North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board are pleased to announce that Clark Botanic Garden earned a third place winner in the All-America Selections (AAS) 2018 Landscape Design Challenge in the 10,001 to 100,000 visitors per year category. All-America Selections is an independent non-profit organization that tests new, never-before-sold varieties. After a full season of anonymous trialing by volunteer horticulture professionals, only the top garden performers are given the AAS Winner award designation for their superior performance.

“We are absolutely thrilled with this recognition,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “The hard work of our staff here at Clark Botanic Garden has moved us into the spotlight. I hope that residents will make time to visit the garden, which showcases its beauty in each and every season.”

This year’s theme of the AAS Landscape Design Challenge was “Get Social in the Garden.” AAS provided the gardens with winning seeds from the last five years. Gardens not only had to create and execute a design based on this year’s theme, but were also encouraged to generate publicity via social media and “real life” social events. Gardens were divided into three categories based on the number of visitors per year:

Category I: fewer than 10,000 visitors per year
Category II: 10,001 – 100,000 visitors per year
Category III: Over 100,000 visitors per year

Town Horticulturist Bonnie Klein directs Clark Botanic Garden’s participation in the All-America Selections (AAS) 2018 Landscape Design Challenge. For the contest Ms. Klein and Clark staff made a display of AAS winners along the entry path, conceived for color, form, texture and variety. Garden staff created a large kiosk with information about how to "Get Social in the Garden." Clark Garden also created a display bed of AAS vegetables in the Family Community Garden with display beds of AAS vegetables.
"The AAS program at Clark Botanic Garden helps to educate our community about the wonderful variety of plants you can use in your home landscape. Clark Botanic Garden is a living classroom for all to explore and enjoy," Said Bonnie Klein, Town Horticulturist

Clark Botanic Garden is an AAS Display Garden, providing the public with an opportunity to view the newest AAS Winners (annuals) in an attractive well-maintained setting. The network of nearly 200 dedicated AAS gardens includes 55 locations that have served for 25 years or longer.

Founded in 1969, Clark Botanic Garden is a 12-acre living museum and education facility for all ages. Collections at the garden include native spring wildflowers, conifers, roses, perennials, daylilies, wetland plants, rock garden plants, herbs and over a dozen collections of particular plant families. The Garden is under the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department lead by Commissioner Jill Weber.

Clark Botanic Garden is located at 193 I.U. Willets Road in Albertson.