The sixth annual Springfield in Bloom winners

Spring rains, sweltering summer heat and those dang Japanese beetles made this yet another challenging year to be a flower gardener in central Illinois. And yet nearly 80 individuals and organizations stepped up and entered a project in the 2010 Springfield in Bloom competition.

This is the sixth year of this friendly beautification contest originated by Illinois Times and Springfield Green. The goal is to encourage neighborhoods, businesses and individual homeowners to green up the street side of their homes, businesses and common areas. Some projects are dramatic makeovers, others improve existing gardens and some are a combination. Earlier this week, Mayor Tim Davlin, sponsors, entrants, judges and friends of Springfield Green gathered to celebrate each of the 76 projects entered and present awards to those deemed “best” this year.

Pictured here are some the winning entries for 2010. Photos of each project that was a finalist is on display at www.springfieldinbloom.org.

Finalists were selected and then ranked by a team of five judges who evaluated projects based on their degree of difficulty, overall composition and curb appeal. First, second and third place winners in each of four categories receive a garden-ready award plus a gift certificate for plants from SIB sponsor Springfield’s Farmer’s Market. This year two nonprofit organizations will also receive a Farmer’s Market gift certificate along with a 15-foot tree donated by Knob Hill Nursery to encourage them to complete projects.

Thanks to sponsors Illinois National Bank, the Springfield Area Home Builders Association and Farmer’s Market. Illinois Times also gratefully acknowledges promotional assistance from our friends at Neuhoff Media, Fox 55, Alice 97.7 and Comcast Spotlight. –Sharon Whalen, publisher

See photos of all finalist projects at www.springfieldinbloom.org.