Have you heard of the America in Bloom?
It is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing communities from a garden perspective. AIB promotes nationwide beautification programs and community involvement through the use of flowers, plants and trees. Since 2001, America in Bloom has encouraged and helped over 150 communities across the US to improve the quality of life of residents and visitors.
They have a contest for communities that feel they have beautified their own communities using plants and good environmental practices. But the real goal should not be to "win" the contest, but to improve communities, become more aware of graffiti, etc. and set out the "welcome mat" to visitors.
Deadline for the next competition is February 28, 2009. The contest looks at eight areas for judging:
- Floral Displays
- Environmental Awareness
- Landscaped Areas
- Tidiness
- Urban Forestry
- Heritage Preservation
- Turf and Groundcovers
- Community Involvement
For more information, visit their website here.
About the Author
Theresa Loe blogs here about taking the garden full circle while striving for a more local, fresh-from-the-garden lifestyle. She is a TV producer, video host, freelance garden writer and a wrangler of chickens and children. (Not necessarily in that order.) For more information on these topics, you can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter.
Theresa Loe is the award- winning Co-Executive Producer & Canning Expert on Growing A Greener World TV. She blogs here about Living Homegrown®, local and fresh-from-the-garden. 
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Sounds like a wonderful organization!