Special to the NKyTribune
Gardening amateurs and professionals are invited to compete in the 10th Annual Purple People Bridge Planting Contest. With the Baseball All-Star Game focusing attention on the riverfront in July, this year’s theme is “Sports of All Sorts.”
Contestants may represent one or several professional or amateur sports in the design for their container garden. The contest is sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Master Gardener Association (GCMGA).
Past participants have found great satisfaction in being part of all the activity at the riverfront and especially having the fun of creating a beautiful and inviting experience for hundreds of thousands – locals and visitors from around the globe – who come to the Purple People Bridge each year.
The contest includes three categories: Amateur/Bridge, Professional/Bridge, and Amateur/North.
In mid-May, contestants will plant free-standing containers on the Bridge or along the approach to the Bridge from Pete Rose Way. In June and September a panel of local horticulture experts will judge the displays to determine the winner in each category. Winners are announced and prizes awarded in October.
The GCMGA adopted the Purple People Bridge as its signature volunteer project in 2002 and have been ‘planting the Bridge’ ever since.
Master Gardeners influenced the design of over 2000 sq. ft. of garden space from Newport’s Third Street to Pete Rose Way in Cincinnati and were instrumental in obtaining the irrigation systems which keep everything blooming from May to October.
In addition to design, installation, and weekly maintenance, the Master Gardener team secures funding for all the plants, soil, and amendments used in these gardens through grants and industry partner donations.
For complete contest information and entry applications, go to www.mastergardener.org.
Contest details:
Planting Dates: May 15 and 16, 2015
Categories:
Amateur/Bridge
In this category, amateurs (those who do not do or teach gardening for a living) plant a group of three containers on the Bridge.
Professional/Bridge
In this category, professionals in the horticulture industry also plant a group of three containers on the Bridge.
Amateur/North
In this category, amateurs plant one of the round purple containers on the North Approach to the Bridge at Pete Rose Way.
A small entry fee is charged. Contest groups supply their own plant material.
From the Greater Cincinnati Master Gardeners Association