Cheat sheet

America in Bloom is all about improving quality of life in American cities and uses the format of an awards program to accomplish that. Each year, towns, cities, neighborhoods, business districts and university campuses vie for top honors. America in Bloom celebrates and recognizes the great things our participants do to “plant pride” in America.

A team of two specially trained judges visit participating cities and spend two days touring, meeting leaders and volunteers, and evaluating volunteers' achievements. They write a detailed report which is emailed on the Monday after the awards. The America in Bloom National Awards and Symposium is held in a different city each fall.

Each participant is eligible for the following awards:

Bloom Rating: Each entrant receives a bloom rating (1-5) based on their score.

Population Category Award: This award goes to the participant that achieves the highest score in each of the eight population categories.

Outstanding Achievement Awards: These are considered the “best of the best” in each of the six evaluated criteria: floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation and overall impressions. Each of these awards goes to only one of all entrants in all of the population categories. Entrants are encouraged to self-nominate for this award.

John R. Holmes III Community Champion Award: This award recognizes an individual who exemplifies community leadership through actions that reflect America in Bloom’s mission. The award recipient, who must be from a city that has participated or is currently participating in the program, will have demonstrated a vision and selfless commitment to moving the community forward. Nominations are encouraged from all participants.

YouTube Video Award: Many entrants use the power of YouTube to showcase how participating in America in Bloom has impacted them. The winning video will be announced and shown at the awards.

Photography Contest: This contest carries a prize of $1,500 for the images that best demonstrate beautification efforts in American cities.

Circle of Champions Award: This very prestigious designation is given to entrants that have achieved a combination of three population category awards and/or three outstanding achievement awards.

Special Awards: Each year, a number of additional special awards are given and they change year to year. Entrants do not know what they are until the winners are announced.

For many of the awards, winning is as simple as studying the evaluation form (yes, it’s like an open-book test), then strategizing how to show the judges your best efforts and progress in each area. The America in Bloom website offers several on-line, on-demand webinars to help new participants understand the process bit.ly/1sf7w6M.

Awards, trophies and plaques aside, so many participants tell us that they have “won” just by entering and using the America in Bloom framework to unite volunteers and move forward with constructive projects that have visible results.

Having a deadline of a judges’ visit helps assure that projects get finished, and there’s the incentive of a detailed, written report that provides guidance for future efforts.

One important thing to remember: you can’t win without participating. So get online now and order the free America in Bloom Startup Kit that has everything you need to know to get the program started right where you live at bit.ly/1svKMkP.

Or, go ahead and register for next year’s program and start thinking about how your town can earn some special awards at bit.ly/UW2YXH.

The author is an America in Bloom board member and international judge. She is the author of the "Fleurs du Jour" series.