A little friendly competition for savvy gardeners

“We’re reaching out to the average suburbanite who might not know a petunia from a pansy but who wants to protect the environment,” says Ron Vanderhoff, nursery manager at Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar and creator of the California Friendly Garden Contest. The competition, which is accepting entries through April 3, is open to any Orange County gardener whose frontyard is water-wise, plant-smart, runoff-free and at least a month old. (Last year’s grand-prize winners: Naomi and Scott Schoenherr of Laguna Beach, whose garden is shown here.) Vanderhoff says judging is not based on plot size or on budget, but rather on what do-it-yourselfers and professional landscapers accomplished with the resources they had. The contest, whose sponsors include local water districts, the Surfrider Foundation and The Times, will present awards in five divisions May 16. Entry information, prize details, online voting and information about creating a sustainable garden are at www.rogersgardens.com/gardencontest.

-- Janet Eastman