By Newport In Bloom
On Tuesday night, Newport in Bloom hosted its eagerly anticipated Annual Garden Competition Awards Ceremony at the historical International Tennis Hall of Fame. The event celebrated the dedication and passion of individuals and businesses who plant and nurture breathtaking flower gardens and flower containers across the city.
This year’s competition saw an overwhelming response, with a record-breaking 130 entries from three designated city Areas. The entries were judged by Newport Bloom’s panel of Master Gardeners.
Joan Jacobs, Chairman of Newport in Bloom, expressed her delight and amazement at the staggering number of entries received. She remarked, “We were thrilled to witness the remarkable display of love for gardening and the genuine dedication to enhancing our surroundings. The ever-increasing level of participation reflects the shared commitment to transforming our city each spring into a blossoming paradise for all to enjoy. As entries must be visible from the street, the beauty of Newport’s flowers are enjoyed by all.”
The Award Ceremony recognized excellence in various categories, including Residences, Small Business, Large Gardens, Senior and Family Housing and Community plantings. The winners in each category were applauded for their exceptional efforts in contributing to the city’s vibrant floral landscape.
The “Best Overall Garden Award” was bestowed upon Jean and Russ Walsh, 10 Whitwell Place while the Red Parrot restaurant at 348 Thames St. received the “Best Overall Container City-wide award.”
2023 Garden Competition Awards
* BEST OVERALL GARDEN – CITY WIDE AWARD *
10 Whitwell Place – Jean & Russ Walsh
* BEST OVERALL CONTAINER – CITY WIDE AWARD *
Red Parrot Restaurant – 348 Thames Street
RESIDENTIAL AWARDS – AREA 1
FIRST PLACE: 31 Poplar Street – Karen Capraro
SECOND PLACE: 6 Pine Street – Mary Ann & Harry Barkerding
THIRD PLACE: 106 Evarts – Kathy Meyer
HONORABLE MENTION:
- 7 Gurney Court – Ann McMahon
- 5 Sycamore Street – Lisa Elliott
- 27 Newport Avenue – Marcia Meirowitz
- 52 Callender Street – Belinda Mattson
- 25 Walnut Street – Merry Preston
- 12 Sunshine Court – Alicia McGowan
- 5 LaSalle Place – Claire Taylor- Quarry
- 47 Bedlow Avenue – Jane Cavazza
- 56 Bedlow Avenue – Christine Cotsoridis
- 5 Bedlow Place – Len DeAngelis
- 16 Peckham Avenue – Jim Sullivan
- 6 Peckham Avenue – Mel & Terry Horan
- 14 Summer Street – Ken Petrie
- 11 Gould Steet – Kathy Watts
- 126 Beacon Street – Betty Laurin
CONTAINER AWARDS – AREA 1
FIRST PLACE: 7 Second Street – Stephanie Osterborg
SECOND PLACE: 32 Prescott Hall – Maureen & Bob Zeigler
THIRD PLACE: 10 Johnson Court – Leonard Calandra & Johan van Aswegan
HONORABLE MENTION:
- 58 Poplar Street – Paul & Ginny Gilman
- 12 Third Street – Sarah Frost
- 65 Third – Pat Ludwig
- 67 Third – Scott Rivkees
- 42 Second St – Sue Pashko, Bill Cooper, Allison Cohen
- 25 Burdick Avenue – Carole Maloney
- 18 Bedlow Avenue – Kat Welsh
- 14 Thurston Ave – Jillian Pearson
- 21 Greene Ave – Martha Ferris
- 15 Summer Street Susan Ryan
- 5 Johnson Court – Melissa Butler
- 57 Kingston – Robin Pearson
- 5- 7 Poplar Street– Susan & Bill Farrell
- 24 Burnside Avenue – Pauline Perkins
NEWCOMER AWARD – AREA 1
62 Bridge Street – Pilar Brenner
* AREA 2 *
RESIDENTIAL AWARDS – AREA 2
FIRST PLACE: 10 Robinson Street – Megan Kelly
SECOND PLACE: 17 Bliss Road – Kristin Stashenko
THIRD PLACE: 32 Kay Street – Paul Scodari
HONORABLE MENTION:
- 84 Kay Street – Allen McCoy
- 2 Marin Street – Cynthia Merrill
- 20 Sherman Street – Amy Sherman
- 128 Prospect Hill – Leslie Hogan
- 32 School Street – Scott Geigerich
- 25 Caswell Ave – Philomena Delahanty
- 6 Calvert Street – Richard Amundson
- 38 Mann Avenue – Teri Degnan
- 6 Bush Street – Jemison Faust
- 21 Ayrault Street – Colleen Hastings
- 16 Mount Vernon Street – Emily McMurray
CONTAINER AWARDS – AREA 2
FIRST PLACE: 19 Ellery Road – David Kent
SECOND PLACE: 42 Rhode Island Avenue – Laura Glazier
THIRD PLACE: 11 Everett Street – Stephanie Szneke
HONORABLE MENTION:
- 12 Cranston Avenue – Brittany Decker
- 17 Calvert Street – Deborah Lennon
- 59 Kay Street – Donna & Robert Boulay
- 22 Sherman Street – Hilary Fearon White
- 17 John Street – Dan Drake
- 32 School Street Condo 1 – Holly Murphy
- 45 Kay Street – Leanne DePaul
NEWCOMER AWARD – AREA 2
10 Cranston Avenue Shrishti Ganguly
* AREA 3 *
RESIDENTIAL AWARDS – AREA 3
FIRST PLACE: 68 Clinton Street #2 – Mark Sutherland
SECOND PLACE: TIE
65 Ruggles Avenue – Hilary Byrne
608 Thames Street – Traci Galpen
THIRD PLACE: 24 Atlantic Avenue – Linda Vacchione
HONORABLE MENTION:
- 1 A Slocum Street – Tami Mullins
- 29 Berkeley Avenue – Audrey – Jean Emerson
- 616 Thames Street Apt #1 – Terry Clark
- 11 Morgan Street – Amy Lucksinger
- 6 Binney Street – Caroline & Anselm Richards
- 141 Carroll Avenue – Ellen Michael
- 607 Thames Street – Gregory Diaz
- 17 Grafton – Sharon Evans in Memory of Diane Evans
CONTAINER AWARDS – AREA 3
FIRST PLACE: 14 Dresser Street – Janet Fatulli
SECOND PLACE: 13 Coddington Wharf – Marion Maroney
THIRD PLACE: 9 Carroll Avenue – The Bateman Family
HONORABLE MENTION:
- 53 Lee Avenue – Nina Kaull
- 26 Thomas Street – Kristina Feinen
- 66 William Street – Bill Rives
- 4 Cliff Road – Daniel McGregor
- 11 Eastnor – Patty Martin
- 9 Carey Street – Robert Smith
- 43 Lee Avenue – Dan & Jamie Vara
NEWCOMER AWARD – AREA 3
3 Vanderbilt Avenue – Trish & Gerard DiRuggiero
* LARGE GARDEN– ALL AREAS *
FIRST PLACE: 11 Garfield Street – Barbara O’Neill
SECOND PLACE: 136 Evarts Street – Ruth Lynn & Jay Butler
THIRD PLACE: Tie
- 49 Bateman Avenue – Deborah Winthrop
- 46 Eastnor Road – Colleen McGrath
HONORABLE MENTION:
- 38 Holton Avenue – Nancy Oliveira
- 58 Second Street – Paul Ambrosino, Maggie Tully and Hera Tar
- 107 Washington Street – Lisa Stuart
- 9 Pennacook Street – Maryann & Bob Cross
- 15 Johnson Court – Rebecca Kelly
- 43 ½ Elm Street – Lisa Arrowood
- 4 Armstrong Place – Barbara Coleman
- 26 Boughton Road – John M. Carroll Jr.
- 19 Slocum – Marge Caswell
NEWCOMER AWARD – LARGE GARDEN:
32 Castle Hill Avenue – Doreen Al- Hamdouni
* SMALL BUSINESS AWARD *
FIRST PLACE: Loeb Visitor’s Center – 52 Spring St – Maude Weisser
SECOND PLACE: TIE
Hibernian Hall – 2 Wellington Ave – Stephen Turcotte
Floralia – 99 Spring Street – Lisa Cinquegrana
THIRD PLACE: TIE
Matriarch – 468 Thames Street – Amy Larson
Thames Street Kitchen – 509 Thames Street – Somer Puzzo
HONORABLE MENTION:
- Innovate Newport – 513 Broadway – Kevin Buck
- Parlor – 200 Broadway – Kristen Mashaw
- Frank Antonio Newport – 22 Bellevue Avenue – Frank Antonio
- CK Bradley – 182 Bellevue Avenue – Leah Poole
- Gingy’s – 196 Bellevue Avenue – Ann Trapp
- Michael Hayes – 204 Bellevue – Rachel Grady
- Newport Public Library – 300 Spring St– Seaside Garden Club (Jean Wood)
- Almondy Inn – 25 Pelham Street – John Prefer
- Kiel James Patrick Flagship Store – 3 Bowens Wharf – Britney Curry
- The Landing – 30 Bowen’s Wharf – Pilar Brenner
- The Lobster Bar – 31 Bowen’s Wharf – Pilar Brenner
- Zelda’s – 528 Thames Street – Pilar Brenner
* FAMILY AND SENIOR HOUSING *
GARDENS:
FIRST PLACE: 179 Park Holm – Cheryl & Chris Settle
SECOND PLACE: 197 Park Holm – Gerry Starks
THIRD PLACE: 28A Earl Avenue – Ed Delehanty
HONORABLE MENTION:
38 B Earl Avenue – Egbertina Olsson
4 – 1 Sgt Weidemann Street – Elizabeth LaParle
CONTAINERS:
FIRST PLACE: 32B Earl Avenue – Ian Shepherd
SECOND PLACE: 236 Maple Ave #2 – Cynthia Moreino
THIRD PLACE: 173 Park Holm – Becky Marley
HONORABLE MENTION:
25 Sunset Boulevard – Johanna Ortiz
* COMMUNITY PLANTINGS *
FIRST PLACE: Newport Housing Authority – 19 Chapel Street – Rebecca Allen
SECOND PLACE: Jesus Saviour Church – 1 Vernon Ave – Rev Hiep Nguyen/ Rosemary Medeiros
THIRD PLACE: Newport Police Department – 120 Broadway – Ian McGregor
HONORABLE MENTION:
77 Memorial Boulevard/South Rhode Island Ave – Karen Deibert
A list of winning entries follows. Pictures of the entries can be viewed on the Newport in Bloom website at www.Newportinbloom.org.