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Photo Credit
Fayetteville, Arkansas
2011 Winner - 50,001-150,000 Population Category
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Residential Roofs Going Green
 Although it may be a trend, it's hardly a new concept. People have been covering their roofs with vegetation since ancient times. And while the reemerging trend began with commercial buildings, using green roofs is now making the exciting transition to personal residences.
Click here for more information.
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Planting Pride Photo Contest: Capturing the Spirit of America in Bloom
 Brought to you by GIE Media's Horticultural GroupPhotographers can showcase their talents by participating in the first-ever "Planting Pride Photo Contest: Capturing the Spirit of America in Bloom." This contest, sponsored by America in Bloom and GIE Media, will showcase efforts to beautify and improve communities. Photos will be categorized into seven criteria: floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation, overall impression, and community involvement. Click here for more information. |
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Gardening in the Digital Age
 Before you get to digging, get the app! These days, there's an app for just about everything and that includes gardening. Whether you need to know what to plant, where to plant it, what to do about the bugs, or simply when to harvest your fruits and vegetables, apps can offer a cheap (and many times free) solution.
Click here for information on apps to check out before you get your hands dirty.
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Make Sure You're Prepared for 2013
 Register now for the next FREE AIB webinar "National Awards & Symposium Preview" to be held Thursday, October 18 at
2 p.m. EDT. This webinar is sponsored by BioWorks. Contest coordinator Jack Clasen provides an overview of the America in Bloom program with helpful suggestions on how to get started. Topics include a brief introduction to the program, a quarterly calendar of how to prepare for the contest, and tips on gaining community support. This webinar is especially helpful for those in your community who are not familiar with AIB as well as those who are coordinating the local effort. Click here to register. |
2012 American Garden Award Winners Announced
 The votes for the 2012 American Garden Award have been tallied and the American public has elected its three winners. This year featured six new flower varieties chosen by their breeders for their excellent garden performance. Once these new varieties were planted and put on display at the participating gardens, the public was invited to vote on their favorite using one of several voting methods.
Click here to see who won.
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Doing Our Duty By Marvin Miller, AIB President
 As most of you know, America in Bloom is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. As such, the organization cannot have any real opinions of its own. Yet, it is obvious to those that know us, that our organization does promote environmental awareness (one of our judging criteria), and we like to encourage the plantings of trees, shrubs, turf grass, and other groundcovers, as well as flowers. These pro-environmental leanings could label us in some circles, as having a certain political bias. Yet, it is the efforts that the citizens of our cities undertake when they enter our recognition program (working towards that common beautification goal), that makes them a united community. That, by itself, leans neither to the right nor the left. Click here to read more. |
Plants are More than Just Pretty - Discover the Benefits!
 Copies of the 12-page, full color educational brochure titled, "Discover the Surprising Side of Plants," are still available for sale on the America in Bloom (AIB) web site. Based on research and publications by AIB board member Charles Hall, PhD, of Texas A&M and others, the brochure summarizes the benefits of plants "beyond pretty" for people, communities, neighborhoods, and even offices.
To order copies of the brochure and to download a PDF and the related PowerPoint presentation, click here.
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Have a story to share? We would love to hear from you! Tell us about AIB activities in your community, or let us know about a community you have visited that should get involved with AIB. E-mail your story to Laura Kunkle, LKunkle@ofa.org.
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