ORISKANY, N.Y. — This year’s All-America Selections (AAS) Landscape Design Challenge theme was Diversity in the garden, inspiring AAS Display Gardens across the nation to create their own diverse garden using the AAS 2021 seeds and resources.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County Master Gardener Volunteers received Honorable Mention for a Great Story. They planted the Brick Garden beds, in our Parker F. Scripture Botanical Gardens, displayed diversity with different plant varieties of one genus, each identifying the country’s origin. Gardeners hoped to mirror some of our own diversity here in the Mohawk Valley through these beautiful display gardens.
Garden volunteers also had the option to incorporate older AAS Winner seeds into their design to further illustrate the theme. Gardeners are encouraged to generate publicity and hold events to share the story of All-America Selections and AAS Winners.
Gardens are divided into three categories based on the number of visitors per year:
Category I: fewer than 10,000 visitors per year
Category II: 10,001 – 100,000 visitors per year
Category III: Over 100,000 visitors per year
The Parker F. Scripture gardens fall into Category I. The gardens are open daylight hours at 121 Second Street in Oriskany and there is a woodland trail to enjoy a brisk autumn walk.
To view photos and other information about this year’s competition visit the the All-America Selections website at https://all-americaselections.org/landscape-design-contest-winners-2020/
AAS is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. Their mission statement reads, “To promote new garden varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America.”
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County