SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Dale Bouchard has never entered her garden in a competition.

"I just don't see anything special about it, really," she said.

Dale Bouchard poses with her grandchildren Dawson Craig, left, Hailey Roberts and Gavin Craig in her award-winning garden. - Taylor Lambert/NNSL photo Other winners Adam Dental Clinic – fifth commercial landscape title in seven years. Lenore DeJong – best vegetable garden Hilya Hall – best flower garden Greta Baetz – best patio garden Tawna Brown – best greenhouse Coral Rix – best rock garden. Naomi Horsman – honourable mention

Fortunately, her daughter Crystal has entered it for her twice in the city's 12th annual lawn and landscaping competition. Once again, Bouchard was surprised to win - in the same two categories she won last year.

"I keep getting entered and I keep winning," Bouchard said, shaking her head.

Her large suburban yard won in both the lawn and residential landscape categories. Like the rest of the winners, Bouchard will earn a $50 gift card from Arctic Farmer and a plaque from the city.

"I'm surprised. People in town must have a lot of bad lawns," she joked.

The contest saw a jump in entries with 35 gardens vying in eight categories. Organizers decided to split up the garden category, based on feedback they got from the public.

"People were asking what that category was, and after we looked at it we decided to split it up," said Alecia Callahan, program co-ordinator for city community services.

Bouchard drew her interest in gardening from her mother, but said there's no magic formula.

"My only secret is that I just love being outside," she said. "My yard is always a work in progress."

Gardening in a Northern climate presents some special challenges.

"It's kind of like farming in that you're very reliant on the weather," said Bouchard. "You have to just be out there and do all those things that need doing."

Gardening is a passion for Bouchard, who admits her husband calls her crazy for spending so much time and money on her hobby.

"When the greenhouses see me coming, they start laughing!" she said. "I spend a lot of money there."

She has given up a prime corner section of her yard for a trampoline for her grandchildren.

"I think flowers are like kids, really," said Bouchard. "They need a lot of care, a lot of love..."

"...and a lot of water!" interrupted Gavin, 5, one of Bouchard's grandchildren.

The awards will be handed out at city council on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. Bouchard is already thinking about what to do with her plaques.

"Maybe I should put it up (on the fence) and start a wall of fame," she said with a laugh.

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