Green America Awards recognize community “greening” projects

Nature Hills Nursery in Omaha, Neb., is accepting applications for the 2010 Green America Awards. The annual awards give national recognition and $5,000 in plants to community groups and organizations that are improving their local environments. The awards will be presented in April 2010 to groups and organizations that are “greening” their communities, parks, schools and public spaces by planting trees, shrubs and other plants. The grand prize winning garden project will receive $2,500 in plants from Nature Hills Nursery. The first prize winner will receive $1,500 in plants and the second prize winner will receive $1,000 in plants. The plant material can contain any combination of trees, fruit trees, bushes and shrubs, perennials and vegetable seeds that Nature Hills Nursery offers. Award-winning projects can include: creating or refurbishing a community park landscape; designing a local soil erosion control plan that uses plants to stabilize hillside slopes or river banks; reclaiming of an abandoned lot with a fruit orchard that provides food to local low-income residents; creating a wildlife habitat for birds or animals on donated land that is (or has been) abandoned or neglected. Applications for the awards will be accepted nationwide until April 1, 2010. The award winners will be announced on April 19, 2010.