Lewes in Bloom announces the launch of the Beauty Spot Award. This new program has been designed to recognize the many spots of beauty throughout the greater Lewes community.

A committee made up of Lewes in Bloom volunteers will review nominations and select one resident’s property monthly to be recognized.

The objective of this program is to recognize residents’ properties within the Lewes community, as well as thank the gardeners for adding even more beauty to the area. Nancy Phillips, co-chair of Lewes in Bloom, said, “Lewes in Bloom is excited about this new initiative. It is providing opportunities for Lewes residents to be recognized for their efforts in gardening. Lewes is a special place to live where volunteers and residents work together to make it a beautiful and award-winning community.””

A property nomination can be based on overall landscape or planted beds, containers, front door, patios, or even a corner. The program will start slowly this first year and then expand in subsequent years to potentially add more frequent awards and highlighted categories or themes. For 2016, Lewes in Bloom will make Beauty Spot Awards July through October.

Lewes in Bloom created the Beauty Spot Award on the basis of the America in Bloom Champions Category Selection Committee feedback. In September 2015, during the America in Bloom Symposium in Holland, Mich., Lewes was named the winner of the Champions Category for small towns.

Judith Hanson, co-chair of Lewes in Bloom, challenged the group’s horticulture committee to research how to establish a Beauty Spot program for Lewes. Hanson said, “The Beauty Spot program is a great example of how Lewes in Bloom members collaborate to enrich the city we love and care about. In fact, new Lewes in Bloom member Rosemary Budd created a proposal for the Beauty Spot Award program and formed an LIB member committee to create, implement, and act as the award selection committee.”

Lewes won America in Bloom honors in 2010, 2005 and 2003. In 2015, the Champions Category featured a new category consisting of only three-time winners. Lewes won this category. Warren Golde, Lewes in Bloom founder, said, “I am immensely pleased to see Lewes in Bloom continue to flourish and mature in this direction.”

Eligibility includes all residential properties in the greater Lewes 19958 ZIP code. Lewes in Bloom membership is not necessary. Residents can self-nominate their properties, and the general public can nominate a resident property that catches their eye. Lewes in Bloom Board of Advisors members and Beauty Spot Selection Committee members are not eligible.

Candidate residences can be owner or professionally designed and planted, but must be owner-maintained.

Nominations must include name, address, phone number, email address, photo of the nominated Beauty Spot area (front yard, back yard, patio, containers) and a description of why this site should be nominated. Included should be confirmation that the nominated property is not professionally maintained and confirmation that the nominee owner agrees to have the Beauty Spot awardee sign placed in front of their property for a month and that the awardee agrees to have a picture of their Beauty Spot with members of the Beauty Spot Selection Committee taken and announced in the Cape Gazette as well as on Lewes in Bloom’s website, Facebook page and newsletter.

To submit nominations, go to www.lewesinbloom.org.