The Boston Home resident Ginger and staff member Liz Flanagan in front of the accessible resident garden at the home that took First Place this year in the 30th annual Mayor’s Garden Contest. Seth Daniel photo
The Boston Home on Dorchester Avenue took first place in the 30th annual Mayor’s Garden Contest last month – piggybacking on their third place finish last year and qualifying them for the “Hall of Fame” next year.
The home, which primarily serves adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), won in the ‘Storefront, Organization, or Main Street District’ category and was happy to celebrate this month at the home. Liz Flanagan, of The Boston Home, claimed their prize at a gala event on Aug. 17 with Mayor Michelle Wu.
The accessible gardens, a collaboration between residents and Flanagan, are housed on the back patio, where they grow mint, flower, tomatoes, eggplant, Bok choi, parsley, cucumbers and much more.
It was the third year for their resident garden, and Flanagan said they plan it out together on an app called ‘Planter.’ Residents make requests for what to grow and how to place the items. Where possible, residents help to weed and harvest in the garden as well.
“We have something new every year, and already I have a request for garlic next year, which we’ll have to plant this fall,” said Flanagan during a recent tour of the gardens. “Everyone agreed, this year we were just going to have some fun. We packed it with rosemary, thyme, tomatoes, and overall, less bare soil and more colorful items.”
The planning starts early, she noted.
“In the early spring we meet and plan the garden,” she said. “We come up with a garden together based on what they want to grow. There was an emphasis this year on things residents could pick and eat and enjoy.”
Apparently, that was a hit with the judges for the Mayor’s contest, who also gave high marks for the ‘Bee Hotel’ they constructed and the pollinator plants that brought in bees and butterflies, Flanagan noted.
Other local winners included:
•Toya Walker (Mattapan), 2nd, Vegetable or Herb Garden.
Mattapan’s Toya Walker won 2nd place for ‘Vegetable or Herb Garden.’ Mayor’s Office photos/Jeremiah Robinson
•Arlene Simon (Dorchester), 2nd, AgeStrong.
•Tom Bessette and Ike Colbert (Dorchester), 3rd, Medium Yard Garden.
Tom Bessette accepted the award for 3rd place in the Medium Yard Category.
•Molly Duggan (Mattapan), 2nd, Large Yard Garden.
•Greg Tyo and Jorge Serrao (Dorchester), 3rd, Large Yard Garden.
“From porches and balconies to storefronts, native and distinctive plants transform everyday spaces into vibrant green places that bring joy to our communities,” said the mayor. “As we mark the 30th anniversary of this treasured event, I’m proud to celebrate all of this year’s winners.”
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