The Bedford Garden Club recognized standout front yards citywide this summer, placing about 75 “Bedford Beauties” signs across all six wards. With the season’s intense heat, volunteer judges—Garden Club members—considered growing conditions while acknowledging residents whose curb appeal and plant care still shined.
To keep judging consistent, the club uses a simple point system (1–3 points in each category): Beauty (curb appeal), Creativity, Design, and Effort. Any front yard scoring 8 or higher earns a sign. Community involvement was strong as well, with 30 resident nominations; nominated homes receive extra attention during judging.
Looking ahead, the club plans to be a bit more selective next year to encourage clear, thoughtful design. Early 2026 meetings—starting in March—will focus on front-yard design, showcasing the home, and simple ways to reduce clutter so plantings stand out. As the club likes to say, sometimes less is more.
This year’s effort was led by Chairperson Paula St. John. Judges included Paulette Childs, Diane Dorko, Dot Schwende, Karen Reid, Cathy Slezak, Jeanne Sapir, Tina & Demi Stradiot, Shirley Pashall, Elizabeth Kaminsky, Paula St. John, and Kerri Vilt.
Additional thanks to Amy Huntley for graphic design and Curt Sebulsky for printing posters and flyers. The notice in the Bedford water bill was edited by Annie Zgrabik to fit the space.
Photos of five featured homes are included with this article.
