By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Gardendale residents will soon be judged.

Actually, their yards and gardens will be judged by the Gardendale Beautification Commission, starting next week.

Louie Pearson, president of the commission, said the goal of the group is to “upgrade our community and make it more pleasing to the eye.”

The commission, which was formed in September, takes the place of the city’s past “America in Bloom” efforts, in which the city competed against other U.S. cities of similar size on the beautification merits.

Pearson said the commission continues to employ the same ideas and concepts behind the “America in Bloom” project in order to keep the city beautiful for residents and visitors.

“We’re just now beginning to get a good response from the community,” Pearson said. “We’re also getting a positive response from some of the businesses.”

Commission member Wynema Vogel said five judges will be traveling through Gardendale the week of May 19-23, looking at yards and talking to homeowners about their horticultural projects. She said the judges will ride around and preview yards the week before.

Residents will be judged on the criteria of best residential lawn, garden, mailbox, woodlands, pools and patios, ponds, wildflowers, shade gardens, walking trails, vegetable gardens, curbsides, cottage gardens and rose gardens.

Division awards will also include best business garden, school garden, municipal garden, subdivision entrance, medical facility garden and residential garden.

Winners will be recognized in a ceremony on June 19 at the Gardendale Civic Center.

“Spring is an exciting time in Gardendale,” Vogel said. “We’re hoping we can build on that kind of anticipation.”

She said judges want to reward residents for their hard work and would be especially interested in residents who work together to create garden projects.

“That’s the kind of thing we look for,” she said. “That is the spirit and cooperation that typifies Gardendale and makes it a beautiful city.”

Vogel said judges make an attempt to enter every neighborhood in the city. However, she said the commission would like to hear from residents whose neighborhoods may not have been judged during last year’s campaign.

Those interested in having their yard or garden judged should fill out the application (seen above) and drop it off at Gardendale City Hall or mail it to Gardendale Beautification Commission, Attn: Robin Crocker, P.O. Box 889, Gardendale, AL, 35071.