cityofboston.gov

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department has announced the inductees in the new Hall of Fame for contestants who have placed three or more times in Mayor Menino’s Garden Contest. 

Launched 16 years ago as part of Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s citywide beautification initiative, the annual contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, and shrubs, and, in the process, helped beautify Boston’s neighborhoods.  The winners of the 2012 competition were announced August 10.

The Parks Department created the Garden Contest Hall of Fame to honor those participants who have placed three or more times in the last ten years.  These gardeners have automatically been entered into the Hall of Fame and were recognized at an awards ceremony on August 28 in the Public Garden.  Starting in 2013, the Hall of Fame members will be ineligible to enter as contestants but are welcome to return as judges. 

The Hall of Fame members come from throughout the city’s neighborhoods including Allston-Brighton winners David Carlson, Johnson Chan, Peter Dutchka, and Kim Reiser.  Dorchester has produced four Hall of Fame members: Domenic Accetta, Edward DeBortoli, Ric Thomas, and local restaurant 224 Boston.  Roslindale Hall of Famers include Diane and Richard Duggan, Alessandro Ferzoco, and Tess Monaghan. 

Other neighborhoods represented in the Hall of Fame include Boston proper with Carole Holladay, John Quirk, and William St. George; Hyde Park with Philip Alosi, Ray Chisholm, and Kathey Randolph; Roxbury with Kim Napoli and Rodney Singleton; South Boston with William Gleason and John Baker; the South End with Jim Hood and Marlene Karas; and West Roxbury with Tom Mahoney and Eugene Tinory.  The remaining Hall of Fame winners include Nadine Firth of Charlestown, Brian McEachern of East Boston, Tom Davey of Jamaica Plain, and the all-time Garden Contest champions with seven wins to their credit, Cathie and James Claiborne of Mattapan.

This year’s winners received the “Golden Trowel” award, certificates, and prize packages from the Parks Department, Comcast, Mahoney’s Garden Centers of Brighton, and other sponsors.   All were entered into a drawing at the awards ceremony for a JetBlue Grand Prize consisting of a trip for four to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival in spring 2013 in Orlando, FL.  The trip, won by Large Yard Garden category first place winner Sarah Salerno Thomas of Hyde Park, includes airfare and a three-night stay with admission to the Epcot Theme Park, which hosts the International Flower & Garden Festival each year.