That’s what gardening is for most gardeners. In the first-ever Hatfield Garden Contest, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the fruits of their labors. You will too!
No matter what you ’ re growing, most gardeners seem to agree with Ellen Kopp of Schwab Road “Our garden is a labor of love, and we enjoy sharing the harvests with family and friends,” says Kopp, whose massive vegetable gardens won her the blue ribbon in the Edible Garden category in this year ’ s first-ever Hatfield “Gotta Grow” Garden Contest Gardening is a labor of love, and the contest asked residents to show us the fruits of their labors and they came through in flying colors.
Whether they were gardening a large property or a tiny deck, feeding their families and sharing with others, or feeding their souls by creating a backyard oasis to get away for a bit, our contest winners demonstrated a remarkable flair for creativity, beauty and comfort. We had almost 60 entries in the five categories, and our judges were incredibly impressed with the overall quality of the submissions. We hope you will plan on entering the 2025 Hatfield Garden Contest!
Our garden is a labor of love, and we enjoy sharing the harvests with family and friends.
EllenKopp GardenContestWinner
Edible Garden Category
What the judges had to say:
649 Schwab Road
Ellen Kopp
“WOW Looks incredible Great ideas and visions!”
About the entry:
“Our vegetable garden is 30'x100' and was built by my husband and I over a period of a few years with a total of 14 raised beds and fencing. I grow spring, summer, and fall crops, including kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, garlic, berries and more. It is a labor of love and we enjoy sharing the harvests with family and friends ”
Edible Garden
700 Concord Drive
Pam and David Long
About the entry:
“Pam is anxious to get her garden started in early May. This little garden supplies our neighborhood. We have tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, eggplant, squash, zucchini and
cucumbers Our grandkids peddle them in the neighborhood, handing them out for free. Pam loves to grow good veggies and have others enjoy them ”
What the judges had to say:
“Great selection of vegetables and beautiful beds!”
WOW Looks incredible Great ideas and visions!
Edible Garden
3375 Roxbury Drive
Cindy Renner and Damian Reyes
About the entry:
“Built with recycled pallets and lots of love, our vegetable garden is not only a feast for the eyes, but a bounty for the soul Nestled next to our deck, our intent was to grow our own tasty summer essentials with hope to harvest enough to share with friends, family and neighbors alike ”
What the judges had to say:
“Great use of pallets as a raised bed ”
HHonorable onorable Mention Mention
Robert Stokes Edible
111 Thomas Penn Avenue
HHonorable onorable Mention Mention
Christopher Pizzino 1443 Moyer Road
About the entry:
“I have several gardens; two for growing vegetables mostly I raise honeybees and native bees for pollination, and have flowering gardens for pollinators ”
What the judges had to say:
“Very creative with the buckets.”
Gotta Grow! Gotta Grow!
Garden Contest Winners
General Garden Category
62 E. School Street
Keith & Gwen Snyder
General Garden
62 E. School Street
Keith & Gwen Snyder
About the entry:
“I bought this house from my parents in 1989 and have been working on the gardens ever since. I work at the Morris Arboretum and they have plant sales each year, and there are always leftover plants that you can ‘adopt,’ so I bring them home and plant them wherever they seem to fit. My wife and I also replant the containers each year Our patio and back yard are truly a relaxing oasis where we can enjoy nature.”
Keith and Gwen Snyder don’t have a yard, or even a garden, so much as they have an ecosystem.
Their delightful home on School Street in Hatfield Borough has a system for capturing rainwater and using it to water the hundreds of species of trees, plants and flowers growing on the property.
Keith is a certified beekeeper (Shady Elm Honeybee Farm), and keeps a number of hives in the back yard to help pollinate his plants and flowers He and Gwen also feed birds and other pollinators. It all works together to produce a lush and verdant oasis that is alive with wildlife activity
Keith comes by his gardening expertise honestly He works at Morris Arboretum, but also provides beehives for Garden of Health’s Hatfield farm, George Didden
62 E. School Street
Keith & Gwen Snyder
Greenhouses and other local growers. His efforts have been an overwhelming success: the Snyders have achieved a long list of certifications for their gardens (see below), and even neighbors acknowledge that their gardens are doing noticeably better since Keith added bees to the property.
“We need to educate people about bees,” Keith says “Bees can predict the weather better than any forecaster, and about one-third of the produce we eat in Pennsylvania berries, nuts, and vegetables is available because of bee pollination.”
The Snyders have been recognized for the hard work they’ve invested in their gardens with these certifications:
Certified Wildlife Habitat
Monarch Way Station
CCertificates ertificates of merit of merit
Watershed-Friendly (for clean, healthy regeneration of water)
Penn State Master Gardener
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Audubon Bird Society certification
62 E. School Street
Keith & Gwen Snyder
He believes there is truth in a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: “If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.” Others must believe it too bees are now a protected species
Garden Fact
The most common pollinators
Bees and butterflies are great pollinators, but flies, beetles and other insects as well as birds, bats and other creatures can also help your garden grow.
What the judges had to say:
“Very nice and well-maintained. Enjoyed the water features ” “Tasteful, charming, with good variety ”
General Garden
2039 Rosemarie Way
Jeffrey and Sandra Klinger
About the entry:
“My husband and I love to garden. We are “into it” every year We shop at all the local greenhouses to find flowers that we know will do well in the location we will plant them When the watering got to be too much, we invested in an irrigation system to help when we are away We enjoy sitting by our pond in the evenings; it is so relaxing Our porch is where the family gathers for meals!
What the judges had to say: “Wow beautiful!”
General Garden
About the entry:
3017 Elroy Road
Ed and Terri Murphy
“Spontaneity is the keyword for the gardens and landscaping surrounding our home. Around every corner there is something to
surprise and delight a pair of golden lovebirds watching over the porch, a lovely bronzed sun sculpture on the patio, or a gorgeous pink lace cup hydrangea on the side of the house. The garden contains whatever my wife Terri brings home from the lawn and garden center. Our garden is always in flux, fairly low maintenance, and is just fun to see and appreciate!”
General Garden
HHonorable onorable Mention Mention
700 Concord Drive
Pam and David Long
About the entry:
“A gentle walk around my house will show off many annuals & perennials I’ve been here over 40 years and I can't help myself with my gardens ”
HHonorable onorable Mention Mention
2813 N Ford Drive
About the entry:
HHonorable onorable Mention Mention
Abigail Lersch 2788 Valley Woods Drive
“The path on the side of our house invites you to our back yard The splash of colors along the way accents the brick walkway and wall.”
“We designed our flower beds with carefully selected shrubs, annuals, perennials, and a rose garden They attract hummingbirds and butterflies ”
Gotta Grow! Gotta Grow!
Garden Contest Winners
Curb Appeal Category
208 Jade Avenue
Jo-Ann Sulak
About the entry:
“My garden has been a labor of love for many years I love adding new things every year. It is a mixture of perennial and annual plants. Gardening has always been a hobby for me and I love that I can provide food and shelter for the birds and bees!
208 Jade Avenue
Jo-Ann Sulak
Curb Appeal
700 Concord Drive
Pam and David Long
About the entry:
“From Concord Way and Line Lexington Road we have met many friends, acquaintances and passers-by who stop to ask about
Pam's flowers She almost always winds up giving a tour This is not a hobby for her, it is a passion handed down from her grandmother.“
What the judges had to say:
“Love their annuals, incredibly gifted and talented for their vision. Hands down one of the nicest in the "curb appeal" category ”
About the entry:
1720 Lynrose Circle
Dina and Sam DiLisio
“We have significant landscaping with flowers, shrubbery, a blend of colors and design aspects that enhance the front of our brick Colonial home. The solar lighting throughout the plantings illuminates the design after dark We use a mix of annuals and perennials throughout the summer season to add color and texture to the property.”
Curb Appeal
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
2830 Denbeigh Drive
Alan Ciaverelli
What the judges had to say:
“Love the mailbox, great clematis, great perennial bed at the entrance to house. Very well done ”
Curb Appeal
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
About the entry:
“Our curb appeal is well-maintained with newer landscaping including bushes, trees, potted plants, and hanging baskets. Our porch and sidewalk were just recently upgraded with blue slate and lighting, and a set of rocking chairs makes it a welcoming space for visitors.”
HHonorable onorable
Gotta Grow! Gotta Grow!
Garden Contest Winners
Outdoor Oasis Category
“Atrue
2039 Rosemarie Way
Jeffrey and Sandra Klinger
Outdoor Oasis
About the entry:
700 Concord Drive
Pam and David Long
What the judges had to say:
“This is our go-to spot with friends and family our deck and paver stone patio. It is so relaxing to sit here and enjoy a mild afternoon or evening. I’ve been here over 40 years and I can't help myself with my gardens.”
“Greatuseof multilevels, beautiful annuals”
Outdoor Oasis
About the entry:
1694 Latch String Lane
Scott Johnson
“Our backyard oasis is our escape an outdoor spot where we can enjoy our beautifully landscaped yard with two patios for relaxation and entertaining our guests We have a dining area with table, bar and large in-bar grill. On the lower patio we enjoy relaxing on the couch with
What the judges had to say:
“Beautifulsetup would lovetowatchthePhillies underthatshed!”
a retractable awning for added shade. On a cool night we enjoy a dip in our hot tub We also love relaxing on our covered porch/shed with a cool beverage as we enjoy watching Phillies or Eagles games, day or night, surrounded by our meadow and landscaping.”
Outdoor Oasis
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
Keith and Gwen Snyder
Outdoor Oasis
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
390 W. Vine Street
Steve Cole
“A welcoming koi pond and waterfalls, backing up to a towering lilac tree and fire pit. What better way to watch the Phillies on those long summer nights?” About the entry: What
Outdoor Oasis
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
475 Farview Avenue
Pasquale and June Rombola
About the entry:
“Our own oasis at home here in Hatfield Borough! We relax with family and friends without leaving home. Sit under the gazebo and enjoy music or a TV show, have a cocktail and take a swim Ahhhhh relax!”
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
“I love gardening! I take pride in my veggie garden, and my pool is my “staycation.” I love About the entry: being out there with the grandkids. We love bringing our TV out on our deck and watching the Phillies with the kids, grilling and just having fun.”
Outdoor Oasis
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
“My back porch is a quiet oasis where I can sit and listen to birds while admiring my flowers ” About the entry:
Gotta Grow! Gotta Grow!
Garden Contest
Winners
Pleasant Porch Category
700 Concord Drive
Pam and David Long
About the entry:
“The potted impatiens, hanging baskets with geraniums and corner pots with succulents and geraniums welcome you to our front door with a burst of color and make a nice place to sit in the afternoon ”
Pleasant Porch
1400 Downing Drive
Kim Wert
About the entry:
“Our quaint front porch is welcoming, peaceful, and cheery. Come sit a spell and swing with us while you listen to the birds, enjoy conversation and share a refreshment.
Our grandson loves to sit and swing while watching the neighborhood dogs on their walks ”
Pleasant Porch
523 N. Farview Avenue
Mark Snyder
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
Pleasant Porch
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
72 W. Vine Street
Nicki Saleski
About the entry:
The porch used to be the place where friends and neighbors would gather to catch up with each other. My porch still is that place, although pictures really don’t do full justice to the space. If there were more porch gatherings, maybe we would be a little less divided and a little more trusting of each other.
HHonorable onorable
Mention Mention
2209 Briar Patch Drive
Jessica Heiser
Gotta Grow! Gotta Grow!
Commissioner’s Award
About the entry:
“Does bonsai count?
Bonsai is both horticulture and an art form that is beautiful, complex, and relaxing as any meditation. It requires patience. Sometimes you will have to wait years to know whether a
cut that you have made on a tree was correct The act of trimming and wiring must be done slowly and carefully, forcing me to slow my heart rate and work methodically, considering
Commissioner’s Award
being respectable trees, but they will always need seasonal pruning and repotting. If they were to be planted in the ground, they would grow to normal size.
All my trees have been grown in Hatfield Some were grown from seed, others were collected as seedlings or grown trees dug in
Do you bonsai?
the spring The railroad that cuts through town has provided interesting Eastern Red Cedars.
I grow native American Elms, Sugar Maples, Rose of Sharon, Azaleas and Boxwoods.
It may not be a traditional garden, but caring for bonsai trees is an oasis of peace, quiet, and calm for me ”
Lou Farrell would love to start a bonsai club in our area for enthusiasts to share knowledge and tips about the art of bonsai. If you have interest, contact us at gardencontest@ hatfield.org
A BIG BOUQUET to the amazing residents of Hatfield Borough and Hatfield Township who entered the contest.
We are in awe of the creativity and hard work you invested in your gardens, patios and porches. You are justifiably proud of the results, and our hope is that the community finds joy and inspiration in your efforts as well.
We also owe a great debt of gratitude to our advisory panel members and judges.
Our advisory panel helped give shape to the contest, which was crucial since it was our first time around Most of the panelists also helped judge the entries, which was far more difficult and time-consuming than they may have envisioned. They did a fantastic job and we are already looking ahead to the 2025 Garden Contest
Finally, please help us thank our community-minded sponsors for their su
These two companies also provided n deeply appreciative of their involve
Gotta Grow! Gotta Grow!
Garden Contest
Advisors & Judges
Eleanor Ruch Zell
Dor Ruch
Mary Anne Girard
Jaime Snyder
Lindsay Hellmann
George Didden Greenhouses
Hatfield Plant Lady
Mayor of Hatfield Borough
Hatfield Borough Manager
Hatfield Borough Public Information Coordinator
Kim Flanders
Landscape Architect, CKS Engineers
Tom Zipfel
Joan DiMaria
President, Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners
Hatfield Township Shade Tree Commission
Andrew Irick Hatfield Township Public Works Plant & Tree Specialist
Gotta Grow! Gotta Grow!
Garden Contest
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