Clark Garden wins honorable mention in All-America Selections Landscape Design Challenge – Community News
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board have announced that Clark Botanic Garden was an honorable mention in the All-America Selections 2021 Landscape Design Challenge in the 10,000 to 100,000 visitors per year category.
All-America Selections is an independent non-profit organization that tests new, never-before-sold varieties. After a full season of anonymous trialing by volunteer horticulture professionals, only the top garden performers are given the AAS Winner award designation for their superior performance.
“I was so pleased to learn that All-America Selections has once again recognized the natural beauty that is on full display at Clark Botanic Garden in their Landscape Design Challenge,” said Bosworth. “This is a testament to our incredible Parks Department team and the wonderful staff working at Clark Botanic Garden. Their passion for and dedication to Clark Botanic Garden is what makes this special park a true hidden gem worth visiting here in the Town of North Hempstead.”
This year’s theme of the AAS Landscape Design Challenge was “Diversity in the Garden.” AAS provided the gardens with winning seeds from the last five years. Gardens not only had to create and execute a design based on this year’s theme but were also encouraged to generate publicity via social media and “real life” social events. Gardens were divided into three categories based on the number of visitors per year:
Category I: fewer than 10,000 visitors per year
Category II: 10,000 – 100,000 visitors per year
Category III: Over 100,000 visitors per year
Town horticulturist Bonnie Klein directed Clark Botanic Garden’s participation in the All-America Selections 2021 Landscape Design Challenge.
This year a formal Victorian oval including All-America Selections Winners were grown and designed by Clark staff. The planting area holds a diverse array of plant materials, traditional in a botanic garden.
“The AAS program at Clark Botanic Garden helps to educate our community about the wonderful variety of plants you can use in your home landscape. These grand displays are a wonderful form of entertainment where visitors can find an exciting yet peaceful space at Clark Botanic Garden for all to explore and enjoy,” said Bonnie Klein, town horticulturist.
Clark Botanic Garden is an AAS Display Garden, providing the public with an opportunity to view the newest AAS Winners (annuals) in an attractive well-maintained setting. The network of nearly 200 dedicated AAS gardens includes 55 locations that have served for 25 years or longer.
Founded in 1969, Clark Botanic Garden is a 12-acre living museum and education facility for all ages. Collections at the garden include native spring wildflowers, conifers, roses, perennials, daylilies, wetland plants, rock garden plants, herbs and over a dozen collections of particular plant families.
Clark Botanic Garden is located at 193 I.U. Willets Road in Albertson.