Sarasota Garden Club awards curb appeal

According to the Sarasota Garden Club, taking care of your property and taking care of your customers go hand in hand.
 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the club’s Civic Beautification Awards, which recognize churches, homeowners associations, businesses, condominiums, nonprofit organizations and government buildings for their efforts to improve Sarasota’s curb appeal.

Every year, club  members submit properties that have spruced up their appearance. The club’s beautification committee reviews the list and photographs locations to determine which ones deserve awards. The awards mirror the club’s goal of maintaining local green spaces.

Patricia Bonarer, the club’s civic beautification committee chairwoman, says this year, the club chose to recognize properties that have maintained curb appeal over the years and have received at least two previous awards.

“For 80 years, the SGC has worked with our business community to educate, inform, maintain and improve our tree canopy and green spaces,” says Bonarer. “We care about the people and what they have done with their space.”
 

This year, the club recognized 32 businesses and organizations, including the Church of the Redeemer, the Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy, Pines of Sarasota and Nancy’s BBQ. Bonarer says she appreciates the landscaping at Nancy’s BBQ because of its creative use of plants in a downtown area.

“I have taken people who are not gardeners with me, and it’s really funny,” she says. “It’s what appeals to the public. We’re not even looking at it as a gardener. We’re just looking at it to see how it appeals.”

Properties from North Tamiami Trail to Palmer Ranch and from Lido Key to Interstate-75 are eligible. Properties can win every two years unless landscaping has been changed significantly in the previous year. The club will announce special awards at a ceremony Oct. 14, at the Sarasota Garden Club.

St. Armands Circle Association Executive Director Diana Corrigan says she was thrilled to hear that  landscaping efforts by the city and the association were recognized. 

She says everyone from residents to merchants and the city work together to keep up the Circle, whether it’s for landscaping or just picking up trash while walking the Circle.

“We’re always trying to keep St. Armands the jewel of Sarasota,” says Corrigan.