The Local Urban District committee of Blumenort has named three winners in its inaugural Yard Beautification Contest.

Committee member Roger Harder says Blumenort is a beautiful place and so many people take pride in their yards. He notes this contest was a small way of recognizing some of the good

(Minna Friesen on her yard)work going on in the community.

First place was awarded to Alan and Myra Brydges.

"We are honoured to be appreciated and to be recognized," says Brydges. "We totally were not expecting it, but it's nice to have our hard work recognized."

Brydges says when it comes to yard maintenance, most of her time is devoted to her rock path. She built this garden several years ago when her children were just babies.

"I'd spend my afternoons working in there," she says. "It was kind of a break for me and just kind of refreshing to do something completely different."

(Denise and David Wiebe on their yard)According to Brydges, her rock path is a year long commitment. It all starts in winter when she envisions what colours to use and what plants to buy the next spring. Then in spring it's all about cleaning out the garden and going to the greenhouse to pick out the flowers. She says it's very rewarding to then watch those flowers grow.

Brydges says because of the consistent rain this year, she did very little watering and the flowers have grown nicely this summer.

In winning first place, the Brydges were handed $150 from the LUD plus a $50 gift certificate from Sunshine Greenhouse.

Second place was awarded to Minna Friesen.

"I feel very unworthy of it and proud," says Friesen. "I thank God for blessing the work that I've done."

(Award winners together with LUD members)According to Friesen, this has always been a passion of hers. Friesen says she loves the outdoors and recalls her Mother too was especially fond of plants and flowers.

"The compliments I get when people walk by, it's amazing," she admits. "I sometimes say they make me do it because I can't let go anymore because then I let the passersby down. I have to keep it up."

In getting second place, Friesen was handed $75 from the LUD, plus a $30 gift certificate from Sunshine Greenhouse.

Third place was given to David and Denise Wiebe. Moving to a new development, Wiebe says her goal was to build a home and yard that has a cottage feel to it.

"We put plants and trees kind of that emphasize that," she says. "Probably my favourite right now is all the vines that we have sitting along the front in the bedding area, I really enjoy that quite a bit."

"We're happy to be recognized this way," says her husband David. "We put a lot of time and effort into planning and doing the work, so it's nice to get that recognized."

In placing third, the Wiebes were handed $50 from the LUD, plus a $20 gift certificate from Sunshine Greenhouse.

Harder says residents of Blumenort were not aware this contest was going on.

"When I went to their doors I told them what had happened and then their reactions were very pleasant," says Harder. "Almost to the respect that they were surprised and yet very proud of what they had done."

Harder says this contest will hopefully act as a springboard for further judging to recognize the hard work people are doing for Blumenort.