The Colorado Garden Foundation continued its tradition of showcasing and rewarding talented professionals in the landscape community as well as worthy organizations through the 2020 Colorado Garden & Home Show. As always, one hundred percent of every ticket sold is awarded by the Colorado Garden Foundation in the form of grants and student scholarships, including one four-year, full-ride scholarship to attend a Colorado institution.

This year’s grants were awarded at the show during a February 28th ceremony. 63 organizations received grants totaling more than $500,000. A number of the organizations included programs that support agriculture/landscape education, including the Colorado FFA Foundation, D51 Career Center in Grand Junction, Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Holyoke FFA Chapter, and Norwood Public School.

The show offered more than just garden and home improvement exhibitors over its nine-day run. There were educational sessions, how-to demonstrations, and 11 gardens created by landscape professionals inside the Colorado Convention Center, including a garden built by students in the Westminster High School FFA program—a Landscape Career Pathways school.

Awards were given in five categories to the on-site gardens created. The 2020 winning gardens were:

• Colorado Award for best use of color/forced material in a garden – LCM Landscape & Design
• President’s Award for best educational garden- FRSR, LLC
• Columbine Award for best interpretation of the garden’s intended theme – Artistic Landscaping & Design
• Aspen Award for most creative design – Evolve Landscape
• Stephen M. Tanner Directors’ Award for best garden as voted on by the board of directors – LCM Landscape & Design

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Colorado Springs has new rules for outdoor water use
Bill would allow local government to restrict pesticide use
New law increases access to apprenticeship program contacts
Coronavirus in the workplace