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Earning the less-than-pleasant nickname "Filthadelphia" because of the well-noticed litter in the gutters, trash on the sidewalks and pollution in the air, it’s about time the City of Brotherly Love saw a little greenery. Cynthia Gamba made sure the foliage in her part of Philadelphia was recognized and recognizable by pioneering her community’s first annual Garden Contest.
"I came up with the idea because we’re one of the few neighborhoods that’s a garden community," the South Philly native who has resided on the 2500 block of 20th Street for 31 years said. "We all have the area to garden and our streets are tree-lined. This would give people incentive to put effort into their gardens."
And that’s just what the community did.
After announcing the contest in the May community newsletter, members of Girard Estates Area Residents, as well as other area homeowners, prepared their front gardens for judging in three categories: Most Creative, Most Colorful and Best-Kept.
After careful deliberation, the winners were notified July 28 via a letter from Gamba. An official announcement will be published in an upcoming G.E.A.R. newsletter.
The prize for Best-Kept Garden went to Frank LaMacchia of the 2500 block of Lambert Street.
"It was so neat; the shrubs were trimmed and it was colorful," Gamba said.
Elisa Colavita, of the 2000 block of Shunk Street, was the winner for Most Colorful, with not only different shades of flowers, but different types.
But the Most Creative belonged to Ann and John Christinzio of the 2500 block of South Cleveland Street.
"They not only had different types of flowers, but there was a train running around the edge, a fountain and a unique light," Gamba said. "It was all unique and different."
Winners were awarded blue ribbons and received gift certificates to Di Bruno’s, 930 S. Ninth St., and judge Leah Reinhard Albarouki’s floral shop, Baileflor, 2455 S. Opal St.
Joining Reinhard Albarouki, of the 2500 block of South Garnet Street, and Gamba as judges were association President Jody DellaBarba, of the 2500 block of South 18th Street, Sal Bronti, of the 2500 block of South 19th Street, and Tom Duffy, of the 2100 block of Ritner Street.
"I was born and raised in Girard Estates and have been out of the country and around Philadelphia, but we have more grass and garden space than anyone else in the city," Reinhard Albarouki said.
Before the notion of a contest was even conceived, the shop-owner had been taking notice of the area’s greenery.
"There’s one house and I’d been admiring the garden for a couple years," Reinhard Albarouki said. "It’s very dramatic, especially during Halloween. I like anything dramatic."
Gamba plans to continue the event each year, but may change it to include container gardens or flower boxes.
Although these homeowners have bragging rights for the next year, Gamba sang the praises of all of the residents’ green spaces.
"There were so many beautiful, well-kept, colorful gardens," Gamba said. "It really gave people the incentive to work on their gardens. Everyone did a really great job."
