The Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards handed out their top prizes at a ceremony in Beverly last weekend.
Why it matters: Gardening has exploded since the pandemic began, and these awards celebrate folks who make Chicago a greener, healthier and better place to live.
How it works: The CEGA committee gave out 67 honors this year in categories including school, community, container, vegetable and specialty gardens.
- The 39th ward, where Monica grew up and her mom still gardens, harvested the most prizes.
- Wards representing Chatham, Dauphin Park, Brighton Park/Garfield Ridge, Avondale, Hermosa, Edgebrook and Edison Park tied for second with three prizes each.
What they're saying: "The diversity of the gardeners was matched by the diversity of their gardens," CEGA co-founder Mike Nowak tells Axios.
- "The backyards, parkways, community and rooftop gardens exploding with food and beauty seemed to express the pent up energy of more than two years of pandemic finally released."
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