CARLSBORG — When Tom Green saw an announcement earlier this month soliciting entrants for a gardening contest, he thought he’d give it a shot.
The former school administrator from Kirkland, who moved to the Sequim area almost nine years ago, grimaces at the obvious “green thumb” pun.
He will admit, however, that he’s a die-hard grower.
“I’ve always had a garden of some sort,” Green said.
“But since I’ve retired, I’ve kind of gone crazy with it.”
That’s the enthusiasm sought by judges for the second annual Sequim Prairie Garden Club’s local contest, launched last year to coincide with the city’s official participation in national America in Bloom competition.
Judges from America in Bloom, in Sequim this week to check out the city’s aesthetic presentation, community spirit and commitment to the environment — among other qualities — were shown one of the garden entries.
11 gardens judged
Also this week, six judges from around the state toured 11 Sequim-Dungeness Valley area gardens, sizing up such criteria as design dynamics, overall appearance and health of the flowers and the degree of environmentally friendly maintenance used to keep the garden in shape.