Over the past couple of weeks in our lovely Town of Kingsville, you may have wondered at a vehicle driving slowly down your street or road, as if looking for an address. Maybe you saw this same vehicle repeating the rather odd behaviour on yet another day.

In another neighborhood, perhaps someone was seen meandering along the sidewalk, pausing to gaze intently at your home and those of your neighbours.

Not to worry, good folks of Kingsville and our communities of Cottam and Ruthven! Those curious people in your area had no nefarious intent. Rather, they were members of the Kingsville Horticultural Society acting as volunteer judges.

The Kingsville Horticultural Society has a program underway called the Front Yard Recognition Program. Basically, it’s about giving homeowners recognition for their beautiful front yard and gardens, that is, the area of yard that can be seen from the street. The focus is on the homeowners’ own creativity and labour of love.

The KHS divided the town into 10 geographic areas, which encompassed both rural and urban homes. In each zone, five properties were noted and scored for their beautiful front yards, according to criteria from the Ontario Horticultural Association.

The top scorer in each zone will soon receive a 12” x 12” recognition lawn sign from the KHS, which is theirs to keep, along with some other items of gardening interest.

President of the KHS Heather Crewe has expressed the disappointment felt when so many planned activities for the community and KHS members had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. She said, “But at least this was one previously planned activity that we could go ahead with in a responsible, socially distant manner,” she said.

Thank you, Heather, and the Kingsville Horticultural Society, for bringing happy smiles and recognition to many of our citizens whose yards not only beautify their own street or road, but also add to the sheer enjoyment of all who live in our community.  Well done!

Photo by Heather Crewe