Valley Manor – First place Community Garden
Valley Manor hosted the annual Madawaska Valley Community in Bloom (CiB) Awards presentation on July 20. Co-chairs Debbie Marshall and Elser Lee Faith Archer welcomed National CiB judges Lorna McIlroy from Grande Prairie, Alberta and Gaétan Deschênes from Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Québec, and representatives from businesses and organizations in the community to the reception on the Manor’s terrace. They announced the award winners in six categories and presented certificates to those businesses and individuals who were in attendance. First place in each category went to:
- Business Beautification: The Ash Grove Inn
- Community Garden: Valley Manor
- Best Garden – Vegetable: Terry Newcombe and Tarrah Fehr
- Best Garden – Flower: Bonnie Mask
- Best Creative Planter with Plants – Business: Valley Living – Cathy Stevenson
- Best Creative Planter with Plants – Residents: Scott Scherer
Many award winners were unable to attend the reception because they were running their businesses. Two winners, Valley Living – Cathy Stevenson and Lynn Neuman & Ken Horst, were recognized in multiple categories for their impressive displays, while Dale Rutledge’s converted barbecue attracted attention.
Some 2018 award winners
From top left: Rutledge Heating barbecue; Deborah Agnew with CiB co-chairs; the Valley Manor team; The Ash Grove Inn; Valley Living; Terry Newcombe with CiB co-chairs.
Click HERE for the full list of 18 award winners in all six categories.
National judging continues
Before the presentation, Marshall and Archer had just spent a hectic two days showing the beauty of the Madawaska Valley to McIlroy and Deschênes. The foursome planned a visit to Wilno Heritage Park the following morning before the National Judges left for Ottawa. Both McIlroy and Deschênes have been Communities in Bloom National Judges for more than ten years. Each has travelled across Canada as well as internationally selecting top gardens in every province. They have visited gardens in European countries such as Croatia, Italy and France. When asked about highlights, McIlroy pointed to gardens of the Yukon while Deschênes said that judging gardens near Paris, France was a very different experience. Both National Judges said they were very impressed with the approach to heritage gardening in the Township of Madawaska Valley. Marshall said that Deschênes declared he would like to return to the Valley, but next time it would be off-duty not as a judge.
Debbie Marshall, Gaétan Deschênes, Lorna McIlroy, Elser Lee Faith Archer
Well done all the Winners and Big Thanks to Debbie and Elser Lee for all their hard work over the months. It’s so good to see the town working together and it makes such a difference to how it looks. Was glad to meet the judges at the Hort Soc BBQ, such interesting people. Who knows how much further we can go!
Debbie and Faith, and the BIA all deserve a HUGE amount of credit for all the beautifications in the town! Kudos guys!
Amazing. It is wonderful to see our community embracing CIB
Congratulations to all the winners! Great job to everyone and to all in the community who participated! Our community looks beautiful and I have had people who are visiting me tell me so!