By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



On Thursday, the Gardendale Beautification Commission paid tribute to residents who keep the city beautiful year-round.

The commission handed out 47 individual home and garden awards and eight division awards during its second annual banquet, held at the Gardendale Civic Center.

Among those honored were Bill and Linda Brock of Windwood Circle who received the Martha Wilson Award.

Wilson, a long-time Gardendale resident who was instrumental in the city’s beautification efforts, passed away earlier this year.

Anita Rouse and Rosilyn Wilson, daughters of Martha Wilson, said this week they were proud to have an award that exemplifies their mother’s accomplishments and were proud to have presented it to the Brocks, who are long-time family friends.

“I think it’s a great tribute to my mother because she enjoyed doing what she could for the city,” Rouse said. “I’ve known the Brocks all my life. … They’re deserving of this.”

In turn, the Brocks also said they were proud to have received the award. Linda Brock, who recently injured her back, asked her children, Lisa Parker and Lee Brock, to accept the award.

Linda Brock said she and her husband have lived in Gardendale since 1955. The couple will celebrate their 52nd anniversary in September.

The couple’s beautification achievement extends outside of their own home, which she said utilizes wildflowers.

The couple began to grow an “Alabama Garden” at Snow Rogers Elementary School in the shape of the state that also includes models of famous state attractions like the rocket in Huntsville, Vulcan in Birmingham and the USS Alabama in Mobile.

Brock said she and her husband have also learned a lot about beautification through volunteering with the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

“You’re going to learn things there when you’re around plants,” she said. “One of the things we’ve learned about is the drought and what we are going to do about plants that need more water.”

She said using gravel and pine straw can help keep moisture locked in during long dry spells.

Other Gardendale Beautification Commission award winners include:



Division awards

• Best Business Garden: McDonald’s Restaurant, 890 Odum Circle

• Best Business Container Garden: The Medicine Shoppe, 200 Fieldstown Rd.

• Best Municipal Garden: Decatur Highway Fire Station

• Best Subdivision Entrance: Magnolia Ridge

• Best Church Garden Award: The Mormon Temple, 1927 Mt. Olive Rd.

• Best School Garden Award: Gardendale Elementary, 860 Baur Lane

• Best Medical Facility Award: Gardendale Medical Center, 1117 Decatur Hwy.

• Best Residential Garden Division Award: Pet and Gina Hontzas



Individual awards

• Best Container Garden: Will and Michelle Hardman

• Best Tropical Fruit/Flower Container Garden: Jerry and Faye Smith

• Best Creative Design Yard: Douglas and Hilda Huff

• Best Natural Area/ Shade Garden: Rick and Rosemary Smith

• Best Raised Vegetable Garden: Frank and Judy Malone

• Best Duck Haven Pond: Roy and BEtty Phillips

• Sunny Backyard Garden: Jean and Joe Hicks

• Most Original Theme Garden: Roger and Judy Harp

• Best Hillside Garden: Oleta McMurry

• Best Lawn/Landscaping: Toma and Linda Boyd

• Best Vintage Garden: Albert and Bessie Morgan

• Best Herb and Flower Garden: Roland and Bonnie Larkin

• Best Patio Home Garden: Judy Acton

• Best Blooming Woodland Garden and Trails: Farris and Martha Absher

• Best Tropical Oasis Garden: Greg and Angela Bailey

• Best Flower/Vegetable Garden: Jim and Mary Kelley

• Most Attractive Mailbox Garden: Sidney and Evelyn Love

• Best Rose Garden: Charles and Myra Carden

• Best Island Garden: Lillian Nicholson

• Best Woodland/Wildflower Garden: Bill and Linda Brock

• Best Flowering Residence: Melinda Hayes

• Best Multi-Level Garden: Peggy Dutton

• Best Curb Appeal Garden: Michael and Patricia Tate

• Best Country Lane/Largest Magnolia Tree: Rayvee and Doris Harbison

• Best Shady Island Garden: Ricky and Kay Guthrie

• Most Colorful Retaining Wall Garden: John and Ann Cloud

• Best Pool and Patio GArden: Peggy Hallmark

• Best Mediterranean Theme Entrance: Craig and Trey Gamble

• Most Inviting Landscape: Dean Williams

• Best Senior Gardener: Lee and Myra Parkins

• Best Renovated Landscape Yard: John and Mitzi Baggett

• Best Tomato Garden: James B. Buntyn

• Landscape Design Award: Harold and Jada Johnson

• Best Antebellum Garden: Jerry and Charlotte Ramey

• Best Daylily Garden: Henry and Evelyn Williams

• Best Heirloom Garden: Hazel Butts

• Best Creekside Garden: Marylan Livingston

• Best natural Area/Bog Garden: James and Sherry Murray

• Best Color-Coordinated Garden: James and Jean Franklin

• Best Secluded Shade Garden: Mike and Vicki Reuter

• Best Hydrangea Drive: Don and Patsy Denunbrum

• Mother’s Memory Garden: Richard and Judy Dye

• Best Backyard Shady Nook: Bill and Loretta Morton

• Neighbors Sharing Vinyard/Vegetable Garden: Bill Creel and Bill and Gail Grooms

• Best Historical Home Garden: The Thompson Home Louise Woodward

• Most Inviting Landscape and Garden: Terry and Layne Reid