Grimsby Garden Club and the Town of Grimsby
Summer Trilliums Program
About the Trillium Program
Grimsby participates in the Trillium Program each year. This is a program brought to you by the Town of Grimsby and the Grimsby Garden Club, with the support of local sponsors.
The mandate of the program is to foster town-wide beautification efforts by property owners through recognition and encouragement. Residents are encouraged each year to enhance their curbside appeal while utilizing basic horticultural and environmental considerations; they are encouraged to achieve a level of excellence in developing and maintaining their properties.
How to Participate
Gardens are nominated on the basis of their front landscaping, viewable from the street. Anyone can nominate a property, including the garden owner. There is a nomination period - usually a month long. Nomination forms are available online or at the Peach King Centre Reception Desk. Nominations are accepted at the Peach King Centre Reception Desk.
Nominated Gardens
After nomination period closes, a letter is delivered to each nominated property owner making them aware of their property's nomination. A property owner can decline a nomination, and contact information is provided for this. In addition, the program is a public program and publishes the names and addresses of the garden owners. If a property owner declines the publication if pictures, names and addresses, the garden is withdrawn from the program.
Garden Judging
The judging period is 2 weeks long. Trained volunteers visit the front of the property viewable from the street/curbside/sidewalk to make the assessment based on criteria.
Nominated gardens are then assessed using the following criteria:
Grimsby participates in the Trillium Program each year. This is a program brought to you by the Town of Grimsby and the Grimsby Garden Club, with the support of local sponsors.
The mandate of the program is to foster town-wide beautification efforts by property owners through recognition and encouragement. Residents are encouraged each year to enhance their curbside appeal while utilizing basic horticultural and environmental considerations; they are encouraged to achieve a level of excellence in developing and maintaining their properties.
How to Participate
Gardens are nominated on the basis of their front landscaping, viewable from the street. Anyone can nominate a property, including the garden owner. There is a nomination period - usually a month long. Nomination forms are available online or at the Peach King Centre Reception Desk. Nominations are accepted at the Peach King Centre Reception Desk.
Nominated Gardens
After nomination period closes, a letter is delivered to each nominated property owner making them aware of their property's nomination. A property owner can decline a nomination, and contact information is provided for this. In addition, the program is a public program and publishes the names and addresses of the garden owners. If a property owner declines the publication if pictures, names and addresses, the garden is withdrawn from the program.
Garden Judging
The judging period is 2 weeks long. Trained volunteers visit the front of the property viewable from the street/curbside/sidewalk to make the assessment based on criteria.
Nominated gardens are then assessed using the following criteria:
2. Landscape Maintenance
a.
Softscape
b.
Hardscape
c.
Flowers (annuals and perennials)
d.
Trees, evergreens and shrubs
e.
Property Maintenance
3. Landscape Design
a.
Unity/harmony
b.
Balance
c.
Scale/proportion
d.
Rhythm/sequence
e.
Focal area
Here are the details of each of these categories:
1.
Curb appeal
The judges check to see:
·
If the exterior
looks inviting, welcoming and attractive
·
If the property
creates a good first impression
·
If the property
catches your attention immediately
Curb appeal can be accomplished a number of ways,
such as:
·
exterior decorations
·
colour scheme
·
attention to
landscaping
2.
Softscape and hardscape
•
groundcover such as moss or ivy is well maintained
•
grass is mowed and edged, weed and disease free and without
brown patches (except in rural areas or
when a water ban is in effect)
H Hardscape refers to the ‘built’
environment including:
•
stones
•
rocks
•
pavers
•
artificial turf
•
structures
•
water elements
•
mulches
3. Annuals and
perennials
•
are well maintained
•
have healthy colour and foliage
•
have been dead headed
•
are part of a colour scheme
•
are the proper size in proportion to containers and planters
4. Trees, evergreens and shrubs -
•
pruned
•
shaped
•
maintained (deadwood, weak, diseased or damaged branches and
stems have been removed)
5.
Property
maintenance -
•
property is maintained
•
walkways, driveways, fences are in good condition and
contribute to the appearance of the property
•
landscaping is maintained and free of litter and weeds
•
elements and structures compliment the landscape and are in
working order
6.
Landscape design principles - judges check for:
T
·
Unity and harmony
o
unity is achieved by
repeating objects or elements that are alike; there is repetition of shrubs or a
colour scheme
·
Balance
o can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical
·
Scale and proportion
o
scale refers to the
size of an object in relation to the house and property
o
proportion refers to
the size of parts of the design in relation to each other and to the design as a whole
·
Rhythm and sequence
o
smooth blending of different elements
o
garden is one unified scene
o
property has year-round appeal
·
Focal area
o
plants or structural elements that accent a given area
o
can be achieved using an entryway, front door or a certain
location in the garden such as a pond, fountain, arbour, birdbath, pots,
rockery or stairway
7.
Landscape design elements - these are tools used to
achieve principles of design:
•
Line:
•
this is eye movement or flow
•
can be achieved by bed arrangement or vertical changes in
heights of plants, trees or shrubs
•
can be straight or curved and free flowing
•
Form:
•
individual plant growth or planting arrangement in a
landscape such as upright, oval, columnar, spreading or weeping
•
Texture:
•
describes the surface quality of an object that can be seen
or felt
•
can include buildings, walks, walls, ground covers and
plants
•
can be fine, course, bold or medium
•
adds interest to the garden throughout the seasons
•
Colour:
•
should be complex, personal and have a strong effect on the
landscape
•
may include some flowers; however much of the colour should
come from foliage
•
using green for continuity along with some colour variety in
foliage adds interest
•
should direct attention to the landscape and compliment the
house
• consideration will be
given to year round interest, not just to seasonal colour
•
adds interest
Here is the scoring for the categories:
Trillium Recognition Notification and Celebration
There is a published date for the notification of garden owners who are Trillium recipients each year. The addresses are published in the local newspapers and on our website. Our social media posts pictures of each garden with address and owner name.
In mid-September, the Trillium Celebration takes place at Town Hall. Each recipient receives a Trillium stake that can be displayed in the garden.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions are available here on the website, and contact information is available for questions and concerns.
