Through Beautification Projects, garden clubs and regions share their knowledge and love for gardens and plants with their community. The OAGC encourages these projects as ways to enhance the aesthetics of the community and the state of Ohio.
The Nature and Conservation Department oversees Beautification Contests through which clubs and regions can be recognized and win cash prizes, in honor of their outstanding projects. Categories are Temporary projects, which can win $250, and Permanent projects, with prizes of $500, $400, and $300.
Projects are judged in two ways: panels of three judges visit and evaluate each project, and the state Nature and Conservation Chair judges the booklets created to describe the projects and the steps in their creation. All scoring sheets and booklets must reach the Nature and Conservation Chair by DEC. 15 for the project to be eligible for prizes without incurring penalties.
Getting Started
- Plan the project and keep records as you go along, with photos and descriptions. Be sure to use the appropriate Project Application and Score Sheet for the Permanent or Temporary project, as well as the Project Book Application and Scoresheet. The criteria on these scoresheets will help guide your project. A permanent project is one that has plants rooted in the ground, whereas a temporary project uses only planters or baskets (regardless of how long the project has been going on). If a project is a combination of plants in the ground AND planters or baskets, it is considered a permanent project.
- Check the score sheets for all required information. If applicable, the same project book can be used from year to year as planting progresses. Each year’s work should be separated by a divider or colored sheet of paper.
- Choose a date you would like the project to be judged, and send the completed Beautification Contest Application and Score Sheet to your Regional Nature and Conservation Chair at least 30 days before your desired judging date.
- When preparing your project for judging, make sure all planting areas are groomed and free of weeds, and that plants are in good condition with no signs of disease or major insect damage.
Judging
- A scoring committee of three is chosen; suggested committee members are the regional Nature & Conservation Chair, regional director or regional director-elect, county contact chair, a judge or a local/state chair. If a member of the scoring committee is in a club entered in the contest, the person should resign and another appointed in his/her place.
- Be sure the project is eligible. The applicant must be an active OAGC club or submitted by OAGC, and the project cannot have been a 1st place winner within the past five years.
- The scoring committee will notify the club of the judging date. This should be within the month the club selected.
- To judge the project, follow the guidelines on the appropriate Beautification Contest Application and Score Sheet (temporary or permanent). All planting areas should should be groomed and free of weeds, and plants should be in good condition with no signs of disease or major insect damage. Regarding a permanent project, make sure the design appears as an asset and has some lasting value with permanent plantings, year-round appeal and pleasant combinations of materials.
- Be consistent in scoring. Write additional comments on a separate sheet of paper, stating the faults as well as the good points, and explaining why points were not given.
- Mail the Score Sheet WITHIN 30 DAYS OF FINAL JUDGING, or before Dec. 15, whichever comes first, to the state Nature & Conservation Chair. The Score Sheet must be postmarked by Dec. 15. Late entries will be docked a penalty of 1 point per day, not to exceed 5 points. Entries postmarked after Jan. 1 will not be considered for competition. Digital versions of the score sheets will be accepted.
Finishing up
- As the project progresses, the applying club completes the project booklet. Be sure to follow the guidelines on the Project Book Application and Score Sheet. Submit the book and the score sheet to the state Nature & Conservation Chair by DEC 15.
- After contest score sheets and booklets are received, the state Nature & Conservation Chair will judge the booklets, using the Project Book Application and Score Sheets as a guide. The score for the book will be averaged with the judges’ scores for the project itself. Projects with an average score of at least 80 will be considered for awards.
- The state Nature & Conservation Chair will submit contest results to the OAGC president by March 15. The board will decide which projects will receive the following awards, which are paid through the Foundation.
One temporary project will receive $250.
Permanent project awards are: First place, $500; second place, $400; and third place, $300.
Winners will be announced and awards given at the Convention.
