A newcomer to town has been honoured with the 2023 Midland Garden Club's Garden of the Year award.
Kathy Paquette moved into her Midland Avenue home last December. She got busy in the spring, building and planting new gardens. She's worked hard to put in dozens of annuals and perennials in her front yard along with an eclectic assortment of garden ornaments.
"I brought a few plants from my old home. The cosmos represent my grandma. She died when she was 99, so I bring that in," said Paquette.
The large hostas were transplanted from her old house in Elmvale.
Paquette's rock collection is in her garden along with her husband's red train, and there are painted turtle stepping stones, painted rocks, a bird bath and an arbour with climbing clematis and morning glory. She has petunias, marigolds, yarrow, snapdragons, bee balm, sedum, dusty miller, grasses and more.
"Every house I go to ends up with a beautiful garden," she said.
Winning the contest was a surprise to Paquette.
"I wasn't trying. I think it is a high compliment. It's a reward for the labour of my love," she said.
Paquette said she loves to garden and to share her garden with others.
"I love to bless other people, to bless their eyes," she said.
Kay Hawkins, president of the Midland Garden Club, said the goal of the contest is to encourage gardening.
"This is informal. We don't have to knock on doors until we decide. We just drive down. It's only front gardens we are looking at," she said.
Judging is done by a board member who drives around town, looking at gardens. This year, the judge was Jenni McKeown.
Hawkins said she likes to switch up the judges each year because "everybody has a different perspective of what is the perfect garden, so when you change people who are looking, you get different gardens rewarded."
Paquette was given a garden sign and a year's membership to the club. Seven runners-up received a door tag and a note card reading, "You have a lovely garden. Thank you for beautifying your neighbourhood."
It's the fourth year the Midland Garden Club has held the contest, reviving an older tradition. Last year's winner was Lori Buckley.
More information about the club is available by emailing [email protected] and on its Facebook page.