Portland Village District Street Garden Project launched for 2023 growing season

 

The Portland River Valley Garden Club and the Portland Economic Development Commission invites all businesses and property owners/renters to improve the visual appeal of our downtown business district by signing on to participate in our first Street Garden Project. 

The goal of this project is to increase the visual appeal of our town center leading to an enhanced sense of pride in our community by Portland residents and a positive feel for our town from those passing through.  

This program will recognize businesses that make a special effort to use plants and flowers in the front of their establishments for the pleasure of residents and visitors to our community. 

A “Street Garden” is defined as a large or small garden containing living plants (not artificial).  This garden should be easily viewed from the street by customers and the general public.  It may consist of the following options:

• Large or small in-ground planted area/s
• Planted containers in urns, barrels etc.
• Window boxes
• Hanging planters

There is no cost to enter your “Street Garden.”  We only ask that you commit to taking care of the plantings throughout the growing season, which includes watering and weeding.  If any plants die throughout the growing season, please remove or consider replacing them.  

The deadline to register for Street Garden project is May 20, 2023. 

Gardens should be planted by May 31, 2023. 

Members of the Portland River Valley Garden Club will place a marker in your garden in early June to show your customers and others that you are participating in the program. Garden Club members will photograph each entry and the pictures will be displayed on the club’s social media accounts and website.  

At the end of June/early July, judges from the garden club and the Economic Development Commission will visit the gardens. Award ribbons will be given to the winners in each of the four categories listed above.  There will also be a community vote for “Portland’s Choice,” which will be posted on the club’s Facebook account.  The winners will be notified and their Street Garden will be recognized on the club’s social media accounts.  

We appreciate your participation in this program to beautify Portland.  

Thank you for your entry!  Click here to view the entry information that can be emailed to us at  prv.garden.club@gmail.com.