After Two-year Hiatus, Pasadena Beautiful Foundation Will Give Out Awards For The Best Front Yard Gardens in the City

The Pasadena Beautiful Foundation is currently evaluating the best front-yard gardens on streets in every Pasadena neighborhood as part of its on-again annual Golden Arrow Awards.

The awards, which aim to recognize residents who help in beautifying neighborhoods by enhancing and maintaining their front yards, are back after being on hiatus for two years due to the COVID pandemic.

For the competition, Pasadena Beautiful has divided the city map into nine areas. For the initial phase, the organization will select six outstanding gardens from each of the nine areas and for the final phase, only three will be selected, for a total of 27 winners.

The Foundation has been evaluating gardens in Pasadena neighborhoods since March for the new awards.

While the emphasis is on the front yard, the overall appearance of the residence is also being considered in choosing the winners, said PBF President Brad Hanson.

“It has to do with curb appeal. It has to do with how the house and garden stands out from the neighborhood. And also how the garden and the house work together. Is there harmony between the two? And is it obvious that the homeowner is taking pride of ownership and is investing and it really wants the front yard to stand out?”

“We also have to be able to see the front yard. Many houses are covered up by a hedge, or you just really can’t see them well enough. And if you can’t see the house and garden, obviously [you can’t win an Arrow].”

Hanson identified leaving Christmas lights and leaving trash cans visible from the street as “deal killers” for winning the award.

Also, he said those who won the Golden Arrow within the last five years can’t win it again.

“We really would prefer obviously finding houses and gardens that have never won,” said Hanson.

Residents of Pasadena can nominate their garden or other gardens in their neighborhood by sending an email to PBF.

Winners will be selected at the end of April. A ceremony for the recipients will be held on May 25, at 5 p.m. at The Maxwell House located along South Grand Avenue.

“We invite the winners to come up and talk about their garden and their house, and the story of what they did to create a house and garden that was worthy of winning the Golden Arrow,” Hanson said about the award ceremony on May 25.

“It’s fun to hear everybody’s story of how they improved their house and their gardens.”

For more information on the Golden Arrow Awards, visit PBF’s website: https://www.pasadenabeautiful.org