The ADVOCATE
May 12, 2001

A growing event

Plant sellers sprout up at garden show prelude

By Asante Green
Staff Writer

Stamford - Inch by inch, row by row, Keep Stamford Beautiful Inc. would like to see residents' gardens grow.

Merchants from across the region showed off vibrant flowers, plants and garden ornaments at Columbus Park yesterday. "Goods from the Greenhouse" served as a prelude to this summer's garden competition, "Stamford in Bloom."

"This is the first year we've done something like this, and the mission really is to allow residents to show off their colors, designs and create a beautiful garden. We are not looking for the landscaped look," said Rick Myers, director of operations for Keep Stamford Beautiful.

The campaign, which also is sponsored by the city, is structured after a similar project in England, "London In Bloom," and ones in Philadelphia and Buffalo called "City Gardens Contests."

Complete entries are due Friday, July 13. Judges will determine the best garden by visiting residents' homes from July 16-27. Gardens will be judged on color, design and uniqueness, Myers said.

Winners will be presented cash prizes of up to $1,000 on August 15.

"I think it is wonderful that we are getting this good exposure, especially in a setting like this," said Bob Dietter of Westwood Water Gardens, a flower merchant from Hamden. "My thing is to satisfy the customer. To help them find the best plants or hanging baskets for their garden, whether it is for the competition or for their own personal use."

Trevor Youngberg, resident potter for Oliver Nurseries in Fairfield, said interests in flower gardening have changed over the past decade. People are now including items such as wooden birdhouses, stone statues and handmade clay birdbaths in their gardens, he said.

We've found that by having a potter in the nursery, folks are able to match the colors of the pottery to their garden colors," Youngberg said. "There are two benefits: First, glazed pottery is
Garden durable; the other reason is that it adds a unique element to the garden because of its many colors and designs."

Another unique item being added to outdoor gardens are Bonsai trees. The intricately pruned style of Japanese tree, sold at Shanti Bithi on High Ridge Road, is seen by some as an art form.

"Many people shy away from the Bonsai because they think that they are hard to take care of, but they are not," said Saeko Brundage, owner of Shanti Bithi Bonsai. "We are here today to give the Bonsai more exposure."

Myers said Keep Stamford Beautiful plans to make the summer garden competition and the kickoff celebration in Columbus Park an annual event.

"This campaign is to encourage residents of Stamford to plant, maintain and enhance their gardens," Myers said. "And to give gardening more exposure. I think it will be a fun event, and we encourage everyone to apply."