Yard of the month

Business, Chamber promote landscaping contest

By Donna M. Perry , Staff Writer - Lewiston Sun Journal
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

WILTON - Owners of a landscaping and nursery business have teamed up with the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce to promote a "Yard of the Month" contest to recognize the work that goes into making yards look sharp.

Corey and John Black, owners of Rocky Hill Landscaping & Nursery on routes 2 and 4, proposed the contest idea last year and decided to move forward with it this year.

It has been successful in other communities, Corey Black said.

"We're hoping it is going to become a summer tradition," she said. "Basically, the whole idea is you enter and pay a $10 fee and the fees collected are returned to the town where they live."

For example, she said, if Farmington has 10 participants, $100 would go to the town to plant flowers or do some other work to add color or style to public areas.

"We're kind of hoping that town signs have flowers planted around them to beautify the area," Black said. "Us being in landscape work, we know a lot of gardeners. Why not acknowledge those people who work hard to keep their properties well-kept?"

Each month - June, July, August and September - judges will be chosen to look at yards and choose a favorite, she said.

The winner will get a sign to put on their property recognizing it as "Yard of the Month."

Judging for June will be done at the end of the month and that winner will keep the sign to the end of July when the next winner is chosen.

Winners will be listed on the chamber's Web site at www.franklincountymaine.org and on Rocky Hill's Web site at www.rockyhillinc.com.

"I don't think the idea is that you have to have a perfect yard," she said.

The idea is to recognize homeowners' hard work and creativity, Black said. "We really don't want to exclude anybody, but we prefer that it not be done by a professional."