The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) announces 47 winners of its 25th annual Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB) community beautification awards. Fourteen amateur photographers were also honored in addition to two Adopt-A-Road volunteers.

The beautification contest is open to community groups, businesses, public institutions and other organizations undertaking landscaping projects that enhance the appearance of commonly owned sections of commercial or residential properties. Landscaping can also take place along County roadsides, medians, or other public locations.

More than twenty years ago, concerned volunteers formed the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Task Force (KMCB) to work with the County to develop beautification projects and anti-litter and recycling programs. The group also conducts public education to change citizen attitudes about littering and graffiti.

KMCB awarded Level I prizes for new projects initiated between Fall 2010 and Spring 2011, while Level II prizes were awarded to established projects planted prior to Fall 2010.

Winners of the Beautification Awards are:

CITYSCAPE for municipal street plantings in median strips, near traffic ramps, and next to sidewalks:

Level II

Award of Excellence: College Gardens Park, City of Rockville, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Rockville Towne Square, Ruppert Landscaping, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Veirs Mill Landscape Enhancements, City of Rockville, Rockville

COMMUNITY NON-PROFESSIONAL for community plantings maintained by community residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs, or civic associations. 

Level I

Award of Excellence: Brighton Flower Gardens, By the Garden Gang-Brighton Gardens Assisted Living, Chevy Chase

Level II

Award of Distinction: Woodmoor Garden Club Community Entrance and Gardens, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: HTCA Triangle Garden, Huntington Terrace Citizens Association, Bethesda

Award of Excellence: Woodmoor Garden Club Black Path Memorial Garden, Silver Spring

COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by professional landscape architects or contractors.

Level I

Award of Excellence: Americana Finmark Condominium, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Grosvenor Park MTA Monument, Landcaster Landscapes, Inc., North Bethesda

Level II

Award of Distinction: Fallsgate Homeowners Association, Allentuck Landscaping, Potomac

Award of Excellence: 4615 North Park Avenue, Chevy Chase

Award of Excellence: Bonifant Homeowners Association, Custom Cuts Lawn & Landscape, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Leisure World Globe, McFall & Berry Landscape Management, Inc., Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Riverhill Homeowners Association, McFall & Berry Landscape Management, Inc., Rockville

COMMERCIAL/RETAIL for outdoor projects at facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, retail businesses, gas stations, etc.:

Level I

Award of Distinction: National Auto Body, Rockville

Level II

Award of Merit: Axent Realty, Allentuck Landscaping, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Hughes Network, The Brickman Group, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Silver Spring Metro Plaza, Ruppert Landscape, Silver Spring

Environmental Emphasis – Level I

Award of Excellence: Tower Oaks, The Brickman Group, Rockville

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries:

Level I

Award of Excellence: The Crib at Strathmore, Solar Gardens, Inc., North Bethesda

Award of Excellence: Montgomery County Fairgrounds Heritage Garden, Montgomery County Master Gardeners, Gaithersburg

Level II

Award of Merit: Paint Branch High School Front Courtyard, Burtonsville

Award of Excellence: Demonstration Garden – Agricultural History Farm Park, Montgomery County Master Gardeners, Derwood

Environmental Emphasis – Level I

Award of Distinction: Eastern Middle School Rain Garden, Eastern MS Students, Montgomery County DEP, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Black Hills Visitor Center, Boyds

Award of Excellence: Evergreen Montessori School Rain Garden, Hughes United Methodist Church, Evergreen Students, Montgomery County DEP, Wheaton

Award of Excellence: Pinecrest Elementary School Rain Garden, Pinecrest Students, Montgomery County DEP, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Rockville High School Conservation Landscape, RHS Horticulture Students, Montgomery County DEP, City of Rockville, DES, Master Gardeners, Rockville

ENVIRONMENTAL for wildlife habitant, wildflower plantings, and wetlands plantings; organic plantings:

Level I

Award of Excellence: Wheaton Triangle Conservation Garden, Montgomery County DEP, Wheaton

Level II

Award of Excellence: American Elm Park, Friends of Sligo Creek, Silver Spring/Wheaton

Award of Excellence: Brookside Gardens Rain Garden, Wheaton

Award of Excellence: Fallsgrove Village Center Water Retention Strips, The Brickman Group, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Hancock Avenue Rain Garden, Takoma Horticulture Club & Friends of Sligo Creek, Takoma Park

Award of Excellence: The Ponds at Fallsgrove, City of Rockville, Rockville

YOUTH for outdoors projects implemented by one or a group of persons who are 18 years old or younger. Adult supervision is permitted, but youth must do the majority of a project:

Level I

Award of Distinction: Redland Middle School Courtyard and Garden, Derwood

Level II

Award of Distinction: Montgomery County Men’s Shelter, KidzCare USA, Rockville

SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE (THREE-TIME WINNERS TRANSITION TO THIS CATEGORY) for awards to previous triple winners of the Award of Excellence:

First Year/Community Professional: Cambridge Walk II Homeowners Association, Rockville

First Year/Commercial/Retail: Capital Gateway, Ruppert Landscape, Bethesda

First Year/Community Professional: Maplewood Park Place, Ruppert Landscape, Bethesda

First Year/Commercial/Retail: Marriott Headquarters, The Brickman Group, Bethesda

First Year/Community Professional: Potomac Crest Homeowners Association, The Brickman Group, Potomac

First Year/Community Non-Professional: Rockshire Entranceway, Rockshire Garden Club, Rockville

Second Year/Commercial Retail: Human Genome Sciences, Ruppert Landscape, N. Potomac

Second Year/Community Non-Professional: Kenwood Pocket Park, Kenwood Garden Club, Chevy Chase

Second Year/Public/Institutional: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Labyrinth, Bethesda

Fourth Year/Community Professional: The Carleton, Ruppert Landscape, Chevy Chase

GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD WINNER

Fifth Year/ Community Professional: Chelsea Tower, Dunigan Lawn and Landscape, Bethesda

For the 20th Annual Amateur Photography Contest, photos were judged on effective composition, originality, technique, interest and relevance of the subject matter. This year there were 21 entries.

Photography contest winners:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY DAY – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during daytime hours.

First: “Portrait of a Great Blue Heron” Frank Cerra, Gaithersburg

Second: “Grey Heron at Great Falls” Alan Kolnik, Rockville

Third: “View of the Lake” Diane Steele, Gaithersburg

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY NIGHT – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during nighttime.

First: “Psycho Wheel” Elizabeth Koller, Silver Spring

econd: “Snow Like Cotton” Darlene Kerr, Germantown

Third: “Festival of Lights” Ly Truc Hoang, Silver Spring

MONTGOMERY COUNTY LANDMARKS – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County of a natural or manmade commonly recognized landmark or scene.

First: “Silent Snow” Hoang Truc Thuc, Silver Spring

Second: “New District Courthouse in Spring” Alan Zipp, Rockville

Third: “Nessie’s Home for Christmas” Dottie Schmidt, Rockville

MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT WORK – Any photo taken of one or more persons at work, contributing to the livability and splendor of our County.

First: “Serving in all Seasons” Jim Holland, Brookville

Second: “Labyrinth” De Hou Yang, Wheaton

MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH – This optional category allows only those who are 18 years old or younger to choose to participate and compete against each other.

First: “A White Ferry’s Sunset” Austin Steele, Silver Spring

Second: “Bird Reflecting” Elizabeth Lees, Silver Spring

Third: “Icy Reflections” Bethany Pereira, Rockville

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Media contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6507
Program Contact: Tom Pogue, 240-777-7171