Mayor Michelle Wu Announces 2026 Mayor’s Garden Contest Winners

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. 

This year’s winners include:

Pollinator Garden

1. Franco Campanello – South End

2. Kimba McDonald – Hyde Park

3. Stephanie Fletcher – Beacon Hill

Vegetable or Herb Garden

1. Suzen Holohan – East Boston

2. Toya Walker – Mattapan

3. Jayde Lantz – Roslindale

Age Strong

1. Richard Macmillan and Alex McCray- Jamaica Plain

2. Arlene Simon – Dorchester

3. Daniel Satinsky – Jamaica Plain

Small Yard Garden

1. Beverly Christians – South End

2. Tara Kuglen – South End

3. Katherine Bielec-Steveson – Roslindale

Porch Balcony or Container Garden

1. Peter Cahn and Donald Hess – Back Bay

2. Paul H. Belanger – West End

3. Doug Gifford – South End

Medium Yard Garden

1. Rui Almeida & Ernesto Falcon – Roslindale

2. Annie McHugh – Jamaica Plain

3. Tom Bessette and Ike Colbert – Dorchester

Shade Garden

1. Ellen Scalese – Hyde Park

2. Peter Gelhaar – Back Bay

3. Sharon Gentges – East Boston

Large Yard Garden

1. Shoma Haque – Jamaica Plain

2. Molly Duggan – Mattapan

3. Greg Tyo & Jorge Serrao – Dorchester

Community Garden 

1. Jenny Li & Mark Springel – Berkeley Community Gardens

2. Joe and Dolores Fazio – Fenway Victory Gardens

3. Lillian Dukes – Fenway Victory Gardens

Storefront, Organization, or Main Street District

1. The Boston Home – Dorchester

2. Recreo Coffee and Roasterie – West Roxbury

3. Beacon Hill Garden Club – Beacon Hill

Pollinator Garden – 1st place Franco Campanello – South End

Vegetable or Herb Garden – 1st place Suzen Holohan – East Boston

Age Strong 1st place Richard Macmillan and Alex McCray- Jamaica Plain

Small Yard Garden 1st place Beverly Christians – South End

Porch Balcony or Container Garden 1st place Peter Cahn & Donald Hess – Back Bay

Medium Yard Garden 1st place Rui Almeida & Ernesto Falcon – Roslindale

Shade Garden 1st place Ellen Scalese – Hyde Park

Large Yard Garden 1st place Shoma Haque – Jamaica Plain

Community Garden 1st place Jenny Li & Mark Springel – Berkeley Community Gardens

Storefront, Organization, or Main Street District 1st place The Boston Home – Dorchester

For more information, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505. Stay updated with news, events, and park improvements by signing up for our email list at bit.ly/Get-Parks-Emails and following our social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.