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From YouTube: Mayor's 2020 Garden Contest Virtual Awards Ceremony
Description
Even in trying times like these, it still pays to stop and smell the flowers. Hosted virtually this year, the Mayor's Garden Contest recognizes and awards Boston's most talented and creative gardeners in honor of their ongoing work to keep the city's neighborhoods beautiful. Watch as Mayor Walsh, Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods, and Elizabeth Sullivan, Boston's Director of External affairs for Parks, present the first place winners with the highly coveted "Golden Trowel" award.
A
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
bearing
with
us
as
we
navigate
this
new
norm
that
covered
19
has
presented
us,
despite
all
the
challenges
that
this
public
health
crisis
has
caused.
You've
all
shown
resilience
during
tough
times
and
we're
impressed
by
all
your
work
in
beautifying
boston,
one
garden
at
a
time
during
a
time
when
we
needed
it.
Most
mayor
walsh
asked
us
to
continue
this
contest,
because
you
realize
the
benefits
of
gardening
and
the
love
the
city
has
for
it,
whether
you're
a
new
gardener
or
you've
been
active
for
decades.
A
Gardening
brings
community
together
from
all
walks
of
life,
while
helping
to
beautify
our
city,
normally
we'd,
be
enjoying
the
ceremony
from
the
public
iron,
but
tonight,
like
many
things
in
2020,
we
have
to
improvise
so
with
that,
although
he
looks
like
he's
sitting
by
himself
right
now
in
the
public
garden.
Please
help
me
welcome
the
city's
biggest
advocate
for
garden
and,
more
specifically,
boston's,
most
meticulous
lawn
care
manager.
The
mayor
of
boston,
martin,
j
walsh,.
B
Thank
you,
ryan
and
yeah,
I'm
sitting
in
the
public
garden
as
you
can
see.
So
if
you
look
outside
your
window,
it's
cloudy,
but
in
the
public
garden
it's
beautiful
sunny
day.
I
don't
even
know
how
this
got
behind
me,
but
it's
beautiful.
So
it's
nice,
I
was
in
the
public
garden.
Yesterday
we
did
a
filming
for
for
9,
11
and
I'll.
Tell
you
it's
absolutely
spectacular
and
beautifulness
against
parks
department
for
doing
an
amazing
job
to
all
the
gardeners.
Thank
you
for
what
you
do
you
inspire
me.
B
I
don't
know
if
anyone's
had
a
chance
to
go
by
my
house,
but
every
year
I
try
to
put
more
and
more
flowers.
In
my
yard
my
grass
is
green,
a
couple
patches
of
non
non-green,
but
it's
green.
I
forget
who
told
me,
but
somebody
gave
me
the
idea
of
putting
vinegar
in
the
sidewalk
cracks
to
kill
the
weeds.
I
am,
I
am
crazy,
pulling
weeds
out
of
the
sidewalk
cracks
in
my
house
literally
around
my
whole
house.
So
just
thank
you
for
that
as
well.
B
Thank
you
for
making
our
city
so
beautiful.
This
is
one
of
my.
This
is
probably
one
of
my
favorite
events,
because
watching
all
of
you
and
the
work
that
you
put
into
your
homes
and
the
work
that
you
put
into
your
gardens
regardless
of
the
size
regardless
where
it
is
regardless
of
the
space
regardless
of
the
sun,
regardless
of
what
happens,
you're
you're,
unbelievable
people
believe,
will
every
one
of
you.
So.
Thank
you
very
much.
B
I
want
to
thank
our
sponsors
jetblue
in
mahoney's
garden
center
they're
they're
been
with
us
all
along
our
good
friend
norbert
who
passed
away
a
few
years
ago.
He
used
to
come
to
this
event.
He
was
the
president
of
jetblue
here
in
massachusetts
and
he
always
came
to
this
event
knew
he
talked
about
it.
So
whenever
I
see
his
since
he
jetblue's
name
in
this
event,
I
think
of
him
to
the
gut
the
judges.
I
know
the
judges
that
were
on
this
call.
B
You
have
the
hottest
job
this
year
is
probably
a
little
easier
virtually.
So
you
don't
have
to
take
much
grief
in
person.
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
for
doing
what
you're
doing
the
hall
of
famers.
Anyone
who's
won.
This
contest
over
three
times
becomes
a
hall
of
famer.
I
was
telling
khalida
who's
with
me
here
about
the
hall
of
fame.
I
think,
had
to
be
created
because
people
kept
winning
so
you're
a
hall
of
fame
gardener.
B
So
congratulations
right
now,
probably
almost
any
more
than
any
other
time
in
our
life.
Gardening
is
really
important.
I
find
it
for
myself
being
out
in
the
yard.
You
know
picking
weeds
and
doing
different
things,
watering,
my
grass
watering,
my
lawn
doing
all
that
stuff.
It
gets
me
to
get
away
from
the
world
we're
in
right
now,
quite
honestly
or
pruning
pruning
the
hedges.
Or
what
have
you?
And
you
know
you
get
you
get
your
brain
out
of
that
and
something
that's
really
important.
I
know
that
many
of
you
have
done
that.
B
So
I'm
glad
we
all
have
it
for
that,
as
our
city
continues
to
confront
the
covert
pandemic,
we
took
special
precautions
in
this
year's
gotten
event.
Thank
you
for
embracing
the
new
format
and
helping
us
to
make
sure
that
we
keep
people
in
boston,
healthy
and
safe.
I
know
it's
a
difficult
time
for
all
of
us,
but
we'll
get
through
it.
B
Boston's
gardeners
make
our
city
great,
greener,
healthier
and
more
vibrant.
So
thank
you
city
hall,
and
it
has
nothing
to
do
with
this
contest,
but
we're
redoing
city
hall.
In
case
you
get
a
chance
to
come
by
you'll,
see
we
ripped
up
the
brick
and
we
ripped
up
the
stairs
and
ripped
up
all
that
stuff
and
the
new
plan.
That's
going
in
there's
gonna
be
trees
and
green
space
and
open
space
and
we're
really
gonna
turn
it
into
something.
That's
really
important
for
boston,
the
architect
of
this
building.
B
Before
he
passed
away.
He
died
actually
this
year
he
came
in
to
me
and
he
looked
at
me
and
he
said
I
built
this
building
in
1968.
The
design
isn't
finished
and
you're
going
to
finish
it
this
even
before
we
even
had
that
idea.
So
when
you
drive
next
time,
you
drive
by
you'll,
see
fences
outside
we're
going
to
make
this
a
more
inviting
space,
something
that's
really
important
for
all
of
you,
because
the
residents
of
the
city
of
boston.
So
I
want
to
thank
you.
B
Green
spaces
also
are
key
to
our
climate,
ready
plan
to
protect
our
neighborhoods
from
floods
and
storms
and
and
we're
gonna
we're
gonna
we're
gonna
work
with
nature,
not
not
against
nature.
So
I
wanna
thank
you
for
that.
Green
spaces
play
another
important
role
in
helping
us
build
our
community.
It's
where
our
neighbors
get
to
know
each
other.
It's
where
people
can
enjoy
outdoor
gatherings
and
I'm
proud
that
boston
is
now
the
best
park
system,
access
east
of
the
mississippi
and
ryan
woods.
The
parks
department
team.
Thank
you
for
that.
B
All
of
you
have
done
an
amazing
job
honestly,
quite
honestly,
so
thank
you
for
that.
Neighborhood
gardeners
are
part
of
our
green
network.
You
bring
nature
into
our
urban
environment.
You
improve
our
air
quality
and
provide
fresh
food.
So
thank
you
as
well.
You
know
this
this.
This
year's
gardens
are
amazing,
they're
amazing.
Every
year,
quite
honestly,
they
range
from
community
gardens
to
vegetable
gardens,
to
senior
citizen,
gardens
to
porch,
gardens,
balcony,
gardens,
storefront
gardens
all
unique,
and
it's
clear
how
much
effort
that
you
put
into
them.
B
I'm
glad
to
be
able
to
recognize
all
of
your
hard
work
before
commissioner
woods
announces
the
winner.
I
just
want
to
give
a
special
shout
out
to
meredith.
Meredith
was
jamming
when
the
songs
were
playing.
When
I
was
watching
meredith,
you
did
a
nice
job,
you
kept
the
beat.
It
was
awesome,
so
I
want
to
thank
you
now,
I'm
going
to
turn
over
to
commissioner
woods.
A
Thank
you
mayor.
The
contest
of
the
mayor
said
wouldn't
be
possible
without
the
support
of
our
generous
sponsors.
We
really
want
to
thank
jetblue
in
mahoney's
garden
center
and
to
the
credit
of
our
city
gardeners.
We
received
a
large
number
of
applicants
this
year
so
to
be
selected
as
a
finalist
as
a
true
honor,
but
to
be
selected
as
a
winner.
You
are
really
the
cream
of
the
crop
for
us
here.
So
after
tonight's
awards
presentation
all
the
first
place.
Winners
will
be
from
each
category.
A
A
As
I
mentioned,
the
winners
of
the
tonight
are
the
best
of
the
best.
But
among
you
is
a
group
of
gardeners
who
exhibited
gardening
excellence
year
after
year
and
have
therefore
been
inducted
to
the
mayor's
garden
contest
hall
of
fame
by
winning
at
least
three
times.
So
we
want
to
recognize
the
newest
hall
of
fame
members
inductees
for
2020
carmen
musto,
daryl,
johnson
and
rick
smith,
rick
cuthy,
kristin
mobilia
and
michelle
toper.
A
So
congratulations
to
all
of
you
on
earning
your
place
in
the
hall
of
fame
and
additionally,
as
a
result
of
this
year's
wins.
Next
year's
hall
of
fame
inductees
will
be
james,
anderson,
john
gavoni
and
dorothy
giarla,
julie,
murphy
and
miguel
rosales.
So
congratulations
to
you
all.
As
you
know,
hall
of
famers
are
welcome
back
to
judge
next
year.
So
now
you
get
to
be
in
that
difficult
share
of
going.
B
A
And
making
those
tough
decisions
so
we'd
like
to
recognize
the
judges.
As
the
mayor
said,
you
had
a
very
tough
job.
All
of
you
were
chosen
for
your
expertise
in
gardening.
Many
of
you
passed
hall
of
fame
winners,
and
you
really
support
the
mission
of
this
contest
to
encourage
and
inspire
beautification
of
the
city
through
gardening.
A
Judging
this
year
was
very
different
from
past
years,
safety
precautions
were
followed
in
order
to
keep
everyone
safe
and
at
times
that
made
the
judging
a
little
bit
more
difficult,
but
you
all
hung
through
it.
We
were
grateful
for
that.
Some
judges
who
would
participate
in
past
years
opted
not
to
judge
this
time
due
to
safety
concerns,
and
we
want
to
express
our
appreciation
on
behalf
of
the
mayor
and
the
boston
parks
department,
for
taking
the
time
to
keep
this
contest
going
through
the
years.
A
Gardeners
in
the
small
yard
garden
category
creatively,
utilize
their
land
to
produce
big
results
in
250
square
feet
or
less
judges
said
this
year's
gardens
had
gorgeous
plants
that
created
an
urban
oasis
and
a
small
amount
of
space.
They
particularly
admired
how
so
much
was
accomplished
with
so
little
space
on
hillsides
or
in
alcoves.
Congratulations
to
all
of
our
small
yard
garden.
Category
winners.
A
Gardens
in
the
medium-sized
yard,
category
create
beautiful
gardens
in
500
square
feet
or
of
space
or
less
the
judges,
loved
the
creativity
and
admired
the
beautiful
selections
of
perennials
stunning
container
plantings
and
sculptures
displayed
in
this
category.
They
appreciated
the
efforts
put
in
by
the
necessity
of
hand,
watering
and
community
building
aspects
of
the
gardens.
Congratulations
to
all
of
our
medium
yard
garden.
Category
winners.
A
A
A
A
A
A
And
in
first
place,
kalea
zimmerman
of
charlestown
the
porch,
balcony
or
container
garden
category
highlights
those
gardeners
that
may
have
not
have
the
most
space
to
work
with,
but
did
not
let
that
limit
their
creativity.
These
gardens
delighted
the
judges
visually,
but
also
appeared
to
their
sense
of
smell
with
fragment
plantings.
The
view
of
a
porch,
balcony
or
container
garden
can
be
enjoyed
from
outside,
as
well
as
from
the
inside.
The
home.
Creative
watering
techniques
and
dedication
were
key
in
this
category.
A
A
A
A
The
shade
garden
category
covers
gardens
planted
in
areas
with
little
or
no
direct
sunlight.
Some
of
these
occur
naturally
and
others
by
design
under
trees
or
fences.
Judges
in
this
category
describe
these
gardens
as
tremendously
pleasing
comfortable
places
with
many
curves
and
turns
gorgeous
overflowing
pots
artfully
and
tastefully
arranged.
These
gardens
were
playful
and
filled
with
whimsy
populated
by
gnomes
godzilla.
The
statue
of
liberty
and
many
other
unusual
items
collected
and
recycled.
A
And
in
first
place
pasqualino
settle
of
high
park,
he
beat
his
relative
who
came
in
third
place,
so
great
family
competition,
the
vegetable
and
herb
garden
is
always
a
favorite
of
our
judges,
and
our
current
public
health
crisis
shines
light
upon
the
advantages
of
growing
our
own
food.
The
winners
in
this
category
gained
extra
points
for
the
use
of
rain
barrels
and
composting.
A
A
A
The
senior
garden
category
highlights
the
work
of
our
gardeners,
who
are
over
65
years
of
age.
The
positive
health
aspects
of
gardening
are
always
evident
in
this
category.
Judges
were
impressed
by
the
use
of
ground
cover
to
prevent
weeds
the
details
kept
on
the
various
plants
within
gardens
in
a
spectacular
koi
pond,
every
garden
in
this
category
utilized
composting.
Congratulations
to
all
of
our
senior
garden
category
winners.
A
A
End
this
category
encourages
businesses
and
organizations
to
beautify
storefronts
yards
or
patios
and,
in
turn,
improve
the
aesthetics
of
their
neighborhoods,
creating
welcoming
spaces
that
build
community.
This
category
featured
many
changes
and
adaptations
due
to
covert
19
safety
restrictions
that
still
resulted
in
stunning
and
beautiful
gardens.
These
gardens
include
a
hope,
garden
featuring
wildflowers
from
seeds
that
needed
less
tending
a
plus
due
to
social
distancing.
A
It
includes
the
individual
effort
on
behalf
of
one
restaurant
due
to
expand
outdoor
dining
and
judges,
also
applauded
gardeners,
hauling
buckets
of
water
to
irrigate
their
gardens
and
the
extra
effort
taken
while
dealing
with
self-isolation
and
social
distancing.
Congratulations
to
all
of
our
storefront
business
or
organization,
garden
winners.
A
Fenway
and
in
first
place
billy
and
eric
bain,
and
once
again
it's
from
the
fenway,
with
400
plots
of
community
gardens
in
the
back
bay
fence.
We're
very
grateful
to
have
these
three
stunning
finalists
community
gardens
are
always
an
important
resource
for
urban
settings
even
more
so
today
and
we're
so
proud
to
see
how
competitive
this
category
was.
Judges
describe
these
gardens
all
located
in
the
fenway
victory.
Gardens
has
lovingly
tended
spaces
that
are
neat
and
well
maintained,
but
also
tell
their
own
unique
and
personal
stories.
A
A
Once
again,
I'd
like
to
thank
our
sponsors,
this
annual
contest
would
not
be
possible
without
the
continued
support
from
our
sponsors,
jetblue
and
mahoney's
garden
center
they're,
our
friends,
who
help
make
these
award
packages
possible
and
we're
very
excited
to
now.
Have
this
drawing
the
moment.
You've
all
been
waiting
for
we're
gonna.
Do
something
really
creative
that
a
lot
of
people
have
been
doing
now
on
social
media
instead
of
pulling
a
name
out
of
a
bowl.
There's
a
fun
spinning
wheel,
so
steve
pulls
that
up.
A
B
A
A
Oh
there's
gonna
be
a
battle
over
this
one,
so
the
friends
of
christopher
columbus
park
is
gonna
have
to
figure
out
who
the
two
people
are
that
are
gonna,
go
on
a
round
trip
to
trip
for
two
to
anywhere
jetblue
travels
from
boston.
So
congratulations
to
the
friends
of
christopher
columbus
park.
Meredith
is
going
to
be
psyched
to
share
this
all
over
social
media.
I'm
sure
so
it'll
be
great.
So
thank
you
all
again
for
participating
in
mayor
walsh's
garden
contest
and
for
your
efforts
to
beautify
the
city.