Got a Great Yard?

Natalie Belmonte Great Yards Award (NBGYA)

 Every year, the City of Pembroke Pines hosts a great yards contest. This Award was created in memory of Natalie Belmonte, a well-known resident, businesswoman, and nature-lover, who tragically lost her life in July of 2011. This award helps capture the beauty of nurturing a butterfly garden and the love Natalie had for them and gardening.  Natalie Belmonte Great Yards Award Picture 

Residential properties can be nominated for the Natalie Belmonte Great Yards Awards. We would like to cordially invite residents within the city boundaries to enter and/or nominate any landscape area for the Natalie Belmonte Great Yards Award. 

This contest is designed to promote quality landscaping within the City of Pembroke Pines. Interested residential property owners may enter their properties for award consideration or nominate a property (with the property owners' consent). A separate application should be submitted for each property along with up to 10 color photos (a USB is also acceptable) that reflect how the property meets the goals of the award. 

All properties will be judged based on the following five components:

1. Butterfly component: This area judges the preservation of all stages of a butterfly’s life. It should supply food and shelter with the proper selection of plants. (Sage, Lavender, Milkweed, Goldenrod, Firebush, Penta… are some suggested plants).

2. Design and function: This area judges the overall design, use of texture, compatibility of materials, continuity, balance, and the overall function of the landscape in correlation to the use of the property.

3. Maintenance: The focus of this section will be the overall view of the property’s landscape maintenance. The judges will be looking to see that the planter beds are kept weed free, edged, and that mulching and fertilization is kept up.

4. Florida Friendly Value: The use of low-maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. Mulching techniques will also be observed, checking to see if the mulch is deep enough to retain moisture in the soil. 

5. Use of Hardscapes: This section judges the use of non-living additions to finish a landscape, such as fountains, ponds, statues, boulders, decks, mulch, stones, etc.

There will be one winner for each district and one citywide winner.

All properties will be documented by City staff and judging will be performed by the City’s Environmental Advisory Board. All decisions of the Environmental Advisory Board and the City shall be final. Awards will be presented at a City Commission meeting by the Mayor and City Commission in the month of May, in the Spirit of Mother’s day and to honor Natalie Belmonte on her birthday month.

Should you have any questions please contact the Planning and Economic Development Department at 954.392.2100 or via email to landscape@ppines.com.

Click the link to learn about the 2018 winners: 2018 Natalie Belmonte Great Yards Award Contest Winners