The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-05-01
BETTER GARDENS
CONTESTS TO BE
CONDUCTED HERE
CONTEST TO BE PUT ON
UNDER AUSPICES OF Wo-
MANS CLUB, PRIZES TO BE
AWARDED

~ - hiBhJ dNoti etDAS k'iesS 49,
family in the city be represented
in the Better Gardens Contest
which is to be conducted under the
auspices of the Woman's Club I;
otherwise, the possibility of a
city-wide Identification program
win not be made possible. Under
the provisions of the contest, any
person in Key West possessing a
plot Of ground, no matter how
neagre, is eligible. The only re-
quirement being made is notifi-
cation to the Chamber of Com
merce, telephone 500, that he or
she wishes to become an entrant
Prizes are to be awarded accord
ing to beauty and general appear
ance, a first and second prize to
be given on that detail, and a third
prize will be presented to the plot
or garden showing the greatest
improvement; under this last
classification, the most humble
home in Key West has an oppor-
tunity to compete, since all plots
or gardens will be inspected upon
entrance by committee from the
Woman's Club and any improve
ment made will be considered in
the awarding of the third prize.
Prizes for each classification are
first, $50; second, SIS; third, SIS.
Points are distributed among a
nurlber Of horticultural details,
and are proportional as follows:
General Appearance a n d
Beauty-50 per cent.
Flowers per cent.
Color Effects per cent.
Grass per cent.
New Species per cent?
Trees per cent.
Hedges per cent.
Tropical Effects A per cent.
Vines per cent.
Vegetable Gardens A per cent.
Fruit Trees per cent.
Novel Features, such as sun
dials, bird-baths, water gardens,
etc.-10 per cent.
Col. Robert G. Thompson has
made it possible to conduct this
contest, by a generous donation
of 800 to be awarded as prizes.
His idea in doing this was to en-
courage every family in Key West
to improve their surroundings
with flowers, grass and shrubs,
not in hodge-podge effect, but
with some regard for color COM
binations, and regularity. The
ideal development of even the
smallest plot, is not to dot its sur
face with rose-bushes, beautiful
although the blossoms may be, but
to eontrive lawn, with flowers
and shrubbery massed against the
porch, or house, defining the edge
of the lot with hedges, or trees,
OF snrubbery, as they decide. Pct
ted flowers are lovely, and where
it is difficult to dig into the
ground the only means Of beau
tification; nevertheless, a mis-
eellaneous array Of flowers, usual
Iy single plant of variety plant
ed in a bucket of one size, another
variety in a paint-can, and yet
another in an old kettle. does not
make for real beauty, though of
course, il is an improvement over
a bare space. If it were possible
to get every citizen to beautify
their home plots with bit of
lawn. bed of flowers along
walks, and around the edges Of the
house, couple OF fruit trees in
the rear, and shade tree at the
corner of the lot, the succession
Of lawns, uniform flower beds
and shrubbery would lend the city
an air of symmetry and beauty it
does not possess.
The Woman's Club committee
win be glad 20 confer or to assist
in planning gardens for any one
in Key West who desires to enter
the contest, but hesitates for lack
Of adequate knowledge. A few
cents worth OF seed, an intelli-
gent idea of the possibilities of
ones yard, and the expenditure
Of little energy can make Key
West a city of Towering beauty
that will not only attract visitors.
bat viii make them want to live
here. Won't everyone make an
effort to better the appearance
Of their own home town by tele-
phening their name in before May
l0thg The contest viii commence
upon that day. and will close on
January so, 1921. 50 there viii De
ample opportunity to make per-
ceptible Improvement.