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Phipps Sustainable Garden Award Winners for 2020
This spring we were excited to announce our first ever Sustainable Garden Awards. This program was created to inspire western Pennsylvania residents to design and maintain gardens that are both environmentally friendly and beautiful. In addition we want to highlight residential gardens (and the gardeners) that exemplify the principles of sustainable landcare.
This summer we received over 60 entries and are happy to announce the winners from the following categories: Native Plantings and Wildlife Gardens, Gardens that Manage Rainwater, Micro-Gardens, Abundant Edible Gardens and Gardens for Personal Retreat.
Native Plantings and Wildlife Gardens
Sally Foster
Sally developed two garden beds along hillside of her apartment in O’Hara Township. The gardens are filled with over 30 native plants and assorted annuals and perennials. She managed her garden organically, incorporating many sustainable gardening strategies such as utilizing compost for soil fertility and replacing her steep lawn with native plants. Her garden, with flowering plants from early spring through late fall, is home to many birds and butterflies. We love that Sally was able to transform a drab hillside into a vibrant landscape for people and wildlife to enjoy.
Gardens that Manage Rainwater (and Look Good Doing It!)
Patricia Schildkamp
Patricia developed her garden in Unity Township in 2017 to manage over flow waters from rain and an underwater spring that moved across her lawn and collected near her house. The rain garden is a way to capture and slow the water moving across her property and put it to good use growing pretty plants. Patricia removed the grass, amended the soil, and dug a swale (or wide depression) to help contain the water. She planted her new garden with native rushes and irises as well as swamp milkweed, Culver’s root and cardinal flower. Along the berm she planted New York ironweed, mountain mint, and bee balm. The garden is managed organically and requires little maintenance as the plants fill in and attract birds and pollinators.
Micro-Gardens
Stefanie Zito
This micro-garden by Stefanie Zito shows what is possible in a small space. Stefanie’s Bloomfield garden brings life into a concrete square of space. She grows both flowers and food for her family and pollinator friends. We love the vertical garden with pockets full of greens that Stefanie made from old curtains. Many of the container gardens are made from reused or repurposed materials. Stefanie grows her vegetables from seeds and enriches her containers with compost made on-site. With some creativity and attention to detail, Stefanie has created a mini oasis for her home in the city.
Abundant Edible Gardens
Jordan Tony and Silvan Goddin
Jordan and Silvan have created an edible wonderland in their hillside garden in Swissvale. The garden provides the vast majority of the fruits and vegetable that they eat throughout the year. They have raised vegetable beds and most of their perennial trees and shrubs produce edible fruits (peaches, pears, apple, persimmon, blueberries, raspberries and fig). They are also focused on growing native edible plants. So far they have pawpaw, ramps, may apple and American plums. In addition to fruit and vegetables, they grow a variety of mushrooms, including shitakes, oysters, wine caps and lion’s main. Jordan and Silvan rely on soil test results to help manage their gardens organically, adding compost and other amendments as needed.
Gardens for Personal Retreat
Helen and Ed Palascak
Helen and Ed have been managing their Mt. Lebanon garden for over twenty years. There’s always something that needs to be done, from planting and pruning to composting and redesigning, but they always find time to rest and relax among their several seating areas. Helen and Ed take time to enjoy and reflect on the plants that were gifted by friends and family. A pathway winds through the garden past a goldfish pond, a moss-covered waterfall and plants to admire all season long. Over story trees, decorative fences and shrubs envelop visitors and add to the sense of sanctuary further fostered by the song of birds, wind chimes and flowing water.
Photos © Shane Dunlap, Nate Smallwood, Louis B. Ruediger, Kristina Serafini, Phipps staff
