Award Definitions E-mail

Albert C. Burrage Gold Vase
For excellence in the use of forced, hardy plants in an outstanding exhibit.

Allen C. Haskell Award
For a professional garden exhibit that shows distinction in landscape design with a heavy emphasis on color using rare and unusual plant material, mainly new species and cultivars that have been introduced but not readily available to the trade.

American Horticultural Society Environmental Award
For an exhibit of horticultural excellence which best demonstrates the bond between horticulture and the environment, and inspires the viewer to beautify home and community through skillful design and appropriate plant material.

Antoine Leuthy Award
A Gold Medal awarded to commercial or private gardener for the best display of non-hardy flowering and/or tropical foliage plants.

Appleton Award
For exceptional presentation of landscape design and excellence of material in a garden of less than 825 square feet.

Arno H. Nehrling Flower Show Award
To the exhibitor who executes an original design, who stages a display of excellence, sets up on schedule, and maintains the exhibit in top condition throughout the show.

Arnold Arboretum Award
To a club, organization, nursery, landscape designer or individual for excellence in the use of rare and unusual north temperate (hardy) woody plants in a complementary landscape setting.

Associated Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts Award
For distinctive and creative use of landscape features. Awarded yearly to the exhibitor who best incorporates landscape features such as walls, patios, walks, fencing, gazebos, fountains, waterfalls.

Beacon Hill Garden Club Cup
To the most charming garden exhibit in the Garden Club Competition.

Beatrix Farrand Silver Bowl
For the best exhibit of azaleas or rhododendrons in the show.

Boston Herald Urban Landscape Award
For the exhibit that shows exceptional presentation of landscape design ideal to an urban setting.

Boston Society of Landscape Architects Award
For an exhibit of excellence in landscape architecture which conveys the underlying design principles to the public.

Cary Award
Award for outstanding use of Cary Award winning plants in a landscape display. Presented annually by the Worcester County Horticultural Society and the New England Nursery Association to the exhibit that best communicates to the public the benefits of using Cary Award winning plants in the landscape.

Edmund V. Mezitt Award
Presented for a superior display using azaleas or rhododendrons reliably winter hardy in central New England (USDA Zone 6 or colder) and forced by the exhibitor.

Elizabeth Armstrong-Cheswick Garcia Environmental Awareness Award
To recognize the excellence of an exhibit in the New England Spring Flower Show which enhances the public awareness of environmental issues relating to horticultural practices and landscape design.

Emily Seaber Parcher Award
For excellence in landscape design of a naturalistic garden smaller than 1,000 square feet.

Exhibitor's Award
For the exhibit chosen as best in the New England Spring Flower Show by secret ballot by all professional exhibitors. All exhibits are eligible. Each exhibit shall have only one vote, which shall be recorded with the Awards Chairperson.

Flower Show Gold Certificate of the Horticultural Society of New York
For an exhibit of horticultural excellence which best demonstrates the use of plants in an urban design.

Flower Show Gold Certificate of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
For the exhibit that best inspires the use of flowering plants in or around the home.

Flower Show Medal of the Chicago Horticultural Society
To an exhibit showing outstanding horticultural skill and knowledge in a nationally recognized flower show.
 
Garden Club of America Bulkley Medal
The Bulkley Medal may be awarded to Garden Club of America members, member clubs, non-members, or other organizations at a major flower show sponsored by a nationally recognized horticultural organization for a special exhibit in the fields of horticulture, botany, or conservation. The exhibit must be one of exceptional educational merit which increases the knowledge and awareness of the viewing public.

Horticultural Club of Boston Award
For horticultural perfection.

James Underwood Crockett Award
Presented each year by the New England Nursery Association to that exhibit which best communicates to the public the practical value of horticulture.

John S. Ames Trophy
Awarded to a plant or plants of outstanding horticultural interest within an exhibit at the New England Spring Flower Show. Preference shall be given to plants hardy in Massachusetts.

Joseph Hudak Award
For a garden of artistic and practical design of hardy herbaceous perennials and/or hardy bulbs.

Landscape Design Council of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. Award I
For excellence in landscape design in a professional garden exhibit of less than 1,000 square feet.

Landscape Design Council of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. Award II
For the effective use of garden ornaments, water features, specimen trees, or topiary in creating good design.

Mary McQuillin Cup
Awarded to a professional garden exhibit demonstrating the best design combination of an indoor and outdoor exhibit.

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Award
An award provided by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources for the best exhibit staged by a commercial grower in Massachusetts. 
           
Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association Award
For distinctive use of hardy plant material.

Maynard Winston Award
Presented for the most outstanding floral exhibit at the New England Spring Flower Show to a professional designer or firm. Contributed by the Mall at Chestnut Hill and awarded after three rotations of entries.

Mrs. Edwin Sibley Webster Cup
Presented by the Chestnut Hill Garden Club in honor of Mrs. Edwin Sibley Webster. To the exhibit in the Garden Club Competition receiving the highest award for excellence in design.

Mrs. John S. Ames Cup
Provided by the late Mrs. John S. Ames. For the exhibit in the Garden Club Competition that displays the greatest horticultural excellence.

Nancy Megowen Shane Award
To recognize the excellence of a miniature garden exhibit in the New England Spring Flower Show.

New England Nursery Association Award
For distinctive use of hardy, deciduous plants.

New Exhibitor’s Certificate
To any exhibitor who has not exhibited more than two years, who contributes a new and fresh approach to the presentation of horticulture.

Patricia Pruyn Storey Award
To the outdoor garden which, because of the condition and maintenance of its plant materials throughout the show, best serves the public.

Paul Rogers Award
For an exhibit of extraordinary horticultural quality and character.

People's Choice Award
For the most popular show exhibit as selected annually, on the first two show days, by visitors to the New England Spring Flower Show.

Plant Society Certificate
To a plant society which artistically presents a collection or display of plants of educational value and cultural perfection and that best represents the interests of that society.

Ralph Werman Award
For an exhibit of exceptional educational merit by a plant society displaying non-hardy plants.

Roger Dane Trophy
To a student or students of horticulture or artistic design whose exhibit shows outstanding dedication, creativity and knowledge.

Ruth S. Thayer Prize
For the most meritorious cultivar introduced at the New England Spring Flower Show. Plant must be undisseminated.

Silver Medal of the Worcester County Horticultural Society
To the exhibit of a plant society, school or other non-profit organization which best communicates horticultural technique(s) to the public.

Spring Show Whimsical Award
For something out of the ordinary but displaying horticultural skill and beauty.

Superior Commendation Certificate
For recently introduced cultivars of plants, flowers, fruits, or vegetables.
           
William J. Thompson Flower Show Design Award
To the designer of a professional or amateur garden exhibit which educates the public by displaying plants in an original, creative manner.

Young Gardeners' Certificate
To an exhibitor eighteen years or younger whose exhibit demonstrates horticultural or artistic talent.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society Award of the Trustees Emeriti
For an innovative exhibit that most exemplifies and expands the tradition of the New England Spring Flower Show.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society President’s Award
For the most meritorious exhibit in the show.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society Executive Director’s Award
For an exhibit of exceptional quality and public interest.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society Cutting Edge - Kickboard Award
Awarded to the exhibit that demonstrates the most effective and creative treatment of an exhibit border.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society Educational Award
To the exhibit which most nearly conforms to the ideals on which the Society was founded.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society Educational Certificate
To the exhibit which, in the opinion of the judges, has special educational merit.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society Premium Awards
To a garden exhibit for use of outstanding forced plant material hardy in New England.
                  
Massachusetts Horticultural Society Trustees' Trophy
For a practical low-maintenance garden, seen from within, for outdoor living, with inviting but simple design and distinctive plant materials to inspire the average gardener.

Superlative Award for Amusing, Entertaining, and Captivating Character
For excellence in using horticulture or garden design to amuse, entertain, and/or captivate the public.

Superlative Award for Aquatic Plants
For the engaging, and inspirational use of aquatic plants in a garden setting.

Superlative Award for Bamboo and Grasses
For a creative display of bamboo and /or grasses which encourages their use in gardens.

Superlative Award for a Collection of Plants
For excellence in the display, quality, and character of a collection of plants, including a family, genus, or species of plants.

Superlative Award for Cut Flowers
For the highly imaginative, inspirational, and intriguing use of cut flowers in a floral arrangement.

Superlative Award for Exotic Plants
For the intriguing presentation of exotic or seldom seen plants in a garden exhibit which inspires greater public interest.

Superlative Award for a Family Garden
For the design and creation of a garden exhibit that integrates and engages the interests of children and their parents, and captures their imagination.

Superlative Award for Fragrance
For fragrant flowers and /or foliage presented in an engaging and inspirational way.

Superlative Award for Garden Annuals
For an unusual and innovative show of annuals.

Superlative Award for Garden Ornaments
For extraordinary character and/or entertaining application of garden accessories.

Superlative Award for Garden Structure
For the outstanding and inspirational use of garden structures, including seating, pergolas, arches, fencing, bridges, shelters or follies.

Superlative Award for Historic Gardens and Landscapes
For an outstanding exhibit that reflects upon or inspires appreciation for the character, composition, and features of historic gardens or landscapes.

Superlative Award for Native Plants
For the creative presentation of regionally native plants in a manner that encourages their integration into gardens and landscapes.

Superlative Award for a Rural Garden or Landscape
For excellence in the design and construction of an exhibit that reflects the spirit and character of rural America’s gardens and landscapes.

Superlative Award for Specimen Plants
For the artful and distinctive use of one or more plants having a unique character, highly unusual form, exceptional age and size, or striking growth habit.

Superlative Award for Trained Plants
For the artful, intriguing, and stimulating use of trained plants, including clipped hedges, topiary, pollards, coppices, standards, espaliers, or pleaches.

Superlative Award for Tropical Flowers and Plants
For the highly creative and engaging use of tropical flowers and plants.

Superlative Award for Vegetables and Fruit
For the creative and inspirational use of vegetable and/or fruiting plants in a garden exhibit.

Superlative Award for Water Features
For exceptional excellence in the design and incorporation of a water feature, whether still or in motion.

 

About the Massachusetts Horticultural Society

Massachusetts Horticultural Society LogoFounded in 1829, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS) is a member and donor-supported organization dedicated to encouraging and improving the science and practice of horticulture and developing the public's enjoyment, appreciation, and understanding of plants and the environment.
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society produces the New England Spring Flower Show annually, with proceeds benefiting MHS projects and programs, including research initiatives, horticultural education for children and adults, development and maintenance of the MHS Horticulture Center at Elm Bank and MHS Gardens on the Greenway.