Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards (CEGA) 2023 – Enter Your Garden Now!

The Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards (CEGA), Chicago’s only citywide gardening awards program, is now accepting entries for its 7th year of honoring city gardeners.

Once again, CEGA judges will fan out across the city to visit backyards, parkways, school lots, community gardens and more, looking for gardens that make neighborhoods more beautiful and vital, this year with an increased emphasis on sustainability and earth-friendly practices. And, as always, the program is free and open to the public.

Since 2017, CEGA has recognized more than 225 gardens representing almost all 50 wards and dozens of Chicago communities. CEGA is nominally a “competition,” but it is really a celebration of gardens of all shapes and sizes, including residential, community gardens, schools, churches, businesses and urban farms. While beauty and neighborhood improvement are always criteria to be considered, more than ever CEGA judges are keeping an eye out for native plants, wildlife habitat, rainwater harvesting and other sustainable elements in determining which gardens will receive awards. To that end, CEGA has added pages to its website to help gardeners understand how they can make their gardens more sustainable. Go to https://chicagogardeningawards.org/.

CEGA is open to residents of the City of Chicago. Only one entry per garden will be accepted. Submit online from May 1 through June 30. Judging begins in July. Winners will be notified by late summer, with awards presented on Sunday, September 24 at Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery, 9030 S. Hermitage Avenue in Chicago. There is no entry fee.

Click here to enter: https://chicagogardeningawards.org/enter-your-garden/

For more information, go to https://chicagogardeningawards.org/

Send questions to chicagogardeningawards@gmailcom