By Khalida Sarwari
Months of preparation for the America in Bloom competition paid off handsomely for the city of Saratoga, which nabbed several awards at the annual award ceremony held in late September.
Saratoga won the America in Bloom award in the 30,000 to 40,000 population category, as well as the “best tree canopy” and “best overall impression” in the same category, where they went toe-to-toe against the cities of Santa Paula, Calif., Hopkinsville, Ky., and St. Charles, Ill. Saratoga was also a finalist in the “city with the best overall impression” category, competing against more than 30 other cities.
Judges based their decisions upon overall impression, heritage preservation, environmental efforts, urban forestry, landscapes, floral displays and community involvement.
“This is unheard of for a city in its first year of competition,” Jill Hunter, head of the Village Gardeners group that spearheaded the America in Bloom initiative, wrote in an email from Holland, Mich., where the symposium and award ceremony took place Sept. 24-26. “We are coming home with so many trophies, plaques, glass awards and big awards, with more that will be shipped to us.”
The city spent the spring preparing for this momentous occasion. New flowers were planted, wayward shrubs were trimmed and dusty streets were swept as part of a beautification effort prior to the arrival of America in Bloom judges in May. The judges toured all 12 square miles of Saratoga, stopping at the Mountain Winery, Garrod Farms, Hakone Gardens, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, Sanborn Park, City Hall, the Prospect Center, the Warner Hutton House, the Village and the Saratoga History Museum.
And it looks like all of the city’s hard work paid off.
“Cities big and small from all over the U.S. competed for this America in Bloom award, and we came out on top,” Hunter wrote in her email. “It is unbelievable. Wish you all could have been there to share in the excitement.”
Hunter attended the ceremony with her husband. The former councilwoman has been spearheading efforts to enter the contest for years. Ten years ago she formed the Village Gardeners, a group that comes together once a week to help beautify the city.
The America in Bloom contest is held annually to promote civic pride and the beautification of cities and towns. Saratoga was one of 42 cities and towns across America that entered the competition.
Link: It’s a bloomin’ bonanza for Saratoga at the America in Bloom ceremony
