Nature Hills Nursery recently announced the creation of a new award program, the Nature Hills Nursery Green American Awards, to give national recognition and $5,000 worth of plants to community groups and organizations that are improving their local environments.
The grand prize winning garden project will receive $2,500 in plants. The first prize winner will receive $1,500 in plants followed by $1,000 in plants for the second place winner.
Award winners will be chosen based on a local community gardening or "greening" project that make the best use of trees, bushes and shrubs. Potential projects include:
- Creating or refurbishing the landscape in a community park.
- Making a local soil erosion control plan that utilizes plants to stabilize steep hillside slopes or river banks.
- Reclaiming an abandoned lot with the creation of a fruit orchard that will provide fruit to nearby low-income residents.
- Creating a wildlife habitat for birds or animals on donated land that is (or has been) abandoned or neglected.
Applications will be accepted until April 1. The winners will be announced April 17.