Until last year the Front Yards in Bloom program (you know: the little yellow signs) was run by the City of Edmonton.
Last year the City pulled out due to budget constraints. At that point your Bonnie Doon Community League stepped up on short notice and devised our own Bonnie Doon in Bloom program (the little purple signs!).
This year, the Edmonton Horticultural Society has taken over, with 40 community leagues participating in their renewed and simplified system. With the EHS program, Our Neighbourhood in Bloom is a collaborative pilot project for 2026. This pilot aims to keep the tradition of garden recognition thriving in Edmonton — one front yard at a time.
What types of gardens can be recognized?
It is up to us to recognize the yards we value, whether it is a front yard, side or a balcony. Maybe someone’s chain link fence gives you a glimpse into the most stunning side yard you’ve ever seen! Maybe your apartment’s courtyard is so well kept for all residents to enjoy, or a business’s patio is always bursting with plant life. It’s truly up to us to decide what we want to celebrate in Bonnie Doon!
Last year the City pulled out due to budget constraints. At that point your Bonnie Doon Community League stepped up on short notice and devised our own Bonnie Doon in Bloom program (the little purple signs!).
This year, the Edmonton Horticultural Society has taken over, with 40 community leagues participating in their renewed and simplified system. With the EHS program, Our Neighbourhood in Bloom is a collaborative pilot project for 2026. This pilot aims to keep the tradition of garden recognition thriving in Edmonton — one front yard at a time.
What types of gardens can be recognized?
It is up to us to recognize the yards we value, whether it is a front yard, side or a balcony. Maybe someone’s chain link fence gives you a glimpse into the most stunning side yard you’ve ever seen! Maybe your apartment’s courtyard is so well kept for all residents to enjoy, or a business’s patio is always bursting with plant life. It’s truly up to us to decide what we want to celebrate in Bonnie Doon!
What We’re Celebrating: Garden criteria
Unlike Front Yards in Bloom, this isn’t a competition; all of the spaces and gardeners that make our neighbourhood bloom are to be celebrated! We want to recognize effort, creativity, and community impact. Whether it’s that vibrant yard you admire on your daily walk or a neighbour always thoughtfully tending to their small but mighty collection of plants, we want to recognize their contributions.
Garden Recognition Ideas
● Add Beauty & Creativity: Is there something unique, creative, or beautiful?
● Show Dedication: Let’s recognize a gardener’s significant effort and care, no matter the outcome.
● Well-cared for (or Wildly Beautiful): Both manicured spaces and those with a charming, wild appeal are valued.
● Yards: in bloom, with only shade plants, native species & edible yards are some examples.
● Feature Unique Elements: Include small-scale urban farms, pollinator-friendly habitats, interesting decorations, or diverse plant varieties, colors, textures, and heights. Some of the garden is non-turf plants (e.g., pots, containers, standing beds, trees, shrubs, grasses).
● Making an Impact: Is it a place that makes you think WOW! Nice use of space! or This garden is humming with bees!
Please let me know if you would like to help out with the 'planting' of signs on front/side yards in Bonnie Doon! Send me an email: [email protected].
Happy gardening!
Karen
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