Nominations For Sustainable Garden Awards Now Open

For Immediate Release: Wed., June 14
Contact: Joe Reed | Senior Director of Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org 

Nominations for Sustainable Garden Awards Now Open
Local Gardeners Are Invited to Submit Their Beautiful, Organically Managed Gardens to be Recognized by Phipps’ Annual Awards

Pittsburgh, PA – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is excited to invite local gardeners to apply for the third annual Phipps Sustainable Garden Awards. With the goal of inspiring Western Pennsylvania residents to design and maintain environmentally friendly gardens, these awards highlight residential gardeners that exemplify the principles of sustainable landcare.

Awards will be given in five categories as listed below. All submissions must, at minimum, be managed organically and be free of invasive plants. Winners will have their garden professionally photographed and be featured at Phipps Native Plant and Sustainability Conference this fall.

Nomination Categories:

• Native Plantings and Wildlife Gardens – gardens featuring native plants that provide habitat for wildlife
• Gardens that Manage Rainwater – gardens that feature rain gardens, rain barrels, swales, etc.
• Micro-Gardens – container gardens, vertical gardens, gardens that make the best of very small spaces
• Abundant Edible Gardens – gardens that feature annual and perennial edibles, vegetables, fruits, nuts and herbs
• Gardens for Personal Retreat – gardens that have seating, birdbaths, garden art and other distinctive items that create a garden refuge

Submissions are being accepted now through Wed., July 12, and can be made on behalf of a friend, neighbor or oneself. Participants and their projects should reside in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Armstrong, Beaver or Butler County. To review guidelines, submit a garden for an award and view last year’s winners, visit  phipps.conservatory/GardenAwards.
 
To review guidelines, submit a garden for an award and view last year’s winner visit phipps.conservatory/GardenAwards.

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About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.

Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.