A chance to showcase your work and possibly win prizes

Seeing the fruits of one’s labor in home gardens is a beautifully rewarding experience.

Whether you plant new annuals each year or nurture perennials, seeing the colorful blooms during summer is, well, just spectacular.

And I know I’m not alone feeling this way, We’ve seen the glory of gardens for the past four years in entries for dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/home-garden/2021/09/17/dispatch-backyard-garden-winners-share-insights/5756493001/” data-ylk=”slk:The Dispatch Backyard Garden Awards” class=”link “>The Dispatch Backyard Garden Awards.

Entering its fifth year, contest recognizes those gardeners who take special pride in their work — and we provide an opportunity for entrants to win some prizes.

Gardening contest: Dispatch Backyard Garden Awards: Best-of-show winner ready to go big

The contest is a collaborative effort between the Dispatch marketing team, Oakland Nurseries and AgPro, as well as Master Gardeners from OSU Extension and the At Home section.

Gardeners can enter one photo and a brief description of their entry at http://dispatchbackyardgardenawards.com/. Entries can be submitted through July 29.

Master Gardener volunteers from the Ohio State University Extension office will choose winners in six categories: landscape, native plants, perennials, community garden, vegetable and container.

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Winners will receive gift certificates from Oakland Nurseries in denominations as follows: 1st place: $300; 2nd place: $100; best of show $500.

The top prize in each category is a $300 gift card to Oakland Nurseries; second-place winners will each earn $100 gift cards; third-place winners will each earn $50 gift cards; and the best-of-show winner will receive a $500 gift card.

Community members also can vote for their favorite entries on the website. The entry with the most votes will win the People’s Choice award and a $60 gift certificate. Second place will win a $40 gift card. People’s Choice voting will take place Aug. 8-22.

Winners will be announced live at the fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show on Sept. 10, and each entrant will receive free tickets to attend the show and awards ceremony.

Story continues

Selected winners will be featured in a Sunday Dispatch At Home article.

So, good luck to all, and we look forward to seeing some spectacular gardens!

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The Dispatch Backyard Garden Awards contest offers great prizes