Celebrating Portland in Bloom: 2026 Street Garden Project Winners Announced

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Street Garden Project! 

Now in its fourth year, the Street Garden Project encourages Portland businesses to transform their storefronts and public spaces into colorful displays that welcome residents and visitors. This year’s participants once again created various beautiful gardens that kicked off the summer season.

New for 2026, the club introduced the America’s 250 Award, recognizing displays that celebrated our nation’s 250th birthday through patriotic-themed to commemorate this historic milestone in our nation’s history.

The club also introduced the Blooming Together Award, recognizing neighboring businesses whose collective efforts created an especially beautiful and inviting streetscape. The award celebrates how a block of participating businesses can work together to beautify downtown Portland and create a welcoming experience for residents and visitors alike.

Community participation reached a new milestone as well. The Portland’s Choice Award received a record number of votes this year through both the online Facebook poll and in-person paper ballots. Residents enthusiastically cast their votes in support of their favorite displays, making this year’s People’s Choice competition the most engaging yet and demonstrating the community’s appreciation for the businesses participating in the project.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 award recipients! Award ribbons will be arriving in early August and dispersed to the winning businesses.

Street Garden Awards

• First Place: Fabian’s Pizza
• Second Place: PegArch Architecture and Design with Tropical CT
• Third Place: Dog Tales Grooming & Pet Care

Portland’s Choice Awards

• First Place: Savvy Swap Consignment with Highland Sol Flower Farm
• Second Place: Bud’s Café

America’s 250 Awards

• First Place: Dog Tales Grooming & Pet Care
• Second Place: Connecticut Valley School of Music and Dance
• Third Place: Tommy’s Pizza Palace

Special Recognition Awards

• Best Theme: BeStronger Personal Training, Dance with Miss Alicia and Inner Circle Martial Arts
• Most Creative Garden: Magic Mirror Unisex Salon
• Wow Factor: Portland Ale House
• Marvelous Mix: Siltec
• Pretty Palette: Winchester Café
• Low Maintenance Marvel: Portland Memorial Funeral Home
• Crafted with Care Award: Precise Grading & Earthworks LLC
• Whimsy in Bloom Award: Magic Mirror Unisex Salon
• First Time Planter Award: Scissor Happy
• Tiny But Mighty Award: Sarah’s on Main
• Pretty in Pink Award: The Wedding Dress
• Blooming Together Award: Dog Tales, Siltec, Fabian’s Pizza, and Savvy Swap Consignment with Highland Sol Flower Farm
• Green Thumb Tribute: Mirabito Energy Products, The Green Room LLC, Your Health Solutions and Portland Parks & Recreation/Portland Youth Services

Thank you to every participating business for helping make Portland more colorful and welcoming. We also thank the many community members who took the time to vote and support this year’s Street Garden Project!

Now in its fourth year, the Street Garden Project is sponsored by the Portland River Valley Garden Club and the Portland Economic Development Commission. It continues to demonstrate how small gardens can have a big impact, beautifying our business districts, encouraging people to shop locally, and bringing our community together through a shared appreciation of gardening.

Interested in participating next year? Watch for 2027 Street Garden Project registration details next spring and join us in helping make Portland bloom, one garden at a time.