Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the winners of the 30th annual Mayor’s Garden Contest in a ceremony celebrating the exceptional efforts of Boston’s urban gardeners. The competition recognizes residents who have transformed their yards, balconies, rooftops, and community gardens into vibrant green spaces that enhance the beauty of the city’s neighborhoods.
“The love, care, and pride residents bring to their gardens are what make our neighborhoods so special. From porches and balconies to storefronts, native and distinctive plants transform everyday spaces into vibrant green places that bring joy to our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we mark the 30th anniversary of this treasured event, I’m proud to celebrate all of this year’s winners and extend special congratulations to the recipients of the Golden Trowel award. Thank you for your hard work and for helping make our neighborhoods beautiful.”
First place winners received the coveted “Golden Trowel” award from Mayor Wu while second and third place winners were awarded certificates. Gardeners who have won three or more times in the last ten years were automatically entered into the Hall of Fame. These distinguished Hall-of-Famers are no longer eligible to enter as contestants but are invited to return as judges.
“Gardening is one of the things I love most about the work we do in our parks, and it’s especially meaningful to celebrate the gardeners who bring that same passion and creativity to their own corners of Boston,” said Diana Fernandez Bibeau, Commissioner of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and Deputy Chief of Open Space. “For 30 years, the Mayor’s Garden Contest has recognized the incredible care our residents put into making our neighborhoods more beautiful, vibrant, and connected. Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thank you to our longtime sponsors, JetBlue and Mahoney’s Garden Centers for helping us celebrate Boston’s gardeners and sustain this wonderful tradition.”
First place winners were also entered into a drawing for a JetBlue Grand Prize consisting of roundtrip flights for two to any nonstop destination from Boston. Terms, conditions, and blackout dates apply. Mahoney’s Garden Centers provided gardener’s gift bags to the top three winners in each category, as well as gift certificates for the 2026 Hall of Fame inductees.
