Lac Ste. Anne County's Rural Beautification Contest & Tour began in 2008 with the simple goal of showcasing the beautiful yards of the region's avid gardeners. After more than a decade of stunning yards, avid participants, and countless great learning and networking experiences, this annual event has blossomed into an eagerly anticipated summer tradition.
Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, we've reimagined Rural Beautification 2020. This year, we're encouraging our gardeners to stay close to home with our theme: “Explore Your Own Backyard.”
What's the County's plan for Rural Beautification 2020?
Why would I do that?
As a gardener, it's is good to know what you have so you can take the best possible care of them. People visiting your yard might be interested too. When you submit your information, you'll get a copy via email too. This is a great way to keep records about what you’ve planted and when.
When you contribute your information to the Canadian Plant Hardiness Project, you're helping create plant profiles for western Canada.
Will there be prizes?
Yes! Every person who participates by sending information about their plants will receive:
- A tree and shrub booklet from Landscape Alberta
- A full-colour wall map of the Canadian Plant Hardiness Zones
- A gift coupon for a Lac Ste. Anne County restaurant, grocery store or greenhouse (to be confirmed)
- A $10 discount on the 2021 Rural Beautification Tour (maximum 50 participants)
What's more, every participant is eligible to win one of ten prizes (including a Lee Valley gift certificate, and other great items for gardeners).
Last but not least, every participant will be included in a draw for the grand prize (final prize to be confirmed).
How do I sign up?
Simply fill out the form below and hit Submit. Try to be as accurate and complete as you can with the information, but don't stress if some of the details escape you. We've included resources on this page to help you in this process, like plant profile templates, ways to help you identify your plants, links to finding new plants for your yard, and photo galleries from previous Rural Beautification Tours.
Not an online form sort of person? Registration packages can be picked up in paper format from the Lac Ste. Anne County office.
To participate in Rural Beautification 2020, and to be eligible for your gardening kit and entry into the prize draws, you must complete the form below by August 31, 2020.
Send in your Garden Details to Participate in Rural Beautification 2020
When you submit your plant and garden details via the form below, a Rural Beautification 2020 kit will be sent to the rural address you provide. Your name will also be entered into a draw for the grand prize, plus one of ten subsidiary prizes. Applications are due by August 31.
If you're a winner, you willl be contacted via the contact information you have provided on this form. Thanks to all the avid area gardeners out there for taking part in this year's event. The details you provide will add value to the Canadian Plant Hardiness Project.
Useful Horticultural Reference Resources
Interested in identifying your plants, or learning more about the native plant species you can cultivate in your garden? Use the links below to explore related websites, access great books, or download a useful plant identification app.
While we strive to maintain the accuracy of information on the County website, we can't control changes to links or content on the third-party websites listed below. We will make every effort to fix any of these instances as we find them.
Useful Books
Trees in Canada
John Laird Farrar
Trees and Shrubs of Alberta
Kathleen Wilkinson
Guide to the Common Native Trees and Shrubs of Alberta
Various Authors
Mobile Apps and Online Resources
Leafsnap Plant Identification App
Free iOS app
Online Plant Identification Tools
Various Websites
Many nurseries have plant search features on their websites. Use these resources to confirm the names of your plants and to learn more about them. A few of these links are listed below.
Downloadable Resources
Plant Hardiness Zone Maps
Canada's plant hardiness map provides insights about what can grow where. It combines information about a variety of climatic conditions across the entire country to produce a single map. The original map was developed in the 1960's for trees and shrubs. Click the links below to download letter or poster-sized versions of this map.
