2008 marks the fourth year Illinois Times and
Springfield Green have teamed up to challenge beautification- minded people
to make Springfield cleaner and greener.
This year ninety-nine projects entered across four
general categories: residential, business, non-profits and
neighborhood groups.
Some projects involved existing gardens that are
expanded and changed each growing season. Many were total makeover
projects…ambitious and challenging regardless of the scale!
We
applaud each project and each individual who got their hands dirty doing
them.
The finalists were selected by votes from the general
public and then ranked by a team of five judges who evaluated projects
based on their degree of difficulty, overall composition and curb appeal.
We aren’t able to
feature photos of each winning project here,
but we invite you to view all the winners at www.springfieldinbloom.org.
Thanks to our sponsors for their generous support:
Illinois National Bank, The Farmer’s Market and new this year the
Springfield Area Home Builders Association. Thanks to Kevin O’Dea and
Neuhoff Media, WCFN and Fox 55 for their generous contributions to our
promotional efforts. Thanks to Patrick Souva, John Buscher and Natasha
Massey who handled the entries and our web site, Amber Sabin and the
Springfield Green committees who support this community wide program. Katy
Stephens and Lisa Ellis at INB. And special thanks to Sara Davis of
Illinois Times – we couldn’t have done it without her
commitment and organizational skills.
Outstanding Residential
Makeover Project of the
Year
Ednita & Graham Murdock
937 South Feldkamp Ave.
When an 85 year old silver maple died it forced a
complete makeover of this 2007 SIB award winning yard. What had been full
shade is now full sun. They removed old soil and thousands of roots and
replaced with new top soil and all new plants.
1st Place Neighborhood Garden Project
West Laurel Street Neighborhood Association
Mary Jo Potter & Jill Egizii
Rob Salefski designing 10 beds for the boulevards
along W. Laurel Street. There are red roses, burning bushes, tall and short
grasses, daffodils, and crab trees. The neighbors donated money to purchase
the plants and help maintain them.
2nd Place: Near North Village • Third Place:
Westbrook Apartments
Thinking Green Award Winner: Savannah Pointe
Development
1st place Non-Profit Garden Project
Washington Park Lagoon- lower lagoon boardwalk area.
Springfield Parks Foundation, Volunteers
The Springfield Parks Foundation has a volunteer
workday at least once a month throughout the year. Volunteers plant, weed,
prune and do general clean-up at the lagoon. This year volunteers are
responsible for planting nearly 400 new plants. The boardwalk area has
never looked better and will continue to improve.
2nd Place: Southside Christian Church
Third Place: Illinois Department of Transportation
Education Award Winner: Master Gardner’s Demonstration
Garden
Awards of Merit: St. John’s Breadline, Lincoln Library
Planters
1st place Non-Profit Garden Makeover
Church of Little Flower, Rick Richards
900 Stevenson Drive
There are flower beds w/ stone borders, shrubs, and
roses around the entire property. It was a complete makeover, nothing
existed before.
2nd Place: Fifth Street Renaissance, Sara Center
Third Place: Lincoln Home Historic Site
1st place Residential Garden Project
Vince & Kay Toolen
6209 Mackenzie Place
A beautiful garden with shade and sun. Lovely arbors
and treeline fences.
2nd Place: 2220 Greenside Drive • Third Place: 5
Forest Ridge Lane
Awards of Merit: 2711 Cob, 3501 Embassy Drive, 1023
North Fifth, 831 S. Henrietta, 1620 Outer Park, 1935 South Douglas
1st place Business Garden Project
Butler Funeral Home
900 S. 6th St.
Recent additions to the landscaping on their campus
which includes Butler Funeral Home, The Butler Cremation Tribute Center and
the offices of Roselawn Memorial Park.
2nd Place: Wolter, Beeman & Lynch • Third
Place: Beaver Creek Woodworks • Awards of Merit: Hanson Professional
Services,
Bill Mathews Auto Body, United Community Bank
1st place Residential Garden Makeover
Sharon L. Miner
1200 Cherry
This garden has the deeper brighter colors of
Springfield in Bloom. Double roses, red hollyhocks, white Culver’s
Root, deep blue delphiniums, knock out roses, hot pink geraniums, purple
salvia, and so much more.
2nd Place: 1638 North 5th • Third Place:
2037 S. State
Awards of Merit: 812 Wood Point Drive, 541-543 S. Douglas
Inspiration Award Winner: 531 South Douglas
This article appears in Aug 7-13, 2008.
