The April 28th registration opening of a Pottstown home garden contest is a chance for green-thumbed residents in western Montgomery County to make their neighbors green-eyed with jealousy. The competition is not that contentious; however, it is publicly beautiful, as Cortney H. Diener-Stokes noted in her story for The Mercury.

One hosting organization is Mosaic Community Land Trust, a local provider of affordable housing. Its board president, Tracy Purdy, characterized the annual event by saying, “It’s about getting people outside and living a healthier lifestyle — that is what our mission is about.”

Entrants can choose from among five categories:

1. General gardens
2. Outdoor oasis, plantings in a plot’s subset
3. Pleasant porches
4. Edible gardens
5. Children’s gardens (contestants under 18)

The children’s tier is one close to Purdy’s heart. Her gardening interest took root as a child.

“My dad let me have a row in his garden and gave me a package of radish seeds,” she said. “I was so excited by my success and thought, ‘Wow, I can do this!’”

Entries are being taken on the Home Garden contest website.

At stake are cash awards. And bragging rights.

More on Pottstown’s “Grow for It” competition is at The Mercury.

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Flower gardens can yield big results even in small spaces.