THREE WINNERS HAVE been picked in the “My Beautiful Backyard” online photo contest hosted by Peninsula Daily News.
The three were chosen from 125 photos posted at www.peninsuladailynews.com.
Online voters cast ballots for their favorites from noon Aug. 8 to noon last Monday.
Floyd Ness of Port Angeles won first.
His backyard — he titled his photo “Northwest Oasis in East Port Angeles” — got 75 of 476 votes cast during voting period.
He will receive a $150 gift certificate from Henery’s Garden Center in Port Townsend.
“My mother had a nice yard, and I guess I take after her,” said Ness.
His gardening secret? “Miracle-Gro [plant food], lots of water — and lots of time,” he said.
His backyard is dominated by cold-temperature-tolerant Mediterranean palm ferns which he bought as small plants in one-gallon pots more than a dozen years ago from a now out-of-business discount store.
Today they’re 16 to 18 feet high.
There’s also a lighted American flag, which Ness recently added to his backyard.
Bonnie Erickson of Port Angeles won second place with 53 votes. She won $50.
She titled the photo of her backyard “See Dem Falls” and accompanied it with this description:
“Multi-color sedums, blooming water lilies and perennials surround the falls — four of them actually — in our backyard.
“The entire feature measures 80 feet by 80 feet. Alders lead the way to the mountain view.”
Susan Michaud of Port Hadlock was third with 51 votes. She won $25.
Titling her photo “Marissa’s Beach,” she wrote:
“We created a ‘beach’ at our home so our grandchildren would have a place to play. It has become the hit at our house.”
The contest was open to residential gardeners in Clallam and Jefferson counties, from Hood Canal to Forks and LaPush, and photos could show a front, side or back yard.
Entries included colorful plants on a deck, mulched beds of perennials, woodland trees and rows of vegetables.
It was sponsored by Peninsula Daily News along with Henery’s Garden Center, Blake Tile & Stone, Inc., Hadlock Building Supply, Colette’s Bed & Breakfast and the city of Port Angeles’ Garden Glory Compost.
