MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Men’s Garden Club lauded local gardeners during the annual beautification awards ceremony, held at the Richland County Fairgrounds Thursday evening.
Ten winners were chosen for the residential category, and one winner was selected for the civic, commercial, and member garden categories. See the full list below.
Residential Winners:
- Cathy Musille: Rosedale Avenue in Mansfield
- Sharon Vickers: Peterson Road in Mansfield
- Bruce and Ester Evans: South Main Street in Mansfield
- Kevin and Cheri Early: Oakstone Drive in Ontario
- David Claypool: Westover Lane in Mansfield
- Tom and Lola Riester: Nantucket Drive in Mansfield
- Ann and Ray Jones: Rhinehart Road in Bellville
- Fred and Carol Lamp: Sherbrook Road in Mansfield
- Win and Jayne Meek: Graham Road in Ontario
- Frank and Ella Snyder: Spring Village Lane in Ontario
Commercial Winner:
- The Mansfield Memorial Park (Robert Barnett, general manager): 2507 Park Ave. West
Civic Winner:
- The Richland County Agricultural Society (Bill Flanegan): The Richland County Fairgrounds Nature Park
Men’s Garden Club Member Winner:
- James Fraifogl: Maple Lane in Crestline
Jack Iliff, president of the Mansfield Men’s Garden Club, said the awards program is meant to encourage beautification in the community.
Mike Maglott, club co-chair, said this year presented a challenge for gardeners because of the heat.
Judges considered plant arrangement and selection, among other things.
“They’re all winners because they contributed to the beauty of the community,” said Mike Frye, club co-chair.
Winners were invited to the fairgrounds for a corn roast and awards celebration, which was sponsored by Mechanics Bank. During the ceremony, photos of the award-winning landscapes were displayed via a PowerPoint presentation and attendees had the chance to ask questions or make comments.
Bill Flanegan, a Richland County Master Gardener, took the lead on the Nature Park project at the fairgrounds, which won the civic category.
“Since it’s called the Nature Park, I decided to go with the theme of Ohio native plants,” he said. “So all those plants that are out there are native plants to benefit and help sustain native wildlife.”
The park includes 16 species of trees, 18 species of shrubs, and 78 species of native perennials.
Fred and Carol Lamp, who live on Sherbrook Road, were among the residential winners.
“When I first bought the house (eight or nine years ago), there was this big tree there and I couldn’t cut the grass with all the roots, so I got that tree out and it made a big, large circle and that’s how it all started, Fred said.
“I put in one thing after another, and it grew and grew to what it is today.”
Logs were placed around the stump–creating what looks like a mini blockhouse–and atop the logs are bright red geraniums that sit inside a kiddy pool, Fred said.
“It’s really his garden, but I like to do the trimming and deadheading and watering,” Carol said. “I enjoy it a lot.”
