Winners of 2024 AAS Display Garden Landscape Design Challenge named

All-America Selections’ 2024 Landscape Design Challenge took on a new angle this year in that Display Gardens were challenged to simply “Film A Tour” of their gardens to highlight the AAS Winners in their garden setting.

For the challenge, AAS provided the gardens with recent AAS Winner seeds and plants. The gardens had the option to also incorporate older AAS Winners in their design to give a historical aspect to their tour, if desired. Gardens were encouraged to use the videos to generate publicity and, if possible, to host events to share the story of All-America Selections and AAS Winners.

Gardens are divided into three categories based on the number of visitors per year:

Category I: fewer than 10,000 visitors per year

Category II: 10,001 – 100,000 visitors per year

Category III: Over 100,000 visitors per year

All-America Selections recognizes and thanks the contest judges who are industry experts in the field of horticulture and landscaping: Ron Cramer, retired, Sakata Ornamentals and AAS former president; Barbara Wise, sales and marketing manager, Crescent Garden; Helen Battersby, garden writer/speaker, Toronto Gardens; and Penny Merritt-Price, product development manager, Young’s Plant Farm.

AAS is proud to announce the following winning gardens from the 2024 Design Challenge.

Deep Cut Gardens

Category III Winners

First Place – Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown, NJ

The Deep Cut Gardens’ All-America Selections Display Garden was a must-see this year as it featured themed gardens inspired by classic movies. Visitors entered via a “red carpet” of Celosia Fresh Look Red then were able to explore the “Alice in Wonderland,” “Dumbo,” “E.T.” and “Willy Wonka” areas and more, all while enjoying the beauty of AAS Winners.

Second Place – Green Bay Botanical Garden in Green Bay, WI

The Green Bay Botanical Garden’s AAS Display Garden celebrated “Pride in Community” in this year’s video tour. The garden showcased culturally diverse plantings, including traditional crops from Hmong, Hispanic, Oneida and African American communities. Visitors enjoyed the Three Sisters tradition and learned about gardening techniques for various home spaces. The garden also featured art installations and wildlife. Aspiro, a local organization supporting individuals with disabilities, helped maintain the garden and donated produce to Paul’s Pantry. This display truly reflected the diversity of Green Bay.

Category II

First Place – Purdue Extension-Marion County Demonstration Garden in Indianapolis, IN

The Purdue Extension Marion County Demonstration Garden, located on the grounds of the Indiana State Fair, hosted a detailed tour for state fair attendees with a wide variety of All-America Selection Winners. This garden is planned, planted and managed 100% by Master Gardener volunteers. Visitors enjoyed colorful displays, learned about different plant combinations and planting techniques and even sampled fresh produce grown in the garden.

Second Place – Clark Botanic Garden in North Hempstead, NY

Clark Botanic Garden showcased a stunning array of plants, including many All-America Selections Winners. Each year brings a new design, and this year was no exception. The garden’s 2024 display was designed around the color wheel concept, offering visitors a visually striking experience. With its focus on education and research, Clark Botanic Garden provides a valuable resource for understanding and appreciating the world’s plant life with a special focus on a wide variety of AAS Winners which were explained via tour, educational presentations and using social media.

Third Place – Horticultural Art Society Demonstration Garden in Colorado Springs, CO

For the 2024 “Film a Tour” theme, the Horticultural Art Society of Colorado Springs invited viewers to take a virtual tour of their vegetable garden. Recently renovated with raised beds and drip irrigation, the garden showcased a variety of All-America Selection plants. Both in-person and virtual visitors learned about the benefits of AAS winning plants, enjoyed the beautiful blooms and discovered how to grow their own delicious produce.

Honorable Mention – Teaching Garden at Woodward Park in Tulsa, OK

Lee College Horticulture Program

Category I

First Place (tie) – Lee College Horticulture Program in Huntsville, Texas, and Mississippi State University-South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station, Poplarville, MS

Lee College’s Class of 2024 presented a unique twist on the AAS Display Garden Landscape Design Challenge theme. Inspired by popular movie themes, the students created a series of “trailers” highlighting AAS plants. From “E.T.” to “The Wizard of Oz,” these creative adaptations showcase the beauty and uniqueness of AAS Winners, providing an engaging and educational experience for visitors.

The Pearl River County Master Gardeners have transformed the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station’s AAS Display Garden into a Hollywood-themed spectacle for the 2024 competition. The garden showcased a wide variety of AAS Winners, arranged in color-coordinated quadrants and adorned with movie-inspired decorations. Visitors enjoyed guided tours, learned about the plants and even scanned QR codes for additional information about the AAS Winners.

Second Place – Weston Garden Center, Weston, MO

The Weston Garden Center brought forth the history and heritage of their community by presenting a film tour with the theme “Go Weston, Young Gardener,” a display garden showcasing All-America Selections Winners. Inspired by the region’s history, the garden features a variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Visitors learned about these exceptional plants, enjoyed the beauty of the display and were able to purchase AAS Winner seeds and plants.

Third Place – Penn State Butterfly Garden in Manheim, PA

The Master Gardener Idea Gardens at SEAREC in Manheim, PA, have been inspiring gardeners for over 20 years. Five distinct gardens showcased a variety of plants, from native species to AAS winners. In the Butterfly Garden, visitors explored a haven for pollinators while overlooking the Penn State Flower Trials and an expanse of farmland. The gardens are not only beautiful but also serve a practical purpose, supporting pollinators and providing educational opportunities for the community.