'Portland's Choice Award' goes to 'Garden of Paradise'

Colorful bright displays - either in containers, in-ground, in window boxes or hanging baskets - adorned Main Street, Portland, Connecticut, in May and June as business owners enthusiastically embraced the first Portland Village District Street Garden Project.

"We were overwhelmed by the incredible creativity and Portland pride that our Main Street businesses displayed as the summer season kicked off," said Jen McGuinness from the Portland River Valley Garden Club. "In just two months we've experienced a gorgeous and diverse cycle of bloom despite harsh weather and temperature conditions."

Twenty-two businesses decorated their Main Street storefronts. In early July, volunteer judges from both the Portland River Valley Garden Club and the Portland Economic Development Commission walked and viewed the gardens on display to help choose the 2023 winners.  Portland residents also had the opportunity to vote for the Portland's Choice Award in the Portland Village District Street Garden Project between July 2-15 - either in person or online via Facebook. More than 200 individuals voted.

The tropical oasis installed at PegArch Architecture and Design in partnership with Tropical CT secured this year's Portland's Choice Award with their ingenious container gardens situated in the small storefront footprint. 

Palm trees punctuated the four wooded container gardens created at PegArch Architecture and Design on Main Street, Portland.

Assorted businesses take top honors in four categories

All the results from our judges have been tallied, and the resounding feedback was delight at our business owners' green thumbs. Thank you to all participating Main Street businesses for your enthusiastic participation and for beautifying downtown Portland. 

Here are our 2023 winning street gardens:

View PegArch's winning garden here.

View Bud's Cafe's winning garden here.

View PegArch's winning garden here.

View Portland Memorial Funeral Home's winning garden here.

View Revolution Properties LLC's winning garden here.

View Savvy Swap Consignment's winning garden here.

View Connecticut Valley School of Music and Dance's winning garden here.

View Concentric Brewing Co.'s winning garden here.

View The Portland Ale House's winning garden here.

Thank you to our volunteer garden club judges and members of the Street Garden committee. Special thanks to the Portland Economic Development Commission for partnering with us to launch this year's project.