gwynedd Pointe Homeowners Association
19th Annual Garden Contest - 2023
Winners
Co-Sponsored by the
Gwynedd Pointe Homeowners Association
&
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. If
you are wondering what the judges look for, see the criteria at http://gwyneddpointegardencontest.blogspot.com/2016/05/.
There are a dozen or more gardeners
with gorgeous displays each year. In the spirit of encouraging newer gardeners,
and because we only have thirteen prizes, we can’t always provide the
recognition they deserve. We all know who they are – we see their handiwork –
and hope they know we appreciate their contributions to the attractiveness of
our community. And remember to judge for yourself as that is part of the fun!
We won’t be upset if you disagree with our choices.
As in the past, the story
this year has been the weather. The first half of June was marked by draught
and lower than average temperatures, and then the skies opened and it poured
and poured. But nothing stops our gardeners from creating beautiful displays.│Primarily,
we considered the five Fs of great garden design: form, foliage, flowers, fruits
(bird food) and fragrance.│We did our best to identify plants, but it’s not
always easy.
Grand Prize -
$100 Gift Certificate for the Rhoads Garden
6105 Rolling Hill – When we first honored this one in 2007, we began with “The wild
garden look.” That continued to be an apt description as we recognized it through
the years. (It was reported that the gardener would take handfuls of wildflower
seed mixture and spread them around just to see what came up.) Now, the garden designer
has completely flipped aesthetically to create what could be the most beautiful
garden in the history of our contest. Nothing wild left here; the placement of everything
is with intention. The centerpiece is the tall ceramic pottery fountain
surrounded by tiles and flowers of complementary colors. The Irish moss tying
it all together is a great way to maintain weedless areas. We saw celosia, dianthus,
lobelia, dahlias, begonias, and on the side, a small patch of arum italicum.
Second Place
– $75 Gift Certificate for the Rhoads Garden
6104 Rolling Hill – The sign says “Greg’s Garden,” and it runs right up to the one above.
(We hear that the neighbors/gardeners are good friends who encourage each
other.) We’ve honored this one before as well. But like next door, the gardener
keeps changing it, this year adding a wheel-shaped plant stand. We saw petunias,
sundrops, coral bells, dianthus, bee balm, heather, black & blue salvia,
astilbe, lantana, geraniums and pansies. Also, several well-placed garden
ornaments. It all became super-lush after the rains.
Third Place
- $50 Gift Certificate for the Rhoads Garden
3504 Carriage
– This small garden takes its cue from its two peacock statues, as it is full
of color. We saw Shasta daisies, roses, big-leaf coreopsis, hostas, daylilies,
yellow hibiscus, speedwell, coneflowers, purple phlox, vinca, running up to
well-manicured evergreens.
Honorable Mentions (in order by address) - $15 Gift Certificate for the Rhoads Garden
200 Signal Hill – A newer, whimsical garden, with a bike-turned-garden ornament as its
focus. The annuals burst with color. We also saw phlox, dianthus, hosta, vinca,
lavender, mandevilla, heather, and roses. Nicely-shaped brick border and great
use of garden ornaments.
1104 Kenwood
– A prime example of a garden display based on balance and symmetry. The crepe myrtles
are bookends for colorful New Guinea impatiens. The container is well-balanced
with creeping Jenny, geraniums, petunias, and lantana.
Judges’ Note: There are many
fine gardens on Kenwood.
1605 Liberty
– A newer garden with a great shape determined by a wonderful rock border. The
laddered pansy containers and urn full of pansies are lovely and well kept.
3405 Carriage –
A lovely setting with gorgeous plantings. The red flowers accent the brick façade
and the hosta leaves are a fitting background for the garden and its resident
chickens (ornaments). We saw spigelia, red sunpatiens, coreopsis, daylilies, and
hanging baskets.
4007 Quaker –
A nice border defines this garden. We saw Shasta daisies, rhododendron,
butterfly bush, daylilies, rose, grandiflora coreopsios, coneflower, and a nice
dogwood tree.
4403 Congress
– The theme of this garden has been “blue” for some time. Like Van Gogh, the
gardener/artist has taken to adding yellow to this setting in forms of
non-plant material, and it really pops. The daisies, rabbit statuary, and
impatiens are still there, yet a nice, new look.
6005 Rolling Hill – Pretty, colorful, neat, eclectic, and well-maintained describe this
attractive garden. We saw some lighter-colored coral bells, hostas, sunpatiens,
vinca, and mandevilla.
6500 Rolling Hill – There is
so much to this beautiful garden, as it continues around the side of the
end-unit. We saw Shasta daisies, clematis, red-tip photinia, alba geraniums, lilies,
cut-leaf coneflowers, a nice butterfly-shaped bench, and a lot more.
6503
Rolling Hill – Gorgeous corner garden with yellow flowers on the side. The repetition
of day lilies, coreopsis, and the basket of gazania (we think) makes a strong
color statement. Balance of garden is nicely mulched with pops of color. It
also has a fine example of a Victorian edge, that is, the edge is simply a
clean earthen trench as opposed to materials such as stone or brick.
Judges’ Note: Rolling Hill
and the nearby Colonial (housing a couple of past winners) are gardening
paradises.
7100 Union –
This garden really transformed over the month of June, as it was a work in
progress early on. Best sunflowers (only ones this year?) in the development,
lilies, hibiscus, a bath for the birds, and a nice bench on which to rest and
take it all in.
Judges’ Note: Union is a good
place to see nice gardens, several of which are past winners.
Thank you to
Hal Morley of Continental Property Management, our HOA board, The Rhoads Garden
for its years of support, and the judges. For contest rules and lists of past
winners, go to http://www.gwyneddpointegardencontest.blogspot.com/. Happy gardening!
