Accomplishments and Awards
The Fitzwater 2000 Garden has consistently won awards for the garden in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s annual City Gardens Contest. Both the garden and its individual members have also been regular winners at the annual fall Harvest Show.
The garden and its gardeners have received special recognition as the focus of an art exhibition in City Hall, in publications, and in a photo exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Community service projects have ranged from the removal of abandoned cars and advocacy of cleaning and sealing abandoned buildings to the trapping and neutering of dozens of feral cats.
Accomplishments and Awards: Highlights
Garden Contest Places (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society)
- 2003 PHS City Gardens Contest First Place
- 2002 PHS City Gardens Contest Second Place
- 2001 PHS City Gardens Contest First Place
- 2000 PHS City Gardens Contest First Place
- 1999 PHS City Gardens Contest First Place
- 1998 PHS City Gardens Contest First Place
- 1997 Eugene E. Smith Memorial Award (first among all first year gardens in the city)
- 1997 PHS City Gardens Contest First Place
Harvest Show (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society)
- 2002 Ornamental Grasses Certificate of Merit (highest award)
- 2002 Sweepstakes (small garden) First Place
- 2002 Sweepstakes (most blue ribbons of all community gardens in the show)
- 2001 Bounty by the Basket Bronze Medal (highest award)
- 2001 Sweepstakes (small garden) First Place
- 2000 Sweepstakes (small garden) First Place
- 1999 Sweepstakes First Place
- 1998 Sweepstakes (medium garden) First Place
Special Recognition
- 2001 Art in City Hall – Community Garden Exhibit
- 2001 Green Scene – cover story featuring Fitzwater 2000 Community Garden
- 1999 Philadelphia Flower Show – photo exhibit featuring before and after images
- 1997 Commendation letter from City Councilperson Happy Fernandez
In Print
- 2002 South Philly Review “Urban Gardener”
- 2001 Green Scene – cover story featuring Fitzwater 2000 Community Garden
- 2001 South Philly Review “Urban Gardener”
- 2000 South Philly Review “Urban Gardener”
- 1999 South Philly Review “Urban Gardener”
- 1998 South Philly Review “Urban Gardener”
- 1997 South Philly Review “Urban Gardener”
Community Service Projects (began in 1995 and continuing to present)
- Organized the removal of abandoned cars from the neighborhood
- Organized effort to clean and seal unsafe abandoned buildings and lots
- Provided locked gates for alley between Fitzwater and Pemberton Streets with resident support
- Organized regular Block Clean-ups in partnership with Philadelphia More Beautiful
- Assisted in the development and staffing of a Neighborhood Town Watch Program
- Humanely trapped and neutered approximately 30 feral cats
- Provided educational lectures to the community on greening and community gardening (in partnership with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society)
