Pasadena got 27 times nicer on Wednesday as the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation handed out its annual “Golden Arrow” awards to more than two dozen local homeowners to celebrate their successful efforts to create front yard gardens that help beautify their streets and neighborhood.
The ceremony was held at the Western Justice Center.
Pasadena Beautiful Foundation President Brad Hanson likened the award to the “Golden Ticket” given to Charlie Bucket in the Roald Dahl book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
“(Homeowners) read our letter and they think, ‘What could this be?’” he said with a smile. “Then they see that they have won.”
Hanson recounted the origins of the organization for benefit of the award event attendees and reviewed the judging process.
The foundation itself was founded in 1960.
“The organization was started as a way to improve the city and to try to beautify the city,” he said.
“In the early days, they were trying to think of different ways that they could go about doing it,” Hanson continued. “And in the 1960s, the city of Pasadena had neighborhoods that were in decline, and Old Pasadena was not in great shape. And so it was around the idea of really trying to improve the city that the organization was started.”
The Arrow awards naturally followed, he said, though no one can exactly remember when.
But now the awards are back on lawns and gardens again.
“We really wanted to see gardens that are harmonious with the homes they surround,” said Hansen. “That’s what wins awards.”
And, he admitted, lawn animals and gnomes do not.
The selection process begins in March of each year, as the Foundation divides the City map into nine judging areas, to include all parts of Pasadena, irrespective of Council Districts.
In March, the first round, PBF volunteers drive down each street to view and select six outstanding gardens from each of the nine areas. A second team then reviews these eight semi-finalists to choose the final three.
The awards are then handed out each year in May. Each awardee received a printed certificate of their award selection along with a photo, as well as, of course, a Golden Arrow lawn sign for their homes.
This year’s winners are:
- Steve and Wendy Crump
- Dennielle and Armando ramirez
- The Dervase Family
- Larry Nakagawa
- Mary McGilvray
- Larry Balag
- Clarisa Ru
- Margot and Jim Werb-Foltz
- Cookie and Kevin Fahey
- Dr. Anita Suazo
- Kathy Yeh
- Priya Batra and Brendan Threadgill
- Melissa Eaves
- Coralie Kupfer
- Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz and David Glover
- Heather Ann Schultz
- Terry Muerer
- Linda Iverson
- Allison and Todd Dietrick
- Cynthia and Isaac Shadian
- Heather Tunis and David Mihaly
- Luciano and Stacey Gomez
- John and Irina Dewar
- Julio Armando Bonilla
- Katrina M. Duncan
- Jeanne K. Sakabu Aedo
- Justin and Kristina Coates
- Ricardo Castillo
- Ron and Cathy Mendelsohn
- Carl and Lyn Cooper
More information on the Golden Arrow Awards is available at www.pasadenabeautiful.org.
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One thought on “Pasadena Beautiful Bestows Golden Arrow Awards to 27 of Pasadena’s Most Delightful Front Yard Gardens”
It’s time to catch up with the reality of 21st cen. Pasadena: Pasadena Beautiful should recognize landscaping not only of single family homes (once again, the only ones that got awards this year) but also the condo buildings that make up so much of our community.