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

Dale Bouchard shows off her award-winning garden. Bouchard defended her titles in both the lawn and residential landscape categories in the city's lawn and landscaping competition. - Taylor Lambert/NNSL photo

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

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, she 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.

Other winners announced earlier this week included Adam Dental Clinic, who added its fifth commercial landscape title in seven years. Lenore DeJong won for vegetable garden, Hilya Hall for flower garden, Greta Baetz for patio garden, Tawna Brown for greenhouse and Coral Rix for rock garden. Naomi Horsman won an honorable mention from the judges.

The contest saw a jump in entries with 35 gardens vying in eight categories.

The organizers decided to split up the garden category after getting feedback 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 the city's community services department.

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."

The foster mother of seven 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."

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.