2020
Virtual Garden
Contest

During this time of social distancing, people are turning to nature to inspire and heal. Celebrate these spaces for healing and transformation with us.

The Delaware Center for Horticulture in partnership with our lead sponsor Discover invite you to enter our Virtual Garden Contest. During this time of social distancing, people are turning to nature and gardening for inspiration and healing. Many people are starting their own Victory Gardens growing vegetables and herbs, while others are spending more time outdoors tending to their spring flowers. Even those with no outdoor space have created their own indoor oasis with an array of house plants. We want to celebrate these spaces for healing and transformation, and so we encourage individuals, families with or without children, and businesses to enter for a chance to win. The contest includes three categories to choose from – flower garden, vegetable garden, and house plants. Show us how you make your garden grow!

If you like the Virtual Garden Contest, and want to support our neighborhood greening work and environmental education programming for all ages, please consider becoming a member of DCH today. Your membership shows your support for the environmental movement, and sustains DCH’s urban agriculture, urban forestry, and public landscape programs. Learn more, or buy your membership online, by clicking here.

Rules and Judging Criteria

Everyone is eligible to enter! Entry to the contest is free. Only one entry form per household or business is allowed. Entries will be accepted from May 4, 2020 to July 31, 2020. All entries will be posted on our website for everyone to enjoy.
Contestants enter by submitting this online form. We must receive a completed form and exactly five (5) photos for your entry to be considered. Additional photo information is included on the form.
Judging will take place in August. The judging team will be six Discover volunteers. Judging criteria, which can be found on the forms below, varies for each garden category. Childrens’ gardens (12 and under) will be judged in separate groups per category.

Judging Form 2020 – Flower Gardens

Judging Form 2020 – Vegetable Gardens

Judging Form 2020 – Houseplants

Each entry will be reviewed by the judges and given points accordingly. The top three gardens with the most points in each category wins!
Prizes will be awarded in September and include a free Household membership to DCH, a popular gardening book, and a certificate of achievement.
All Virtual Garden Contest entrants must agree to our photography release statement on the submission form. This will allow us to post your lovely photographs on our website, on our social media channels, and in future printed materials. Your contact information is solely for internal use and will not be shared nor sold at any point.

Recent Entries

All 2020 Entries by Category