Inkster Garden Drive home’s creative landscaping wins Curb Appeal award

Ram Tiodin’s use of creative landscaping for his home at 327 Inkster Garden Dr. earned the Curb Appeal award during Take Pride Winnipeg’s annual Winnipeg in Bloom contest. 
As the Curb Appeal winner, Tiodin received a framed Roman Swiderek print entitled Winnipeg in Summer, which was presented to him by Shirley Pryzbyl, the president of WinnipegREALTORS®. The association is the sponsor  of the annual award. 
The awards ceremony took place in Kildonan Park’s Rainbow Stage on Saturday, August 11. 
This year, the Winnipeg in Bloom contest celebrated its 15th anniversary. The annual contest encourages Winnipeg residents to show their pride and their love of gardening. The free contest recognizes front yards in residential, community and business categories. The properties are judged based on curb appeal, innovative features and cleanliness.
WinnipegREALTORS®, which originated the contest that has been transferred over to Take Pride Winnipeg, is a major sponsor. 
“This tropically colourful garden uses everyday materials, like drainage pipe, in beautifully creative ways,” was the comment from the judges who adjudicated Tiodin’s winning entry. “Creative details like concrete planters, shaded seating, and statuary are the perfect added touches”
Przybyl gained a new appreciation of Winnipeg gardeners when their yards were shown on the overhead screens at the awards ceremony. 
“Winnipeg in Bloom is a wonderful program,” she said. “There are so many beautiful yards in Winnipeg. It’s great to see a program that recognizes the care and hard work people are doing to make this city beautiful.
“It was heart-warming to see the winners come up, some with tears in theirs eyes. Despite all the work and creativity they’d poured into beautifying their yards, many didn’t feel deserving of this recognition.”
Tom Ethans, executive director of Take Pride Winnipeg, announced that this year the Winnipeg in Bloom contest will take on a new dimension, with several of the winning yards appearing in the 2013 Great Gardens of Winnipeg Calendar. The calendar will feature winners from this year and past years. 
“This year,” said Ethans, “we had almost 300 entries. We want to celebrate their efforts (through the awards ceremony) and the fabulous curb appeal they add to city streets. The vibrant colours they plant help to energize their neighbourhoods.”
Colleen Kurlowich, manager of programs and operations for Take Pride Winnipeg, said all the contest entrants were invited to attend, but the actual winners were kept secret until they were announced during the special ceremony at Kildonan Park.
For a complete list of this years winners and more information on the 2013 Great Gardens of Winnipeg Calendar, visit www.takepride.mb.ca
(Front page photo: winning Curb Appeal entry, 327 Inkster Garden Dr.)