Hillsborough County Extension Service is seeking entrants for the annual Tampa Bay Community Water Wise Awards competition.
The awards have been presented for 20 years to individuals and businesses that have demonstrated the best use of irrigation systems or techniques that conserve water resources and protect the environment.
Those interested in being considered for the award can enter by submitting an online application by midnight on June 30.
The entry must include photos that show the landscape from the front, back and sides.
Finalists will receive an on-site evaluation by a county Extension Office representative, along with a local water utility representative.
The awards aim to promote appropriate gardening habits and to recognize community members who are committed to creating sustainable landscapes, according to a news release.
Nearly 50% of water used at home goes into yard maintenance, the release said.
But the Hillsborough County Extension Service wants to remind residents that it is possible to have a Florida-Friendly landscape with little water other than rainfall.
The winner will receive a handmade steppingstone.
For more information about the program, visit Awards.TampaBayWaterWise.org.
To submit an online application, visit Awards.TampaBayWaterwise.org/enter-your-landscape/.
Published March 15, 2023
