The Town of Irricana is ready to celebrate the efforts of those who help brighten up the town with their green thumbs.
Residents of Irricana are ready to showcase their gardens as community members nominate their neighbours for this year’s 2023 Green Thumb Awards. The awards are intended to show appreciation for the hard work and love people put into growing and maintaining their gardens.
Spearheading the awards is the Town's administration assistant Caitlin Pierrard. She said this is an opportunity to get the community involved in sprucing up the town and their property.
“It’s more just to get the community involved in kind of beautifying up their yards and their lawns and getting excited about showcasing their hard work as well,” Pierrard said.
This will be the second year the awards will take place since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Green Thumb Awards are an annual event the Town has put on for several years.
Looking at community engagement online, Pierrard said people are clearly excited to take part in showing off their gardens. She noted one resident has always wanted to win the award and has set a goal to do just that.
“She’d been waiting for this,” Pierrard said. “This is her goal to win this, so I think people get pretty excited about it.”
Pierrard said taking part in the summer tradition is a great opportunity to get outside and try something new.
Trying to stay environmentally conscious, Pierrard said she has noticed a variety of local plants being grown. She added that with less rainwater, she has spotted more gardens with plants that can withstand longer periods of drought.
“There’s been a change and a shift into more local varieties of plants,” she said. “I think some more drought-resistant natural plants for the area is what I’ve been seeing.”
Community members will have the opportunity to nominate gardeners they believe have the best gardens in town. The top five nominations will receive a lawn sign that states they are the recipient of the Irricana Green Thumb Awards 2023.
Nominations are being accepted throughout July and the awards will be handed out in early August. Residents can make nominations through an online form through the Town of Irricana's website, townofirricana.ca.
Nominations can also be made at the Town Office or Post Office.
