More than 200 green enthusiasts enjoyed the scenery and greenery at the 6th annual California Friendly Garden Contest at Roger’s Gardens last week.
Five winners were chosen from among 35 entries, based on being beautiful gardens that were smart and sustainable. The various-sized gardens featured landscaping that requires less water, less maintenance, fewer pesticides and less fertilizer. The gardens also produce less water runoff, less green waste, less pollution and less invasive plants.
Twenty- eight cities in Orange County were represented, and gardens entered into the contest covered many styles, including: cottage, native, contemporary, succulent, and subtropical. Winners received cash prizes and framed certificates. First place went to Patrick Freemon of Huntington Beach for a garden designed by Sarah Robinson.
ClearEdge Power and Roger’s Gardens hosted the event to showcase green technologies and gardening techniques. ClearEDGE designs, manufactures, and sells on-site power systems that use fuel-cell technology, including a fuel system Roger’s Gardens says has reduced its annual energy costs by more than 40 percent and eliminates 51.6 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
Guests enjoyed live music and refreshments, tours of the grounds including the compact fuel cells, and comments from Gavin Herbert, president of Roger’s Gardens; Ron Vanderhoff, Roger’s general manager; David Wright, executive chairman of ClearEdge Power; Newport Beach Mayor Nancy Gardner; and Steve Badum, the city’s public works director.
“We were thrilled with the attendance of the event, as it reflects how much the community values and is committed to supporting green sustainability,” explained Nava Rezvan, marketing manager at Roger’s. “It was an honor for Roger’s Gardens to be recognized by Nancy Gardner, Mayor of Newport Beach and Greg Kleen, Project Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy, for our commitment to the environment by implementing a comprehensive sustainability program covering every aspect of our operations from how we generate the use of energy, by installing fuel cells from ClearEdge Power, and how we manage our water use.”
“It is so encouraging to see the energy and enthusiasm for ‘green’ issues right here in Orange County,” said Vanderhoff. “Environmental protection starts right in our own front yards. During the evening we learned what our city government is doing to be green, what Roger’s Gardens is doing to be green, and what home gardeners are doing to be green.”
