Brooklyn Blooms Again: The Return of the Greenest Block Contest, Now with a Window Box Focus

After a brief hiatus, the beloved Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest is making a grand return, ready to ignite the passion of Brooklynites with green thumbs and a desire to beautify their neighborhoods. This annual competition, a cherished tradition for many, did not take place last summer, but it’s back this year with an exciting and timely twist: a socially distanced focus on the charm and creativity of window boxes. This pivot not only ensures the safety of participants but also highlights an accessible and impactful way for everyone to contribute to the borough’s verdant landscape.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the esteemed host of this flower-filled competition, extends a warm invitation to both residential and commercial blocks across the borough. Whether you live in a bustling apartment building or manage a storefront, your block has the opportunity to showcase its botanical artistry. The beauty of this year’s contest lies in its inclusive definition of what qualifies as a “window box.” The rules state that any containers that are “window-box sized” are eligible, offering a broad canvas for participants. Crucially, these decorative displays do not even need to be placed on a traditional windowsill to qualify, opening up possibilities for creative placement on railings, balconies, stoops, or even clever ground-level arrangements that capture the spirit of window box design. This flexibility encourages innovation and ensures that gardeners of all skill levels and living situations can take part in this vibrant community event.

Fostering Community and Greenery Across Brooklyn

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest is more than just a competition; it’s a powerful catalyst for community engagement and urban beautification. For decades, it has inspired residents to come together, transform their blocks, and cultivate a sense of shared pride in their surroundings. The contest, first launched in 1993, originated from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s deep commitment to fostering green spaces and ecological awareness throughout the city. It provides a structured yet creative outlet for people to connect with nature, even in a dense urban environment, and actively participate in making their neighborhoods more vibrant and livable. This year’s focus on window boxes perfectly aligns with these goals, demonstrating how small, individual efforts can collectively create a stunning impact.

Participating in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn is a straightforward process designed to encourage broad involvement. A representative from a block, whether it be an official merchant association, a residential block association, or even a casual, informal group of neighbors, must submit their block for entry into the competition. The deadline for this initial registration is June 1, giving aspiring green teams ample time to organize. Once registered, neighbors have until July 18 to capture and share the best photographs of their botanical creations. These images will serve as the judges’ primary means of evaluating the entries, emphasizing the importance of both horticultural excellence and photographic presentation. This timeline allows for the full growing season to nurture plants to their peak beauty, culminating in stunning visual displays.

Exciting New Categories and Judging Criteria

To celebrate a wider array of gardening efforts and innovative designs, the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest has introduced several updated categories for this year. These categories ensure that diverse forms of creativity and community participation are recognized and rewarded:

• Best Overall in Residential: Recognizing the most outstanding window box displays on a residential block, judged on creativity, plant health, and overall aesthetic impact.
• Best Overall in Commercial: Celebrating commercial blocks that utilize window boxes to enhance their storefronts and contribute to a welcoming streetscape.
• Most Window Boxes on a Single Block: An exciting category that rewards collective effort and widespread participation, highlighting blocks where many residents or businesses have embraced the window box challenge.
• Best Seniors’ Window Box: Acknowledging the dedication and skill of senior gardeners, whose wisdom and experience often result in exceptionally beautiful and well-maintained displays.
• Best Children’s Window Box: Encouraging the next generation of gardeners, this category celebrates the imagination and effort of young participants, fostering an early love for nature.
• Best Indoor Window Box: A unique addition for those with limited outdoor space or a passion for interior greenery, this category highlights how plants can brighten indoor environments.

Judges will be looking for a variety of elements, including plant diversity, color harmony, sustainable practices, and the overall narrative or theme presented by the window boxes. Special attention will be paid to how entries reflect the spirit of Brooklyn, showcasing local flora or unique cultural expressions through plants.

The Profound Benefits of Urban Gardening and Window Boxes

Engaging in urban gardening, particularly through accessible forms like window boxes, offers a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond aesthetics. For individual participants, gardening is a therapeutic activity known to reduce stress, improve mental well-being, and provide a sense of accomplishment. Nurturing plants from seed to bloom fosters patience and a connection to natural cycles, a vital experience in a fast-paced urban setting. For communities, these efforts translate into tangible environmental improvements. Window boxes contribute to local biodiversity by attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are essential for ecosystem health. They also help improve air quality by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen, and can even contribute to moderating urban temperatures by providing greenery and shade.

Furthermore, the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest is a powerful tool for community building. When neighbors collaborate on a shared beautification project, it strengthens social bonds, encourages interaction, and cultivates a sense of collective responsibility for the local environment. It’s an opportunity for people of different backgrounds and ages to work together, share gardening tips, and celebrate their achievements. A greener block is often a safer, more inviting block, fostering a greater sense of pride and ownership among residents. The visual impact of a block adorned with vibrant window boxes can transform an ordinary street into a welcoming, picturesque pathway, enhancing the quality of life for everyone who lives there or passes through.

Tips for Cultivating Your Award-Winning Window Box

Ready to transform your block and contend for the title of Greenest Block? Here are some essential tips for creating stunning, healthy window boxes:

1. Choose the Right Plants: Select plants appropriate for your sun exposure. Sun-loving annuals like petunias, marigolds, and geraniums thrive in full sun, while impatiens, begonias, and ferns prefer shade. Consider a mix of “thriller” (tall, focal point), “filler” (medium-height, bushy), and “spiller” (trailing plants) for dynamic appeal.
2. Container Selection Matters: While the contest is flexible, ensure your containers have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Material matters too: terracotta breathes well but dries quickly, while plastic retains moisture.
3. Quality Soil is Key: Don’t skimp on potting mix. Use a high-quality, lightweight potting soil specifically designed for containers. It provides essential nutrients and ensures good drainage and aeration.
4. Watering Wisely: Window boxes dry out faster than in-ground gardens. Check soil moisture daily, especially during hot weather, and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Water until it drains from the bottom.
5. Feed Your Plants: Container plants quickly deplete soil nutrients. Use a slow-release granular fertilizer at planting or a liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks throughout the growing season to keep them thriving.
6. Deadhead for More Blooms: Regularly remove spent flowers (deadheading) to encourage new blooms and keep your plants looking tidy and vibrant.
7. Think About Design: Consider color schemes, plant textures, and varying heights to create visual interest. Don’t be afraid to experiment with edible plants like herbs or small vegetables mixed with ornamentals.
8. Involve Your Neighbors: Remember, it’s about the block! Coordinate with neighbors on themes, plant choices, or even group buying to create a cohesive and impactful display across the entire block.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Enduring Vision

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s commitment to this contest reflects its broader mission: to connect people to the world of plants, foster environmental stewardship, and promote the beauty and importance of biodiversity. By empowering Brooklynites to take an active role in greening their own urban spaces, the Garden extends its educational and conservational impact beyond its physical gates. The Greenest Block in Brooklyn competition is a testament to the idea that everyone can be a gardener and that even small green interventions can collectively transform a city. It’s a celebration of nature’s resilience, human creativity, and the enduring spirit of community in one of the world’s most vibrant boroughs.

Join the Green Movement!

As the registration deadline of June 1 approaches, now is the perfect time to rally your neighbors, brainstorm creative designs, and prepare your window boxes for their moment in the spotlight. The Greenest Block in Brooklyn is more than just a contest; it’s an opportunity to collaborate, learn, and contribute to the beauty and ecological health of your beloved borough. Whether you’re a seasoned horticulturist or a budding beginner, your participation makes a difference. Let’s make Brooklyn bloom brighter than ever, one beautiful window box at a time!