"Floral Displays" evaluates the efforts made by the municipality, businesses and institutions, and residential sectors of the community to design, plan, execute, and maintain floral displays of high quality standards. Evaluation includes the design and arrangements of flowers and plants (annuals, perennials, bulbs, ornamental grasses) in the context of originality, distribution, location, diversity and balance, colour, and harmony. This pertains to flowerbeds, carpet bedding, containers, baskets and window boxes.
Winners of the National Capital Commission
Floral Displays Award
2009: Town of Neepawa, Manitoba
Neepawa is famous for its lilies, and is recognized as the Lily Capital. Partnerships are the key to success in the community, and the collaborative efforts of Town Council, the CiB committee, the Lily Festival Committee and Horticultural Society are contributing to building a deep and sustainable pride in the community through outstanding floral initiatives.
2008: Ville de Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec
Saint-Bruno’s floral displays are truly inspiring. The city hall sets the standard with its breathtaking perennial garden. Boulevards are enhanced with floral container plantings that impact the eye of the passers-by. Visitors are welcomed at a main road intersection by a wonderful mosaic that incorporates the city’s name and graphic elements representing the town’s lakes and commitment to families. The theme of this bed is changed annually.
With the help of talented volunteers, the city plants 20,000 annuals in planters, flower beds, and hanging baskets. The floral displays welcome visitors and create a sense of arrival.
2007: City of Aberdeen, Scotland
Wow! How do you top 500,000 (really - Half a million) rosebushes and 1500 hanging baskets and window boxes? The judges were overjoyed by the perfection, gorgeous colours, outstanding maintenance, plant selection… we could go on and on. It is evident why Aberdeen keeps winning In Bloom contests.
The City's hanging basket and window box program makes colourful seasonal displays available in three seasons to residents and businesses for a nominal fee. The City grows the plants, assembles the baskets/boxes, delivers and maintains them. Each location is fertilized whenever it is watered, and many of the containers include a water reservoir to reduce watering frequency and prevent wasted/spilled water.
All City plantings are started at the City's 20 acre nursery. The quality of the municipal plantings is simply breathtaking and a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the City's staff.
2006: City of Langley, British Columbia
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The floral displays of the City are installed and maintained by a staff of five. These staff members maintain over 395 hanging baskets, six areas of annual plantings, and 38 individual planters located throughout the downtown core. A number of these planters are donated through the Langley Parks Foundation and the Communities in Bloom program.
Parks staff designs all the hanging baskets and garden plans. Floral displays incorporate both annual and perennial plants and are located in high profile parks and major thoroughfares within the City. Over 15,000 annuals were planted in 2006, and designs are carefully planned to incorporate various perennials and shrubs that are permanent fixtures of the year-round landscape. Winter annuals are also set out in October of each year into these same sites, further extending the viewing pleasure of the community.
Many residents maintain beautiful gardens and landscaped areas, and are showcased through the CiB "Garden of the Week" recognition program. The popularity of the initiative has allowed for the expansion of the program to include "Business of the Week". An annual Garden Tour raises funds for various projects.
The City of Langley is quite proud of its floral emblem, commonly known as the Fawn Lily. Fawn Lilies are found in numerous locations in the City, and notably on the grounds of Michaud House, one of Langley's most prized heritage homes.
2005: City of Pembroke, Ontario
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The city of Pembroke litterally excels in the Floral Display criteria.
The city has a very good floral program throughout its downtown area and has even managed to make flowers grow on their bridges! This has encouraged many residents and private businesses to enhance their own properties with floral displays and very attractive landscaping.