Internationals to judge Lewes in Bloom July 23

Having won the America in Bloom Circle of Champions Award, Lewes in Bloom representatives returned from Holland, Mich., in 2015 with the right to call Lewes the most beautiful small city in the United States.

With four national wins under their belt, Lewes in Bloom and the City of Lewes are raising their sights even higher to compete in the Communities in Bloom International Challenge. Only two other U.S. cities have won this prestigious award, and Lewes is aiming to be the third. Judges Larry Hall of Canada and Bernadette Solon of Ireland will be in Lewes from Sunday to Tuesday, July 22 to 24.

Highlights of their tour Monday, July 23 will include breakfast overlooking the Delaware Bay at the Lewes Yacht Club where they will meet with city and state officials. Judges will visit floral displays in city parks and gardens maintained by Lewes in Bloom patrons and volunteers. Their tour will also include historic sites and a circuit through the business and residential areas of Lewes. A farm-to-table lunch will include produce from the Children’s Learning Garden.

Lewes in Bloom and the City of Lewes will be working hard to ensure that the beautiful public areas are groomed and looking their best. All citizens and businesses are encouraged to help Lewes put its best foot forward by planting, weeding and grooming flowerbeds and containers, and picking up any litter they see.

Evidence of community involvement is paramount as the judges evaluate the town’s overall performance based on the following criteria: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, and floral displays.

Communities are rated from 1 to 5 Blooms based on the scoring obtained. Lewes previously received a 5 Bloom rating from Communities in Bloom, although it did not win when competing in 2006. The results of the challenge will be announced in Strathcona County, Alberta, Canada, in September.

The five other towns in the Medium population category of the International Challenge include Jasper, Alberta, Canada; Killarney-Turtle Mountain, Manitoba, Canada; Novi Vinodolski, Croatia; Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada; and Stettler, Alberta, Canada.

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian nonprofit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement in the challenge of an international program with focus on the enhancement of green spaces in communities.