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Writer's pictureJill
Aug 30, 20203 min read

The 2020 BEST of Garden Awards!



Everyone has a special gift. And every plant makes a special addition to the garden. Even if they are not the TOP performer that doesn’t mean that they didn’t add their special sauce to the mix. Here are the 2020 Best of Garden Winners, acknowledging all the different ways that plants enhance a garden and impact the gardener! Watch the video for pictures (and more) of all the Winners!

Award for MOST IMPACT

MARIGOLD

Whether in the veg garden, in the front door pocket garden or on the front yard border, the marigold pops like no other. It’s such a common flower, in every nursery across the nation every spring and summer. But it’s surprisingly tricky to make happy. Good job, Jill. Click here to see my video on my marigold border! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQFip4_AFmM

Award for MOST FUN

TIE: MAMMOTH SUNFLOWER and SWEET CORN

I had the best time watching these two grow in my garden. And so did everyone in my family, and on my block. People asked me about when I would pick the corn, when the sunflower would bloom, how tall each would get. There was something new happening every day. I would also say that these two may be the most photographed as well! Click here to see the Corn Harvest video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oY4gyOwnz8

Award for MOST DANGEROUS

TIE: ROSE AND BOUGANVILLEA

OK – so maybe this really isn’t an award that you would want to win. But it’s my blog and I can say what I want. These two deserve to be called out for their bad behavior this season.

All of my roses pricked me this year; I even bought new garden gloves to prevent that from happening. AND I told you the story about the bougainvillea. Still mad at that plant for giving me such a scare. Robert almost took me to emergency when it punctured my vein!

Award for BEST COLOR

DELPHINIUM

Can you tell that I am partial to the delphinium? I may be biased, but I just can’t get enough of that gorgeous color on those long stalks. And next year, I am going to buy a strain of delphinium called the Pacific Giant – which grows 5 – 8 feet. I will really have something to photograph then!!

Award for MOST HARDY

LAVENDER

Provides color, charm, breadth, and fragrance to the garden, and I DID NOT DO ONE THING THE ENTIRE SEASON for them. No wonder Lavender appears on the Top FIVE Performers list as well! Click here to see the video for the Top Five 2020 Performers in the Garden! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TqVAY_0zYg

Award for MOST ANXIETY PRODUCING

MAMMOTH SUNFLOWER

When a plant grows to 12 feet, and has a top heavy bloom, AND you’ve spent the entire season watering, staking, and watching, tell me you wouldn’t be anxious. Wind, scorching sun, creatures, so many obstacles to success. But so far so good – despite my anxiety! Click here to see the video for my Sunflower Emergency! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKBhup18wjE&t=7s

Award for MOST RARE

NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS

You might be saying, stop talking about that plant! We know – it’s special yada yada yada. Just indulge me one more time. It gorgeous, generally blooms only 2-3 times a summer, and then just for 6 hours or so IN THE NIGHT from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m. And it reminds me of my dear mom who I miss.

GARDEN LEGACY AWARD

FRONT BORDER RED ROSE

This is her last season in my garden. She has had a long, happy and productive life in my front border. We moved into this house in 1989, and we inherited her then from the previous owner. So who knows how long she has been in our garden – 33 + years. I don’t even know her name. She has been an unidentified beauty all these years. I want to honor her service, the joy she gave us, and the many bouquets that she graced on our dining table. She leaves a hole in a garden that will be hard to fill.

And that’s a wrap for the 2020 Garden Award Season:

and the

It’s been a joy – now on to Fall!

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