The Lewisburg in Bloom Committee and the City of Lewisburg Public Works Department are working hard to get ready for the America in Bloom judges to visit Lewisburg on July 21 and 22. The America in Bloom contest awards community applicants for their efforts in the following categories: tidiness, environmental, community involvement, heritage, urban forestry, landscaped areas, floral display and overall effort.
Two judges will visit Lewisburg as part of the AIB national beautification, urban revitalization campaign and contest. Lewisburg is one of 39 cities competing in 10 population categories in this friendly contest that promotes community involvement, patriotism, and civic pride along with beautiful landscapes.
America in Bloom (AIB) is modeled after Canada’s successful Communities in Bloom program. America in Bloom has grown to include several hundred competing provincially, nationally and internationally. AIB began on a small scale in 2001 when four US cities were mentored by Canadian cities in environmental awareness, community involvement, heritage, urban forestry, landscaped areas, floral displays and turf and ground cover areas.
Judges are professionally trained volunteers. While many are retirees with careers devoted to public gardening and municipal grounds keeping, others are master gardeners and civic activists. The same pair of judges will evaluate each community within a population category.
The results of the competition will be revealed at the America in Bloom awards symposium in October in Arroyo Grande, CA. In addition to the awards banquet, there will be educational seminars and tours to horticultural attractions in the area.
For local information about Lewisburg’s participation or to submit stories and digital photos of your participation in the 2016 Lewisburg In Bloom floral color scheme of purple, orange and lime green, or your Lewisburg Dragonwing Begonias at your Lewisburg residence or business, contact Shannon Beatty at sbeatty@lewisburg-wv.com or post to the city of Lewisburg’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CityofLewisburg/.
Contact the America in Bloom national program at 614-487-1117 or visit www.americainbloom.org.