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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Green thumbs enjoyed a remarkable growing season and had some spectacular prize yards to show off for this year's Lawn and Landscape Competition.

Brothers Nicholas, 6, and Jonathon Davie, 3, stand among the foliage of their impressive greenhouse. The greenhouse is part of parents Paul Davie and Amy Hendricks' diverse vegetable garden landscaping. - photo courtesy of the City of Yellowknife

An incredible variety of vegetables, flowers, greenery and and yardwork were represented by the winners selected. Every one of them said the projects took a lot of work to get started and take a lot of commitment to keep going. They also could not hide the pride they took in the fruits of their labour.

"It's a hidden little oasis in the yard," said Tawna Brown of her greenhouse and garden. "I'm really proud of it."

This was the first year Brown was a part of the citywide garden tour, during which gardeners would greet visitors at their homes and businesses along the the tour.

"It was quite a compliment when they were taking photos of the flowers and greenhouse," she said.

Bonnie Logsdon is a garden tour veteran and said a lot of work goes into the garden that tour-goers voted as best in show.

"What I think really caught people's attention was my dahlias because they're like six feet tall," she said.

"Plus, I have a really amazing, big greenhouse which is full of tomato (plants) that are like 12 feet tall and I have huge tomatoes coming off of them."

It's taken 20 years of hard work to build the garden into what it is today, she said, "Every year it just gets bigger and better."

Jenny Fischlin and Mark Bogan took two years to rip out their old yard and create the masterpiece passersby stop to marvel at today. Fischlin said the tiered levels at the very front of the yard are the cornerstone of the landscaping. Without it the flowers, grass, and dirt would easily wash away in the elements.

"Just like the City of Yellowknife, we're committed to doing our part to make the city a more beautiful place," said Bogan.

It was also the first competition year for the Davie household, who won best vegetable garden, and for Larry Burkowski who won for best residential landscaping.

Burkowski said he does plan to compete again next year but expects some "tough competition coming up."

Faith Embleton shares her and her husband Ken's win in the best commercial landscape category with their 15-inch white koi, Phantom.

"It's funny, I bought him and I didn't know anything about koi," said Faith.

"We bought him, he looked cool, he was small, and every year he just got bigger and bigger.

"I think that was the big attraction, that pond, because everybody was so surprised. We've had it for a couple of years but people don't realize there's fish in there."

Faith said the fish are brought indoors each winter and put back in the pond in the summer. As a result, both the koi and the multitude of goldfish the Embleton's pond keep continue to get bigger each year.

Faith has started to collect her own seeds and uses them to revive the garden in the spring. She said she expects the result might save a little money but will more likely make for hardier Northern flora.

Unfortunately, Yellowknifer could not speak to every winner by press deadline but would like to congratulate each winner on yet another outstanding year of lawns and landscaping.

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