NORTH PARK — The Chicago Bungalow Association is recruiting a few hundred thousand judges for its inaugural garden contest.
The association has opened up online voting to the general public through noon Friday. Armchair critics will decide the winners in three categories: front gardens, side/rear gardens and window/planter boxes.
Appointed judges decide the winners of the group's annual Driehaus Awards for bungalow renovations, but association director Mary Ellen Guest thought it "would be fun to let people choose for themselves" which gardens reign supreme, she said.
The garden contest saw 57 total submissions, but the organizers narrowed the ballot to 10 finalists in each category, Guest said.
The gardeners have all provided a synopsis of their planting philosophy. Some have made the most of shade, others have planned for four seasons of interest, and the vast majority have emphasized the use of native plants with a focus on sustainability.
Association members have seen environmental concerns top the list of priorities for homeowners looking to green their yards and patios, Guest said.
"We've heard more and more people talking about how to create more sustainable gardens by focusing on native plants with deep roots are better at conserving water," she said. "As we're starting to expect more extreme weather events, that means getting better at keeping stormwater out of the sewers and preventing it from flooding your basement."
Click here to view the contestants and to vote. The balloting closes at noon Friday.
The winner in each category will receive $250. The results will be announced Monday, Guest said.
[Chicago Bungalow Association]
[Chicago Bungalow Association]
